Happy 6th, my love.

At 6:53 this morning we celebrated Evelyn's sixth birthday. I remember that moment well and will always love the experience of welcoming my first child into the world. Since that time, we've moved Evelyn to three different towns and four different homes. She is a resilient little girl. Bright, caring, loving, thoughtful, helpful, delightful, humorous and beautiful. The other day I fell on the ice while walking home from the library. Evelyn turned around and saw me on the ground like a fledgeling turtle on his back. She immediately ran over to me, asked if I was okay, and proceeded to help me back up and brush off the snow so my "pants don't get wet from the snow." She is a caretaker. Here is my friend, S, visiting us in the hospital. We had some family close, but it is always nice to have friends around who feel like family and join you on such a special day.
She was calm, able bodied and impressive to the doctors. 8 lbs. 10 oz. of healthy little girl.
Proof she has no hope in life because this is her genetic lineage. Her mother, shooting things in the desert, while five months pregnant with Evie.
The most recent. There is nothing this child cannot do. She loves life and lives in excitement for each moment. Yesterday, she celebrated her birthday with her best friend Karlee. They visited the Mall Of America and purchased an American Girl Doll (which she saved for and paid for with cash), rode some rides, including her first real rollercoster ride (just the two girls!) and ate dessert with their dolls before heading back home to play for endless hours.

I am a better person for knowing Evelyn. Her name means, "Living Light," and I know it was chosen for her long before we even knew her. Chosen by someone who knew her before she even came into existence...the One who knows how many hairs are on her little head and knows the days ordained for her. I am thankful He has chosen her to do good works here on earth and has selected me as her mother to raise her and train her up, with her father, to be all that she is created to be.

Happy, Happy, Birthday, precious first born.