Eight

There are so many reasons why I adore Eight. A newly minted Eight for four days Eight. Eight is thoughtful and sweet. Eight is snuggly and precious. Eight is loud sometimes, but usually mellow. Eight is silly and has an awesome fake laugh and an endearing real laugh. Eight giggles.

Eight loves to run ahead and yet remembers to stop and wait for those behind. Eight loves to help. She takes care of her youngest brother as much as he will let her. Eight can’t wait to hold and snuggle and wear the new baby because she/he won’t wriggle away from her.

Eight is creative. Eight loves projects like knitting a hat, making a dessert, divining a treasure hunt, writing a play. Eight is extraordinarily independent. I’ve learned to comment, “Let me know if you want help” because even though I think something might be too frustrating of a challenge, as it turns out, Eight wants to master it on her own.

Eight loves to read. In fact, if sometimes you can’t find Eight, look under the pile of books. Eight’s absolute favorite thing to do is read. We sometimes have to tell Eight not to read anymore and go play.

Eight has a hard time falling asleep. Eight tries to be obedient and stay in bed, but almost always thinks of a good excuse to come back downstairs even if it is just a little lavender on the temples or another prayer. Eight also tries hard to live peaceably with others, but has been known to yell at her siblings.

Eight is self directed. She decided she wanted to finish her second grade curriculum by herself and sat down and did it. Eight loves to learn new things. Most recently she shared with me the story of Reverend Thomas Vincent who lived during the Great Plague in 1665. He lived out Psalm 91 where it says,

Even though 70,000 people died in London that year and Reverend Vincent visited many of them, sharing the salvation of God, he was never even sick an hour. I love to see Eight’s heart.

Eight is beautiful, inside and out. I am so very, incredibly thankful God chose me to be her mama, that He trusted me with the privilege of guiding her to adulthood. Eight is new. Eight is mine.