Julia's Birthday Letter 2012

This morning of your 10th birthday, I was reading the One Year Bible entry for today, January 24th.   A part of the psalm for the day reads like this:

May he give you the desire of your heart 
   and make all your plans succeed. 
May we shout for joy over your victory 
   and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
  May the LORD grant all your requests.  Psalm 20:4-5

I noticed a date scratched by Psalm 20 in my Bible.  On August 15, 2002, Denise and her family sent a huge bouquet of beautiful roses to me with these verses on the card.  They were celebrating with us because a birthmother had chosen us to adopt her baby.  But that baby was someone else’s.  God was working His ways to get you to us.  Almost two months later, we found out about you and we certainly “lift[ed] up our banners in the name of our God.”  Denise had no idea when she put those words on the card that I’d potentially read them every time YOU had a birthday! Now EVERY January 24, I am reminded how He gave us the desire of our hearts and that He granted our request..... to be parents.  We were astounded by His grace towards us and thus, your middle name, Karis {charis- grace that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness}.  You are all of that.

So, you are TEN today.  Your brother is most impressed with those double digits and has practiced already a few times, “My sister is ten.”  No matter how hard your Daddy and I try, we cannot stop this thing called “birthday”.  It comes every year.  The brick on your head fell off a long time ago and was replaced by a string that pulls you up and up and up, ever so gracefully.  I see the gracefulness physically but I am most excited about the grace I see in your spirit.  You bless me with it daily and I am a better mom for it.  I watch you depending on the Lord to help you be a patient big sister to your brother and I hear you asking for forgiveness when you fail.  I see you extending forgiveness to others when it’s really, really hard.  My prayer is that you would find Jesus to be “it” for you all your days, that He would be all that satisfies you and that you will trust Him to give you the desires of your heart.

There is so much to love about you.  Even though I know I don’t act like I value your silliness, I do.  I love to see you being 10, being free and being yourself.  I love to watch you play the piano, perform ballets on stage or in your room with friends, and make up stories outside.   I love to see you hugging on B, helping each other with chores or school work.  I love to watch you delighting in your Daddy’s love for you.  Your heart is on your sleeve and we are all blessed by that.  Here is my short list of “loves” about you.

Top Ten Things I Love About You

10.  Your favorite food is Mexican.

9.  You like to win.

8.  You appreciate deferred gratification and often choose it.

7.  You love a good tale and spend many hours reading good words and listening to stories far into the night.

6.  You are a saver for yourself and a spender on others.

5.  You value all things “home”.

4.  You treasure your friendships and each relationship brings you much joy.

3.  You have compassion for hurting people and those in need.

2.  You are ever so quick to forgive. {for the same offense a zillion times...}

1.  Your heart belongs to Jesus and now you have the adventure of following Him the rest of your days.

I am proud to call you my sister in Christ.

Happy Birthday, Julia Karis Sanders.

Goodbye 9 and hello 10!!!