LILLIE GRACE

I know you all think I have overlooked doing a blog about my youngest...well I haven't. I just had other things to tend to first. Plus I wanted to wait until I was inspired. I am now....so here goes.

Lillie, was a huge surprise for us! She and Megan are 21 months apart. Yikes!

7 years ago I had the longest, hardest, and most unusual labor ever. She came out crying and hasn't stopped making her presence known since. To say she is my loudest would be an under statement. I fear it is my fault, because I was so angry during my pregnancy with her and I would yell all the time. Poor thing. We are still working on that.

Lillie is the youngest of our biological children. And though she is loud and strong willed...you might be surprised at the tenderness that lies beneath. She has one of the biggest hearts for the underdog that I have ever seen. She absolutely is drawn to handicapped children. It is the coolest thing to watch. Last year she had a little girl in her class, Emma, that had Downs Syndrome. She helped her just about everyday. She loved it. It was a daily thing to hear her at the dinner table telling us all about what Emma did that day. And she was so proud to be chosen at the choir concert to help Emma during their part of the program. And now that I have a job working with handicapped kids, she asks me about them all the time. I have a Downs Syndrome little girl in my class and Lillie asks me everyday how she did that day. It will be really fun watching what God does with this soft spot for her!

Lillie, we have learned thrives in the light of praise! She is so eager to please, and is absolutely crushed if she thinks she has disappointed you. I am glad she wants to do the right thing, but we have a great deal to teach her about being careful where she places her feelings. I do not want her killing herself most of her life trying to please others. Know what I mean? And we want to make absolutely sure she understands that salvation is granted by GRACE only, not by "doing" the right thing.

She is entertaining and outgoing. She makes friends where ever she goes. She is beautiful and enchanting, engaging, and down right enthusiastic! She never runs out of energy. It is crazy! She is showing signs of creativity like her sisters. But she is more adventuresome than they are.

She is lover of monkeys and most animals. In fact at her preschool graduation she said she wanted to be a zoo keeper when she grew up.

She loves to play. And I mean play at anything. She likes to play games, dress up, outside, dress up, ride her bike, dress up, barbies, babies, and oh....did I mention dress up?

Who knows what she will want to be or do someday. All I know is the man who finally captures her heart better hold on tight for one exciting ride! And be prepared to have a loyal friend as well as a forever love. She loves deeply and fiercely even now. She protects all that is around her. And her curiosity has gotten her in trouble more than once.

BUT, all that said, she is mine. My Lillie Grace, and I love her!!!

Hugs, Kristina