HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET CARE BEAR!

Where in the world has the last five years gone in such a hurry? How could you possibly be in school already?? I am so happy that you have such a great attitude toward life (most of the time!) and that you are sure that they are going to have 3, 4, or maybe 5 recesses today in honor of your birthday. Yay! We get to go to Chucky Cheese's again tonight!! All 3 of you kids love that place. At least the pizza is a bit better than it used to be.

I am going to re-post what I wrote last year for your 4th birthday, because it still applies.

The day you become a grandmother for the first time is indescribable. It wasn't supposed to be for 3 more weeks. What excitement! The room was full of people awaiting the arrival. When Kristen was born, nobody was allowed in the room except Daddy. Only our pastor could visit after she was born. My sister and her husband came running to the hospital when we let them know we were there, but they had to stay in a different room and talk to me on the phone as I was in labor. What a change!

We all left the room as Care Bear actually arrived - we thought it was a moment to be shared with the Mommy and Daddy, without so many spectators. But we were there moments later. What a thrill to see this new tiny little life.

The picture was taken on my birthday. I was in another world as she snuggled on my shoulder. Life took on a whole new dimension when she was born. All of the memories of new motherhood came back so clearly. All of the joys and struggles rushed back as if they were yesterday, not 27 years before.

The last four years have gone so quickly. Care Bear, as she is called in blogland, has brought so much joy to our lives. She is incredibly bright (I would go so far as to say gifted). She "gets" so much of life at such a young age. She has an amazing vocabulary and uses the words in the correct context. I am consistently amazed at what she knows and understands. My greatest wish and prayer is that she will become the person God wants her to be. I know God has a plan for her life, and I want to watch that plan unfold. Happy Birthday, sweet Care Bear!