Seven Years of Cate

Dear Catherine Anna,

I love sharing my birthday weekend with you. Really, I love sharing my life with you. When God made me a momma seven years ago, I knew I'd never be the same. Even at barely 8 pounds, your little life changed mine.

Being your mom has been the best adventure yet. And we like adventures, don't we? Of course, we both ask many questions along the way and anticipate what's coming next. But together we get to find out.

You've taught me that nuture matters more than nature, although I'm thankful you got your beautiful brown eyes and a determined spirit from your lovely birth mom. You embody my favorite testimony of God's faithfulness to hear the desires of my heart.

God's has been teaching me about myself and my perfectionist, first-born ways through your life. I see you struggle with some of the same approval-seeking, fear-of-failure tendencies and I want to show you that God is bigger than all of that. {Read more about that in a post I shared today on Jennifer Dukes Lee's blog.}

Age 6 is the first one I've wanted to freeze. I've enjoyed the other seasons - the learning how to walk and talk, discovering the world as you toddle, starting preschool and then real school. But each time I've been ready for the next one without tears.

I haven't shed tears yet today, but this one feels different. I've loved this past year in a different way. Maybe it's the way God's been wrecking my approval-seeking heart and turned it toward real life right now. Some days are messy and loud and busy. {Hence the fact I've been writing this post in my head all day and just now posting it while you're sleeping on your top bunk.} Sometimes I don't know the answers to your questions. But I've loved watching you read and write and draw and question and explore. You can tell time, tie your shoes and count money.

You interrupt others sometimes. It's something we're always working on, but I've been noticing lately it's because you have so much you want to share with the world. Yes, you need to wait your turn, but I admire your bravery to voice love and compassion to others. I love the way you invite others in to our lives and around our table. Adventure does await, my girl.

I love you. And I love my life's adventures with you.

Happy 7th birthday, sweet girl.

Love,
Momma
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Look back on other birthday posts: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

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