We have a six-year-old!

Dear Katie,

The red buds are blooming, and it is the first day of spring, reminding us vividly of welcoming our first child into the world. Happy sixth Birthday, sweetie! It's amazing that you are six - where did the time go?

Daddy and I are very blessed to have you as our daughter. You love the Lord Jesus, and are very sensitive to His Spirit leading you. You remember others in your prayers, especially the unsaved, and you thank the Lord for what He's given you. You willingly memorize scripture with Ellie and me, and retain it well. You want to reach out to others, and have shown great interest in writing to our sponsored child, Litsoanelo. We are thankful for your kind and gentle ways. You are helpful around the house and with your siblings, even when not asked.

Probably your most favorite past time is drawing and coloring. You spend much of your day carefully coloring and cutting out pictures to make paper dolls. When you draw something on your own, you do great work, and it's such fun to see your perspective broadening and your attention to detail. Sometimes, you try to draw a picture you've seen in a book; you prop the book up on the table, and become very concentrated in getting your drawing just right.

Daddy gave you a "big girl" bike on Saturday. Just a year ago, you were rather timid about riding your little bike with 14-inch wheels and training wheels. Now, you've graduated to this bigger bike, and seem to love it!

We had your birthday breakfast on Saturday, so that Daddy could be home to enjoy it, too. You wanted french toast, bacon, and strawberries. For your birthday dinner, which we will have tonight, you want steak, noodles (specifically with butter, salt, and pepper), bread sticks, steamed broccoli, and sauteed brussel sprouts. I love your menu choice - very thoughtfully and quite healthfully put together. For dessert, we are making a bicycle cake - your pick!

This morning at breakfast you said that you wanted to be a missionary or adopt a child that needs you. It came out of discussion about what truly matters to the Lord, and that no matter what we have, we should be willing to use it to serve the Him. It was a fun discussion, and rewarding to see your mind processing our conversation.

We love you so much, Katie, and we're so very thankful you are a part of our family. We rejoice to see you learning what it means to follow Christ!