Layla Lu turns 4

   Layla Lu, here we are.  As i hold you close and take in your perfect skin and adorable cheeks, i see how much you are growing. 

 I love how your mind is always racing, how you always have an idea. how you want to mobilize the whole room, and won't say the idea or song unless everyone is listening. 

i love that you have vision. of how a party should feel, of what activity we should do, of what should come next. i love that you are a go-getter and a problem solver- you are not content to just let things take place. 

 I love that you are always talking to your dolls. you are singing to them about God, about Jesus, and sometimes i have even heard about Boaz or Mordecai?! you love externally processing...giving away what you have been given.

 

 

  I love your push to connect with people. That you try so hard in arabic with strangers, stringing together any words you know. "ana ray7iin bayt" i love that you greet and smile and talk. You are such a light, sweet girl. 

 i love when you get real excited when you are telling stories. and how expressive you are. You make us laugh and entertain us so much with your thoughts, quandaries and questions. we drink it in. 

  And i love when you open up your sweet heart to me. When i am cuddling with you before bed, or holding you close and you start telling me the things that are troubling you, or that your little spirit is thinking about. We have entered a new stage, my sweet layla, and i am relishing the innocence and vulnerability that i see in your heart. I love getting to shape and speak into you. i love seeing your spirit respond to encouragement. Words speak to you. 

  You are a delight. A cuddling, imaginative, caring, adventurous, friendly, singing, learning little girl that is fascinating to behold. I know i have told you this..but i keep loving you more each year i get with you, so i am sure that this year i will marvel and laugh and be astounded by my 4 year old claire bear.  

your birthday was a blast. you loved all the anticipation leading up to it, and then ran out in the morning and saw the decorations and exclaimed " wow! mom, how did you paint this?

 as i labeled all the food and we named everything with fancy names, you beamed and loved telling everyone who came. So fun to do things for you!

                                      
this was way more for the adults...

 you guys were sugar overloaded and there was LOTS of giggles coming from your table..

 you guys huddled under the table...

you and your friends LOVE playing games..

 so proud ...

 Val and baby Selah

 sweet Lydia

   our awesome table cloth/ picnic blanket chalk board!

 baby Ellie..

 lastly we forgot to talk family photos, so we tried with a self timer- pretty funny!