Happy 4th Birthday, Turner!

Dear Princess Turner,

Today is your fourth birthday! I can hardly believe it. You have grown so fast, and I am so proud of the little girl you have become! I pray each night that you will grow in “wisdom and stature and favor with God and man,” and God is graciously answering my prayers and continues to reveal an amazing treasure in you.

You are so sensitive – Just last night, I was lamenting you turning four. I said, “Turner, you can’t be FOUR. What am I going to do? You are my baby girl.”

You looked at me, took both of my cheeks in your hands, held me close and said: “Mom, it’s God’s plan. I HAVE to turn four. It’ll be ok. I’ll always be your baby.”

I pray you will always have a word of encouragement for those around you and will always freely share God’s love and joy.

You are so in love with your family - You love everyone from your grandparents to your Aunts and Uncles to second and third cousins. Deeply. Genuinely. On one of our recent trips to SC, you said, “Mom, I am so excited to see everyone, I could just cry!”

You keep your bro-bro straight on a daily basis and teach him the finer things in life (like skipping and cartwheels, for example!). Family is important to you!

I pray that no matter how far you go, no matter how much you grow, no matter what you do…you will always remember who you are and where you came from.

You are so independent – I took you for your first “real” play date the other day. I was chatting with the other mom, and finally you looked at me and said, “Mom, when are you going to leave?” You are so comfortable in your own skin and love to try new things.

I pray you will keep this trait of confidence and independence as you grow…it will serve you well!

You are so creative – You’ll spend hours coloring, painting, beading necklaces and drawing. Just the other day, you went and grabbed a picture you had of Jasmine playing the flute in your playroom and used it for inspiration as you painted it.

I pray you will always find joy in being creative and look at the world through a lens of delight and wonder.

You are a dreamer – Every morning, you rush into my bathroom to tell me about your dream the night before. You always have one. If you don’t, you make one up! I get a kick out of hearing what goes on in your head. You also politely DEMAND some creative and detailed stories on your back each nap and nighttime. I am thinking about writing a children’s series, since you’ve pushed me to seriously hone my creative writing/storytelling skills!

You also keep my washing machine in business, as you leave a trail of clothes each day when you change your outfits. You tell us you want to be a princess when you grow up, and I think you are well on your way!

I pray that you will keep on dreaming, sweet little girl!

You are compassionate – You sing some beautiful prayers at dinnertime (you could “take” any good Rabbi, any night!), and you pray so obediently and faithfully for those in need. Mary Evelyn is a girl you don’t even know in our community who has cancer. Your choir teacher asked you for your prayers. And not a night goes by that you forget to pray for her.

You have also prayed diligently for the people of Haiti after the big earthquake they just had. This touched you and our family so much, that you and your friend, Avery, beaded necklaces and made potholders for donations to raise money for an orphanage in Haiti. You guys took them around to a few friends and neighbors and managed to raise $51! We were so proud of you!

I pray you will always have compassion for those less fortunate than you are. There is no greater calling and no greater gift.

We love you "behind our backs," Turner Elizabeth. We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see what you do with your fourth year! Thank you for allowing us to journey with you!

Love,
Mommy