Happy Birthday Nelly!

Seven.

Wow.

It's been a great year.

Your reading skills have skyrocketed and now you devour any print you can lay your eyes on. Night time finds you tucked under the covers with your camping lantern reading your newest library book, you rattle off new solar system facts that you read all on your own, and you talk of the Boxcar children like they were old friends. 

You learned to swim last year but this year you mastered it. You spent the summer flinging yourself off the diving board with no fear. Next year? We'll ditch those bike training wheels.

Last year school was a source of worry and uncertainty. This year you marched into school, a confident and eager first grader. 

Some days I want to clench my fist tightly around your little seven year old hand and will time to slow down. Other days I simply can not wait to meet the amazing woman you are going to grow into. God has big plans for you, ma'am. Of that I am certain. You are driven equally by an empathetic heart that beats for people and a rock-iron will that refuses to give up or give in. Jesus has something incredible for you, my Nelly. It will be hard and terrifying, but oh so worth it.

Happy Birthday, Janelle. You make me so proud to be your mama.