March 18, 2009
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Dear Ainsley, as you turn 5
Dear Ainsley on the occasion of your 5th birthday,
My dear firstborn I can not believe you are now 5 years old. Everyone told me it would fly by, but I had no idea just how fast it would go. You are everything and nothing I thought you would be when I first looked into your eyes five years ago.
I am beyond thankful that God gave you to me. I couldn’t imagine having any other little girl as my firstborn child. There have been times when I wondered if God knew what He was doing by giving you to me, but I know God makes no mistakes and you are the perfect complement to our family.
I love your love of life. You find joy in everything from the mundane every day stuff of life to the things you find most enjoyable. You teach me much every day. You teach me how to still have fun, you teach me how to relax and let go of the little things, you teach me how to love others with complete abandon.
This year you have started school for the first time. Even though you are only gone three half-days a week, I still miss you. I can not believe you are old enough to go to school and have part of your life be something I am not a part of. I have been so proud of you and all you have learned this year. I know you are looking forward to going to kindergarten next year. You have become an excellent helper and I love seeing you play with your sister. This year you also played soccer for the first time and went to your first day camp this summer. You taught yourself how to “pump your legs” on the swing and you could spend hours in the backyard playing and exploring. You continue to swim well and loved riding any ride you were tall enough for at Six Flags. You have no fear and love to try new things.
This year was also the first time you really experience true heartbreak. The first time was when you had to say goodbye to your very first friend. Your friend Abigail, with whom you had been friends since birth, moved away and you had to deal with that sadness and loneliness. You were also truly heartbroken to learn you were not going to be a big sister again. As your mom I wanted so badly to take away your pain in both situations, but I know that it is just the beginning of you learning how to deal with sadness and heartbreak and I am so proud of how well you handled them.
Your heart has been pricked this year by the Word of God and you have had many questions about salvation and other spiritual matters. I have loved answering them and hearing how God is working on your heart. I pray every day that you will accept God’s gift of salvation, that you will learn to love the Lord with all your heart and that you will desire to serve Him.
I love you, my Ainsley, and I can’t wait to see what you’re going accomplish this year.
Love,
Your Mommy
Comments (12)
Sweet note Cathi,
Happy Birthday Ainsley!
This was lovely. Hope she had a wonderful birthday.
What a surprise to see your name on my home page! Happy birthday to Ainsley, and I hope all is going well for you and your family!
sweet….but you made me tear up. ;0 we love you Ainsley! love, Mrs. K and Abigail
It is wonderful to hear from you again…I have been wondering how you are doing.
Happy B-day Ainsley! I can’t believe that she is 5 already also, it is such a great age. Have a great celebration.
So happy for you both! May you both grow in love for the Lord and each other!
What a precious note to your little girl! Happy Birthday Ainsley!
We keep a birthday journal for each girl and each year Corey and I each write a letter of this sort in at their birthdays. It’s my plan to give it to each girl when she first moves away…college or something similar.
HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, AINSLEY!
That was so sweet, Cathi! I always cry when I write those b-day letters to Little Mister. It’s so happy and sad to review the past year. sniff, sniff
ryc: I know you SO know what I mean about those struggles with a strong-willed child. But it is so helpful to see how far we’ve/they’ve come, isn’t it?
I can’t believe she’s five now! I remember when my firstborn turned five, it was wonderful yet there was a small tinge of sadness as I realized how fast he was growing.
Hope things are going well!!!
Happy belated Birthday, Ainsley! Love the note you wrote to her, Cathi! So sweet! They do grow so fast, don’t they! It is exciting to see the changes in them, though. I’ve been thinking of you and wanted to drop in to see how you were doing. I haven’t been around here too much, but now that I’m completely over the flu, and hubby’s ankle has healed quite nicely, and our craft shows have slowed down … well, I’m going to do the same … slow down,that is! I’m hoping to be around here more now, and do some catching up, and more posting. Seems like things have slowed down around here, too … a lot of people here have gone over to Facebook … I have one, but I like it here better … I use mine to stay in touch with family, and a few Xanga friends from time to time. You have a blessed weekend! ~ Deborah <><
Hi Cathi … I’ve been thinking of you. Hope all is well with you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon! Have a blessed week! <><