Lily is 9!

It is hard to believe that a year has passed and we now have a 9-year-old in the house! Lily has earned every bit of the "prestige" that comes with her age. She has always been our first-born, mature, responsible, can-handle-almost-anything child. And we could not be more proud of the young lady she is becoming!

Lily is an excellent student. A couple of her strongest traits are her handwriting (which she gets complimented on often), and her spelling (one that her Mama is very proud of! :). Although most subjects come fairly naturally to her, I noticed that reading was becoming a "chore" and not something she was excited about. Realizing we needed a solution, I contacted Grandma B. who graciously used her Reading Specialist technique and started a summer book club with Lily. I have been amazed with how she has taken off since school began! She is reading up a storm and we couldn't be more excited about her new passion. Often I will look back in the car and her head is in her book! She is also very good at math (although she doesn't enjoy it as much :) and is currently learning multiplication and division.

Lily loves to play soccer and enjoys the social aspect just as much as the sport itself :). She joined the school running club in September and trained weekly to run the KC Kids Marathon (1 mile) with her fellow 3rd-5th grade classmates. She had so much pride in crossing the finish line and receiving her medal. What an great goal she achieved!

Although Lily loves to be a social butterfly, she also loves to escape to her art table downstairs and spend time drawing and creating. She loves art and enjoys drawing pictures for us and her friends. In fact, she chose an art party this year! She invited some girl friends and they painted canvases and window suncatchers. She had a blast. (pictures to follow)

Of all the memories I have of Lily's 8th year, the one that will forever stand out in my heart was her baptism. It is evident that God is working in her life. We have had many discussions on what being a Christ-follower means and how to live out her faith in her school and with many others who don't know Christ. She is such a great example to others and we pray she continues to take pride in her faith and share it with others.

Lily, it has been a joy to watch you grow in so many ways these past 8 years! We are excited to see what God has for you in the years to come! We love you so much!

(Lily asked me when we were doing her "birthday interview", so this is all in her own words)

HEIGHT: 4' 3"

BEST FRIENDS: Chloe, Ivy, Autumn, Kayla, Ashleigh, Lainee, Georgia

AGE: 9

SCHOOL: Blackburn Elementary

PETS: Kelsey

HOBBIES: drawing, reading, writing

SPECIAL SKILLS: cartwheels, round-off's, backbends, jump roping

WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP: Artist

FAV GROUPS OR SINGER: TobyMac, Jamie Grace

FAV SONG: Feel It

FAV COLOR: Turquoise

FAV FOOD: Hashbrown Casserole

FAV DRINK: Sprite

FAV SUBJECT: Reading

LEAST FAV SUBJECT: Math

FAV TOY: Beanie Boos

FAV BOOK: Grace

FAV MOVIE: Home

FAV ANIMAL: Bunnies

FAV HOLIDAY: Christmas

FAV WEATHER: Sunny days

FAV CANDY: Laffy Taffy

FAV T.V. SHOW: Good Luck Charlie

FAV SPORTS: Soccer, Baseball

FAV PHRASE: "Oh yeah, baby!"

SEVEN WORDS TO DESCRIBE MYSELF: Crazy, Pretty, Funny, Talented, Athletic, Loving, and Artistic