A Merry Birthday Celebration

Dear Friends,

Happy birthday to AnnaMarie! Yesterday (the 31st) we celebrated the 12th birthday of our first-born child, who is growing up all too fast. We are so blessed to have her with us, and have been reminded so often during her life. She was born with the cord around her neck three times and had a hard time getting started, was in an almost-fatal car accident when she was four, and became diabetic when she was eight and had to be hospitalized for a week. She has been our constant reminder of the fragile thing that life is, and that reminder has caused us to grow in ways that we would not have otherwise.

She made her own nut/date/coconut cake and banana berry "ice cream."

How angelic we look!

We had a family party at a nearby lake (Which was a little crowded for our tastes.)~

And then to a nearby pond for more quiet enjoyment.

May the Lord continue to bless and watch over you, dear and precious AnnaMarie!

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Always Growing

What do you do in the ground, little seed,
Under the rain and snow,
Hidden away from the bright blue sky,
And lost to the madcap sparrow's eye?
"Why, do you not know?
I grow."

What do you do in the nest, little bird,
When the bough springs to and fro?
How do you pass the time away
From dawn to dusk of the summer day?
"What, do you not know?
I grow."

What do you do in the pond, little fish,
With scales that glisten so?
In and out of the water-grass,
Never at rest, I see you pass.
"Why, do you not know?
I grow."

What do you do in the cradle, my boy,
With chubby cheeks all aglow?
What do you do when your toys are put
Away and your wise little eyes are shut?
"Ho! Do you not know?
I grow."

Always growing! by night or day
No idle moments we see,
Whether at work or cheerful play,
Let us all be able to say,
In the goodness of God
We grow!

~From Our Little People