tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84337241446235402582024-02-18T20:56:54.572-05:00WORDSthatSINGIt's the words that sing, they soar and descend...I love words so much...The unexpected ones...The ones I wait for greedily or stalk until, suddenly, they drop...They glitter like colored stones, they leap like silver fish, ...They are so beautiful that I want to fit them all into my poem...They are very ancient and very new -
Neruda
kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.comBlogger990125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-13204414171171439692023-08-31T14:44:00.007-04:002023-09-05T15:35:20.250-04:00Sloan is FIVE!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGt-tf5mYUHwu_loTiDLZ7EqV1j7UTGInmr7DE3VfbimpuoguYGN9VN5_mPVqviF6PsucGn-zWVvSyyVGqkNuqZN7Qxf91pSCw9rPHrtlZRzmzCmhavC4UPHcHrjHJ-jjgB_KaNSF0_mqb5Z4P2yhCa1IgeNK5EcInAQknytTEHcqP6MyeFGYP4sCNfs/s6720/F81A6453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGt-tf5mYUHwu_loTiDLZ7EqV1j7UTGInmr7DE3VfbimpuoguYGN9VN5_mPVqviF6PsucGn-zWVvSyyVGqkNuqZN7Qxf91pSCw9rPHrtlZRzmzCmhavC4UPHcHrjHJ-jjgB_KaNSF0_mqb5Z4P2yhCa1IgeNK5EcInAQknytTEHcqP6MyeFGYP4sCNfs/w640-h426/F81A6453.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk57pyoCy0uqX_Q_f5vyCZqQcFpqVLopro_Pa4d4M6HwHdLxLmAlova7T7xPIbfHc9c5p7xP6QGD36Durx2mLenV5xcPZM47W8Yp263r5T3xhzQChKjMFZ6f_iVvDZGjsYp3GGcHLn71dFzEFC8vJ7W6vMExd8Wbd8GIM0fF-HdwiR7PssgciTnqJ71vs/s5556/F81A6529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5556" data-original-width="3704" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk57pyoCy0uqX_Q_f5vyCZqQcFpqVLopro_Pa4d4M6HwHdLxLmAlova7T7xPIbfHc9c5p7xP6QGD36Durx2mLenV5xcPZM47W8Yp263r5T3xhzQChKjMFZ6f_iVvDZGjsYp3GGcHLn71dFzEFC8vJ7W6vMExd8Wbd8GIM0fF-HdwiR7PssgciTnqJ71vs/w426-h640/F81A6529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUsGTcDzaJx4gbZ1Fl5xADbIaTPS1IcAdgCLO4rZ72MRLPqIUjZIvuqPerCaY_Z7ATWR83g4dDPLf8HU_7yx6rnDd99P_X1Dl7ucWv_4i3rPz-cpdrUKrNt_YM-5uuynrbPOzArGFHwgB_WWY6goJfYDy321G0vSrHLaVdaxXfV_gxWxJioccLLU2-58/s6720/F81A6414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUsGTcDzaJx4gbZ1Fl5xADbIaTPS1IcAdgCLO4rZ72MRLPqIUjZIvuqPerCaY_Z7ATWR83g4dDPLf8HU_7yx6rnDd99P_X1Dl7ucWv_4i3rPz-cpdrUKrNt_YM-5uuynrbPOzArGFHwgB_WWY6goJfYDy321G0vSrHLaVdaxXfV_gxWxJioccLLU2-58/w640-h426/F81A6414.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJ8D7w-PRS0VDIApQV3hjnONPDM2x1wr6768krladXNJLmRb2ZDv4OVqn14tc5LkxqMR2y6TaGvsIBEyfN3aDu5lCxR6oCz8dUJ2H4MAb4jbQBkIyQJv30CkfvpugOLMq8dNcbNFqxtTBCGJWuMhxYPdMKyEwSXZpiSxE7SDnkCcxanz3LGs336FRz4s/s4771/F81A6416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4771" data-original-width="3181" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJ8D7w-PRS0VDIApQV3hjnONPDM2x1wr6768krladXNJLmRb2ZDv4OVqn14tc5LkxqMR2y6TaGvsIBEyfN3aDu5lCxR6oCz8dUJ2H4MAb4jbQBkIyQJv30CkfvpugOLMq8dNcbNFqxtTBCGJWuMhxYPdMKyEwSXZpiSxE7SDnkCcxanz3LGs336FRz4s/w426-h640/F81A6416.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJChVWZSrQbEOak6pnQuicKkg62QE5CraZg0BpFvzlHQRIoNqD9pC6NvQ81bQ6AJr_QqFN4qqWq0jjyJSMX21hl-zLIP-JY_b6pfZ4_ABOoSolbfdtXjLWD4Skidqn1o7laiLMm3-GUK_5VI8whlUAxXkWrm4lavULI0pdpev3qDSxw-7n_FOIDzwsVI/s5033/F81A6417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5033" data-original-width="3355" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJChVWZSrQbEOak6pnQuicKkg62QE5CraZg0BpFvzlHQRIoNqD9pC6NvQ81bQ6AJr_QqFN4qqWq0jjyJSMX21hl-zLIP-JY_b6pfZ4_ABOoSolbfdtXjLWD4Skidqn1o7laiLMm3-GUK_5VI8whlUAxXkWrm4lavULI0pdpev3qDSxw-7n_FOIDzwsVI/w426-h640/F81A6417.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1l0DuhNXmHv8FNGPWXNMa2Ny7_yO2PcWQZ4SMSHM61oEaRoYEGDeN15QhT2LGd3Aht32Wia2KdcDDWN__fKFe6e1Ljl9sRzRtzk1C0kab8W7NVhwePWsFF9u9H1T2Ial9BmiqO0tHj1cS7m5hf0Uta0pFXZOmH3b9KHVG0odU_1Yds_rlsQmReUZcXM/s5178/F81A6418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5178" data-original-width="3452" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1l0DuhNXmHv8FNGPWXNMa2Ny7_yO2PcWQZ4SMSHM61oEaRoYEGDeN15QhT2LGd3Aht32Wia2KdcDDWN__fKFe6e1Ljl9sRzRtzk1C0kab8W7NVhwePWsFF9u9H1T2Ial9BmiqO0tHj1cS7m5hf0Uta0pFXZOmH3b9KHVG0odU_1Yds_rlsQmReUZcXM/w426-h640/F81A6418.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQs62M7GXMea5yrX8Njyx7E3OVrZB9pU9FH-DtSXIVzXcBDqPDkJDspkbxeOn9-onjFSS2pLba6FOXtnMTLlAEsK5u-UmZ8CIBFqp3mDPDpoeMwbx8L5qbEJsyv62zKPWPuvtdH17WRP-vawnJyd8dJp-MIENfOa0f6ESnZu4CESCN0xwVJhjFFj7vSMk/s4480/F81A6419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2987" data-original-width="4480" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQs62M7GXMea5yrX8Njyx7E3OVrZB9pU9FH-DtSXIVzXcBDqPDkJDspkbxeOn9-onjFSS2pLba6FOXtnMTLlAEsK5u-UmZ8CIBFqp3mDPDpoeMwbx8L5qbEJsyv62zKPWPuvtdH17WRP-vawnJyd8dJp-MIENfOa0f6ESnZu4CESCN0xwVJhjFFj7vSMk/w640-h426/F81A6419.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Sloan Lee,</p><p></p><p>Today I spent twenty minutes bleaching all around and about the toilet. Places I never knew I would want to put bleach before were bleached today. You see, I've never had to clean a toilet quite this meticulously until you came along. And when I was bent over in one particular angle wondering how in the world I even needed to clean there, I just laughed and thank God for letting me have a chance to have a boy. Because, gymnastics-while-cleaning-toilets-required aside, you have been nothing but a loud, exuberant ball of energy and joy and sunshine in our lives. And as I scrubbed in the bathroom, I couldn't help but remember the struggles to get you potty-trained which seem like yesterday. So it is seems nearly impossible that you, my last child, are turning five. And yet, here we are-- a whole entire hand full of fingers to show you age. </p><p>You are still an utter delight, bursting with joy and energy and questions and ideas and laughter. A word I often use to describe you is "relentless." I looked up the definition and it says, "incessant; constant; persistent." And that has described you this year of your life, for sure. You are nonstop in all you do, and if you have an idea you won't quit until it comes to fruition! You want others to be on board with you in your plans as well, and swaying you once you have made up your mind is a very tall task. I think this will serve you well in the long run, but I also hope we are teaching you a little about compromise and flexibility ;). (Especially if we can't build the car track/ramp <i>exactly </i>how you envisioned it).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWX8HkH5wFu-EWgI-a3V2nxXjsBBUjxbTCnsY5gzQX3B7ac3DlBAGiqqT02US3HgipskC296QPFeiUPBOBNEZ0ZmyiLFHNZthjjWbqXkYhToL1ylIcO1hE-FOnFPww0ufI86ZZB_v1nKJTKwYWEWqxOLqx6aoWZKhm_otMsJKppzI9HiPRfGvwS2yqaY/s5178/F81A6420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5178" data-original-width="3452" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWX8HkH5wFu-EWgI-a3V2nxXjsBBUjxbTCnsY5gzQX3B7ac3DlBAGiqqT02US3HgipskC296QPFeiUPBOBNEZ0ZmyiLFHNZthjjWbqXkYhToL1ylIcO1hE-FOnFPww0ufI86ZZB_v1nKJTKwYWEWqxOLqx6aoWZKhm_otMsJKppzI9HiPRfGvwS2yqaY/w426-h640/F81A6420.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx80dLpavWqICFv15lGIBJAd5Su2N7-NdYIHRvUExVrUnrSyCowqtbrh864k8HuOlla1A1rtTdmrKzYvsgyQICA1I2fe6Fb_jo4L9Fha6u-WW6z_AcvRAFO7mfinVVVjv691qqAVSxhg-_L5ja29gCyU6nja7Q8v3jBIwk7A4ww-Taz4evwjtp3iCPnA/s6720/F81A6426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx80dLpavWqICFv15lGIBJAd5Su2N7-NdYIHRvUExVrUnrSyCowqtbrh864k8HuOlla1A1rtTdmrKzYvsgyQICA1I2fe6Fb_jo4L9Fha6u-WW6z_AcvRAFO7mfinVVVjv691qqAVSxhg-_L5ja29gCyU6nja7Q8v3jBIwk7A4ww-Taz4evwjtp3iCPnA/w640-h426/F81A6426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwS4UTwQR1n2I17jnLsmLEAT2CSkRa95Y6zN0q6-Uvqxw2zrvDU4DDb4Tpzw6qXTbqsQGNt7kfKudBI-wRaDhFe5kk_rdHLAf2pbq__RWa_3iZCQrHMJc2ZEmGTRvZ4H1Q0551eGkSnqJMZqh0g3R4pqhuRiYD1iC7JdCz1uC9SeTweK3km53o3XCRbQ/s6720/F81A6433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwS4UTwQR1n2I17jnLsmLEAT2CSkRa95Y6zN0q6-Uvqxw2zrvDU4DDb4Tpzw6qXTbqsQGNt7kfKudBI-wRaDhFe5kk_rdHLAf2pbq__RWa_3iZCQrHMJc2ZEmGTRvZ4H1Q0551eGkSnqJMZqh0g3R4pqhuRiYD1iC7JdCz1uC9SeTweK3km53o3XCRbQ/w426-h640/F81A6433.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCXz26Z8SB3dPOoKDpX7PTAOhxQ5z-GfEhRzkYvyTxVG01ViC1M6ng-E6I7OZve0bi16O9t2RgR7LShmy4mD5TZMSKDzmX0-p-csQelb7zn6TpZpU-TBq3Lu8PfoxKAIy-248ajTgGY6yW7k8aNSDB5viLUCGihh-cbqS6KwDjCC7V73B7YdA5Yrtb1s/s6720/F81A6434.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCXz26Z8SB3dPOoKDpX7PTAOhxQ5z-GfEhRzkYvyTxVG01ViC1M6ng-E6I7OZve0bi16O9t2RgR7LShmy4mD5TZMSKDzmX0-p-csQelb7zn6TpZpU-TBq3Lu8PfoxKAIy-248ajTgGY6yW7k8aNSDB5viLUCGihh-cbqS6KwDjCC7V73B7YdA5Yrtb1s/w426-h640/F81A6434.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWfx4naeOOuBPHxigQltpoEyP5-4TDM25zekYmz6PI4qKvci6s3cqKXvtR8Xo2jvVDZqpYyvZ0m-d9YUwnHEds4fqXM9EQce5eIS5ol2mYMqnSg84RKHT8Bz75wv7nB1rgNIDGo2xTLySbJlpqiw0QwGkME2unCfPZyD22SwhGUKA8tUaZsrQnHwiynM/s6720/F81A6437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWfx4naeOOuBPHxigQltpoEyP5-4TDM25zekYmz6PI4qKvci6s3cqKXvtR8Xo2jvVDZqpYyvZ0m-d9YUwnHEds4fqXM9EQce5eIS5ol2mYMqnSg84RKHT8Bz75wv7nB1rgNIDGo2xTLySbJlpqiw0QwGkME2unCfPZyD22SwhGUKA8tUaZsrQnHwiynM/w426-h640/F81A6437.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdW3NSezh6u1PYuFy48iR0IhbWf_7IP9MnJa6dN7p6UXrZXdRkM9dfUdbKI8k8C6aNc4Hm58o4KCcawxqz4n_GC9kwqwExp52s2bV9pKcivoqlJDyF1zIrIohnlthIWnnoA9bcqRdAolK9WonRU-l2NOExQEdA4tpNNx4UC5tGYXO2DmHnwd22OzZAkc/s6720/F81A6438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdW3NSezh6u1PYuFy48iR0IhbWf_7IP9MnJa6dN7p6UXrZXdRkM9dfUdbKI8k8C6aNc4Hm58o4KCcawxqz4n_GC9kwqwExp52s2bV9pKcivoqlJDyF1zIrIohnlthIWnnoA9bcqRdAolK9WonRU-l2NOExQEdA4tpNNx4UC5tGYXO2DmHnwd22OzZAkc/w426-h640/F81A6438.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTFIHGpWNE8RExQAY-AELNs0i-TXzlHtshSHKxxRIAbdpBwQhvExVAfmBCOYO4nsJ_614jy3ONjysCC_9LAfyvAW1_e3icF-mOZvMXxvUhxs1uTz9QsVQ2rpSe_LWE848EOdB5Ky3ZbWBVSiKxI2mK4er9owgcsklBZt6l26g4hxTWTv1NQFennIwT9c/s6720/F81A6439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTFIHGpWNE8RExQAY-AELNs0i-TXzlHtshSHKxxRIAbdpBwQhvExVAfmBCOYO4nsJ_614jy3ONjysCC_9LAfyvAW1_e3icF-mOZvMXxvUhxs1uTz9QsVQ2rpSe_LWE848EOdB5Ky3ZbWBVSiKxI2mK4er9owgcsklBZt6l26g4hxTWTv1NQFennIwT9c/w426-h640/F81A6439.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>You are such a little people-person. Everyday you want to know who we are going to visit or what we are going to be doing. If I tell you we're just going to be home you are so disappointed. Out and about and socializing it what you prefer to be doing. Which is why, after doing preschool at home with all your sisters, we made the decision to enroll you in a little preschool this year. You are so excited to start next month and will get to go three days a week for just a couple of hours. I am really hoping this fills up your social cup a bit. You just always want to be <i>doing </i>something, and we've had to have the conversation a lot that it's your <i>job </i>right now to just <i>play. </i>You are great at playing, but most often you would prefer that it is not by yourself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">One thing you look forward to everyday though is watching for Richard to come down the road in this Gator so you can go check the cows with him. You've been doing this with him for a few years now and still get so excited when you see him coming up the road. Really, you get excited when you see <i>anyone </i>coming up the road to our house. Sometimes you stand outside and wait for our neighbor, Caydin, to get home from practice so you can show him a remote control or water gun or anything! And if it's a grandparent coming then they know they have to be ready for you to ask if you can go somewhere with them. You still also love to run or ride your bike up the street to Russ and Dianna's to hang out with your buddy, the dog Jude. You've been known to eat her treats, but she loves when you visit. We've also had to have conversations about not ringing their doorbell or banging on their window with sticks (the tactic you employed after we said you couldn't ring the doorbell...). If Max and Zach are outside playing baseball, then you want to join them...or at least chat with them while they play. Doing PE/Recess with Cora and Ty during their homeschool day has recently been a favorite of yours as well. You're always just looking for a friend to hang out with :). You love all your buddies from church, any friend your sisters have over is quickly commandeered by you, and you live for going to other people's houses for visits. </p></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpSVNbkHedN9hBTDA6l9wLD-57RRecE3GXcKG_A2u_JrN2RynDg83Jtw0Bx6f9MgKdhvBn8LoOvhbwnWIsA3iqPOKpWMHjI9Ty6DOZbxm2YiumfLsnxH2yWQiKzYhL5DppQTbtgya-V3WQVn8XAZtwhTq5sjcWoaAFyae4h8aNzSQIMbhrPdY48YEcgQ/s6720/F81A6441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpSVNbkHedN9hBTDA6l9wLD-57RRecE3GXcKG_A2u_JrN2RynDg83Jtw0Bx6f9MgKdhvBn8LoOvhbwnWIsA3iqPOKpWMHjI9Ty6DOZbxm2YiumfLsnxH2yWQiKzYhL5DppQTbtgya-V3WQVn8XAZtwhTq5sjcWoaAFyae4h8aNzSQIMbhrPdY48YEcgQ/w426-h640/F81A6441.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxUF_zqK56M4qGTueXWF0MGO7g1aT6pswLaXPrzcqJr5pNtIcAAZ8bjRowHsfHHre5W4TNF3wBz6VKpC2G4qOBXhsQw3SP7O4Ac0xjRAVdaFy0XIMXN2QS4U5drkgbqE8Agttz1pXAUA4FO9w9bk22PUSudPoPgnJf-NR9VEKBdl47_k0f8jG1cSVaL8/s6720/F81A6443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxUF_zqK56M4qGTueXWF0MGO7g1aT6pswLaXPrzcqJr5pNtIcAAZ8bjRowHsfHHre5W4TNF3wBz6VKpC2G4qOBXhsQw3SP7O4Ac0xjRAVdaFy0XIMXN2QS4U5drkgbqE8Agttz1pXAUA4FO9w9bk22PUSudPoPgnJf-NR9VEKBdl47_k0f8jG1cSVaL8/w426-h640/F81A6443.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-AZXQFSycFsGOj6o6YquJWYwKrVBBVyrMnpNzItP0M23wtzhNt17LzlWudehoejeAnHociwqyAkLfWwnZJxhJIkT7AX2Ecv6zCVmpUI2KPBsTwQVTtHKEyfoYWWHg09f6jnDh0Ih_Y_kiH-lIDTCwRInU1EgsIxlSPYlB4CRiwj5ciHyYaXKRL6YL3g/s6720/F81A6444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-AZXQFSycFsGOj6o6YquJWYwKrVBBVyrMnpNzItP0M23wtzhNt17LzlWudehoejeAnHociwqyAkLfWwnZJxhJIkT7AX2Ecv6zCVmpUI2KPBsTwQVTtHKEyfoYWWHg09f6jnDh0Ih_Y_kiH-lIDTCwRInU1EgsIxlSPYlB4CRiwj5ciHyYaXKRL6YL3g/w426-h640/F81A6444.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-k5hRqXAKDgNO2lOr_1kl4K9eVzOb_D6LvHU8ECoDI7qwdLQ9wZ2ikzVizhHCuuC7UuQ-RR0sPZQ24snrTTpkJTWG7ztYu_J2X4VBANsHncp4tUR5oNKOn5-eHTkGMHfgzzZx3YIDrpnylP3VZ9rsyNTTp7HW8OKZjaarRym9mhKDDE1trszdSSohVk/s6720/F81A6445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-k5hRqXAKDgNO2lOr_1kl4K9eVzOb_D6LvHU8ECoDI7qwdLQ9wZ2ikzVizhHCuuC7UuQ-RR0sPZQ24snrTTpkJTWG7ztYu_J2X4VBANsHncp4tUR5oNKOn5-eHTkGMHfgzzZx3YIDrpnylP3VZ9rsyNTTp7HW8OKZjaarRym9mhKDDE1trszdSSohVk/w640-h426/F81A6445.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5eZdK3Z8ygA5Mb_mqoS8MK0haPtsR7dXX0LQcTQa-pHOwLCgsvmVILc4-2yR-gD6QE3XAQeYZfxH9GLovllkAmW0bd7_t0GMsBW0mEOJ-FXHNMvfj3ouwVXUNPc9G2TpY-LfHhlyhlHF82LBy1VJBAeXiXl8-snuCEASApiXMq28_W3V69TYvxmKe-s/s6720/F81A6451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5eZdK3Z8ygA5Mb_mqoS8MK0haPtsR7dXX0LQcTQa-pHOwLCgsvmVILc4-2yR-gD6QE3XAQeYZfxH9GLovllkAmW0bd7_t0GMsBW0mEOJ-FXHNMvfj3ouwVXUNPc9G2TpY-LfHhlyhlHF82LBy1VJBAeXiXl8-snuCEASApiXMq28_W3V69TYvxmKe-s/w640-h426/F81A6451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEQYh-tZ4Qj2_qBt-A4FlF5xgjSxcldXPdS-icGA26VCXCDllgaLJ4Xt4_VLv0U2bQhy9l0peVL4vLEkViBLkjI3RJOVf2gZzc1NfVpMlriVdAITdPfx2TxIvqn6_i9fucCLRkoWbfWv0f4uLPs2X28bSD7s4G76SybWGRZi7gerJyZCszQVyI6Xxgv4/s6720/F81A6454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEQYh-tZ4Qj2_qBt-A4FlF5xgjSxcldXPdS-icGA26VCXCDllgaLJ4Xt4_VLv0U2bQhy9l0peVL4vLEkViBLkjI3RJOVf2gZzc1NfVpMlriVdAITdPfx2TxIvqn6_i9fucCLRkoWbfWv0f4uLPs2X28bSD7s4G76SybWGRZi7gerJyZCszQVyI6Xxgv4/w640-h426/F81A6454.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_-Wm-oXsPP5x45_wUjg6ZKETUjNDjEgu9WyedceMS13le7_p7PeZRBjs9ddsHwd5m1b4EWqPW2AA9ixnUhEc1_OXeyLRaQRuOzgZ0wfYu8FNZGXURRb6fCFea4zpTTChD28RapqkG7CRdBoC0TyVQiAgdGRQaaNhtfJyjDc155Kj578f94i7CJFTjLM/s6720/F81A6456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_-Wm-oXsPP5x45_wUjg6ZKETUjNDjEgu9WyedceMS13le7_p7PeZRBjs9ddsHwd5m1b4EWqPW2AA9ixnUhEc1_OXeyLRaQRuOzgZ0wfYu8FNZGXURRb6fCFea4zpTTChD28RapqkG7CRdBoC0TyVQiAgdGRQaaNhtfJyjDc155Kj578f94i7CJFTjLM/w426-h640/F81A6456.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Four was just such a fun and busy age with you. You were constantly learning and growing. You loved to sit and read books for however long I would last. "Frog and Toad" books became a fan favorite last year and I loved how you got some of the dryer humor in them. One time you about fell out of my lap because you were laughing so hard at Toad! You just love stories in general. I found a fun kid's podcast for you and you love to sit and listen to the 10 minute "Mr. Jim Stories," and you still love my old books on tape and Adventures in Odyssey tapes. In the car you have gotten into jamming out to our old CDs on a discman, and it's hilarious and fun to hear you singing, as loudly as you can, the songs your dad and I listened to in the 90s. You also LOVE when your dad tells you stories before bed at night-- the zanier and sillier the better! And then, in return, you've started telling us some of your own. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYwmgM-3aV6-tT8S-cV6eUvnVLE83yZU5b5X9sRIs2YXEoQFb0OpiE1gduz0NRDkQYP_g4fdxr2vYkF0pw97w3Xk5bXmrq0H4KPbk3iWl9ZEwn84NhiE0XyHyUkhxMsefNoBzuTla9B0LnAuZCss8Mi4Z0ufOCoiHtMbMLxzoTiw5qhJyTW12govNSdQ/s6720/F81A6457.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYwmgM-3aV6-tT8S-cV6eUvnVLE83yZU5b5X9sRIs2YXEoQFb0OpiE1gduz0NRDkQYP_g4fdxr2vYkF0pw97w3Xk5bXmrq0H4KPbk3iWl9ZEwn84NhiE0XyHyUkhxMsefNoBzuTla9B0LnAuZCss8Mi4Z0ufOCoiHtMbMLxzoTiw5qhJyTW12govNSdQ/w426-h640/F81A6457.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ6Y48j0hVvmcj_bTkQnCAYBWA43iCyGRkrzpPS5FSPsv3COzNFC_QFUCsIfQ9DGBm7zykiamiXx_1_NgJqSeMxUfpLv3Rk86dzV4ZZ_C2DHHRw3sGMTkNenPhAgDV6YKmX5pJgiTFQaFEOqB3CR7nL3gUftqfkHKU-Bl2kcidgkzlpqXrdFvFShZJkQ/s5905/F81A6460.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5905" data-original-width="3937" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ6Y48j0hVvmcj_bTkQnCAYBWA43iCyGRkrzpPS5FSPsv3COzNFC_QFUCsIfQ9DGBm7zykiamiXx_1_NgJqSeMxUfpLv3Rk86dzV4ZZ_C2DHHRw3sGMTkNenPhAgDV6YKmX5pJgiTFQaFEOqB3CR7nL3gUftqfkHKU-Bl2kcidgkzlpqXrdFvFShZJkQ/w426-h640/F81A6460.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSA7PJtVe0yOiD16vN1_TMMJx49uCRi8PxcVyOD-E1BDeI7sSXB2ANyMfLk78tlK9_ZUHqdmJNQmJ7OeFSbWtZVUeusQKAbQ11bAA4GQEriAg-S7l6gyxgflf2zeKYbGAeCvtgWPYgOgk8l_wOedOzSHhzL9C2G214Mf2r2F9QjMW4pRvMXxCx1O4xH0/s5702/F81A6463.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5702" data-original-width="3801" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSA7PJtVe0yOiD16vN1_TMMJx49uCRi8PxcVyOD-E1BDeI7sSXB2ANyMfLk78tlK9_ZUHqdmJNQmJ7OeFSbWtZVUeusQKAbQ11bAA4GQEriAg-S7l6gyxgflf2zeKYbGAeCvtgWPYgOgk8l_wOedOzSHhzL9C2G214Mf2r2F9QjMW4pRvMXxCx1O4xH0/w426-h640/F81A6463.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdm1pYjzxd-UhkmhdEtOnZZYbwyIrKcQqWiIWRj8gcSIiLK1MYjjd7Yod7Y79skGFRYlTJ5vWep3FiYHqA4PCJUvPs4kyhhrGmirumO2ZcBBy0O-PwsA8waCaDqScLhE_81EI1assjTZoSpwFEofsDfXnaD-F6zPWyfWsU_j-1zM90kXoOctyFvinZ_4/s5440/F81A6465.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5440" data-original-width="3627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdm1pYjzxd-UhkmhdEtOnZZYbwyIrKcQqWiIWRj8gcSIiLK1MYjjd7Yod7Y79skGFRYlTJ5vWep3FiYHqA4PCJUvPs4kyhhrGmirumO2ZcBBy0O-PwsA8waCaDqScLhE_81EI1assjTZoSpwFEofsDfXnaD-F6zPWyfWsU_j-1zM90kXoOctyFvinZ_4/w426-h640/F81A6465.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcPAfec4kXz6OpzA5eOljvuR-sz1-D3McxiuCz2zO_US1BdfCkU6bNwmjNZDdXZ0zAPvKPqFmSC3WG-4kRboug4jhoeTCbWbbct6dv3v_dzk3xjeK4gh0CCaFo_RYZCSAQCXPbyuB2HTAQabCf_PIpqAkLngLWK2BM8dIvvHOedsIwzVs2kNx6qqI_YU/s4916/F81A6469.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4916" data-original-width="3277" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcPAfec4kXz6OpzA5eOljvuR-sz1-D3McxiuCz2zO_US1BdfCkU6bNwmjNZDdXZ0zAPvKPqFmSC3WG-4kRboug4jhoeTCbWbbct6dv3v_dzk3xjeK4gh0CCaFo_RYZCSAQCXPbyuB2HTAQabCf_PIpqAkLngLWK2BM8dIvvHOedsIwzVs2kNx6qqI_YU/w426-h640/F81A6469.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-Oy4f8LEPBTETa_cn6raIGqPYbjdKYWF2ZngTH6ljqc6zJZa76UA8jZqHm1-gh47UnmTiUhU5D25mVV2WozCtBPRLUwj7v7ozF9S19jc258NZqSyW3BzgodAUWclpEMDwrADVkk2eB27euQuaS_yZeOkRILW9OHP5Z98uai-SS0sbOAQooOpc4LQaf8/s4645/F81A6472.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4645" data-original-width="3097" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-Oy4f8LEPBTETa_cn6raIGqPYbjdKYWF2ZngTH6ljqc6zJZa76UA8jZqHm1-gh47UnmTiUhU5D25mVV2WozCtBPRLUwj7v7ozF9S19jc258NZqSyW3BzgodAUWclpEMDwrADVkk2eB27euQuaS_yZeOkRILW9OHP5Z98uai-SS0sbOAQooOpc4LQaf8/w426-h640/F81A6472.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00PFQTrnZaK-6zkk1YE08u-ByFFtRzmNvCQuv_4lLJXWaIkL7rYZk5habj-5yBCpRWW4vDAsERf-pYJFidUChPcrqLS7xTL-Sb28VoROrHt7JeOAAhcJ-BeeipEpI3D3CL9PVhCT78LNb3yV9k5RO_fyEBj7Mi3hmfUKW95IXEYl4GN57C5Tz6e0-828/s3840/F81A6476.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2560" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00PFQTrnZaK-6zkk1YE08u-ByFFtRzmNvCQuv_4lLJXWaIkL7rYZk5habj-5yBCpRWW4vDAsERf-pYJFidUChPcrqLS7xTL-Sb28VoROrHt7JeOAAhcJ-BeeipEpI3D3CL9PVhCT78LNb3yV9k5RO_fyEBj7Mi3hmfUKW95IXEYl4GN57C5Tz6e0-828/w426-h640/F81A6476.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>You say so many hilarious things, Sloan, that it's hard to even keep track of them all sometimes. A few of our favorites from this year include you asking your dad to "Turn it up" in regards to your applesauce (meaning, you'd like him to add some cinnamon). Or one time you asked if I had any "white-late pudding" you could have because you'd forgotten the word "vanilla" and figured <i>whitelate </i>was the opposite of <i>chocolate</i>. You've told you "have a good heart" (you're right, you do), and that you "don't really like songs that say hallelujah; I don't like the sound of that." One night I was carrying you down the stairs on my back and I said, "You're heavy, Bub." To which you responded, "Bubs are heavy." You call coffee grinds <i>coffee sugar </i>and cow patties are <i>mud poop. </i>Once I told you to wipe your nose because you had stuff on it and you said, "It's okay. I'll survive." Pretty much any mess you make or accident you have or mistake you do is quickly followed up with you assuring everyone else, "It's okay. It's okay." Another repeated phrase of yours is "actually." And sometimes you ask if something "actually <i>actually" </i>happened. Once, when we were in the car, Papa was trying to explain to you that we were getting closer to where we were going, but when he showed you how far our van moved on the "zip it line" (the line we have attached to the van that shows our progress and how closer we are getting to where we are going). He said, "It moves just a little bit at a time, like when a clock moves--clocks move slowly." You said, "Oh yeah. I know about that. I have a slow clock in my room." Ha. Time is never moving fast enough for you! However, the latest thing you said to me one day while we sat and did a little project may be my favorite: "Mom, you know if you love donuts, and donuts got stealed.... you know you'd take that personally!" Oh Sloan. Your mind is a masterpiece and I'm just glad we get to be here for it. <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDywNbLi5C-2-pX8VpZSBmKyAaJTnTBm1utnfb3bR-7YDyx6bdul0o6DpPeVGxrjGhWvonLSEhD7MOS1QwVYWbiT8FQKBocE1b7-R4tXtHjHtI9p0AaneHH0EIZNkaopv5G4Y-gT400-GAnLhDjNlBaUpLJktmrzBNvhFLfmUNcBPtSJeAwF_z-7BMA_o/s6720/F81A6478.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDywNbLi5C-2-pX8VpZSBmKyAaJTnTBm1utnfb3bR-7YDyx6bdul0o6DpPeVGxrjGhWvonLSEhD7MOS1QwVYWbiT8FQKBocE1b7-R4tXtHjHtI9p0AaneHH0EIZNkaopv5G4Y-gT400-GAnLhDjNlBaUpLJktmrzBNvhFLfmUNcBPtSJeAwF_z-7BMA_o/w640-h426/F81A6478.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhXBv18e5UICVzmlts7qKv1RbWd6LAsX5X4PNl2te4zkBOWsEecK6qxlOrf2zcZzzl8w6rAw2q7PgkGuAE9xULJiR9O4lRQNPpWp3OkVu8n_DUZGpk0HfcSeaboeAg3xuo88k4Zgon7jNHOup3rXWPzX3uiAYp8j4w-pRC5leB_b3oDaAUajDT5rLkAU/s6720/F81A6479.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhXBv18e5UICVzmlts7qKv1RbWd6LAsX5X4PNl2te4zkBOWsEecK6qxlOrf2zcZzzl8w6rAw2q7PgkGuAE9xULJiR9O4lRQNPpWp3OkVu8n_DUZGpk0HfcSeaboeAg3xuo88k4Zgon7jNHOup3rXWPzX3uiAYp8j4w-pRC5leB_b3oDaAUajDT5rLkAU/w640-h426/F81A6479.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujQdc9jBhlLfYHZigTrQ-MCeJBh0fIbdJmahItoJZAUoHFgIsvsB8K06qFL0ASOYD3_DxKpR-FmHskmDkCAX8-atsJOiLhgo26R5WFeSd6kyG6Ks_oIePCSiYZ8W_7KpnFa_cBFjVyWzXu4vgXUFJ8a5Fg2EQ4jS4GQ5JtvsOutwJZCp5Hb8q7VmX07w/s6720/F81A6480.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujQdc9jBhlLfYHZigTrQ-MCeJBh0fIbdJmahItoJZAUoHFgIsvsB8K06qFL0ASOYD3_DxKpR-FmHskmDkCAX8-atsJOiLhgo26R5WFeSd6kyG6Ks_oIePCSiYZ8W_7KpnFa_cBFjVyWzXu4vgXUFJ8a5Fg2EQ4jS4GQ5JtvsOutwJZCp5Hb8q7VmX07w/w426-h640/F81A6480.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIAGd5QXSostiG-uLs5QEj8_QxzCvKkXEJBiqgN7gmMB8-kmO57Z9DxGbo_0dzj__ElsHPAqW958RhzIUp-1RCu2-xHngy8Eo64U_gmRGHvJhHBz2uiNndNEQhOxyzyAa3RSi-yRxfvgwN2QRqBmhdmW-sOvuLr7uI3_iH9sXwpvGLzNO_DJjxLbah0g/s6720/F81A6482.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIAGd5QXSostiG-uLs5QEj8_QxzCvKkXEJBiqgN7gmMB8-kmO57Z9DxGbo_0dzj__ElsHPAqW958RhzIUp-1RCu2-xHngy8Eo64U_gmRGHvJhHBz2uiNndNEQhOxyzyAa3RSi-yRxfvgwN2QRqBmhdmW-sOvuLr7uI3_iH9sXwpvGLzNO_DJjxLbah0g/w426-h640/F81A6482.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcdBAs-cu2cK4CByvQBJ-urdT2oGjL9iCsKXxyi-wyxlxcQ1JwJOyAnFwt_dpL5FK_Jh5qfhrPW0HLN1xDSI7f08zRuKy_qnekEALQn7yUo_4gIEiGsEz9xWbQtve6-sP2llfm2VQyJPhmwrjIuGyjOb-hQ7luZ886Q2bxeJMG2S4w_e4m0zSOTJeJm0/s6720/F81A6483.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcdBAs-cu2cK4CByvQBJ-urdT2oGjL9iCsKXxyi-wyxlxcQ1JwJOyAnFwt_dpL5FK_Jh5qfhrPW0HLN1xDSI7f08zRuKy_qnekEALQn7yUo_4gIEiGsEz9xWbQtve6-sP2llfm2VQyJPhmwrjIuGyjOb-hQ7luZ886Q2bxeJMG2S4w_e4m0zSOTJeJm0/w426-h640/F81A6483.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVXLVUSJlqaKMxvkjkWtJdO6Y0_G-dkGJ5R3wErJ8qMwvpULxAgVP-kQ2E08bDVtzcgR01gg3DvI2_1cVYZ2cVLjzwTLynszH1z8EVteYNtRrPVMkz6z2LJAcNwjv2a-42bYdm52MYU-1KVvsXYvgg1kJplVCmsJLJ2jbWEhs3HMd-osBb4nNckB8Ptk/s6720/F81A6485.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVXLVUSJlqaKMxvkjkWtJdO6Y0_G-dkGJ5R3wErJ8qMwvpULxAgVP-kQ2E08bDVtzcgR01gg3DvI2_1cVYZ2cVLjzwTLynszH1z8EVteYNtRrPVMkz6z2LJAcNwjv2a-42bYdm52MYU-1KVvsXYvgg1kJplVCmsJLJ2jbWEhs3HMd-osBb4nNckB8Ptk/w426-h640/F81A6485.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UI-bJAmBj5teKQkbB7_9RRqQzprJ1e6-CifBukmcrgHMQdN7hB6ze6rsOHLKHwAm5opS1QSLLt94tMVounIgaU2hZEajdbU7edRQ8OIyzlL34Or0c4QC7WAJirKQAzgxQVnD0YzzZzDxEhIL74IRQim1Tsjixyf1RQPy16--nJJBtSGV21TC06WSpjM/s6720/F81A6486.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UI-bJAmBj5teKQkbB7_9RRqQzprJ1e6-CifBukmcrgHMQdN7hB6ze6rsOHLKHwAm5opS1QSLLt94tMVounIgaU2hZEajdbU7edRQ8OIyzlL34Or0c4QC7WAJirKQAzgxQVnD0YzzZzDxEhIL74IRQim1Tsjixyf1RQPy16--nJJBtSGV21TC06WSpjM/w426-h640/F81A6486.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgvRRIJ8g8b7ht4_UaSatXT_Rsn2JkBfaMVH_COkapKprXE48k3-HgE97tGj_9fzHQAS-2ooftl2eVh77VO2gkdASKJktR0FsXY0YpqhfJ_1cUMbJsO7sIwKA6yWwQ9EclfeKCPuHuBYFZb5mJC8pkiDiHW0PcUqcuSiwVApKFm8q9gFGxcL25zC-6Jg/s6720/F81A6487.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgvRRIJ8g8b7ht4_UaSatXT_Rsn2JkBfaMVH_COkapKprXE48k3-HgE97tGj_9fzHQAS-2ooftl2eVh77VO2gkdASKJktR0FsXY0YpqhfJ_1cUMbJsO7sIwKA6yWwQ9EclfeKCPuHuBYFZb5mJC8pkiDiHW0PcUqcuSiwVApKFm8q9gFGxcL25zC-6Jg/w426-h640/F81A6487.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmoEcZaHfCYxnWs2etKK7J3gc7QzI_TcUf1z55URnKIdMMO4vZPV7hvOb2i1lkncqSC_dmKKCc53d5RvfhuCk-sv5zzh89aczAp3u5ZHgRxU0vK85Xo-4KOjdfGorgFDcHmc_WBOKDvN9sBfepuKnBM8QnSt00p4WdQadKvoCWd7hAZDwwQ8MVSHHRqM/s5644/F81A6489.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5644" data-original-width="3763" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmoEcZaHfCYxnWs2etKK7J3gc7QzI_TcUf1z55URnKIdMMO4vZPV7hvOb2i1lkncqSC_dmKKCc53d5RvfhuCk-sv5zzh89aczAp3u5ZHgRxU0vK85Xo-4KOjdfGorgFDcHmc_WBOKDvN9sBfepuKnBM8QnSt00p4WdQadKvoCWd7hAZDwwQ8MVSHHRqM/w426-h640/F81A6489.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>You still LOVE to play cars, watch cars, do anything remotely involving cars. Ramps. Tracks. Remotes. Wheels. Whatever, you're here for it. You also started liking sharks this year, and wanted to check out all the interesting shark books at the library and learned a lot about hammerheads. It surprised your dad and I that you were still pretty opposed to learning to ride a bike this year--- until you decided you wanted to do a triathlon because you're sisters were. You did NOT want to miss out on that, and promptly hopped on your bike (with training wheels) and took off. You also decided one day this summer that you could swim, went under water, and the rest was history. You were jumping into the deep end and doing flips and completely comfortable in the water. And while you really do live full-throttle, there is a beautiful undercurrent of something gentler in you. You have a cautious nature tucked inside, a gentle spirit that peeks out. I think this is thanks to your dad, who models for you that guys don't have to be "tough" all the time. The fruit of the spirit is gentleness, and we're seeing that in you as you grow and explore too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Every morning after you eat a big bowl of cereal-- sometimes after 10 minutes, sometimes after an hour, but nearly everyday-- you ask for your "second breakfast." So somewhere along the way this year we decided you became a hobbit with all of your second breakfasts. Another thing that we realized this year is that you have an astounding memory, recalling details of things that happened years ago. These aren't just things you've seen in pictures or videos, but obscure things that I cannot even begin to understand how you remember them. This year you also developed-- or perfected-- a very, very loud presence. Your go to volume is ALL THE WAY UP! As a fourth child to all girls, I'm sure there is an element of they-are-always-talking-so-I-just-have-to-turn-up-the-volume-to-be-heard, but it's something we're trying to work on a bit with you: to learn when you can just speak in a normal volumed voice, and when it's okay to be loud! </p></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4Rf_Mk344uMqANwI-0j6M61XLLD34bMjNNcjQ7_ShSi0A4OvzXYbrZZYVJ46RjWdeC8ZG02gjTs6k8JL4tlX36vW59nihF6YFrWVL_Hf24x9wLHW46JBtdHUcZAhj2ejifhWfPqReDPeEBOSI-4vuKDzTgs4aapwtE3P6BGfw_9HBVS5WlC5m6XwDl8/s6720/F81A6494.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4Rf_Mk344uMqANwI-0j6M61XLLD34bMjNNcjQ7_ShSi0A4OvzXYbrZZYVJ46RjWdeC8ZG02gjTs6k8JL4tlX36vW59nihF6YFrWVL_Hf24x9wLHW46JBtdHUcZAhj2ejifhWfPqReDPeEBOSI-4vuKDzTgs4aapwtE3P6BGfw_9HBVS5WlC5m6XwDl8/w426-h640/F81A6494.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJTob39U0aBhlzyfeK0tb4fEzfixsvO7WMiSOz9ALocg8LLfpR7ykQYxs6O5-I3FxguilYnPcgbAnyRFGdILgdF8OUli5iUAQoI6tpwl-Xm48KGNOdgrKNegMpi_sHNiD2Y0SPsPmhtwUFAC2OFXPKpmMPMRJopHZnsTnqIZN9V9dCIV1JW0a6rgJ3wg/s5469/F81A6495.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5469" data-original-width="3646" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJTob39U0aBhlzyfeK0tb4fEzfixsvO7WMiSOz9ALocg8LLfpR7ykQYxs6O5-I3FxguilYnPcgbAnyRFGdILgdF8OUli5iUAQoI6tpwl-Xm48KGNOdgrKNegMpi_sHNiD2Y0SPsPmhtwUFAC2OFXPKpmMPMRJopHZnsTnqIZN9V9dCIV1JW0a6rgJ3wg/w426-h640/F81A6495.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWHA4_JZkuUsmJ_5tGZphZvhvBycUouvG9N-AdX2JY0mrMg6GLc0gptI0kzBtDkH4ZlDzZfvHQJ7563PyQIrT4fP8kfUpqhofDpQqGokcKb-2Bj5oELo_cOHKGs7-q8tV-jTGIqLFYCFLP1OTbRdWdzwUmxa1bXF6PJldXpjdbHJ6JXDTyCbY1rCeZU8/s6720/F81A6497.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWHA4_JZkuUsmJ_5tGZphZvhvBycUouvG9N-AdX2JY0mrMg6GLc0gptI0kzBtDkH4ZlDzZfvHQJ7563PyQIrT4fP8kfUpqhofDpQqGokcKb-2Bj5oELo_cOHKGs7-q8tV-jTGIqLFYCFLP1OTbRdWdzwUmxa1bXF6PJldXpjdbHJ6JXDTyCbY1rCeZU8/w426-h640/F81A6497.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1hKibsCqTWZi3PfklMPK1OpHnSDRRpRVX5JEiRZM_JGsUYbNUpU6uo0DWPd28HorssBBEosb_tK7CirtqgaO1pKe7yqGaQ2YgtKC_VQIOaUGqp1clP5Y0MqdYdwS0HxZ10YxLlzDBtlGV4AZ8COM0CZU6hgRW-Rzh14_cg_B9yjOqCxUgGcIQpaEx8k/s6720/F81A6500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1hKibsCqTWZi3PfklMPK1OpHnSDRRpRVX5JEiRZM_JGsUYbNUpU6uo0DWPd28HorssBBEosb_tK7CirtqgaO1pKe7yqGaQ2YgtKC_VQIOaUGqp1clP5Y0MqdYdwS0HxZ10YxLlzDBtlGV4AZ8COM0CZU6hgRW-Rzh14_cg_B9yjOqCxUgGcIQpaEx8k/w640-h426/F81A6500.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfppALIAi4Fi3naByadQsvdEUnDQzyDcVfyOV9o46ceBiYkTbNbqYbr2zy27d2oIe_9DABkswQ9Cgg_CdYfs_Rxh5KROJut-8Rz5smaH4RuDDaY2wAO7DGdCWrjUDcpXpZynDyh0hW7hOFrlF9WVe8QKaqaNjWQc8U_A5ekCTN2SXOFHSRXheaVsfUjY/s6720/F81A6504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfppALIAi4Fi3naByadQsvdEUnDQzyDcVfyOV9o46ceBiYkTbNbqYbr2zy27d2oIe_9DABkswQ9Cgg_CdYfs_Rxh5KROJut-8Rz5smaH4RuDDaY2wAO7DGdCWrjUDcpXpZynDyh0hW7hOFrlF9WVe8QKaqaNjWQc8U_A5ekCTN2SXOFHSRXheaVsfUjY/w640-h426/F81A6504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VRjUwm27oarwut6LMb_5wAzXYHIoMuClgL-sADVPXS3HIplmHZZ8yB_VlOc8ugWhcOQLri9FnqkAB1FdLqrCD4x05avSt1pVW51CZkxLfggzuLwkjpVULL2rrt7nS2gLaFA2Ekqd7d8KV4V55mTl86RpCjwcwgRn1dmDzU6smTr1Gu1p2mGElUm3K6E/s6720/F81A6505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VRjUwm27oarwut6LMb_5wAzXYHIoMuClgL-sADVPXS3HIplmHZZ8yB_VlOc8ugWhcOQLri9FnqkAB1FdLqrCD4x05avSt1pVW51CZkxLfggzuLwkjpVULL2rrt7nS2gLaFA2Ekqd7d8KV4V55mTl86RpCjwcwgRn1dmDzU6smTr1Gu1p2mGElUm3K6E/w640-h426/F81A6505.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj7c75xypVq9ypn_M2_zq2yQOqd5TOwnEhU610XVk1wqIJqxnuQV6k5P0m579HX88l8T4A7dZbHVZ2-3gMJWhwYEj2sEfni_C0hia8vM7kRWeF0KKGqYKM_00Iia5C5wLzwAVsO-XjsDiM77IDhkEHsQIAq1m-Pw6ecr6RSPRVMZKo87zZpwe7gMpQsA/s6720/F81A6509.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj7c75xypVq9ypn_M2_zq2yQOqd5TOwnEhU610XVk1wqIJqxnuQV6k5P0m579HX88l8T4A7dZbHVZ2-3gMJWhwYEj2sEfni_C0hia8vM7kRWeF0KKGqYKM_00Iia5C5wLzwAVsO-XjsDiM77IDhkEHsQIAq1m-Pw6ecr6RSPRVMZKo87zZpwe7gMpQsA/w640-h426/F81A6509.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04gAuKNFfxLmqoxZHhna25u5_tGU3zWZDfHN9aeisII-pqXcV65Thq9XBtqr3N8kT_pND1mjJAFNRyD6k-dYnWpqQ9TDkWBhri8F2ub7yv2jPHJWGVT1Zqo9dS08bMztg1rqOol_C2f4Mhasvo5E8HEWAj-svTxCq86jwgbMO7RIt6iO9qxDRBAf0aS0/s6720/F81A6514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04gAuKNFfxLmqoxZHhna25u5_tGU3zWZDfHN9aeisII-pqXcV65Thq9XBtqr3N8kT_pND1mjJAFNRyD6k-dYnWpqQ9TDkWBhri8F2ub7yv2jPHJWGVT1Zqo9dS08bMztg1rqOol_C2f4Mhasvo5E8HEWAj-svTxCq86jwgbMO7RIt6iO9qxDRBAf0aS0/w426-h640/F81A6514.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw-tSB9Njy8iSyvaq0xErmyLo_ACMNSvNBDalLbNfIbhPE-7_GdTelCH9WGNc2uYR-6aINF92hItrHxVsunGZ7JoInUW9fCgzVas9K2b9dJH9ZHi-DCfXdRYNuK-pTlxh38QyWdbMqT3JtBubmxt9nwPbUYxhMpabff4x1l6kF1BekLBJ2kzQ6DT-kR0/s6720/F81A6517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw-tSB9Njy8iSyvaq0xErmyLo_ACMNSvNBDalLbNfIbhPE-7_GdTelCH9WGNc2uYR-6aINF92hItrHxVsunGZ7JoInUW9fCgzVas9K2b9dJH9ZHi-DCfXdRYNuK-pTlxh38QyWdbMqT3JtBubmxt9nwPbUYxhMpabff4x1l6kF1BekLBJ2kzQ6DT-kR0/w426-h640/F81A6517.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Over all, Sloan Lee, your life is marked by joy. Unending, reverberating, loud JOY. You make us laugh, you love to laugh, and you are always, always, always up for something fun. I never want to squash your enthusiasm for life or the simple joys you get everyday. You've taught us all a lot about loosening up and enjoying the ride. As you grow older, we pray that you learn where the truest joy is found: in Christ alone. And that as you go through all the adventures that inevitably lie before you, that you'd do so continually singing the refrain: "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart to stay." </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ2sB_y1e-Z3VFF1dPifWtQ0HfH1t3PdBy-JBsPsCuHzuKfm0YxeBXRWKSXLNNkB1Yad0d3pdKAt4xXPr88YpwuK_eKmosSEJMTjnP5OJwfwsKKYxxxfLYELsOSh11GcYB6OosxOez3GSef-t6FLeqpUDmX7zQPq6NglpMzW8CYqGbCN0u-RY5Sa19iA/s6720/F81A6518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ2sB_y1e-Z3VFF1dPifWtQ0HfH1t3PdBy-JBsPsCuHzuKfm0YxeBXRWKSXLNNkB1Yad0d3pdKAt4xXPr88YpwuK_eKmosSEJMTjnP5OJwfwsKKYxxxfLYELsOSh11GcYB6OosxOez3GSef-t6FLeqpUDmX7zQPq6NglpMzW8CYqGbCN0u-RY5Sa19iA/w426-h640/F81A6518.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizU6yEB7FgWtKwCtHRBNaKHrVoXYuAxnr3Fur1QP9jFqkYW4oPxIXaghAHh4Ze9U1l6XcietdKiQGCeyyBnHDg04BBkdW1cd0bT4XGqwl2h8o7UMixBa789tpg0nYcc1GglTYLQfCFVJW_rnU2_AhWmRw4uPGPJbvrFpN0loVhPJvWvS_qHmi51rtSTE/s6720/F81A6522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizU6yEB7FgWtKwCtHRBNaKHrVoXYuAxnr3Fur1QP9jFqkYW4oPxIXaghAHh4Ze9U1l6XcietdKiQGCeyyBnHDg04BBkdW1cd0bT4XGqwl2h8o7UMixBa789tpg0nYcc1GglTYLQfCFVJW_rnU2_AhWmRw4uPGPJbvrFpN0loVhPJvWvS_qHmi51rtSTE/w426-h640/F81A6522.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUay3-zzn-ABST8YNGMa-qFGBrad5v94XrHHdx4ivZ6ky070_FM9K9HLOXnUsT9KfeQK8m4QZgbQQitj31nLa1SCuugOHHeqaiUr8k1MazKlF8c-M1NLKVckB4atYoZBcXpjtXvby5at-a5D9XBbIzrLJtdle2qsKLf8rlhOUFWzU8FjxPhiG87t5i7wg/s6720/F81A6523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUay3-zzn-ABST8YNGMa-qFGBrad5v94XrHHdx4ivZ6ky070_FM9K9HLOXnUsT9KfeQK8m4QZgbQQitj31nLa1SCuugOHHeqaiUr8k1MazKlF8c-M1NLKVckB4atYoZBcXpjtXvby5at-a5D9XBbIzrLJtdle2qsKLf8rlhOUFWzU8FjxPhiG87t5i7wg/w426-h640/F81A6523.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9h7XVebbBakm-9EguEUosntY_pqM5_R43H2fKnvZEcU_fT4yisY7q9X0JEFikeQT1ATqXW3yYOx-DLjaEa1Nmnx54Ph843VsRQcKSJtzFXTJt3wgUBJMn21XnrUnje-AnkTwuGUGShLA9VPDjLvxwWQDKo6VOV4ed4p8E2_z0_M77H88BmH-P5JzGvs/s5789/F81A6525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5789" data-original-width="3859" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9h7XVebbBakm-9EguEUosntY_pqM5_R43H2fKnvZEcU_fT4yisY7q9X0JEFikeQT1ATqXW3yYOx-DLjaEa1Nmnx54Ph843VsRQcKSJtzFXTJt3wgUBJMn21XnrUnje-AnkTwuGUGShLA9VPDjLvxwWQDKo6VOV4ed4p8E2_z0_M77H88BmH-P5JzGvs/w426-h640/F81A6525.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNKbcYZN5u7Uz8ajIuCAFnMJuRU_XeWCPUYYio5-RWvu_O3rbktuivdkVZObhLwGA5donPAY7aw64JhLXR9NINUj8xr5poxKvdp2VJ3_XMbY2JB3jPVgB65FruLSPOj3NzMnzNumfuLf1sjEjVjaOKzeuKT7e30bHhz98qGO_Za4y29tT2jZFwRSUAlc/s5876/F81A6527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5876" data-original-width="3917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNKbcYZN5u7Uz8ajIuCAFnMJuRU_XeWCPUYYio5-RWvu_O3rbktuivdkVZObhLwGA5donPAY7aw64JhLXR9NINUj8xr5poxKvdp2VJ3_XMbY2JB3jPVgB65FruLSPOj3NzMnzNumfuLf1sjEjVjaOKzeuKT7e30bHhz98qGO_Za4y29tT2jZFwRSUAlc/w426-h640/F81A6527.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCpBLPwON9LAL5uZKgqEsXJMegVxoDyV51IESuNRj2CdQsioulYq5s55FDpHoYxb-et49_FZEqVnPGD8YYyblxc3sw-SO3SmCVW93SiXnUUIvKDq5bm3PV7jjMlI2H2wkYtalMzsgLHzbKwDYl5K4gDriTgwCXrSaD5mwZC05GZciu6sGK16H_WEz6vc/s6720/F81A6530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCpBLPwON9LAL5uZKgqEsXJMegVxoDyV51IESuNRj2CdQsioulYq5s55FDpHoYxb-et49_FZEqVnPGD8YYyblxc3sw-SO3SmCVW93SiXnUUIvKDq5bm3PV7jjMlI2H2wkYtalMzsgLHzbKwDYl5K4gDriTgwCXrSaD5mwZC05GZciu6sGK16H_WEz6vc/w426-h640/F81A6530.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2q2ko3mkL2isP39Okm3EtQKxA_PMfatUII2kBBxEYlHA1zu-htsKJAUMOKa8OsUqH4jUlksvbp5ffi8stdsb38YQ-waF7X7d4c7rLQPDt_i0p5ELx3OtNTiVJaHWrXDVtxmxftjfRAqCRC-4Ov6pBbTBXu_tpTyHY86ZPvHQgxKLV2gGFQrXyyUKPmM/s6720/F81A6533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2q2ko3mkL2isP39Okm3EtQKxA_PMfatUII2kBBxEYlHA1zu-htsKJAUMOKa8OsUqH4jUlksvbp5ffi8stdsb38YQ-waF7X7d4c7rLQPDt_i0p5ELx3OtNTiVJaHWrXDVtxmxftjfRAqCRC-4Ov6pBbTBXu_tpTyHY86ZPvHQgxKLV2gGFQrXyyUKPmM/w426-h640/F81A6533.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoSbLVCsm5kocOP-fijtZK7-MKthHVP0HNUL3bNoT-aFFW9d8Q-OJW7xTqFpirJ7VkrEp9JXn5Fe6EBot0NRgd2EmyZECO-mqmhuK4onjNZgaw_SGg2QY_BDTJBNDvMSHvsUvQ-6ksGHwNKsdTPFoCUJxqTWJf5wL8MC0saPSovrqAayszAZKm6Q75bQ/s6720/F81A6535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoSbLVCsm5kocOP-fijtZK7-MKthHVP0HNUL3bNoT-aFFW9d8Q-OJW7xTqFpirJ7VkrEp9JXn5Fe6EBot0NRgd2EmyZECO-mqmhuK4onjNZgaw_SGg2QY_BDTJBNDvMSHvsUvQ-6ksGHwNKsdTPFoCUJxqTWJf5wL8MC0saPSovrqAayszAZKm6Q75bQ/w426-h640/F81A6535.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6_PAOl-wAkgksB6Kb5LWZCLLvT8TVyd_V5TqaBN7VOmrPHncVQQghyjF-Lsuqp0RsG_Xu60_rwAuSHwodS5EQ0huCRY7YGpiIhDRJd16phfuzUEsqn8tQsLctHavC03svqgKSmlo5-X8xRiGIO3IYhREXnYWZRYuIgLZWLICppGyczE1BCCWZiPjA5w/s6720/F81A6536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6_PAOl-wAkgksB6Kb5LWZCLLvT8TVyd_V5TqaBN7VOmrPHncVQQghyjF-Lsuqp0RsG_Xu60_rwAuSHwodS5EQ0huCRY7YGpiIhDRJd16phfuzUEsqn8tQsLctHavC03svqgKSmlo5-X8xRiGIO3IYhREXnYWZRYuIgLZWLICppGyczE1BCCWZiPjA5w/w426-h640/F81A6536.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAeMzNizhJ2bae8YjZtpsN3nIgES3IqDzaw4A-4KoXF017xLTPon1sgRK_1fcVf3UwsF7Nha4P2mFaiinvE9AZJt4j0i-jVYYFubfKQA-jn2iADafVO7BGxfVkb1afKNMa1-jcnM2H_O0Gujm6vi3skOAkF-bb_RCO2eWs4ZIqjslDHWLoTa9gauFAU8/s6720/F81A6538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAeMzNizhJ2bae8YjZtpsN3nIgES3IqDzaw4A-4KoXF017xLTPon1sgRK_1fcVf3UwsF7Nha4P2mFaiinvE9AZJt4j0i-jVYYFubfKQA-jn2iADafVO7BGxfVkb1afKNMa1-jcnM2H_O0Gujm6vi3skOAkF-bb_RCO2eWs4ZIqjslDHWLoTa9gauFAU8/w426-h640/F81A6538.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-a25E0AFjyzip4hFP2KhJ10P9vVBl35UebUdronMR9kSY6QnlIXnpIdOjvyxktIHg4RgPSaesPCGiZYWWQA7blTkMKVe79-2Tsdf44wXCQRPLSI_q4KWSN1H1b3w0-9Ac4CpuLF4Iai1ZHlccWt3VPMYO-8K-N3tZ4zzmFHhxE0yMOxCtO-2MhZ5ftY/s5673/F81A6542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5673" data-original-width="3782" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-a25E0AFjyzip4hFP2KhJ10P9vVBl35UebUdronMR9kSY6QnlIXnpIdOjvyxktIHg4RgPSaesPCGiZYWWQA7blTkMKVe79-2Tsdf44wXCQRPLSI_q4KWSN1H1b3w0-9Ac4CpuLF4Iai1ZHlccWt3VPMYO-8K-N3tZ4zzmFHhxE0yMOxCtO-2MhZ5ftY/w426-h640/F81A6542.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>And like I say every year: Your dad and I hope you always understand the <i>why </i>behind our no-s. We hope you feel safety in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Happy fifth birthday, Sloan Lee! There is nothing you could ever do to make us stop loving you! </span></span></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-87752547603955045882023-05-16T14:27:00.005-04:002023-05-16T14:27:33.821-04:00Becks is NINE<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9b9k2H0qZoh_WaiB_9aOriUPKS8L2_9mjmIBjPMq1OVMk9y8WsUFjQuPB5_0krl1WV5jNXsBAt_LRRrnmAzG1hjQeHyd7zsnzK7l28Jb0ta0UxfetkDnSwukEzlWBaz1_DwzLCnkGUBwEjyfVELtCeqI6HS4caGCW5qbJ_dj_a6nCi71rZiiA2mK/s5644/F81A1601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5644" data-original-width="3763" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9b9k2H0qZoh_WaiB_9aOriUPKS8L2_9mjmIBjPMq1OVMk9y8WsUFjQuPB5_0krl1WV5jNXsBAt_LRRrnmAzG1hjQeHyd7zsnzK7l28Jb0ta0UxfetkDnSwukEzlWBaz1_DwzLCnkGUBwEjyfVELtCeqI6HS4caGCW5qbJ_dj_a6nCi71rZiiA2mK/w426-h640/F81A1601.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNa7Ic7zJfLfFDOZASplfny9MRbQc1tyIqt0wb-2qUFEWX1WQ8iHzaqnVqPfF8pElfbYR4TykzMDdWexPcwI4rk13W1J0qPLnfbQhf--vr3b3w4uMXZAJQPZuVQhEZbVTg7aWlP_f0Dh1ytSYaor55Lo1EpOMMTFmdnI42-hHT31qCF82sL-xIlhJ/s5905/F81A1470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5905" data-original-width="3937" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNa7Ic7zJfLfFDOZASplfny9MRbQc1tyIqt0wb-2qUFEWX1WQ8iHzaqnVqPfF8pElfbYR4TykzMDdWexPcwI4rk13W1J0qPLnfbQhf--vr3b3w4uMXZAJQPZuVQhEZbVTg7aWlP_f0Dh1ytSYaor55Lo1EpOMMTFmdnI42-hHT31qCF82sL-xIlhJ/w426-h640/F81A1470.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPuI-3m7-3Um3wZc_eV9zfs1hjYto4GD4wmmPdNoV_cdHevbWLoaZHGnCobGLiIixSpa4Ha5Hc_R_OJDyJYCxluAf1UhNnlbjcpNFg2IswtwtMpA53ydtr9NX1lyFPo4x2fHMp_kNafKY7rupXHCsmYrEWGPnqGJ2f0IFu-216HnbNNMVlZ6CK2oW/s6720/F81A1743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPuI-3m7-3Um3wZc_eV9zfs1hjYto4GD4wmmPdNoV_cdHevbWLoaZHGnCobGLiIixSpa4Ha5Hc_R_OJDyJYCxluAf1UhNnlbjcpNFg2IswtwtMpA53ydtr9NX1lyFPo4x2fHMp_kNafKY7rupXHCsmYrEWGPnqGJ2f0IFu-216HnbNNMVlZ6CK2oW/w426-h640/F81A1743.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX7CYIweMbLeJm6gV7jqOknBDnMRDQcnqmRZkvmHvsAWLoduf8CJxTxodpdESUEA2JUFhoARlBIRdz7hWS7RiWk7VMTyNRXNX91pqTaT1c2UbVahQ1UMG3Cpwd85SjJIpmKwjQEIDmRFxZWYfX9VjZ8v5BwvLCTPa0Y-_NNgRGi5CLcMIPaqIsVML/s6720/F81A1720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX7CYIweMbLeJm6gV7jqOknBDnMRDQcnqmRZkvmHvsAWLoduf8CJxTxodpdESUEA2JUFhoARlBIRdz7hWS7RiWk7VMTyNRXNX91pqTaT1c2UbVahQ1UMG3Cpwd85SjJIpmKwjQEIDmRFxZWYfX9VjZ8v5BwvLCTPa0Y-_NNgRGi5CLcMIPaqIsVML/w640-h426/F81A1720.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkTp8D8CCCl2pZ1y5oNK3CN4zxSsicrUYRwgiyEXczEJrrW8u6qtahdiSxGWKcPsmaWViscH57u83EQNeNe9B_19TPckLVR51yumc7_jOEOD2KzD25HUkVF-BuTecpBEADl03GKZ-X6V1W3G7bjvbjV83mK3X2-pmqoa--dshriMGZz0D4upT8Jka/s4858/F81A1670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4858" data-original-width="3239" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkTp8D8CCCl2pZ1y5oNK3CN4zxSsicrUYRwgiyEXczEJrrW8u6qtahdiSxGWKcPsmaWViscH57u83EQNeNe9B_19TPckLVR51yumc7_jOEOD2KzD25HUkVF-BuTecpBEADl03GKZ-X6V1W3G7bjvbjV83mK3X2-pmqoa--dshriMGZz0D4upT8Jka/w426-h640/F81A1670.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYSOcSQfDhIuYFTtPaVdh1ZiLmQJdKNmrWGe8_ELnt4BPfIRCjfI_AXQxHA5vmzS8KAaU4FPxO32hlOJS4cava-hIZ3JlBUWI45MyLIxOXo-XNUdufFEdq_SCFWjaBYs9kfqo4_Dg_YL63GFKgFG6gh4VgqEDyQU_XPv4V-S1HA6mwEEsJHm2M8uZ/s6720/F81A1490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYSOcSQfDhIuYFTtPaVdh1ZiLmQJdKNmrWGe8_ELnt4BPfIRCjfI_AXQxHA5vmzS8KAaU4FPxO32hlOJS4cava-hIZ3JlBUWI45MyLIxOXo-XNUdufFEdq_SCFWjaBYs9kfqo4_Dg_YL63GFKgFG6gh4VgqEDyQU_XPv4V-S1HA6mwEEsJHm2M8uZ/w426-h640/F81A1490.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQCh0yzN4pNrUNhrzUoOOYm98WDWdvxFTyKOgE264Tooaxmsd-Bm8kMbcKcat-1t2HE4Deeh6sOdOAr_GD0v-JMLDhGBAYXXLVO76lP81MqMOrrnt5HdDCJiNljVCa15L_YBxgJ42lve0bZ8Vu9K9boF_-moT2DCkFdmlmMx8PuSdCHOuTNSY9DfN/s6720/F81A1577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQCh0yzN4pNrUNhrzUoOOYm98WDWdvxFTyKOgE264Tooaxmsd-Bm8kMbcKcat-1t2HE4Deeh6sOdOAr_GD0v-JMLDhGBAYXXLVO76lP81MqMOrrnt5HdDCJiNljVCa15L_YBxgJ42lve0bZ8Vu9K9boF_-moT2DCkFdmlmMx8PuSdCHOuTNSY9DfN/w426-h640/F81A1577.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio12HWHxnytATPGa6jku9borx3K-teOFMVWf0t6q44GeP90XhhgUv-5f6amvE39L_mflw-c6dBZq70w0TO2gVxcqzfsl6QspNilwYkqSsUp4yNtiH-VeCuEspNPERdNt09rOBTszyR9X6wGDPXD3LBqy5WPoYdR-ZMgNkZ-Z6sRYatmWUGkgK8zhbx/s6720/F81A1522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio12HWHxnytATPGa6jku9borx3K-teOFMVWf0t6q44GeP90XhhgUv-5f6amvE39L_mflw-c6dBZq70w0TO2gVxcqzfsl6QspNilwYkqSsUp4yNtiH-VeCuEspNPERdNt09rOBTszyR9X6wGDPXD3LBqy5WPoYdR-ZMgNkZ-Z6sRYatmWUGkgK8zhbx/w426-h640/F81A1522.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Dear Becks,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">One of our favorite video clips we have of you at age two plays out as follows: Nan had just joined our family and I was desperate for a short, little family walk. Some fresh air after having been cooped up with three kids ages 4, 2, and newborn was desperately needed. So when your dad got home from work, I strapped Nan on my chest and we headed out the door and up the sidewalk. We walked to "the big rock," a very short distance from our house and back. At one point your dad hit record, and what he captured was me (baby Nan strapped on), and toddler you in pigtails and shorts. The sidewalk med a driveway and, as we'd been trying to teach you and Blythe to watch for cars on driveways, I asked you to take my hand. I reached down, fingers outstretched toward you. And what did you do? You crossed your arms, turned your body away from mine and said in your tiny-toddler voice, "No. I'm good." </p><p style="text-align: left;">And that 8 second video clip has pretty much defined so much of who you are: Independent, a little defiant at times, but really, truly-- you are "good," meaning you are capable of handling and navigating many things. I was thinking about that video as you turn nine, because in so many areas of your life this year I have just seen you blossom with even more self-confidence, while luckily leaving a lot of the defiance behind you ;). </p></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIi4tF3VLUHNihRfDWJFhYfDhrsl8H4Xt6dZ6ENbLL7Wj46eVu4fglrPcQM_jMAGvCaKNWx3jjfkpX5Rc08kPyuC0FCzDtPfYiuzHmj3Ub8vHEhXz5crfMboMxgSDeFHIz5eRRx7DsKuPFgFcssH41_e91I9yviaO1-Xo5NyeFHC3q_nm7-5qGVga/s6720/F81A1755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIi4tF3VLUHNihRfDWJFhYfDhrsl8H4Xt6dZ6ENbLL7Wj46eVu4fglrPcQM_jMAGvCaKNWx3jjfkpX5Rc08kPyuC0FCzDtPfYiuzHmj3Ub8vHEhXz5crfMboMxgSDeFHIz5eRRx7DsKuPFgFcssH41_e91I9yviaO1-Xo5NyeFHC3q_nm7-5qGVga/w426-h640/F81A1755.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8WH9K1QUVgJ7acggeJnPvEWiDOK5cEdO5sH4FEhauaVOXCMh1ImWjax4ydZRwQr-vANqLtsbDR4niR3eakudH9DxUdq_EZQ9n3wznWAxKP5X6bal78UTtBENZSqrBewUPq4oCbDTq2zHUGWTJso1rzAKVv1_fL0CcOwzfJwWgyO2OUBM9FmjbItk/s4480/F81A1747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="2987" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8WH9K1QUVgJ7acggeJnPvEWiDOK5cEdO5sH4FEhauaVOXCMh1ImWjax4ydZRwQr-vANqLtsbDR4niR3eakudH9DxUdq_EZQ9n3wznWAxKP5X6bal78UTtBENZSqrBewUPq4oCbDTq2zHUGWTJso1rzAKVv1_fL0CcOwzfJwWgyO2OUBM9FmjbItk/w426-h640/F81A1747.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IuYDEpFdkC9LPR9kp4Eswfdn_zh9uv3ZyFVY0kaNCb9vF_q3PY7UPOnZmy99j12h83DK1TDnFg0ZffSVT_HT9rlAjhoWQAxH0cxGrq2i8dZ-3tchgCJyGOiqzk8dcUeAj8MhRvSRNiJp0hih59Dzdp9Y_QWJqsOJ0Vyp6NQQ_-bQjpQ0lPKTSjJV/s6720/F81A1745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IuYDEpFdkC9LPR9kp4Eswfdn_zh9uv3ZyFVY0kaNCb9vF_q3PY7UPOnZmy99j12h83DK1TDnFg0ZffSVT_HT9rlAjhoWQAxH0cxGrq2i8dZ-3tchgCJyGOiqzk8dcUeAj8MhRvSRNiJp0hih59Dzdp9Y_QWJqsOJ0Vyp6NQQ_-bQjpQ0lPKTSjJV/w640-h426/F81A1745.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z9iI5FK1xptb8EqUwMp4poj8f2QNX4zJlVXVbQAaTFGGkE8yDDNI0Yjs-LpfwkQGOQ02TVVaihAm8DgolKFMxMNxmI9D9aqn_ZQG0-Z3RPNT-DMWsVrMvvwS7hprGl7fKsYJXxZ1EO5eGSb3Wq60RxWmn1111UWc0UOAiOMFp4I6UHZE8ANXDRy9/s6720/F81A1744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z9iI5FK1xptb8EqUwMp4poj8f2QNX4zJlVXVbQAaTFGGkE8yDDNI0Yjs-LpfwkQGOQ02TVVaihAm8DgolKFMxMNxmI9D9aqn_ZQG0-Z3RPNT-DMWsVrMvvwS7hprGl7fKsYJXxZ1EO5eGSb3Wq60RxWmn1111UWc0UOAiOMFp4I6UHZE8ANXDRy9/w640-h426/F81A1744.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_b0UVaLn9vcSJTBi1jLcH6bx8FLkTC7GdDxiyL3AZmZp940T4AIWaHiWKH2XGTd7Bbb-PWqGIpfjqd-A0acqIfWGOLPgoPVRwh87GGdOJ8VWwQE1-ieaFKQXblzbaSGx8wgL6UPxg78Cs8Vi0-gyJ_Wt_JYD7ct2U4Md-aPrjKiRKTkqUHZ5s_Qx/s6720/F81A1739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_b0UVaLn9vcSJTBi1jLcH6bx8FLkTC7GdDxiyL3AZmZp940T4AIWaHiWKH2XGTd7Bbb-PWqGIpfjqd-A0acqIfWGOLPgoPVRwh87GGdOJ8VWwQE1-ieaFKQXblzbaSGx8wgL6UPxg78Cs8Vi0-gyJ_Wt_JYD7ct2U4Md-aPrjKiRKTkqUHZ5s_Qx/w426-h640/F81A1739.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24h7bDDPLJ4MliTbHIjV21PRHWXKp0AoOq_mnN8sOfdn-avHHlfC6GHmDAXkXH9Okxya4zWqhXWDB9sQwLG6zDye-66krEABF8ACxZ8lqAyp5WCRiTpa6qluOY3YkwHGG3Ii-D20OLLJtPH2_TV42H7IsabrjTRX93ovqaemgyoZvfGcRLCD1cqpY/s6720/F81A1737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24h7bDDPLJ4MliTbHIjV21PRHWXKp0AoOq_mnN8sOfdn-avHHlfC6GHmDAXkXH9Okxya4zWqhXWDB9sQwLG6zDye-66krEABF8ACxZ8lqAyp5WCRiTpa6qluOY3YkwHGG3Ii-D20OLLJtPH2_TV42H7IsabrjTRX93ovqaemgyoZvfGcRLCD1cqpY/w426-h640/F81A1737.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaBDQ7yW3SNuuwLdSY2WiMSCoW6_ZxYG22gsvPd8dhJzX1ptWoDnkQsaXtC982Rwns9wtRQlu66wWMAjv5b-uH0AX1XN9HETrCzLZ4TUysLXrFKoe41Qkz6lNyq_zB4ICElvTPjFyb7EZwQ846CpSpqqFpQ_ZIpWWs3xIV4E1rQKK-c9yk3XJTKf8/s6720/F81A1721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaBDQ7yW3SNuuwLdSY2WiMSCoW6_ZxYG22gsvPd8dhJzX1ptWoDnkQsaXtC982Rwns9wtRQlu66wWMAjv5b-uH0AX1XN9HETrCzLZ4TUysLXrFKoe41Qkz6lNyq_zB4ICElvTPjFyb7EZwQ846CpSpqqFpQ_ZIpWWs3xIV4E1rQKK-c9yk3XJTKf8/w426-h640/F81A1721.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_laYvo2s-NVZFusv9993f3UFO7_AQLKJw-KDQDwBZsBk7LkYNj0D-57r81wJZraltkuJ6jOyiOyT4x9yU-Bhxw-E2BDbm33dYua7GS4pH-_wbwpGEtGrwZyMa2hNdXNuQGC5RvzBhDbpqXW3zipTTouwCMoKKq3V4jVCKSQGp-S3yzBuuAbAD_pB/s6720/F81A1710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_laYvo2s-NVZFusv9993f3UFO7_AQLKJw-KDQDwBZsBk7LkYNj0D-57r81wJZraltkuJ6jOyiOyT4x9yU-Bhxw-E2BDbm33dYua7GS4pH-_wbwpGEtGrwZyMa2hNdXNuQGC5RvzBhDbpqXW3zipTTouwCMoKKq3V4jVCKSQGp-S3yzBuuAbAD_pB/w640-h426/F81A1710.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDRu6Y-Sqhhquy0262RJYERD9kcnGY_ewZGjugiehfHwLh99aKcosGkKTgOBDLYd9X0PFZ1jwhDC2U4Pc9Qti51x2uDf4y03-108BiB4SOEE2sNgvS20Fqd2qQJJ9Wq-O0AAbM8UGksnh1EkgCJqAmzf-dfipp1V9LhGC0n8qOjlGT4S5anPLn35b/s6720/F81A1707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDRu6Y-Sqhhquy0262RJYERD9kcnGY_ewZGjugiehfHwLh99aKcosGkKTgOBDLYd9X0PFZ1jwhDC2U4Pc9Qti51x2uDf4y03-108BiB4SOEE2sNgvS20Fqd2qQJJ9Wq-O0AAbM8UGksnh1EkgCJqAmzf-dfipp1V9LhGC0n8qOjlGT4S5anPLn35b/w426-h640/F81A1707.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_q1y8zS7L2kLLHFj7FwS8okGvrkkIFrRYkHowOx64X_O9ufuo50PVprBtKN-ERme01060lI8_otvGd_EOgz_FsGfBOf1JmtnifrBxtK8EPv2Dq0rnSwwb-lYAF22LGpD3_qrkdCPZtn9DVGQNrsdKXxLPu4XCFSpyv1Sq3oQu1w055z7GF6UNO_k/s6720/F81A1704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_q1y8zS7L2kLLHFj7FwS8okGvrkkIFrRYkHowOx64X_O9ufuo50PVprBtKN-ERme01060lI8_otvGd_EOgz_FsGfBOf1JmtnifrBxtK8EPv2Dq0rnSwwb-lYAF22LGpD3_qrkdCPZtn9DVGQNrsdKXxLPu4XCFSpyv1Sq3oQu1w055z7GF6UNO_k/w426-h640/F81A1704.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGjjjp9h_5faGDhrGdriMo2IL3jkIPJVCvj6lRCoxbzb-MPoUyQht-f7Rp_5QU0WgeeM7OtYUtx2yOvxiyP91QziOkZnGXeUsbUTpNe2PZW4qfC6Rbto2bhUm5kIYcTUBNNWsxUeNQ_OtYqK_v13RsZkoAMmTStYoCVzyLJNGtlcgWh6Iil1zQMHx/s6720/F81A1703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGjjjp9h_5faGDhrGdriMo2IL3jkIPJVCvj6lRCoxbzb-MPoUyQht-f7Rp_5QU0WgeeM7OtYUtx2yOvxiyP91QziOkZnGXeUsbUTpNe2PZW4qfC6Rbto2bhUm5kIYcTUBNNWsxUeNQ_OtYqK_v13RsZkoAMmTStYoCVzyLJNGtlcgWh6Iil1zQMHx/w640-h426/F81A1703.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM4EWuqgj2Wz1HsAFg2PYNnXuX7DrBaj-VdTqPQ2aTCbyDaDxkgfx-MvtSXGA2hV2zJV6-8dCHzl3-Rm9fiWnNQGyyoQbwSHmQgmKlbkdvd-_p0xBxiUpkX6p8hX2yibCf_yzqcX5Maygtieia9abLD1D_mX_h-p8EuUZwLtFhA-ptikMQw6hxYET/s6720/F81A1702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM4EWuqgj2Wz1HsAFg2PYNnXuX7DrBaj-VdTqPQ2aTCbyDaDxkgfx-MvtSXGA2hV2zJV6-8dCHzl3-Rm9fiWnNQGyyoQbwSHmQgmKlbkdvd-_p0xBxiUpkX6p8hX2yibCf_yzqcX5Maygtieia9abLD1D_mX_h-p8EuUZwLtFhA-ptikMQw6hxYET/w640-h426/F81A1702.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZzXIURMPqY58x6tJQWiLidxAYzBdVjyFAX-k15v4O4Rgi1xDjgEAcieuZmKlu99veqrcB3Y0UywodS4TuZfAkRW5aB9LbYJB9KCAOHeShzRFphBxip9lhicnCLHcUhuAUu6UaszOpBARUIXlDbbLaneZK--aBaAt4BlWOd1RsQj2hD2irnumQbGs/s6720/F81A1699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZzXIURMPqY58x6tJQWiLidxAYzBdVjyFAX-k15v4O4Rgi1xDjgEAcieuZmKlu99veqrcB3Y0UywodS4TuZfAkRW5aB9LbYJB9KCAOHeShzRFphBxip9lhicnCLHcUhuAUu6UaszOpBARUIXlDbbLaneZK--aBaAt4BlWOd1RsQj2hD2irnumQbGs/w640-h426/F81A1699.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">You still are most in your element when you're outside romping and getting dirty. The dirtier you get, the more fun you seem to have. You also still love animals-- whether that's helping feed our neighbors chickens and collect eggs, or see the red pandas at the zoo, or playing with a neighbor's cat or dog. Nan is getting a kitten soon as part of her birthday present and I have a feeling that you'll have just as much fun loving on it as she does. Last year you caught so many tadpoles, and had named many of them by the release time. A few died and you insisted we give them a proper burial. One had a gimpy fin and same on his side, and the rest of the season you'd march down to papa's pond looking for "Sidey." One of your favorite things to do is still to go out fishing with papa. We've decided you are probably too tender hearted to ever join him with a gun in the hunting blind, but you're more than content to throw on a pair of jeans and grab a rod and reel. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJBt_wN7S8Kfbh9dtC530sqYkbx1KyDTx9rZYNSfG-1LlWyAmJVVeNgEftlWx0sWCB3YF-9X8YUhIsFfHWnxHtVwDmHYoI7Exl7HDP-CZRr1HSam8OHdWJOZeRTgj8eu5aroOkUanfNae7XpgQ62qCnPdWPW_HgQIhgd1yL5cwoEizqUDdFMp6gGT/s6720/F81A1697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJBt_wN7S8Kfbh9dtC530sqYkbx1KyDTx9rZYNSfG-1LlWyAmJVVeNgEftlWx0sWCB3YF-9X8YUhIsFfHWnxHtVwDmHYoI7Exl7HDP-CZRr1HSam8OHdWJOZeRTgj8eu5aroOkUanfNae7XpgQ62qCnPdWPW_HgQIhgd1yL5cwoEizqUDdFMp6gGT/w426-h640/F81A1697.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlFdx5fTmuX2fufI_5eCmWRR5F51Yj9HgfhgfdZMsW89936sxDDyHX_Ic5dwf2DD8avJUcq5irMgUm4IxaRFZ-TO9PEFClBywbjpo-tFBqY6lh-PFHu8ji-D_KS_gAhmpQ-cLEfPPVKrEBkdYiccxEaI4CwbxORdWFkRZszF3u5fn9UBsu_0wXTXx/s6720/F81A1696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlFdx5fTmuX2fufI_5eCmWRR5F51Yj9HgfhgfdZMsW89936sxDDyHX_Ic5dwf2DD8avJUcq5irMgUm4IxaRFZ-TO9PEFClBywbjpo-tFBqY6lh-PFHu8ji-D_KS_gAhmpQ-cLEfPPVKrEBkdYiccxEaI4CwbxORdWFkRZszF3u5fn9UBsu_0wXTXx/w426-h640/F81A1696.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2sDOi9mBDoZiztcGT71oWStrQqny-6jNzB8ZK0zVW6xJTsAgkQuAPo5Q_et-6hm14icpvUGO4X3TZ8HUs5GWdJkizxPin5iKQrWtceANJ-sydiAk7TGbD0KUqAKj3t2v-RJ7hHB--ozk6s86W1pSPbxV_UjPUMtlxFe7ki7EaCF-jAY5HXjPwCSy/s6051/F81A1680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6051" data-original-width="4034" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2sDOi9mBDoZiztcGT71oWStrQqny-6jNzB8ZK0zVW6xJTsAgkQuAPo5Q_et-6hm14icpvUGO4X3TZ8HUs5GWdJkizxPin5iKQrWtceANJ-sydiAk7TGbD0KUqAKj3t2v-RJ7hHB--ozk6s86W1pSPbxV_UjPUMtlxFe7ki7EaCF-jAY5HXjPwCSy/w426-h640/F81A1680.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJol-IPENQd6lcFaWFKuE51FDl9WXF00rNeb5l794KVkBCZ3VkShB7brfPYdHCyyCItDOTUzYrGgaLhaDAeGetidWq6oyPd3qKjt6hW-vKIOt5eX_7DgtollFyGDh2-bBJGUuxxZZdnskdpbnNiOcP6FfeUDH-YIt8PklGDUzWp5XYHgjrHKgHNpu/s4480/F81A1671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="2987" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJol-IPENQd6lcFaWFKuE51FDl9WXF00rNeb5l794KVkBCZ3VkShB7brfPYdHCyyCItDOTUzYrGgaLhaDAeGetidWq6oyPd3qKjt6hW-vKIOt5eX_7DgtollFyGDh2-bBJGUuxxZZdnskdpbnNiOcP6FfeUDH-YIt8PklGDUzWp5XYHgjrHKgHNpu/w426-h640/F81A1671.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs8cL4nfYc67Z6qu1t6iukqyQnbidsS6ca-bkmZufRpbUqhm7yvUysUl48w1yvJk64F5edPsmhsXsA7RGyvaKhtrqX7WtY7yiqROYBGTWL_WwKFWvnNLiy6pDuE-AwrGLoP4MEqkveeQ1lV_YrGYKWTlSqo57kaiqE2ytx6g9g2L_xSlH0P7wxRKW/s5876/F81A1665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5876" data-original-width="3917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs8cL4nfYc67Z6qu1t6iukqyQnbidsS6ca-bkmZufRpbUqhm7yvUysUl48w1yvJk64F5edPsmhsXsA7RGyvaKhtrqX7WtY7yiqROYBGTWL_WwKFWvnNLiy6pDuE-AwrGLoP4MEqkveeQ1lV_YrGYKWTlSqo57kaiqE2ytx6g9g2L_xSlH0P7wxRKW/w426-h640/F81A1665.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYKSUmbN_do_XltsZs7bidBqFCpx8ycko66aSBR3BqU2oOBgT4bIIkDQXQQIEmXX_8820Oi6v8x6s2jMtAJ6TQwhxr1YD8MhVIjPpF3mNOjOD-IRRqbhKxHjomEedrQTPxWkywPb9DHtbXBHE7BYi2j55RkeoAEK3Q-ocmKDMXxacMQbdKKCytw_4/s6720/F81A1659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYKSUmbN_do_XltsZs7bidBqFCpx8ycko66aSBR3BqU2oOBgT4bIIkDQXQQIEmXX_8820Oi6v8x6s2jMtAJ6TQwhxr1YD8MhVIjPpF3mNOjOD-IRRqbhKxHjomEedrQTPxWkywPb9DHtbXBHE7BYi2j55RkeoAEK3Q-ocmKDMXxacMQbdKKCytw_4/w640-h426/F81A1659.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48VrVuB8cCABa0iY0zt_qrYMJ34Xlh90Sc6Ro8QQI4wwrgdCyhF91V4zNq6TR72U-11HiFnovt8D_Lnh-YKqR8zpyXAy-x_c8V0kEmhJOe3YAIWAQduFt55ypEbkBPHHYFOYelW-4r_O0w2XaPktHY7-v4w6jgree0ZUsGPgRynAG1MmamN2lAkW3/s6720/F81A1655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48VrVuB8cCABa0iY0zt_qrYMJ34Xlh90Sc6Ro8QQI4wwrgdCyhF91V4zNq6TR72U-11HiFnovt8D_Lnh-YKqR8zpyXAy-x_c8V0kEmhJOe3YAIWAQduFt55ypEbkBPHHYFOYelW-4r_O0w2XaPktHY7-v4w6jgree0ZUsGPgRynAG1MmamN2lAkW3/w640-h426/F81A1655.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIY_4tPDg-IV-hrlhI40UTjM3WK54WsEZlXTQOOnepLOPracNWxIT1Rl4dIQaduz0rY5t0-MHW01sa2tYyeup-63CNRqF8g--jhSL4_MdDVQyAG2Gp_ZOknGAhqCbQyVadWvwnht1lEfnxSPalBsqVnDZJiQUM4Jaqr7pDrC6MdQ7dIsFjTbwgMNP/s5178/F81A1654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5178" data-original-width="3452" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIY_4tPDg-IV-hrlhI40UTjM3WK54WsEZlXTQOOnepLOPracNWxIT1Rl4dIQaduz0rY5t0-MHW01sa2tYyeup-63CNRqF8g--jhSL4_MdDVQyAG2Gp_ZOknGAhqCbQyVadWvwnht1lEfnxSPalBsqVnDZJiQUM4Jaqr7pDrC6MdQ7dIsFjTbwgMNP/w426-h640/F81A1654.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBARlK7WRvAmXuHdn7SjHRy9iR3Nhukx0wX_WRM5EnlagXpXphrO6ilAF8GmNDgmtJn6gdKhG1EMIgBwmedKFrG0F-kufL9ZJYIyvu0kThTyiY9nN5guQBWp3n1NYJILuGD3jyln00cGzEkdIyIbg3Jp-JYn7UBxMQx9L6j2tm7PbqojUxIl3eWMd/s6720/F81A1645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBARlK7WRvAmXuHdn7SjHRy9iR3Nhukx0wX_WRM5EnlagXpXphrO6ilAF8GmNDgmtJn6gdKhG1EMIgBwmedKFrG0F-kufL9ZJYIyvu0kThTyiY9nN5guQBWp3n1NYJILuGD3jyln00cGzEkdIyIbg3Jp-JYn7UBxMQx9L6j2tm7PbqojUxIl3eWMd/w640-h426/F81A1645.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkMuy3H1GJT8Ga0sAC9krRatG2leMonVzDPVtSW1kej6HbfjqhTt33kU15r6tJ9pQjSVhlmlZut_sjsUvsERdXXHRvx8lGGjsE3JEkCgMfTTKtpHVlpp-xS9xVwfkNr4qnRTXrgLlQN3aZ_e7NN6l50wTrQ9OUSPwVPmnqj9Ed6NPUIRvBAmpf-tG/s6720/F81A1637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkMuy3H1GJT8Ga0sAC9krRatG2leMonVzDPVtSW1kej6HbfjqhTt33kU15r6tJ9pQjSVhlmlZut_sjsUvsERdXXHRvx8lGGjsE3JEkCgMfTTKtpHVlpp-xS9xVwfkNr4qnRTXrgLlQN3aZ_e7NN6l50wTrQ9OUSPwVPmnqj9Ed6NPUIRvBAmpf-tG/w426-h640/F81A1637.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex4ANg_68WGqisdugCNceqp7ejblEkR6MlunNrYCR5cOAdxG9-uSlHNQi4_sEP0nAtcxf78o9CmEv4Fromt7ngub8IVGzlJFETFAmC2FWWadCLU4U9jRarf8PAChUoZZ7hznmyTU8nakzjuSoDU2CKPtjWqCIAfrv5Mhb_3fW4_WFl2yRUM1pEuSM/s6720/F81A1636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex4ANg_68WGqisdugCNceqp7ejblEkR6MlunNrYCR5cOAdxG9-uSlHNQi4_sEP0nAtcxf78o9CmEv4Fromt7ngub8IVGzlJFETFAmC2FWWadCLU4U9jRarf8PAChUoZZ7hznmyTU8nakzjuSoDU2CKPtjWqCIAfrv5Mhb_3fW4_WFl2yRUM1pEuSM/w426-h640/F81A1636.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxhJlF2OiaN1b9adVRpOo4ZUfXwOOry5yCTiZDDqz62WJWrNJMpjru8M05CBEM09qZFaiaJnEwzAKRtZSvHImqiNQCdQbu0LRSk0XQ1pAitCK-qTTdhB7u4u2t9Vd-HZZIQqvxMkNfIVLkbPE2_Ks1vsHcfUTGlxpS0RghHhXuhPbqRlaq2YYLzwH/s6720/F81A1632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxhJlF2OiaN1b9adVRpOo4ZUfXwOOry5yCTiZDDqz62WJWrNJMpjru8M05CBEM09qZFaiaJnEwzAKRtZSvHImqiNQCdQbu0LRSk0XQ1pAitCK-qTTdhB7u4u2t9Vd-HZZIQqvxMkNfIVLkbPE2_Ks1vsHcfUTGlxpS0RghHhXuhPbqRlaq2YYLzwH/w426-h640/F81A1632.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyTxO-nAI3ba1VLXY7HQx_-BmIEc5EDNVkHfE4a039H1R7cWOtGAFjdysNH32-QOJhQrBWB3g9JGwxxOaKCVdf9k8ZI2O_SSZXPHZRIft6oBb9yYi0nnYfFojBIwXwzWsxyjChJO4nfLzRkGzsEF0MHra9eghFI5BYCYengo9KxMvXl1jfhNH_ulh/s6720/F81A1623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyTxO-nAI3ba1VLXY7HQx_-BmIEc5EDNVkHfE4a039H1R7cWOtGAFjdysNH32-QOJhQrBWB3g9JGwxxOaKCVdf9k8ZI2O_SSZXPHZRIft6oBb9yYi0nnYfFojBIwXwzWsxyjChJO4nfLzRkGzsEF0MHra9eghFI5BYCYengo9KxMvXl1jfhNH_ulh/w426-h640/F81A1623.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>You've become more aware of helping around the house lately too, but your favorite ways to help are always in the kitchen. Just recently we went on a little hike and you found some wild onions. We brought them home and you helped clean them and chopped them up to throw in spaghetti sauce for supper. You really love to bake, but since that's not something I love, you tend to get your fixes for that with your grandma's (and super special times with Aunt Kali is back visiting). It will be interesting to see how your love for cooking and baking grows over the next few years as you are more and more capable of doing things in the kitchen by yourself. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p>You still love getting dressed up for an occasion, or even just picking out the right pair of earrings for school. Getting to take your birthday pictures every year is so fun for me, because you absolutely love the entire process-- from picking your outfit, to doing your hair, to being in front of the camera. You always have location ideas and ideas for posing. This year for your birthday, knowing your love for these kinds of things, Nana took you to get a pedicure. It was your first and you thought it was such a fun experience. You're always willing to give me advice about an outfit choice, and it's fun. I think you will love all of the next big things in high school as we pick out prom dresses etc. I don't think there is anything wrong with enjoying these types of things, as long as you always remember that the Lord looks at the heart, and to do the most important work there always and first. </p></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejqVB2v4ceJy-a1oJT3Pi7zoizweazXZepXRKe8gCk6FEEXCWbyA6hLCDvKl7331tAOnRpJpf2GOPWQ7mh4M-inciyo0ReuKQe8yCjiWdBdDgW4sJmHxtH7pGtJh6KkoCcFC9pZpKtijGnhyflVpzI6DQwhLPFCk6cgz53fWPFjR3rNUOTdzAYXnh/s6720/F81A1619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejqVB2v4ceJy-a1oJT3Pi7zoizweazXZepXRKe8gCk6FEEXCWbyA6hLCDvKl7331tAOnRpJpf2GOPWQ7mh4M-inciyo0ReuKQe8yCjiWdBdDgW4sJmHxtH7pGtJh6KkoCcFC9pZpKtijGnhyflVpzI6DQwhLPFCk6cgz53fWPFjR3rNUOTdzAYXnh/w426-h640/F81A1619.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQ4Ydzj0ZLvCnAM-uqJu7T4C4KPXfyTsWHeI6HTCDPeqC8iPvARVX-pZkkRvbvFqiqLdCcOXbTGrOhORYvYooJAV3LOVd1hkrtqAQp9Vn8o2qtIgSWoiqCe0uTFnFpMBjG50e9uCTh1DqWNKax4wu7m16UuqRdr2VqJ4scMQK-YMr6ozjyLeZnc_Q/s6720/F81A1616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQ4Ydzj0ZLvCnAM-uqJu7T4C4KPXfyTsWHeI6HTCDPeqC8iPvARVX-pZkkRvbvFqiqLdCcOXbTGrOhORYvYooJAV3LOVd1hkrtqAQp9Vn8o2qtIgSWoiqCe0uTFnFpMBjG50e9uCTh1DqWNKax4wu7m16UuqRdr2VqJ4scMQK-YMr6ozjyLeZnc_Q/w426-h640/F81A1616.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSp3sutxfgrRVeFkxyLPYSvv3_m5nDEgXhXv9onzleLgsPEEhef3wYrrIxtH_qnm5fHqDe7r5UxLpxWXXAPcsT6bphG54UuiCh1DK6GNkFioD8bG3KQWROwxxfOhtVAZSVWO3Ny2ZXslapWABOfT1eUEqzI2110EAL5YC2YakXnXRo80c8mD5AsmSZ/s6720/F81A1614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSp3sutxfgrRVeFkxyLPYSvv3_m5nDEgXhXv9onzleLgsPEEhef3wYrrIxtH_qnm5fHqDe7r5UxLpxWXXAPcsT6bphG54UuiCh1DK6GNkFioD8bG3KQWROwxxfOhtVAZSVWO3Ny2ZXslapWABOfT1eUEqzI2110EAL5YC2YakXnXRo80c8mD5AsmSZ/w426-h640/F81A1614.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnzZxgpRO4mV9pgX5dfyAubE4xkd0w0dPsoV8Wjn8LwzNCbxYIuSaaSpzA1JODt_gK_Q70IbYdIrl84W8a44xRYOOgR0HqOe9wLUNVdxMZwlwiyKmECRUCb8CaxuZu25sK1XP2Afv6_q9FKJNA4h_gJvwHVOtkoStxoU1mGvGX-sNSgozhk2DMmzR/s5993/F81A1612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5993" data-original-width="3995" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnzZxgpRO4mV9pgX5dfyAubE4xkd0w0dPsoV8Wjn8LwzNCbxYIuSaaSpzA1JODt_gK_Q70IbYdIrl84W8a44xRYOOgR0HqOe9wLUNVdxMZwlwiyKmECRUCb8CaxuZu25sK1XP2Afv6_q9FKJNA4h_gJvwHVOtkoStxoU1mGvGX-sNSgozhk2DMmzR/w426-h640/F81A1612.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrQthOfOE_SHlMgjk-YQheeVu8qJ4zSQYU4qii017BnGXLCYbJUnS2xHygq30VeUCCRgPGdELtEDG1d5933L1g9Qcs1IOoE1h3o55cLnl9USCjDGxeQemllckesCLfmUp3DpAlBoVCD9gyrCn0kdriHxvnwd1G9EER1cwTd8RZnTK97TxMUq5zSvk/s6720/F81A1605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrQthOfOE_SHlMgjk-YQheeVu8qJ4zSQYU4qii017BnGXLCYbJUnS2xHygq30VeUCCRgPGdELtEDG1d5933L1g9Qcs1IOoE1h3o55cLnl9USCjDGxeQemllckesCLfmUp3DpAlBoVCD9gyrCn0kdriHxvnwd1G9EER1cwTd8RZnTK97TxMUq5zSvk/w640-h426/F81A1605.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUcZoem-Dw4_gjlEFHjcUNR-NmyQqLMinMskiL7oJ-BOgEmLTIPlIKSolCjUFDdiMF6cp5Mz24CyIIb4BkRT_Go0GPb4lL-rUwYM4fVZVclTJa6sqeF2d4mkAs-_VQklhnPQCInaTfbuSP2Df6OM9MmrqpFnO-gpY6WPRWQIIxRwslaydXS2xJa11/s5091/F81A1602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5091" data-original-width="3394" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUcZoem-Dw4_gjlEFHjcUNR-NmyQqLMinMskiL7oJ-BOgEmLTIPlIKSolCjUFDdiMF6cp5Mz24CyIIb4BkRT_Go0GPb4lL-rUwYM4fVZVclTJa6sqeF2d4mkAs-_VQklhnPQCInaTfbuSP2Df6OM9MmrqpFnO-gpY6WPRWQIIxRwslaydXS2xJa11/w426-h640/F81A1602.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTvhWmor0LMoOokNWy5pRhhogXA6bvdSUGRnD9bGt1IfK4CGv3S0xWgI3kPNMxIGHhGMrOatf0qZcliBREsv1v2ZD0AY041FzHVw1afNgbIkKdw1rI7C_oiFkTqaPuEm3NtuaEqA1GvGP0qjpX5g6hF3dfnoEAyg-zfztzUdXCPzPT4CiQXN-zQBA/s5905/F81A1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5905" data-original-width="3937" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTvhWmor0LMoOokNWy5pRhhogXA6bvdSUGRnD9bGt1IfK4CGv3S0xWgI3kPNMxIGHhGMrOatf0qZcliBREsv1v2ZD0AY041FzHVw1afNgbIkKdw1rI7C_oiFkTqaPuEm3NtuaEqA1GvGP0qjpX5g6hF3dfnoEAyg-zfztzUdXCPzPT4CiQXN-zQBA/w426-h640/F81A1600.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgG_UOvKGUMg6ZafK1a-yuevCmGIQrh1TroLrGaKFvWgVTbdXKYYXaBMVjBKsHJ8gthzk-Fk3yE3wAs_s_LgiMcTUs10xudbY1vSosiGZ_v7e5DcMAeKvDsStDRPFSjJKdmCXZPDfN0cl1br4X77kREcRsljAHtxWt9Aam6tQDq98NVp0G4Li6wT3/s6720/F81A1592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgG_UOvKGUMg6ZafK1a-yuevCmGIQrh1TroLrGaKFvWgVTbdXKYYXaBMVjBKsHJ8gthzk-Fk3yE3wAs_s_LgiMcTUs10xudbY1vSosiGZ_v7e5DcMAeKvDsStDRPFSjJKdmCXZPDfN0cl1br4X77kREcRsljAHtxWt9Aam6tQDq98NVp0G4Li6wT3/w640-h426/F81A1592.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD4bX_BpvzjM3zSIy025OheEIig0xDseKkqd4Z-O4os1PtFtOjUuwMhTbk4Vvi7Jf7cSAEsAWNRM_rmoPHXEwmRgqnXY8qaXuS9OmZGfyflz9Ka73afaAOm2I78Zk82UDhAeVjgPoQQiy-B4oM8w9sRZ-vaZuQlR9KyaEJ7kLFp2Q-pjHYwV3aZuq/s6720/F81A1589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD4bX_BpvzjM3zSIy025OheEIig0xDseKkqd4Z-O4os1PtFtOjUuwMhTbk4Vvi7Jf7cSAEsAWNRM_rmoPHXEwmRgqnXY8qaXuS9OmZGfyflz9Ka73afaAOm2I78Zk82UDhAeVjgPoQQiy-B4oM8w9sRZ-vaZuQlR9KyaEJ7kLFp2Q-pjHYwV3aZuq/w640-h426/F81A1589.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT3ZufWMRWqaCjx9CvYx5vP4dc1O3mXHzwmlI-__CCkvRHh_6kAa7tuIcrgz7KJLlFXKTyr96jgK6UJAGiifLTefLTqdh4bXFjVgAgc86lADBB4vgwYy5pCJs2GuLukCQsslkaILFn1sjjV7hOyT_h3ZrdJ37L_LSIAGNPwPAyDGplPCRjalbCzZr/s6720/F81A1585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT3ZufWMRWqaCjx9CvYx5vP4dc1O3mXHzwmlI-__CCkvRHh_6kAa7tuIcrgz7KJLlFXKTyr96jgK6UJAGiifLTefLTqdh4bXFjVgAgc86lADBB4vgwYy5pCJs2GuLukCQsslkaILFn1sjjV7hOyT_h3ZrdJ37L_LSIAGNPwPAyDGplPCRjalbCzZr/w426-h640/F81A1585.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1Y5dtgkAZmd5NTCwCGpVlbIvHo2Wf1weU1ilp8814jJgyRSZL2nHiyKj_h2ikSbU8L4zppaeklt0wcW94Thu1XTZ6xBrmoesSTuvakv_uZalH8Kxt-lSAyUV1wx9hRWUxVr_ETaU7OTMNlSyTDIGLgP7VakxcudOc6Dnw-uXVnaXB3IOminiXfg-/s6720/F81A1580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1Y5dtgkAZmd5NTCwCGpVlbIvHo2Wf1weU1ilp8814jJgyRSZL2nHiyKj_h2ikSbU8L4zppaeklt0wcW94Thu1XTZ6xBrmoesSTuvakv_uZalH8Kxt-lSAyUV1wx9hRWUxVr_ETaU7OTMNlSyTDIGLgP7VakxcudOc6Dnw-uXVnaXB3IOminiXfg-/w426-h640/F81A1580.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjTDN8Vwe8c60Ofx85sJ2uPDQyJxzkRpwB-VLLslo2lV0O_YqZx62NgyXZdhRf4GL8uGHf_4Dy0N1YTLgdxd5qWHCWP9XptvtTp6DI_Yhfn8S47EhtwBNOz4Rx_RIKZM-gez2UooHPIxR4eVYw5_2B25bBic0sT1y7NB5ehiCGL4fiemW-S1f8E6j/s6720/F81A1576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjTDN8Vwe8c60Ofx85sJ2uPDQyJxzkRpwB-VLLslo2lV0O_YqZx62NgyXZdhRf4GL8uGHf_4Dy0N1YTLgdxd5qWHCWP9XptvtTp6DI_Yhfn8S47EhtwBNOz4Rx_RIKZM-gez2UooHPIxR4eVYw5_2B25bBic0sT1y7NB5ehiCGL4fiemW-S1f8E6j/w426-h640/F81A1576.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7s8xSoB0zzJmXtVLoTIl9KzYs56GwWj1M0oIDQHyZ_kVhN_XPTvFjoE_rXmcd57pZrqjVeyXm_fKyjSSARhXC_MJq9owQPCX2DSESZ61gC77Qw_gEmQ20CFLF-w5mqeVNQKUOQk6mVeaI5jwUN36KteJfw_XP96hEeVOc2kkTRskHYMSjeFk32Cv/s6720/F81A1575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7s8xSoB0zzJmXtVLoTIl9KzYs56GwWj1M0oIDQHyZ_kVhN_XPTvFjoE_rXmcd57pZrqjVeyXm_fKyjSSARhXC_MJq9owQPCX2DSESZ61gC77Qw_gEmQ20CFLF-w5mqeVNQKUOQk6mVeaI5jwUN36KteJfw_XP96hEeVOc2kkTRskHYMSjeFk32Cv/w426-h640/F81A1575.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHBMLhUhJdhERohYlOPqV4XLZtgN4O4ZRd6lqsxMfFYD56qstJx2cB6vwMz3wrFmBrJ-8NGZI3jGmb_QziohDoZXRTDyoWKPqDapeEI6d4uQFmtwDZ4QjTIe4modgoGbum8PQLgR3RVP4MjTcG4C-x3p8WZ2zBOLaKz0pRH8C7oDRdjWOrLUy3qi1/s6720/F81A1566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHBMLhUhJdhERohYlOPqV4XLZtgN4O4ZRd6lqsxMfFYD56qstJx2cB6vwMz3wrFmBrJ-8NGZI3jGmb_QziohDoZXRTDyoWKPqDapeEI6d4uQFmtwDZ4QjTIe4modgoGbum8PQLgR3RVP4MjTcG4C-x3p8WZ2zBOLaKz0pRH8C7oDRdjWOrLUy3qi1/w426-h640/F81A1566.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5Ej_osP-KkUPGJZADXZxY770FAkfY6eHGY_ZCvYdiaZPzqBL1G9uwB8d2PFK-d7GPH5Oq-0miLxEWW5aCd9jHaNYk6aAKluIxEKfV6t1vs4IXYt-42GeYli_vHapgcuZPypOHzkudczv3eHO1w3k0fQR3vJVp8bcfwMc_h_AhSKzkK-lWNX2kukc/s5964/F81A1564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5964" data-original-width="3976" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5Ej_osP-KkUPGJZADXZxY770FAkfY6eHGY_ZCvYdiaZPzqBL1G9uwB8d2PFK-d7GPH5Oq-0miLxEWW5aCd9jHaNYk6aAKluIxEKfV6t1vs4IXYt-42GeYli_vHapgcuZPypOHzkudczv3eHO1w3k0fQR3vJVp8bcfwMc_h_AhSKzkK-lWNX2kukc/w426-h640/F81A1564.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You have developed your own unique relationships with each of your siblings. You and Blythe are still very close, and still share a room. You've mentioned a few times that you think having your own room would be great, but Blythe <i>insists </i>that you stay with her, because you have always made her feel safe. When you guys were little and Blythe went through a season of being afraid at night, I didn't even know it was happening for a long time because you would tell her stories about how you had "laser eyes" that could kill mice etc. if they got close. Ever since then you are a safe place for her, and I think that is pretty special. Plus you guys like to giggle a lot at night. You and Nan have had a bit more tumultuous relationship lately, but then there are moments of real beauty. The last time we went to the creek to play, there was a large tree that had fallen across it, completely blocking one path through. You took Nan's hand, and gently helped her up one side of the creek bank and back down so you could go explore together. You were encouraging her the whole time, checking on her to make sure she was okay and making it. I was so proud of you and knew in that moment that, despite your differences, you would always look out for her. And then there is Sloan. You can't get enough of him, still viewing him as a baby who will let you squish him and hug him most days. He is not a baby though, but a rather strong 4 year old who usually gets very upset by your tender advances. However, as the two early risers in the family I can often find you with him when I wake up, playing monster trucks or puppies or whatever else <i>he </i>wants to play, you being content to make him happy (and still milking some hugs out of him when you can). </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBOrqXqb1WXE78jnipAHbH_eEAHyVRZBB5zHfiekDOU8_GWrzsCXNXQYHeWf2PfzYflX5mhSOFZi_J-WR6rQlvjkRV40-fMzJ24vMAmh88ggWGNLkdhCcuPANY0uEF3Cs19bUd-48xkwt8gtn1EqleBrAHsxQcLUE5FcsgiqiMxJoioMPyX0NF3Ln/s6720/F81A1559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBOrqXqb1WXE78jnipAHbH_eEAHyVRZBB5zHfiekDOU8_GWrzsCXNXQYHeWf2PfzYflX5mhSOFZi_J-WR6rQlvjkRV40-fMzJ24vMAmh88ggWGNLkdhCcuPANY0uEF3Cs19bUd-48xkwt8gtn1EqleBrAHsxQcLUE5FcsgiqiMxJoioMPyX0NF3Ln/w426-h640/F81A1559.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4q7_zpTMGgZawHZI2B_ahmKWr6146wp-GvZ6xxQteswuJmxQJFc5Q3uUX00uEJAAwGoGpwny9XXy-bUm9HbkZLVl5ZgwA9NuCkbDPGaRbk0EcgnjnqEV_3VSCyudQuVGLAMpfYDg-XGqvPm4INEErJtihGwzuHskZnjs8MxDKmkBEnADKY-fpKk-V/s6720/F81A1556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4q7_zpTMGgZawHZI2B_ahmKWr6146wp-GvZ6xxQteswuJmxQJFc5Q3uUX00uEJAAwGoGpwny9XXy-bUm9HbkZLVl5ZgwA9NuCkbDPGaRbk0EcgnjnqEV_3VSCyudQuVGLAMpfYDg-XGqvPm4INEErJtihGwzuHskZnjs8MxDKmkBEnADKY-fpKk-V/w426-h640/F81A1556.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT5HKW2mbJl9wj34P5truS5EB4Cxx92rGk1U2F8lGg2LB0S7_jMA7uIv5acs2uEhpuyc_TkatIP6qwBqri901wuAWqzy9ImbnUI7JvLQtXaASXw4oqru48WBdU1mVlhVi4Gqhh7MqDJOnOJYzdj2ymSEbqmhrogUJSCTZRbWYsSP-y1Py47FXRGgF/s6720/F81A1553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT5HKW2mbJl9wj34P5truS5EB4Cxx92rGk1U2F8lGg2LB0S7_jMA7uIv5acs2uEhpuyc_TkatIP6qwBqri901wuAWqzy9ImbnUI7JvLQtXaASXw4oqru48WBdU1mVlhVi4Gqhh7MqDJOnOJYzdj2ymSEbqmhrogUJSCTZRbWYsSP-y1Py47FXRGgF/w426-h640/F81A1553.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePLF1kywUnYJDYoUZeKVjmpUvGBpWO3pBh99FXKgYOv6H-WziMIrxOJMGlZ1jAUBnpSYeD2U-wv-djwUNRZHDsdN-cSiEJM1-hH8gof-rDD3QqyKTmDPtO-E3Fn2doYbbf9wrWygHqmWz7ReeJKFn9tyZp1QYhXWsquAcwGG_7GNnGF5OoM7JKf-t/s6051/F81A1551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6051" data-original-width="4034" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePLF1kywUnYJDYoUZeKVjmpUvGBpWO3pBh99FXKgYOv6H-WziMIrxOJMGlZ1jAUBnpSYeD2U-wv-djwUNRZHDsdN-cSiEJM1-hH8gof-rDD3QqyKTmDPtO-E3Fn2doYbbf9wrWygHqmWz7ReeJKFn9tyZp1QYhXWsquAcwGG_7GNnGF5OoM7JKf-t/w426-h640/F81A1551.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumTsbQb4G6zH1u7wuyggdOHFx4wcVE3MAW6WkPZ5MbDs-fNB5l66HSNXznkMhM0SUA76ttPsXzEXb8BV6xW1Kxpkw4B7eyugIHi-uoSTTbMj0omsbwsIreM2KCwhkYqdwpqkQCvuX2EErEKtdgRrzukFI6F9uQBeonb8Nbs_EGKmriASGTpoi6q5d/s6720/F81A1546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumTsbQb4G6zH1u7wuyggdOHFx4wcVE3MAW6WkPZ5MbDs-fNB5l66HSNXznkMhM0SUA76ttPsXzEXb8BV6xW1Kxpkw4B7eyugIHi-uoSTTbMj0omsbwsIreM2KCwhkYqdwpqkQCvuX2EErEKtdgRrzukFI6F9uQBeonb8Nbs_EGKmriASGTpoi6q5d/w640-h426/F81A1546.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDJYo2mp_Lz66aUdJcgJWe5emF5QjQgytCsslBqMG6PvQJ7cXcCztVMS_YyfltcRiiZ3kW5CxfwIlGYtsOz7tn4z8qeU4_kOd_m6ACQeZhTcG6vT3xtq5dHd7p63GMcsMaqq78NqrUT4fNSnjHY4cNWA0VDSFy7O3vGJTMysUYeNExzd1TjOSvJHS/s6720/F81A1544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDJYo2mp_Lz66aUdJcgJWe5emF5QjQgytCsslBqMG6PvQJ7cXcCztVMS_YyfltcRiiZ3kW5CxfwIlGYtsOz7tn4z8qeU4_kOd_m6ACQeZhTcG6vT3xtq5dHd7p63GMcsMaqq78NqrUT4fNSnjHY4cNWA0VDSFy7O3vGJTMysUYeNExzd1TjOSvJHS/w640-h426/F81A1544.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebdl61GCI2ach0_0AGWq4l3SC4eq-X3PJuK49FfWBdtLDnYIPEOp0JxvDJxtClHiGLoGJ3IWhcQk51fzgcgUol_QwoccEwdWQrJQ8UZwJZz2R4QTiqasiX8kdCMl7J_MlM4_L_Rw3SkWkNT2qqmBP-9fXti_WL2duDwbL8CFtR4CbJImsEdajk41-/s6720/F81A1543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebdl61GCI2ach0_0AGWq4l3SC4eq-X3PJuK49FfWBdtLDnYIPEOp0JxvDJxtClHiGLoGJ3IWhcQk51fzgcgUol_QwoccEwdWQrJQ8UZwJZz2R4QTiqasiX8kdCMl7J_MlM4_L_Rw3SkWkNT2qqmBP-9fXti_WL2duDwbL8CFtR4CbJImsEdajk41-/w640-h426/F81A1543.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBqfRGBv_pqyxyjRKz_x2EI5ZZfB3sjtaEO1k4AUSLIYppRadUCoiv0dXRH29ALo-qMLf_pWopNsrJVs_NtIYQI4mDd5QLzhUa8vdlIH4LfsPY4M04PLP3b9oKjx4kpUXaN4i7dMizw-zFYYR3WhuThip8XNU3S_BZxSM5QXPZxkBE4gQwaMoRw1Q/s6720/F81A1537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBqfRGBv_pqyxyjRKz_x2EI5ZZfB3sjtaEO1k4AUSLIYppRadUCoiv0dXRH29ALo-qMLf_pWopNsrJVs_NtIYQI4mDd5QLzhUa8vdlIH4LfsPY4M04PLP3b9oKjx4kpUXaN4i7dMizw-zFYYR3WhuThip8XNU3S_BZxSM5QXPZxkBE4gQwaMoRw1Q/w426-h640/F81A1537.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgye9-MsnA7b6OZf-OD5J6-N2hIM7jy3aFVmiRq2DPInSepq_vZAL8tlz5SkYjBok99TFAV5PcmbpwCeqsTBRsiTgA8Ulo3UhlhhcW1dxPV2hTbb0tvers3S6sKrpkQNs-FF0XO0-ydVjdtRpQ0OWWb_XqhhutiH2YPEdReXDbfRQz-ny6kR84WzmQb/s6720/F81A1534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgye9-MsnA7b6OZf-OD5J6-N2hIM7jy3aFVmiRq2DPInSepq_vZAL8tlz5SkYjBok99TFAV5PcmbpwCeqsTBRsiTgA8Ulo3UhlhhcW1dxPV2hTbb0tvers3S6sKrpkQNs-FF0XO0-ydVjdtRpQ0OWWb_XqhhutiH2YPEdReXDbfRQz-ny6kR84WzmQb/w426-h640/F81A1534.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBkjZpAEHfvRYG49-DGpfgvuzyB5O6a95mMC8zlHf4E26yNyMuoUY6ZaNSFmwHSgnf2FmZEoiwDURiy7qCTohtNcb9HsUJ_2dH1w1PqW4mmCC8ZgLRjxoHaHiWGD7Y9IjT1MkWEBhR3LkfaPKz2xZGqFr3cuFRUIWykJWsrrkNMuMz5xRorvjSlr3/s6720/F81A1528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBkjZpAEHfvRYG49-DGpfgvuzyB5O6a95mMC8zlHf4E26yNyMuoUY6ZaNSFmwHSgnf2FmZEoiwDURiy7qCTohtNcb9HsUJ_2dH1w1PqW4mmCC8ZgLRjxoHaHiWGD7Y9IjT1MkWEBhR3LkfaPKz2xZGqFr3cuFRUIWykJWsrrkNMuMz5xRorvjSlr3/w426-h640/F81A1528.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdrc-zYmmBhKo9EGuAp2_8L7ly0u8NEimyGIzbwP94dTGG5nUZdQXZpNkFoxzJMuSc_37-kO1Tsa7QKsh_dGz2bJNZNxJ927R8cjimaLDHRaXnzsPwrWc3NovswRM2DQE9QdUAoR4yoSKYFtW5JvqKYFkkM88PicZ8wPyuQiebgJKvakGua_gmoIC/s6720/F81A1521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdrc-zYmmBhKo9EGuAp2_8L7ly0u8NEimyGIzbwP94dTGG5nUZdQXZpNkFoxzJMuSc_37-kO1Tsa7QKsh_dGz2bJNZNxJ927R8cjimaLDHRaXnzsPwrWc3NovswRM2DQE9QdUAoR4yoSKYFtW5JvqKYFkkM88PicZ8wPyuQiebgJKvakGua_gmoIC/w426-h640/F81A1521.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mxYOEqhcUw73jL2edoxSTCywM7Zq9-5ZLpq3I4bHWhw0AuIheW2UW-YwjuotEuPviRzTFuynn3YchI2zCria_qVoNRBVm61qLdwrlYO2aOVpE_EMfMFwpKbZIUY5fxo0RrVvX3mYwIKQT4yKIGQPg1Z6pGOd0USrjzq8t_lywgmFVKas-triRb6Q/s6720/F81A1520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mxYOEqhcUw73jL2edoxSTCywM7Zq9-5ZLpq3I4bHWhw0AuIheW2UW-YwjuotEuPviRzTFuynn3YchI2zCria_qVoNRBVm61qLdwrlYO2aOVpE_EMfMFwpKbZIUY5fxo0RrVvX3mYwIKQT4yKIGQPg1Z6pGOd0USrjzq8t_lywgmFVKas-triRb6Q/w426-h640/F81A1520.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You have really started to enjoy reading more, and sometimes I find you curled up on the porch with a book and it makes me so happy. You have really wonderful friends. You can still find someone's button to push like no other, and yet the way you hug usually makes up for it. Another thing you do often, that always makes me laugh, is singing <i>loudly </i>when your playing, showering, riding bikes, whatever. Whether it's a worship song from the radio or-- a current favorite of yours-- the National Anthem (haha), you belt it out as if you are performing for millions. And it reminds me the heart you have behind a sometimes timid exterior. When I think of the woman that you are becoming year after year, layer upon layer, I am blown away. If I could peer into the future, I think I would find you creating lots of adventures, surrounded by children and animals to care for and nurture, having lots of incredible friendships in your life... but also, knowing that whatever you face that you're "good." That you can handle much of what comes your way. I didn't know how my shy little toddler would grow, but that little clip should have assured me that you have the tenacity and spirit to tackle life with vigor. Our prayer is that while you do so, you would also always remember that Christ is with you to guide and direct you. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGvKzGLEkRgIKKBbN1Zl2l13v4OnPPPEyiYgR2XZdr0XFcM8cuuIWSLVv-HY91in5AmAidU-Jl1TpGIma-Zj76Yv7pNdCx_GHyxQfHtWc47CuX-GL4iutEYu9PYKNe9A4CHaoQc1Is2Fv5wtB-C_CgoA-qw9nTh8YpnXFci7eJoUcUUREQFc3WbaA/s6720/F81A1514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGvKzGLEkRgIKKBbN1Zl2l13v4OnPPPEyiYgR2XZdr0XFcM8cuuIWSLVv-HY91in5AmAidU-Jl1TpGIma-Zj76Yv7pNdCx_GHyxQfHtWc47CuX-GL4iutEYu9PYKNe9A4CHaoQc1Is2Fv5wtB-C_CgoA-qw9nTh8YpnXFci7eJoUcUUREQFc3WbaA/w426-h640/F81A1514.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQXYZaLW6g1i5JaLnj3g54zgStFdXdWYk2JzxnUMMO7zLQGu11A85I00MuNH5OW4boTEtYl6wQDOaQFu6VXLMkmRaZ27n4T6Wgh5ErhNeBEIPxi3GeJYCnHadB86WcoAbaqxSppLbeou8UIrQoxc50nxYOg_61pyTsHHDuDSxvpKhMRYqyVwMX0OJ/s6720/F81A1501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQXYZaLW6g1i5JaLnj3g54zgStFdXdWYk2JzxnUMMO7zLQGu11A85I00MuNH5OW4boTEtYl6wQDOaQFu6VXLMkmRaZ27n4T6Wgh5ErhNeBEIPxi3GeJYCnHadB86WcoAbaqxSppLbeou8UIrQoxc50nxYOg_61pyTsHHDuDSxvpKhMRYqyVwMX0OJ/w640-h426/F81A1501.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXfmIJQT-76gMUJIshUyNvzpyXr5GnlnDymk8loaZRyRbr9vZVpjD7LTAFlY9yWGrqXh1SgKJmsmGpOc7m7M44-rDeWE-OIVXG5G7MrmUyt78z2nW_Nr3HyRLpQlSTHHA0lcEe6l7ThL_FkE76zOiH_4risTgrX17ttV12UCvHSoOT6rJO8_ZrSHS/s6720/F81A1498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXfmIJQT-76gMUJIshUyNvzpyXr5GnlnDymk8loaZRyRbr9vZVpjD7LTAFlY9yWGrqXh1SgKJmsmGpOc7m7M44-rDeWE-OIVXG5G7MrmUyt78z2nW_Nr3HyRLpQlSTHHA0lcEe6l7ThL_FkE76zOiH_4risTgrX17ttV12UCvHSoOT6rJO8_ZrSHS/w640-h426/F81A1498.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX0cla7LCE_azSqnyHPZKi61UyruXS4fqKd6WRnf0aJaaGplvU_gNqSqh1pRTITjyh6Wok2EnF0dMVITBUL1H0xQqJmsaHEbBcou69SR7GMhecl0O5r4XyV7FEqvA1wTcyAbZfOCZyx4djujVOq0pbTrLGWkk-b_oj_Yl947itwLXUFeZo0mM-eRk/s5808/F81A1496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5808" data-original-width="3872" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX0cla7LCE_azSqnyHPZKi61UyruXS4fqKd6WRnf0aJaaGplvU_gNqSqh1pRTITjyh6Wok2EnF0dMVITBUL1H0xQqJmsaHEbBcou69SR7GMhecl0O5r4XyV7FEqvA1wTcyAbZfOCZyx4djujVOq0pbTrLGWkk-b_oj_Yl947itwLXUFeZo0mM-eRk/w426-h640/F81A1496.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVwasg6IGLiw7zFtyOSW8WbSxLXnuK4O4qkcKs1iwUJl8L24zHIaI18pp1KcTrv4yPtrEvzgRo8DiHY0T9ITRNPw4gejLmucx_ozaO8eZX1SmWk3NyCohDV1NH4SDaDqYP5mMUhYEm8WcCoSamcbtoCvh3m31186xYu1T4ys5z-hPBKIbLGieEhd2/s6720/F81A1494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVwasg6IGLiw7zFtyOSW8WbSxLXnuK4O4qkcKs1iwUJl8L24zHIaI18pp1KcTrv4yPtrEvzgRo8DiHY0T9ITRNPw4gejLmucx_ozaO8eZX1SmWk3NyCohDV1NH4SDaDqYP5mMUhYEm8WcCoSamcbtoCvh3m31186xYu1T4ys5z-hPBKIbLGieEhd2/w426-h640/F81A1494.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7sL1XHR3k5G-5O61illwb_YFtTQssX2liMmMUH6WDgxsmHFVrtYv2rePU4dvkWohGJ2apLbJgTnRMM4Kp-ReR_WIitmJnpEEfJeE8I6grJS0J6NsbQYXpEMOWNi8smEPqu5MPb0KhaLLL91D-sF-2scjG0PdNYOsCg1Pl32WoUQCgXIIugMAahB3/s5324/F81A1489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5324" data-original-width="3549" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7sL1XHR3k5G-5O61illwb_YFtTQssX2liMmMUH6WDgxsmHFVrtYv2rePU4dvkWohGJ2apLbJgTnRMM4Kp-ReR_WIitmJnpEEfJeE8I6grJS0J6NsbQYXpEMOWNi8smEPqu5MPb0KhaLLL91D-sF-2scjG0PdNYOsCg1Pl32WoUQCgXIIugMAahB3/w426-h640/F81A1489.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxOof5JaPDF_8hP57vW3qOdRavHdKVhMPaKf3eugTKZKqcV9VL5ftfJOaefW3hK6RHGnZNANKwKjxyR10OivdoY0JIsuVtQU6JutdT0fGGBjaGVYj_x3W_tZSyjHHNBJ9AFwOC1mTmn3m8WuU4345OE0wXEi4zKSI0a-K4k33lM3EFPLpgRasT5av/s6720/F81A1478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxOof5JaPDF_8hP57vW3qOdRavHdKVhMPaKf3eugTKZKqcV9VL5ftfJOaefW3hK6RHGnZNANKwKjxyR10OivdoY0JIsuVtQU6JutdT0fGGBjaGVYj_x3W_tZSyjHHNBJ9AFwOC1mTmn3m8WuU4345OE0wXEi4zKSI0a-K4k33lM3EFPLpgRasT5av/w426-h640/F81A1478.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIek258-5_j0lmACG0hecz3w7PqUUpL728TjhHAw-KNEtjulCnh8ekdcyge4mW8E0BH8G3DZmxk5mj5579kVPDU7hCRMmY_fvw7qSTAoD6HtoqUT3dBSNKxjZ-je9qzw6lHUTybuZYWy9szIQM91vmGG2RECFvQ_sXmq_pxmpHyN9kB7rPImtHuzV/s6720/F81A1476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIek258-5_j0lmACG0hecz3w7PqUUpL728TjhHAw-KNEtjulCnh8ekdcyge4mW8E0BH8G3DZmxk5mj5579kVPDU7hCRMmY_fvw7qSTAoD6HtoqUT3dBSNKxjZ-je9qzw6lHUTybuZYWy9szIQM91vmGG2RECFvQ_sXmq_pxmpHyN9kB7rPImtHuzV/w426-h640/F81A1476.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxO780igDdx-VLd7LnA10sh0W9p4YwRc6ZboDPGDe-M2gFOYnKmFq2JrXZ8K96iOUjFaKCrR4tmNMxpOCQ7AMDOgY0jhm1Bbki-pjIrc57lrJ7DcrLM7WJm2uY5K4fkPmUKwE1vKKEkP0qrNBoKYqa9mojl4kybYpLSZt8pLUpMUHsPmoNaldInfDP/s5993/F81A1467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5993" data-original-width="3995" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxO780igDdx-VLd7LnA10sh0W9p4YwRc6ZboDPGDe-M2gFOYnKmFq2JrXZ8K96iOUjFaKCrR4tmNMxpOCQ7AMDOgY0jhm1Bbki-pjIrc57lrJ7DcrLM7WJm2uY5K4fkPmUKwE1vKKEkP0qrNBoKYqa9mojl4kybYpLSZt8pLUpMUHsPmoNaldInfDP/w426-h640/F81A1467.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqd3o6YiwhzfFyZa4f2sOQi_y0-VuZcnoQXi0OVgIt1vwsNEV-ixhRONDowDNNNuWkqnjGL8KUZl__EFUjE_GsVxvzHLhfEI7ECWDG69FUgG-bhnsHW_a3GgdmygvZ7uyLxYlN4LKHowG-Qb0vSwE5DV7MsHyUJZuJInUDQ6yWwD2qQ_UgnS4l02K5/s6720/F81A1464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqd3o6YiwhzfFyZa4f2sOQi_y0-VuZcnoQXi0OVgIt1vwsNEV-ixhRONDowDNNNuWkqnjGL8KUZl__EFUjE_GsVxvzHLhfEI7ECWDG69FUgG-bhnsHW_a3GgdmygvZ7uyLxYlN4LKHowG-Qb0vSwE5DV7MsHyUJZuJInUDQ6yWwD2qQ_UgnS4l02K5/w426-h640/F81A1464.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">As always: your dad and I hope you always understand the <i>why </i>behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Happy ninth birthday, Becks Lynae ! There is nothing you could ever do to make us stop loving you! </p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3TfzrGuXnwd4-0RbZAC_UPi-DeFq6kmPwfq8-tOu-JK5m1Wbe0QZjDVRuEDl4JcWLnFiUAXDUGcZDkCTHTljlLBGMwZ4XycjnlcqjyR37dyU_tJshio17gj3vVjrSXujhpG-3xH0ehQuJylSgsRyZ0X5uySChClrWLddmYlEgEtcfZvaXBG5ghv4/s6720/F81A1461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3TfzrGuXnwd4-0RbZAC_UPi-DeFq6kmPwfq8-tOu-JK5m1Wbe0QZjDVRuEDl4JcWLnFiUAXDUGcZDkCTHTljlLBGMwZ4XycjnlcqjyR37dyU_tJshio17gj3vVjrSXujhpG-3xH0ehQuJylSgsRyZ0X5uySChClrWLddmYlEgEtcfZvaXBG5ghv4/w426-h640/F81A1461.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1FANhBYzwepXPmNqF3rYQ3Q79btHyPGOXb5zF9zMWw4iyANaWHs04pEwqWECP8QYddkLDfA-IosHJVg4V8z4Udaxgxo6fw6b4HEeC7O1eveGGGsiHPu7St9p0f0UDOgkMI20lxFRAmnKenimyIvftIUzY3qId2g1I2p8n7sow8Zyccu9zRRwEEJb/s4975/F81A1459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4975" data-original-width="3317" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1FANhBYzwepXPmNqF3rYQ3Q79btHyPGOXb5zF9zMWw4iyANaWHs04pEwqWECP8QYddkLDfA-IosHJVg4V8z4Udaxgxo6fw6b4HEeC7O1eveGGGsiHPu7St9p0f0UDOgkMI20lxFRAmnKenimyIvftIUzY3qId2g1I2p8n7sow8Zyccu9zRRwEEJb/w426-h640/F81A1459.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkryMkY9iAvSQyH6e10dYOXM6QTNXrIptYX98m-_V_Lod9tZv8E0q1ft8VsU5uvlnDinUOwPSzyI64BM70tlhAwKgWQtvXsy4RmpItGn1OGlSFX3etxesJeMrpYI5K9B0LB4kjHSoMjIBMoGU6VvdqxgW577ujws9hbOe3rD5d2G5QfVX7DBGXWoO/s5760/F81A1458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5760" data-original-width="3840" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkryMkY9iAvSQyH6e10dYOXM6QTNXrIptYX98m-_V_Lod9tZv8E0q1ft8VsU5uvlnDinUOwPSzyI64BM70tlhAwKgWQtvXsy4RmpItGn1OGlSFX3etxesJeMrpYI5K9B0LB4kjHSoMjIBMoGU6VvdqxgW577ujws9hbOe3rD5d2G5QfVX7DBGXWoO/w426-h640/F81A1458.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpEhp0vQyyFULu8GV9M23KTnuvoi8mQuFh6JhYvpGILNe2Z0wPKB7wq5IIO_euyRn7h1y5q0N8PvchUS0a3-LjHD-f7UWF6Bn8Txiow5KNWnSR75283BW-hoHqkkEciA_xk_8PbrD_Jy_vIIVtdNGyCUk6p3hUDg4FE6S8jxE6c1nuHThUGCY54zo/s6720/F81A1453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpEhp0vQyyFULu8GV9M23KTnuvoi8mQuFh6JhYvpGILNe2Z0wPKB7wq5IIO_euyRn7h1y5q0N8PvchUS0a3-LjHD-f7UWF6Bn8Txiow5KNWnSR75283BW-hoHqkkEciA_xk_8PbrD_Jy_vIIVtdNGyCUk6p3hUDg4FE6S8jxE6c1nuHThUGCY54zo/w640-h426/F81A1453.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LbDR8M2mzLXmGMNunuoga5kd6sh9fL1wxqvfTUSDDe1NhcCNDknvBtibhiEgUYF5kMe8Dk07rx1T78boLR8MriaxTeviRnzSVjX_tDl3hedTmASBsYFcAm-4tfN0d6_nvG3bBpSCiysOqXNFfbYA5U6F-k82b_YGkLj-3MShfBa61Ko4Lk-VDBVq/s6720/F81A1451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LbDR8M2mzLXmGMNunuoga5kd6sh9fL1wxqvfTUSDDe1NhcCNDknvBtibhiEgUYF5kMe8Dk07rx1T78boLR8MriaxTeviRnzSVjX_tDl3hedTmASBsYFcAm-4tfN0d6_nvG3bBpSCiysOqXNFfbYA5U6F-k82b_YGkLj-3MShfBa61Ko4Lk-VDBVq/w640-h426/F81A1451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBvtd0DDY5Z6OE6KBATjn4JbC1YfuleD8SrdIB9Pvo7uOPnx7Opv27BmzCW8Kz9JBtNUwUAuTgfPTfaYlYsB3gWuY2CvEyP1dTpPHINAY3gdnD9V0e9ieCti_71B14Q0DklXku_IR3PQAAzhJHwg48vVOTcODegLRQF4AeiBw2vKLtPjqjl4RI-xf/s5246/F81A1448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5246" data-original-width="3497" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBvtd0DDY5Z6OE6KBATjn4JbC1YfuleD8SrdIB9Pvo7uOPnx7Opv27BmzCW8Kz9JBtNUwUAuTgfPTfaYlYsB3gWuY2CvEyP1dTpPHINAY3gdnD9V0e9ieCti_71B14Q0DklXku_IR3PQAAzhJHwg48vVOTcODegLRQF4AeiBw2vKLtPjqjl4RI-xf/w426-h640/F81A1448.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50yFLo90j9WbMMH-wRiHclnzvjUlrIiut370gDq09Zj-1mIuw8er98c7BNc3l0sWu1xOOYksFsc2HV0YFZGwZMImNeaQXliBGOBTnxcbqabtwWWz8DsV5xW4qYjD8zLctyCXKzSbrvPSeR75iantXTa2ZO4koVV9cU9A-Kckg2PwiIGT_Goytq5f4/s6720/F81A1446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50yFLo90j9WbMMH-wRiHclnzvjUlrIiut370gDq09Zj-1mIuw8er98c7BNc3l0sWu1xOOYksFsc2HV0YFZGwZMImNeaQXliBGOBTnxcbqabtwWWz8DsV5xW4qYjD8zLctyCXKzSbrvPSeR75iantXTa2ZO4koVV9cU9A-Kckg2PwiIGT_Goytq5f4/w426-h640/F81A1446.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThAwqHq9OsybJoAe4UcOoSdryD1pXVWWw7s_DAGTkkVm2_7Ix5aCQpHKxjvDGd52A0Tii0S6E3XGBUwExmOtOz--A2E-vYqfwjF2-HY6IQDgUfgVhshPpjj950EdDHp9t9GwCgi3ur0VyU_1gduhgJztR8gOm13BSrX2LyXuuNydO9qGN9NL3hDkQ/s6720/F81A1759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThAwqHq9OsybJoAe4UcOoSdryD1pXVWWw7s_DAGTkkVm2_7Ix5aCQpHKxjvDGd52A0Tii0S6E3XGBUwExmOtOz--A2E-vYqfwjF2-HY6IQDgUfgVhshPpjj950EdDHp9t9GwCgi3ur0VyU_1gduhgJztR8gOm13BSrX2LyXuuNydO9qGN9NL3hDkQ/w426-h640/F81A1759.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p><br /></p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-66329312298960285222023-04-09T21:37:00.005-04:002023-04-09T21:37:42.437-04:00Nan is SEVEN!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1GbzuOiLd5867_689j4VIGj9T_i8rUIBrQgyYUqnOtRxcqx2LWF0mAfhweHLhZnB4qrBLUCgA-22NCAknh8JQruAx0PYxJa-MSEoFZrqv2uRG-WJb75TdhO7dAyh31ODSCSZunDIQDqV_Bag5TthAxd7r2tgsPrDqdA2HSdEOVO21X31tD5xu6yG/s6720/F81A0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1GbzuOiLd5867_689j4VIGj9T_i8rUIBrQgyYUqnOtRxcqx2LWF0mAfhweHLhZnB4qrBLUCgA-22NCAknh8JQruAx0PYxJa-MSEoFZrqv2uRG-WJb75TdhO7dAyh31ODSCSZunDIQDqV_Bag5TthAxd7r2tgsPrDqdA2HSdEOVO21X31tD5xu6yG/w426-h640/F81A0621.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3gnz87ooCaRTHm6XxSCBI3Q1xG7FcEKv-G4eX5w7G4nfqsbBqD6h33j8Ryo4Udl9Dg871XSD6oBC0_sVNXOwtY9-L8sLCiieS55Cs6_uF9odnmk3-VI_XfrM1gHAstWHAAHOVuceLl19IeiYVZFt_Pe_ktXwjWNzccmy0Ox4tReDURyBZnZhjoAJ/s6720/F81A0599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3gnz87ooCaRTHm6XxSCBI3Q1xG7FcEKv-G4eX5w7G4nfqsbBqD6h33j8Ryo4Udl9Dg871XSD6oBC0_sVNXOwtY9-L8sLCiieS55Cs6_uF9odnmk3-VI_XfrM1gHAstWHAAHOVuceLl19IeiYVZFt_Pe_ktXwjWNzccmy0Ox4tReDURyBZnZhjoAJ/w426-h640/F81A0599.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pfWC9TJHiuZr3qMkGF3g9jlE7IRxron02b6dr7UsPbY6dhhuj2kgTG5YjAIu8mCz9YLUTjAh-SAF61sUrLL6kkOsEsg_I63jTLaVgJbk1oqLxUT11tYOt-gmYZREA6XKPq7pwE_98MnDfRnx7GdsNEePS3Vc07lTPWFW_kNdorpcw7fo0H2XGrSA/s6720/F81A0582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pfWC9TJHiuZr3qMkGF3g9jlE7IRxron02b6dr7UsPbY6dhhuj2kgTG5YjAIu8mCz9YLUTjAh-SAF61sUrLL6kkOsEsg_I63jTLaVgJbk1oqLxUT11tYOt-gmYZREA6XKPq7pwE_98MnDfRnx7GdsNEePS3Vc07lTPWFW_kNdorpcw7fo0H2XGrSA/w640-h426/F81A0582.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0X7Ltxc56BYpbyAqNyBWXINwLuuoNoMW50oAkm3jUeC8AGiMdmakgvrV-5OteByC4RQgC_mJFh-l5ixqE7YILElwFC4xpimxk_bSSqvHXQfrPnlr6k6gwhYNq427cMNBWtJB1BZ_o7PzsYrX8kKYhXs308Pa4Qzt_4YlOETYGW-zO5jMCA2jxugp/s6720/F81A0694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0X7Ltxc56BYpbyAqNyBWXINwLuuoNoMW50oAkm3jUeC8AGiMdmakgvrV-5OteByC4RQgC_mJFh-l5ixqE7YILElwFC4xpimxk_bSSqvHXQfrPnlr6k6gwhYNq427cMNBWtJB1BZ_o7PzsYrX8kKYhXs308Pa4Qzt_4YlOETYGW-zO5jMCA2jxugp/w426-h640/F81A0694.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB5uByB2dt1dIuiCrxRREUjixuQm3pc4D7tHq68nNkYNXilQiaFeHSBejXmHETq3WLm_9LYfhBECkSdZQN4U9kROMyvD2vm-7a6_-xD92BHImNhIVH6WuDYedsvYioWm7Si_hxGknXpMjKsBr1L6xObyhZ26C0WWck8pL8niGFxa5TJaGnA3Bqb-9/s5993/F81A0554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5993" data-original-width="3995" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB5uByB2dt1dIuiCrxRREUjixuQm3pc4D7tHq68nNkYNXilQiaFeHSBejXmHETq3WLm_9LYfhBECkSdZQN4U9kROMyvD2vm-7a6_-xD92BHImNhIVH6WuDYedsvYioWm7Si_hxGknXpMjKsBr1L6xObyhZ26C0WWck8pL8niGFxa5TJaGnA3Bqb-9/w426-h640/F81A0554.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Nan Louise,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I never really know where to begin these letters because I am always a little bit shocked that it is time to write one again. Didn’t I just finish your six-year-old letter? Your three-year-old letter? Didn’t they just lay you, fresh and wet and warm, on my chest? But no. Today marks seven years since that important moment, so I sit here with a new page open wondering how to capture you—our silly, helpful, wild Nanny Lou—into words on a page.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I am currently comfy in a hammock, the sweet April breeze making the sunshine feel just perfect. And I am thinking about what you will one day do with all these letters. When will you read them? What will they mean to you? Who will you be when you fold back their pages and unlock the key to who you were at this very specific moment in time? I know you’re going to grow into a uniquely beautiful young woman, and what you have to offer this world is going to be so fun to see unfold. But right now your dad and I have often said that we just want to bottle you up and keep your spunk and spirit and joy and light of who you are right now. In short: who you are at age 7, Nan, is nothing short of an absolute delight.</p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLjKFxXkzDWk0Q49yW9Nhu_vbLngEv6rZgUCWz5xyld8ADxcozECACnoa1zOWARL5tRDj-eAcuV9SKJR4JJhmz30v9sEYR_-i7JjRHdcpGRwx86Ia0cQ_qTm1o55F-USsgCizUkqMiO3YY9sNKvsk388V2H2Ge2d0JZBcQ4o6j3NKOmS9KZl48bPm/s6720/F81A0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLjKFxXkzDWk0Q49yW9Nhu_vbLngEv6rZgUCWz5xyld8ADxcozECACnoa1zOWARL5tRDj-eAcuV9SKJR4JJhmz30v9sEYR_-i7JjRHdcpGRwx86Ia0cQ_qTm1o55F-USsgCizUkqMiO3YY9sNKvsk388V2H2Ge2d0JZBcQ4o6j3NKOmS9KZl48bPm/w426-h640/F81A0685.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f-zclKGY9PgUl2nsWQdEgI34KUcvXJ4NbatBOU0dMA8BJhxfMKheHbmffI32PVmglQR8N9VXlf9adOWPBa46LhWIgbDGsO65fcyqSTwh48PmK-IVRfbNt5CFTHkf3h9kgmNxGSNdEDOJWc8UtB6ic9PVvP3TXMLUpf03en1-TZRjfp5LXyy_WfCP/s6720/F81A0684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f-zclKGY9PgUl2nsWQdEgI34KUcvXJ4NbatBOU0dMA8BJhxfMKheHbmffI32PVmglQR8N9VXlf9adOWPBa46LhWIgbDGsO65fcyqSTwh48PmK-IVRfbNt5CFTHkf3h9kgmNxGSNdEDOJWc8UtB6ic9PVvP3TXMLUpf03en1-TZRjfp5LXyy_WfCP/w426-h640/F81A0684.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGFio54BmaxdrmlFcBm8j3V6KpvjQEGwX5VHNNE0J63mGtf_SXpmnNl5v1OwzZi5qhzjhwBXbnsn_3x0EtesI70sXYoVZQ-7d-T8N0E_VAoqqw4J2NphLIBP7itNvhA_3XzPIrF6j8uZePVO4xT4P5ZrJM1pikWfJmfNpylXJOkZ9O-N1-EM-oBgT/s6720/F81A0683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGFio54BmaxdrmlFcBm8j3V6KpvjQEGwX5VHNNE0J63mGtf_SXpmnNl5v1OwzZi5qhzjhwBXbnsn_3x0EtesI70sXYoVZQ-7d-T8N0E_VAoqqw4J2NphLIBP7itNvhA_3XzPIrF6j8uZePVO4xT4P5ZrJM1pikWfJmfNpylXJOkZ9O-N1-EM-oBgT/w426-h640/F81A0683.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsO_J7pP3WRAFwy_w-ietf8WHnvAJTZKnZeZR1126qTqW_gDk7tFHwlIcLlzSAcSNRi09ykl0NbS_IV9WINjc3IfOirvcPMbUexuEwLvLCBiNPaJFyBUa-4vZgkruK3mWNkfkYo8NfjFOIHeD2YInJX8Mnc-i2kYNiSf-2rHfMsppogjwHjXd_inV/s6720/F81A0674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsO_J7pP3WRAFwy_w-ietf8WHnvAJTZKnZeZR1126qTqW_gDk7tFHwlIcLlzSAcSNRi09ykl0NbS_IV9WINjc3IfOirvcPMbUexuEwLvLCBiNPaJFyBUa-4vZgkruK3mWNkfkYo8NfjFOIHeD2YInJX8Mnc-i2kYNiSf-2rHfMsppogjwHjXd_inV/w426-h640/F81A0674.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP70ClUeHJXSW3X_auIyCNDX64BwTG38WCDU7eNehsI3g3D7-p22A9yikGBNI-Opp4rC48W-n8-tdUxthqFV9RQQ_6ISh5yXIMXHXutbU3n8Sh2vLoHQsV7Oy_4bWp5Yr1Fzq3jk35ErIE-98K0deNWDhIosAoLm5tvnEgvirVJbjyOGwj_MZ8T_T/s6720/F81A0671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP70ClUeHJXSW3X_auIyCNDX64BwTG38WCDU7eNehsI3g3D7-p22A9yikGBNI-Opp4rC48W-n8-tdUxthqFV9RQQ_6ISh5yXIMXHXutbU3n8Sh2vLoHQsV7Oy_4bWp5Yr1Fzq3jk35ErIE-98K0deNWDhIosAoLm5tvnEgvirVJbjyOGwj_MZ8T_T/w640-h426/F81A0671.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iZNvThyBQluZxtQbQZhOzLg_-fkpwrraFzacHsheJpC9H7bV3I5_ExGLYWWC-1qDs7AV73jv58cwfVdAm7LWXNOo9QtZQC-dxhvSUa3YxxxaeDQJlg6ll1cTk6ItsctKPryYWQxXj-66nvAGnipiCVd01TJfjTreFdIifDBnRyxMo-TZ6E0uyT_0/s6720/F81A0669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iZNvThyBQluZxtQbQZhOzLg_-fkpwrraFzacHsheJpC9H7bV3I5_ExGLYWWC-1qDs7AV73jv58cwfVdAm7LWXNOo9QtZQC-dxhvSUa3YxxxaeDQJlg6ll1cTk6ItsctKPryYWQxXj-66nvAGnipiCVd01TJfjTreFdIifDBnRyxMo-TZ6E0uyT_0/w640-h426/F81A0669.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY8_BTRk3l37krWuIrPHfom10tzKJdLzfaiu758wG-wdWT5WRjYpT1okFxpQZ2ZN319-hZGIUXNng-FTrz8nHgeGytA4Nj0sd3gG8HCyjxFbsolBcUz-8jZ-hP3u_wi4E0JfcdcSacXtssv8-BirYj-qnUcREu3pj0mTPK4-IQ4JApNGl71uTfNoh/s6720/F81A0663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY8_BTRk3l37krWuIrPHfom10tzKJdLzfaiu758wG-wdWT5WRjYpT1okFxpQZ2ZN319-hZGIUXNng-FTrz8nHgeGytA4Nj0sd3gG8HCyjxFbsolBcUz-8jZ-hP3u_wi4E0JfcdcSacXtssv8-BirYj-qnUcREu3pj0mTPK4-IQ4JApNGl71uTfNoh/w640-h426/F81A0663.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXnSMUYzia9ff-JrZj-t4QOMkKVZA5fs3EZQTtVuND0eeQf76vbfdtd82Mcqxta5B7IHbeI3Gwg63qqq3tx66BCamhemUAQuVBv1i94-aci6zFO-ZblCymC5i7XLlLy7Q-ASaJjXB2xlXj7wae1Zb-cAqVGski5JAle93siXX36dIgIuSgYImf1fC/s6720/F81A0660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXnSMUYzia9ff-JrZj-t4QOMkKVZA5fs3EZQTtVuND0eeQf76vbfdtd82Mcqxta5B7IHbeI3Gwg63qqq3tx66BCamhemUAQuVBv1i94-aci6zFO-ZblCymC5i7XLlLy7Q-ASaJjXB2xlXj7wae1Zb-cAqVGski5JAle93siXX36dIgIuSgYImf1fC/w426-h640/F81A0660.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN5onpMseZp_z1lkCvFj2YqbHLfGT5p3tVq7WU_5vDCZHoFIvALeE-50IZA-dcbmTDYpMbPpgULq0dPZh2OcgWf2Ozfh23jwexTgKlS3lcEAQgbkAce32iG0PRyvtjXKpIdVJ0AaN_6dSc1-JnORLbGY3xkNgIBZ65IAfrOy1r0H51HZ__GOV0-pq/s5760/F81A0654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5760" data-original-width="3840" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvN5onpMseZp_z1lkCvFj2YqbHLfGT5p3tVq7WU_5vDCZHoFIvALeE-50IZA-dcbmTDYpMbPpgULq0dPZh2OcgWf2Ozfh23jwexTgKlS3lcEAQgbkAce32iG0PRyvtjXKpIdVJ0AaN_6dSc1-JnORLbGY3xkNgIBZ65IAfrOy1r0H51HZ__GOV0-pq/w426-h640/F81A0654.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">You’re currently finishing up first grade, and you have loved this year. You’ve grown as a reader, and now you are so excited to start to read your very own chapter books. You’ve also grown as a friend. When I asked you at the beginning of the year who your friends were, you listed 14 people as your “very best friends,” and then you said… “oh yeah! And me too! I am my own friend, too!” While I don’t get to watch you in the classroom or at recess, I know you make the most of every moment. I recently asked about one of your “best friends” and your response was very telling of how you view those in your life: “Mom. She’s just perfect.” You love people hard and your teacher frequently tells me how much fun she has had having you in her class (I used to be her teacher, and she was pretty fun too! So you’re a great match!)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">You, Nan, are the best helper a mom could ask for. If I say there is a job that needs done, I can always count on your to be the first one to jump on it and stick with it. Whether it’s picking up sticks in the yard, folding clothes, or cleaning a bathroom, you are eager to help. You also notice when someone needs something without prompting, which is a beautiful gift God has given you. Just the other evening your dad laid down on the floor to close his eyes a bit after supper. Without anyone saying anything, you found a sweatshirt in the room and brought it over, folded it up, and put it under his head for a pillow. Later that same evening when we walked in the house, the sun was shining just right into the kitchen and revealing a lot of spring-time footprints. You quickly ran and got a rag, wet it down, and began wiping them all away. One night I fell asleep laying in your bed with you and you noticed I had goosebumps and took it upon yourself to cover me up. This isn’t typical, Nan. Not for a 7 year-old and not for a 47-year-old. It is a true gift and allows you to love people in ways that others never see. Thank you for not being afraid of hard work, for always being willing to lend a hand, and for noticing when others need care. </p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB56pWwvZ7ZBhF8oz0pyquXntWbZOueVVxXSFPSdsTQ6tixWizLvlBQWX7jlG4jcFemQrX-eyZvPxYyBH3zclv-PPsR_kJ7ouazGYAQD82G_QwpQ2rZ7hI7_AeDnhQIfNaJXwe0SjB0SeuGpIxfLOIet6yTO4I_qDiKYFLV05vUeShZyotWonT1gG/s6720/F81A0651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB56pWwvZ7ZBhF8oz0pyquXntWbZOueVVxXSFPSdsTQ6tixWizLvlBQWX7jlG4jcFemQrX-eyZvPxYyBH3zclv-PPsR_kJ7ouazGYAQD82G_QwpQ2rZ7hI7_AeDnhQIfNaJXwe0SjB0SeuGpIxfLOIet6yTO4I_qDiKYFLV05vUeShZyotWonT1gG/w426-h640/F81A0651.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8GwfxAufAdLLIlII0hruOSqbTEveZQWjyQpkKQU1-AemzMXIss_YzPaGmBRlU-TtO4HxxJ8tv-L3qU76bWJnWE2rUP2m7-C1pY2qPRMi1tT6xiSDepcBe9aPcdV567fPwQv--jDkAzTOx9mXRiLrjX0SLy16P0FlaGb5GGhcQGt0PzB_NPzACGiR/s5876/F81A0650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5876" data-original-width="3917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8GwfxAufAdLLIlII0hruOSqbTEveZQWjyQpkKQU1-AemzMXIss_YzPaGmBRlU-TtO4HxxJ8tv-L3qU76bWJnWE2rUP2m7-C1pY2qPRMi1tT6xiSDepcBe9aPcdV567fPwQv--jDkAzTOx9mXRiLrjX0SLy16P0FlaGb5GGhcQGt0PzB_NPzACGiR/w426-h640/F81A0650.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAJlSFgctk8Fv6Ip6v5lUVSm5vG3S1fPzpe4yrreOWHgVLY1EyePLMJFOR8rWsjEevkAgeks-olcHOrmfoY0dhbdKbtnpQ4uXPTykIbfgLqNardoWgdoIcw67-A_ItquygJjyaUb9Cf6dEd8Y2SZYu6PNDNA9Bb2ovcux1l-cvxiwG0vwTnMOitKm/s6720/F81A0648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAJlSFgctk8Fv6Ip6v5lUVSm5vG3S1fPzpe4yrreOWHgVLY1EyePLMJFOR8rWsjEevkAgeks-olcHOrmfoY0dhbdKbtnpQ4uXPTykIbfgLqNardoWgdoIcw67-A_ItquygJjyaUb9Cf6dEd8Y2SZYu6PNDNA9Bb2ovcux1l-cvxiwG0vwTnMOitKm/w426-h640/F81A0648.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEini70phWN7zgzUOW-X1rlJryanl0NwM9YjEQVlEy_vRvuyitcDq6CduWWmAvZc9N5ijxFWqLBmPF2LZzGCylL--Q6KwDkcFouVUIwtlSZ5w1b6kYLFTCp6a-1HDHxKiwNOflxa-JauEfJH33ZYdsuyYEdnEMA0KK_RylIRnC89Ds61BX-XTa9oMTqh/s6720/F81A0646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEini70phWN7zgzUOW-X1rlJryanl0NwM9YjEQVlEy_vRvuyitcDq6CduWWmAvZc9N5ijxFWqLBmPF2LZzGCylL--Q6KwDkcFouVUIwtlSZ5w1b6kYLFTCp6a-1HDHxKiwNOflxa-JauEfJH33ZYdsuyYEdnEMA0KK_RylIRnC89Ds61BX-XTa9oMTqh/w426-h640/F81A0646.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lpT486UmBVScR25OzeEpbVaCFpxsFAgrBdg1T5zWECzvIo9A3FGEe76gG8wpIXdGEMgT-dY2Tr0UGps2Wwtyw-6kRK5vK6qy0Fl_kBvvO4tFxw-58aw1vmrHnui_MAKdGvfQOPpgVWzXLFOqSmuJGflnrfJWNKPwdqNk1MYerjZDFKvGZuwU1X4P/s6720/F81A0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lpT486UmBVScR25OzeEpbVaCFpxsFAgrBdg1T5zWECzvIo9A3FGEe76gG8wpIXdGEMgT-dY2Tr0UGps2Wwtyw-6kRK5vK6qy0Fl_kBvvO4tFxw-58aw1vmrHnui_MAKdGvfQOPpgVWzXLFOqSmuJGflnrfJWNKPwdqNk1MYerjZDFKvGZuwU1X4P/w426-h640/F81A0645.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pCTc11XzZ-8eJjJCt79kZ3AbCxKHa2BV3BVV9Vov2xldun7jDC3FUcN3coWA-iIBz-LoFq5I_9OQAdbrv_jXxJb4WeDeKxwPFgBFz4bnLk7DoEG5CC38FVt5KBX5xQw-x-30-MRXQZj3riFy1-qsD5sLF-DReCDWpHiPJPa--fMuoBy62JzJDvid/s6720/F81A0641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pCTc11XzZ-8eJjJCt79kZ3AbCxKHa2BV3BVV9Vov2xldun7jDC3FUcN3coWA-iIBz-LoFq5I_9OQAdbrv_jXxJb4WeDeKxwPFgBFz4bnLk7DoEG5CC38FVt5KBX5xQw-x-30-MRXQZj3riFy1-qsD5sLF-DReCDWpHiPJPa--fMuoBy62JzJDvid/w640-h426/F81A0641.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bDtE_fmEgNB-rIPL-HIeGJ-mbNvIBXl6aFkbj64fTjokpshOqBSE3l5bk6jYFVteSNkGtBqv1XjGNmb8NYpA71z4IYNoxIRK-sj0qXWitTWz0wcLkUo9eMxk0mSlPRxtZTIykCumLw2w-cptkeDvYDHhKxuAeJECY16FLSbzF0XdRU1lF1oylyO2/s6720/F81A0632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bDtE_fmEgNB-rIPL-HIeGJ-mbNvIBXl6aFkbj64fTjokpshOqBSE3l5bk6jYFVteSNkGtBqv1XjGNmb8NYpA71z4IYNoxIRK-sj0qXWitTWz0wcLkUo9eMxk0mSlPRxtZTIykCumLw2w-cptkeDvYDHhKxuAeJECY16FLSbzF0XdRU1lF1oylyO2/w426-h640/F81A0632.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEy5kH_MJoQRymNU4g10HNtmmh36jgW9Tb64z0mLSBMdIG74UsJzWWQXZkn_Wq_U9b56STEH_DI9sbyrsyiTn80IMFwMWyZYIZFSfVMn4YgDWAjMrmOCmi2lOYTm5S8Mp8Lx_Tn21dlgTeOLgmfWIej_pWDAdT2O6quLe9RY6eYDrqjn43BeKIqLi/s6720/F81A0640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEy5kH_MJoQRymNU4g10HNtmmh36jgW9Tb64z0mLSBMdIG74UsJzWWQXZkn_Wq_U9b56STEH_DI9sbyrsyiTn80IMFwMWyZYIZFSfVMn4YgDWAjMrmOCmi2lOYTm5S8Mp8Lx_Tn21dlgTeOLgmfWIej_pWDAdT2O6quLe9RY6eYDrqjn43BeKIqLi/w640-h426/F81A0640.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAcANIc1Uo-K1oAtfm-qaKNPLv7BD-Rnl0iwC5TlL8RnU9hTmdAy3Edfkt7Ry98UJgUBr4yuv5zNtag-RRXUvUC1Srnp6dM5ISvWSJrpbtKYuxtMgOk0JlGvawBNI1azo4hrnQWk9zuWHCxyT1FaIWimPWl7F5V7RzDRxbGbq51E4G59iMGeCNk0F/s6720/F81A0639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAcANIc1Uo-K1oAtfm-qaKNPLv7BD-Rnl0iwC5TlL8RnU9hTmdAy3Edfkt7Ry98UJgUBr4yuv5zNtag-RRXUvUC1Srnp6dM5ISvWSJrpbtKYuxtMgOk0JlGvawBNI1azo4hrnQWk9zuWHCxyT1FaIWimPWl7F5V7RzDRxbGbq51E4G59iMGeCNk0F/w640-h426/F81A0639.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSDG4kHGgnzwe5p3L_NXNlsl_x-VpQ4gYfjEyhAvZ5cob_G0-ogiqjP7r7ZGfo5tjK6wnvNG86y-iu_J65gE7_kwSKWnFAvdDdz24w4CCc_M6TOE2PCwQ9yFadgatvO41ouGobisr0BdXne5-0mqr_DI6zcgBcpuO7xCyx3ozGnBO7yjVS9Dn41Ew/s6720/F81A0636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSDG4kHGgnzwe5p3L_NXNlsl_x-VpQ4gYfjEyhAvZ5cob_G0-ogiqjP7r7ZGfo5tjK6wnvNG86y-iu_J65gE7_kwSKWnFAvdDdz24w4CCc_M6TOE2PCwQ9yFadgatvO41ouGobisr0BdXne5-0mqr_DI6zcgBcpuO7xCyx3ozGnBO7yjVS9Dn41Ew/w640-h426/F81A0636.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsyIuYKtBvIqfZRDOjHqQuMG7o8QwiOt-4MMKQMh14GXkTxDoemeOPdfndDvxWuPMIIwh3aan7St_7uoUKBqiK-LTjapitqhDtA_jcVSXgOo2AZJZiN07x5aOOBNeYySYQ6TyLLXWqcql2zoct3SaHHwGqOvslCqcNbxYmylVqBn4Y5a9c0QiO8fv/s6720/F81A0627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsyIuYKtBvIqfZRDOjHqQuMG7o8QwiOt-4MMKQMh14GXkTxDoemeOPdfndDvxWuPMIIwh3aan7St_7uoUKBqiK-LTjapitqhDtA_jcVSXgOo2AZJZiN07x5aOOBNeYySYQ6TyLLXWqcql2zoct3SaHHwGqOvslCqcNbxYmylVqBn4Y5a9c0QiO8fv/w426-h640/F81A0627.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>You sometimes get nervous, or anxious, about things. I wish I could take it away for you, but you are learning how to navigate it well. I’m grateful you always share how you feel, and if you don’t feel comfortable doing something you let me know. I know that takes a lot of courage to communicate sometimes, and I’m proud of you. People who don’t get nervous about things don’t get the opportunity to be courageous as often, and it has been a joy to watch you get to be brave time and time again. Just last week you did something that had been causing you some stress—you came and told us you wanted to try to ride your bike. So your dad jumped right in and on lesson/day TWO you were riding up and down our street as fearless as could be. You may have been a little scared to try, but once you made up your mind you were so brave and quick to learn and quick to say, “Let go!” I know that is how you will face many things in your life—you may face them at your own pace, but once you’re ready you will be ALL IN. Swimming was the same way last summer. One day you decided you could go off the diving board and you never looked back. I know a lot of things make you nervous, but getting to watch you be brave it a true joy as your parent.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBsjjLZRN5f-fSxD9H2DFt6bi_x0gYpkZUH7XpLfGVmLiqTkfW9MWPl6_Nx_YGHvqAQvNyyrhtg2MYHVqBLGFKCaiat9p-SdHY_B7eWeN_PlXniWTp42IPubITXEssVTz49Y6Qc2icqoZyJOFSeRUb4gyCfMPQ0nyhMAc7_0klbMIpxzLubH9JItr/s6720/F81A0608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBsjjLZRN5f-fSxD9H2DFt6bi_x0gYpkZUH7XpLfGVmLiqTkfW9MWPl6_Nx_YGHvqAQvNyyrhtg2MYHVqBLGFKCaiat9p-SdHY_B7eWeN_PlXniWTp42IPubITXEssVTz49Y6Qc2icqoZyJOFSeRUb4gyCfMPQ0nyhMAc7_0klbMIpxzLubH9JItr/w640-h426/F81A0608.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzi8TeQIOBdd068y-tKvxwlbWNdyGeApSR8vPqC7o9vaDuevOEGV-6zOLfXysolcbTkN57YGSrM54e6nD12ko5_-Mc90eNQaRGUxWFx2UoxDuXmmaAXrg4-NPqOzLmvD9lx_dG3cfcizqOjKjUQXCE84BzPFTp5_hWAtjPZr_iS4ofzWjvThYg7mA/s6720/F81A0607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzi8TeQIOBdd068y-tKvxwlbWNdyGeApSR8vPqC7o9vaDuevOEGV-6zOLfXysolcbTkN57YGSrM54e6nD12ko5_-Mc90eNQaRGUxWFx2UoxDuXmmaAXrg4-NPqOzLmvD9lx_dG3cfcizqOjKjUQXCE84BzPFTp5_hWAtjPZr_iS4ofzWjvThYg7mA/w426-h640/F81A0607.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZXcTWU_wYs3xzPHWuriBGjygCjywNeRxryw1LNVNRZ34r6sR3RTjiPmHEytYCIwNx6bhd2YrQ9zcJJVcu_SagiAvw9z09Sqbqqv1L4Nt9OR5NjwzEz6wdtByJK3UDNX2dkFbyzIVU-fxmAgm-b-niR8DTYknIFQQZvn0xZy88lCX0g4kUwCikCY4/s6720/F81A0601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZXcTWU_wYs3xzPHWuriBGjygCjywNeRxryw1LNVNRZ34r6sR3RTjiPmHEytYCIwNx6bhd2YrQ9zcJJVcu_SagiAvw9z09Sqbqqv1L4Nt9OR5NjwzEz6wdtByJK3UDNX2dkFbyzIVU-fxmAgm-b-niR8DTYknIFQQZvn0xZy88lCX0g4kUwCikCY4/w426-h640/F81A0601.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqQVlqOo1IU5S-LYItv1THOcjrVx-7rDzcfq6a9NcmvPOk4w_iFZt2fyQR8iI-TVPTvLtp3-gtsVZJD-ruNEYFpihObNVCQQvS8mL33z0t80YRa2ruYkk1Nk-GlNg32GKvbB3MnK-nccu6i3sqwTHggunz9r5TrvzMVfAAs3SqwrVLW6X4745KaXP/s6720/F81A0595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqQVlqOo1IU5S-LYItv1THOcjrVx-7rDzcfq6a9NcmvPOk4w_iFZt2fyQR8iI-TVPTvLtp3-gtsVZJD-ruNEYFpihObNVCQQvS8mL33z0t80YRa2ruYkk1Nk-GlNg32GKvbB3MnK-nccu6i3sqwTHggunz9r5TrvzMVfAAs3SqwrVLW6X4745KaXP/w426-h640/F81A0595.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbLTctuLYcuLJNZcCP18UjcgozjQJyxN9dqPdYrVq0TieEqmSnVmB_n6_Nqsvzi-a7P3NYndU5y7gp_5a_0LN1kEyhpVmx6OwkAur-p4D3z8mA9k7EnMw-CRa9jk-FaWLltIO9EOu6LKR5DSMAm2gn8iyQJKnHlw9AE1fcDYTbndgsJAqwyuXhp_U/s6720/F81A0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbLTctuLYcuLJNZcCP18UjcgozjQJyxN9dqPdYrVq0TieEqmSnVmB_n6_Nqsvzi-a7P3NYndU5y7gp_5a_0LN1kEyhpVmx6OwkAur-p4D3z8mA9k7EnMw-CRa9jk-FaWLltIO9EOu6LKR5DSMAm2gn8iyQJKnHlw9AE1fcDYTbndgsJAqwyuXhp_U/w426-h640/F81A0592.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO93QWBSXaD21uXxMGPp3rifSJq_H1Z4nmXhf3UhCVFjCNV08Sv5kXOzZOatyp945-bvjbMrHwMtAKl59Bgl8HtJgiv74cz3M0eVwgp65LSvivC6R865F6uKGccP5XjOPWBGmzEa0va_LAQfe3XfxbyfPe-CnkFeSPiGuQf27DReN1c7pM88gv5XY/s6720/F81A0587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUO93QWBSXaD21uXxMGPp3rifSJq_H1Z4nmXhf3UhCVFjCNV08Sv5kXOzZOatyp945-bvjbMrHwMtAKl59Bgl8HtJgiv74cz3M0eVwgp65LSvivC6R865F6uKGccP5XjOPWBGmzEa0va_LAQfe3XfxbyfPe-CnkFeSPiGuQf27DReN1c7pM88gv5XY/w426-h640/F81A0587.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGfGGdoBdTPy28oWMq7ZLhfxpwpf0YE7KPcVjzLWf7U18SJQ9mbpwMLZaW704BZkRTxALQyr1Qrz313dILfSdZDHoeKjVUa21QHT6JNeeGdJJyZs11_IH8rpiZpJfw8Yukv4L0LDHOfDug5yAo4ASQPYDpw1AJJODDW8yb0Ey_giOd-VpylCXF5Yz/s5818/F81A0584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5818" data-original-width="3879" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGfGGdoBdTPy28oWMq7ZLhfxpwpf0YE7KPcVjzLWf7U18SJQ9mbpwMLZaW704BZkRTxALQyr1Qrz313dILfSdZDHoeKjVUa21QHT6JNeeGdJJyZs11_IH8rpiZpJfw8Yukv4L0LDHOfDug5yAo4ASQPYDpw1AJJODDW8yb0Ey_giOd-VpylCXF5Yz/w426-h640/F81A0584.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbHF_U3pyHQrYjkjZ3jMWsL-g48WRrU2ohe1ssQq9-1HJpDrKUotfQpI4vlJH8tThhw-UywFxIGEvjPGsxqV89w7WZgZx0hJG_BzQvFwocxoArSJLYBMV-kobZMKo7G3A_b54H_iCeuU7MhFLVeBZkV1yCRKtNi3cFOz4Z52h6b6k_Ez8iMMIXlzb/s6720/F81A0583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbHF_U3pyHQrYjkjZ3jMWsL-g48WRrU2ohe1ssQq9-1HJpDrKUotfQpI4vlJH8tThhw-UywFxIGEvjPGsxqV89w7WZgZx0hJG_BzQvFwocxoArSJLYBMV-kobZMKo7G3A_b54H_iCeuU7MhFLVeBZkV1yCRKtNi3cFOz4Z52h6b6k_Ez8iMMIXlzb/w640-h426/F81A0583.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAqaQlKbxXrBfo_ctrR4e4y4Sk1gSw-YvwXehb68lOqHnT8sRWXSdnZ7k3iK8k_yivoghRdKZFmYe-mJNrWBfuEY8GvlA3F7QttEFrCaCA5Jv_VxzOHbu67t4wCGUvBnh9DvIeAaMTlhey3lV4JzXcgBVv1Bpj8u6RztAe17UsgE1PYYGR73_ZcZH/s6720/F81A0577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAqaQlKbxXrBfo_ctrR4e4y4Sk1gSw-YvwXehb68lOqHnT8sRWXSdnZ7k3iK8k_yivoghRdKZFmYe-mJNrWBfuEY8GvlA3F7QttEFrCaCA5Jv_VxzOHbu67t4wCGUvBnh9DvIeAaMTlhey3lV4JzXcgBVv1Bpj8u6RztAe17UsgE1PYYGR73_ZcZH/w640-h426/F81A0577.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XgAOmQjN91DdBehcg-YLbQJwqAwDpO9OVI--ARGekolP1_P-QzgCyHgjDde29QCgpVkolk53wKftOUZSG9rBa2v0Ev8hpJ3hNuCOwnlL02rq8U0ys7M6IP1Oc6lON9R5Cw-aWA2emaz4MQlgZZLxVsrDnnON6dqdfIqqXVrJQaI-UDW2Ekg7mC7Y/s6720/F81A0576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XgAOmQjN91DdBehcg-YLbQJwqAwDpO9OVI--ARGekolP1_P-QzgCyHgjDde29QCgpVkolk53wKftOUZSG9rBa2v0Ev8hpJ3hNuCOwnlL02rq8U0ys7M6IP1Oc6lON9R5Cw-aWA2emaz4MQlgZZLxVsrDnnON6dqdfIqqXVrJQaI-UDW2Ekg7mC7Y/w640-h426/F81A0576.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">Your brother cannot wait, every.single.day, for you to get home from school because he knows, without a doubt, that you’ll play with him. Even if you don’t feel like. Even if you’re tired. Even if there is something else you’d rather do. You always will make time to play cars or build a ramp or play puppies with him, and he adores you for it. You are a wonderful sister. I actually have to have conversations with you frequently because you give things up too easily just to make your siblings happy. If you get a special treat at school, you will wait until you get home so you can divide it evenly and share it. If you’re picking something out at a store, you may choose one of your sister’s favorite colors so you can share it with her. I have to remind you that sometimes, it’s okay to eat your own treat or pick something you like. But just like seeing needs and being a helper to meet them, thinking of others and caring about them comes so naturally to you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">You love animals. I don’t know many seven year olds that don’t (I sure didn’t as a seven-year-old though ;) ), but you take any opportunity to be with a neighbor’s dog or cat. We recently helped out some neighbors while they were gone in caring for their golden retrievers. You jumped right in with them, crawling through their tunnel, throwing them balls, scratching their ears. I couldn’t help but smile as your golden hair blew in the breeze, exactly matching their coats. You’ve begged and begged for a pet of your own, but know that a puppy will probably never be in the cards (again) for you because of me. You’ve enjoyed your little betta fish you got for Christmas, but still wanted something more. It was so fun to surprise you with picking out a kitten for your birthday. This is a huge act of love from your non-cat-loving parents, but seeing how you care for others, we know you’ll be the best cat owner. Plus, it’s fun to blow our kids’ minds from time to time, and you were so surprised you didn’t say a word for awhile! Finally, after most of the day was gone, you said, "I THINK I AM JUST IN A DREAM! This can't be real life that I am going to have a cat!" </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO6rww9NYfJFTUn6lBjN_dgSZrDd1PKdOew97I1IXJAzNqz0ANILqUuM8BN7a5ncLjZC61ZV2jl-BBadCy8dI539ZJfiYrsl-7pdbAH-Y2sesdkn-jUolG8MuqxNocCqqTreTvU8ZnpCTb0NiYgFMJN1eOLzCpGSC77gR19KaQTd8zM4ztAFjsT_e/s6720/F81A0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO6rww9NYfJFTUn6lBjN_dgSZrDd1PKdOew97I1IXJAzNqz0ANILqUuM8BN7a5ncLjZC61ZV2jl-BBadCy8dI539ZJfiYrsl-7pdbAH-Y2sesdkn-jUolG8MuqxNocCqqTreTvU8ZnpCTb0NiYgFMJN1eOLzCpGSC77gR19KaQTd8zM4ztAFjsT_e/w640-h426/F81A0562.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJMypfamMksAvlIjBIExWFHkm-ZPvXuk7vHqWx4lBpuswKksO3K2FdT4chQlNqkcC-1zkVUgkpVOSYTydObCWa0zI6mMOKjB4-oFw8VM_3z-XHUqbcuI-qtnqrbJfewbo9fTXghsZV-DCkwcXmqfJQ44DSVf7J9vDAThxwtq1AypTci7XrqpVN1FX/s6720/F81A0559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJMypfamMksAvlIjBIExWFHkm-ZPvXuk7vHqWx4lBpuswKksO3K2FdT4chQlNqkcC-1zkVUgkpVOSYTydObCWa0zI6mMOKjB4-oFw8VM_3z-XHUqbcuI-qtnqrbJfewbo9fTXghsZV-DCkwcXmqfJQ44DSVf7J9vDAThxwtq1AypTci7XrqpVN1FX/w426-h640/F81A0559.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTcJMdTT2kYFatrc_NfYOXQ4ktSUiTmPp4MwzJYOaiNE5H8PKvfmcZAS8KXXG42ko9nm_B1iXn2_2L2uPv2rZflVqpDBfSCs3BBlDUIFDvMYdUdUA91Ik3ficO9l4xTvn6RVXxgaOFJDF5AODO_qnMTN1wFqI8MjyLEYuHOXDY1y1702fYZMnxM-x/s6720/F81A0558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTcJMdTT2kYFatrc_NfYOXQ4ktSUiTmPp4MwzJYOaiNE5H8PKvfmcZAS8KXXG42ko9nm_B1iXn2_2L2uPv2rZflVqpDBfSCs3BBlDUIFDvMYdUdUA91Ik3ficO9l4xTvn6RVXxgaOFJDF5AODO_qnMTN1wFqI8MjyLEYuHOXDY1y1702fYZMnxM-x/w426-h640/F81A0558.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAHyGWsphl--FLqN4HEvXBVbVVMobhdSWaRI_jeDOQQyh48psFjyHmnRhquHrPij7fj_SY_sGVp5UVr67X_px6TB2R_u1wJmGIz5IFpDNpHVcMuWbU9kWoskM30Xf03ThRULdAQhGepPgwzK2udBJK8evL_z_bqCDBu29VN2SqCtw-NFpqo2D6es7/s5207/F81A0555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5207" data-original-width="3471" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAHyGWsphl--FLqN4HEvXBVbVVMobhdSWaRI_jeDOQQyh48psFjyHmnRhquHrPij7fj_SY_sGVp5UVr67X_px6TB2R_u1wJmGIz5IFpDNpHVcMuWbU9kWoskM30Xf03ThRULdAQhGepPgwzK2udBJK8evL_z_bqCDBu29VN2SqCtw-NFpqo2D6es7/w426-h640/F81A0555.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqhMzE7w3rqd8aHIT4XcDNBWkrb3ybZjjNOQCcS5CPlGbGe-Yn--l7YKJqQmZLAaqTP-hPZja6QKSY-VE2NXRTOsu-qZFvXEbysg3j2pN0y0N1J5R1K5xQ7fYoLL_Szmc9A13MltjmW778Y6LGJ4KSiHwJojAH0FOUgXlBab0pw_OMDxzUPos7kJH/s5993/F81A0554-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5993" data-original-width="3995" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqhMzE7w3rqd8aHIT4XcDNBWkrb3ybZjjNOQCcS5CPlGbGe-Yn--l7YKJqQmZLAaqTP-hPZja6QKSY-VE2NXRTOsu-qZFvXEbysg3j2pN0y0N1J5R1K5xQ7fYoLL_Szmc9A13MltjmW778Y6LGJ4KSiHwJojAH0FOUgXlBab0pw_OMDxzUPos7kJH/w426-h640/F81A0554-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo5J6UxIFmpGYoMc53_8RX3dOVLWJLUz7eS5g_574hX9UJ3C3S_sKibGZ3smsIoPECmM3gzp0ecoUZnaHMyHKzBqJkiwfa9q6cK1qZKbEij13EEHcjotm1X7W63RxyiI4OVCxn_4SM2veo2EZIwLJaAEi0Tv6qbBkNGWScxdEHYuHc_TxxmagN4q8/s6720/F81A0553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo5J6UxIFmpGYoMc53_8RX3dOVLWJLUz7eS5g_574hX9UJ3C3S_sKibGZ3smsIoPECmM3gzp0ecoUZnaHMyHKzBqJkiwfa9q6cK1qZKbEij13EEHcjotm1X7W63RxyiI4OVCxn_4SM2veo2EZIwLJaAEi0Tv6qbBkNGWScxdEHYuHc_TxxmagN4q8/w640-h426/F81A0553.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nan, you have always kept us on our toes. Whether it’s laughing about something you’ve said, watching a dance burst out of you, hearing you laugh, or, like recently, CUTTING YOUR FINGER WITH A MASSIVE KNIFE WHILE CUTTING A PIECE OF BREAD (!!!!), it’s never a dull moment while you’re around. You still say the funniest things, like when you sneezed while reading and said, "I just Bless You-d all over this book!" Or when my friend came over to show us her new puppy, and you determined we should go in the back yard because "it's more playful and stickish back there!" You say things like "I'm snuffy" or "My stummy is hungry." And once you were sitting on PopPop's lap and looked at him and said, "You have a lot of wrinkles... are you going to die soon?" He told you he had at least a few more years, then asked if you'd be sad. You said, "No. I'll still have Nini.... and pictures of you." You still wear your emotions one-hundred-percent on your sleeve (it doesn’t feel like a movie night if you don’t have tears streaming down your face at some point). You truly have the biggest heart and you’re such an important part of our family. I really thought we would be a family of four, and then your dad was insistent that we have more children. I am so grateful he led the way in that, because I cannot imagine our house without your redhead in it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTclrjrBpBRBtfni1PX4sIE1TbrsR049fkP-RTaj0CZpPjgdkxJWqUsKC762CtF0DWcTq0SS3BrQKZGy-Z2HBMpkynfV2CEI755m_c5F6RyQa8EbE1go7BK3VeZXk0ape-R4lHGij_mYodRid0JrMWfLTEJA9dwJwAKm0jEhmhpxTB0hJVaMKmYd6O/s5983/F81A0549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5983" data-original-width="3989" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTclrjrBpBRBtfni1PX4sIE1TbrsR049fkP-RTaj0CZpPjgdkxJWqUsKC762CtF0DWcTq0SS3BrQKZGy-Z2HBMpkynfV2CEI755m_c5F6RyQa8EbE1go7BK3VeZXk0ape-R4lHGij_mYodRid0JrMWfLTEJA9dwJwAKm0jEhmhpxTB0hJVaMKmYd6O/w426-h640/F81A0549.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeN_sKdij3mcEcD1OdK5ZR7izVP5OZUNngcz6DPFtglJXIP2zmqgyyWYhoECewevAoLWXemF4fQNucNUoXT_osPEWZ5RwTgCkNA3n8AMaVZ0ABybgzHlFxg6aT986rfSdM2RwTThhUl4x625aJ6Ft85QLl7LdyVo24Xxzx84uSArGJLDY0ngU8O7K/s6720/F81A0547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeN_sKdij3mcEcD1OdK5ZR7izVP5OZUNngcz6DPFtglJXIP2zmqgyyWYhoECewevAoLWXemF4fQNucNUoXT_osPEWZ5RwTgCkNA3n8AMaVZ0ABybgzHlFxg6aT986rfSdM2RwTThhUl4x625aJ6Ft85QLl7LdyVo24Xxzx84uSArGJLDY0ngU8O7K/w426-h640/F81A0547.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cMIL66sUglZJqXxmo6zVMhqouuCLDM_C6I5oXtnrVrCU8PIzfAtXqCzRvtsfXAqQCZe0GU8uZ3FxvN3HHBGR3ydaqNPr98wMLYpCxSrMsIFI5BySzvV-a34nn_iN962PssznV4PGlIiPlPq_xGnoqwBSk_dkg8FHA8K5aYHtRSEq6q7fuxXSiwyQ/s6720/F81A0546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cMIL66sUglZJqXxmo6zVMhqouuCLDM_C6I5oXtnrVrCU8PIzfAtXqCzRvtsfXAqQCZe0GU8uZ3FxvN3HHBGR3ydaqNPr98wMLYpCxSrMsIFI5BySzvV-a34nn_iN962PssznV4PGlIiPlPq_xGnoqwBSk_dkg8FHA8K5aYHtRSEq6q7fuxXSiwyQ/w426-h640/F81A0546.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWqhUu9oF2gcVuVB9bYIuRJmjYd8fvfgjLXiYSyi3QpSEsleBEBnymPZYTeTgAWLXcNwRVoPX7b1mjKp21mszmbWsqPFTlGgKQW97dTDOeeZ2b3ylYhfaF6AKjmqtbZoxdlD52z-32htglcWdVCeDS8Eqb0XHLNJoZRNzKuVGUM_zt2-2FHi8qSq3/s5207/F81A0545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5207" data-original-width="3471" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWqhUu9oF2gcVuVB9bYIuRJmjYd8fvfgjLXiYSyi3QpSEsleBEBnymPZYTeTgAWLXcNwRVoPX7b1mjKp21mszmbWsqPFTlGgKQW97dTDOeeZ2b3ylYhfaF6AKjmqtbZoxdlD52z-32htglcWdVCeDS8Eqb0XHLNJoZRNzKuVGUM_zt2-2FHi8qSq3/w426-h640/F81A0545.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">You still don’t have the teeth that you had to get pulled at
age three, you weigh a little bit of nothing, your energy-tank is always full, and
you are a friend to all. We're currently reading a book called "Astrid the Unstoppable" and she is referred to as "the little thunderbolt" and it often talks about her red curly hair as her "lion's mane"-- I am picturing you every time we read about her adventures, my little thunderbolt. God knew exactly who our number three child would be,
and I am so glad it was you. We pray you look to Christ all your days, and
shine his light brightly in this world. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And like I have ended every birthday letter: We hope you
understand the why behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we
set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope
you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little
home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple
little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see
that it was grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily
bread that provided it all. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Nan Louise, happy SEVENTH birthday! There is nothing you
could ever do that could make us stop loving you.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-EsSD2oDKz8lThSZlm4CbJ8JuOqVs7mFo_f1XzM3R5pmJioZfgD60QXmqu_OBQ0JngH6uQ-cx23DDjNn9qlSxJ4X-g77ikP8udkwtXWUr7kVj0WErSLuxTem54aD0ZXkEB7dqTcL7D6MQzKXa6CG6A8k6UEwwdq315IL3E0k7xV4y7dlxaH5BK1G/s6720/F81A0702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-EsSD2oDKz8lThSZlm4CbJ8JuOqVs7mFo_f1XzM3R5pmJioZfgD60QXmqu_OBQ0JngH6uQ-cx23DDjNn9qlSxJ4X-g77ikP8udkwtXWUr7kVj0WErSLuxTem54aD0ZXkEB7dqTcL7D6MQzKXa6CG6A8k6UEwwdq315IL3E0k7xV4y7dlxaH5BK1G/w640-h426/F81A0702.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-48287891906468170102023-03-23T10:30:00.113-04:002023-03-28T15:03:44.616-04:00Blythe is ELEVEN!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79Zy-3p-jy2xMZ5u-I5oRjzCrGKr7u4R4kM3YpnHeFyc85mVD1k2ONqX9ETs-K_DNOLRtWYYjFYUr2mYcUcckMqQk-K-1pbW45SQWp61Q8ZhXTNFRo0s-rQGgJc7UfSsTbwrV41dPMnJyGDkXT0ZP2nqrSxPY9iO6BULpXkxhg8daUHAPdSBt--qz/s6720/F81A9729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79Zy-3p-jy2xMZ5u-I5oRjzCrGKr7u4R4kM3YpnHeFyc85mVD1k2ONqX9ETs-K_DNOLRtWYYjFYUr2mYcUcckMqQk-K-1pbW45SQWp61Q8ZhXTNFRo0s-rQGgJc7UfSsTbwrV41dPMnJyGDkXT0ZP2nqrSxPY9iO6BULpXkxhg8daUHAPdSBt--qz/w426-h640/F81A9729.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wf8CGAx46nkFHebf-5xt71i3rb_VJiMGOluWeITywp6DaszLC69xtc6aUwzaeJCo7dlPGxCXZmsCQCx8LUSPFA_o5apNSjxWFK2SMv2KCcqpcGFDjTP9Sa2FffrQx-6f4cIgZf_Z__GoaNVs8FG0oDhrNDVf3cMTupjEVZcDLJuJ8Pw-7FCuR3Fx/s6720/F81A9885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wf8CGAx46nkFHebf-5xt71i3rb_VJiMGOluWeITywp6DaszLC69xtc6aUwzaeJCo7dlPGxCXZmsCQCx8LUSPFA_o5apNSjxWFK2SMv2KCcqpcGFDjTP9Sa2FffrQx-6f4cIgZf_Z__GoaNVs8FG0oDhrNDVf3cMTupjEVZcDLJuJ8Pw-7FCuR3Fx/w640-h426/F81A9885.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ51fZdRgbnyuEkKqCzSIlS_RrA-xsdI96rkzgKF10Si_zQ0-m0-G9jjIlMktK4fl6NxaDStB9aedoKZBLTdebCtBNx7gC9zTBJdrU9h3KV20XCdcWB5vx_qCZ48ykcTL11HRzt3VWNGHnbxgYlsUszEAhm-aYi-Ql13QvIXi0OBraEtw2R2PdhFE7/s6720/F81A9811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ51fZdRgbnyuEkKqCzSIlS_RrA-xsdI96rkzgKF10Si_zQ0-m0-G9jjIlMktK4fl6NxaDStB9aedoKZBLTdebCtBNx7gC9zTBJdrU9h3KV20XCdcWB5vx_qCZ48ykcTL11HRzt3VWNGHnbxgYlsUszEAhm-aYi-Ql13QvIXi0OBraEtw2R2PdhFE7/w426-h640/F81A9811.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0douH6P4QZH8kgEsWgqUNQmR6yQ-AK4OCS701BlObYoG7QIdZPChIoGNAYbo8TnHP8JDfsHQn3Os53SjpcLuRrQk-HvzC5XZtq0uyXPOJr2IhwFHhjlvDCFcPWwN8qw92sAcDTQahmjUajUxdIcbVeDkdmV7-jt1BCJsZZb-C2pyw0JOOi4pO2H5/s6720/F81A9768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0douH6P4QZH8kgEsWgqUNQmR6yQ-AK4OCS701BlObYoG7QIdZPChIoGNAYbo8TnHP8JDfsHQn3Os53SjpcLuRrQk-HvzC5XZtq0uyXPOJr2IhwFHhjlvDCFcPWwN8qw92sAcDTQahmjUajUxdIcbVeDkdmV7-jt1BCJsZZb-C2pyw0JOOi4pO2H5/w640-h426/F81A9768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM2UzsXZ57j-5yDg1fFXAk4hU9LRileA7K-VAduAxsUqIUAp4VSzYIheqt0qiw_9_VlEDjVBphJBBvmQSY7GegmcTsGrpdOlVco7tUTRCHLQOzXph82RFYJS0Gtm90xIoCvO8vEoQHNBDEbr0TcIBk3CfPQfdCTgDEyuR8bB1QgCysnSTmq84RkLd/s6225/F81A9923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6225" data-original-width="4150" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM2UzsXZ57j-5yDg1fFXAk4hU9LRileA7K-VAduAxsUqIUAp4VSzYIheqt0qiw_9_VlEDjVBphJBBvmQSY7GegmcTsGrpdOlVco7tUTRCHLQOzXph82RFYJS0Gtm90xIoCvO8vEoQHNBDEbr0TcIBk3CfPQfdCTgDEyuR8bB1QgCysnSTmq84RkLd/w426-h640/F81A9923.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlbDXMnx_VUhwntZ2ZSDVTWH-m5IgFxj1sDZRCMrEY5oWu0bxwrHDVylsfOPWVN-qW_SUxWFWjw031_Kxc6WYDveD3o4vIam6XaDH67m57GfcnkEPGGCcX9zyDDgYpdAYTPgAZS1ILH2cc8GR1WQleqdXQij9mSATmfRb8-rKinVRsT7Q7OjsMHye/s5876/F81A9730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5876" data-original-width="3917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlbDXMnx_VUhwntZ2ZSDVTWH-m5IgFxj1sDZRCMrEY5oWu0bxwrHDVylsfOPWVN-qW_SUxWFWjw031_Kxc6WYDveD3o4vIam6XaDH67m57GfcnkEPGGCcX9zyDDgYpdAYTPgAZS1ILH2cc8GR1WQleqdXQij9mSATmfRb8-rKinVRsT7Q7OjsMHye/w426-h640/F81A9730.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Blythe,</p><p style="text-align: left;">As I sit here and watch the foggy, springtime mist roll through outside, I am thinking back to the spring you were born. It was already bursting with color, warm and green. The new calves were tripping over their wobbly legs in the pastures as we drove to the hospital. I think of that often when I remember that time: how when I looked outside it was just halcyon days. But the reality was, bringing you home and becoming a mom-- physically, mentally, spiritually, in every way-- was so very difficult for me. I would look at your big brown eyes that seemed nearly too big for your teeny, perfectly round head, and wonder how I would ever manage to keep on doing <i>all of it. </i></p><p style="text-align: left;">And now you're 11. Eleven! And when I think back to those days I still remember the hardness of them, but it's funny because the bursting-forth-spring that was just outside our windows at that time seem to creep into the inside of those memories too. And now I know why: because it was <i>you. </i>You were our spring that God was bringing into our lives. You were the one that he was going to use to make dead things come alive and turn brown grass a brilliant green. You were the one that would teach us so much, as our first born.</p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUXZPX3JQoF2e3Sg3YOClJc4e0Rg1I1v_cK3nqgNzVAgMd-Jc8030SCL9pf0B9h3ZmaLTojDqtTgqbDrdW9_fu55MIV-bnY1xCcf-NYPnvIam_cHs1e-wSRRBcRTmBbNtOz_jFivH1W8Wj5EFOdcEvvFIh9erORn2dKFs7_QPqczBbQQzxh0gTwtn/s6720/F81A9733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUXZPX3JQoF2e3Sg3YOClJc4e0Rg1I1v_cK3nqgNzVAgMd-Jc8030SCL9pf0B9h3ZmaLTojDqtTgqbDrdW9_fu55MIV-bnY1xCcf-NYPnvIam_cHs1e-wSRRBcRTmBbNtOz_jFivH1W8Wj5EFOdcEvvFIh9erORn2dKFs7_QPqczBbQQzxh0gTwtn/w426-h640/F81A9733.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirh1qwT0wmsYNAJl88Zk3nZZfa9WR6D8ohxf1MbsVSYx7pZBcFxneREDKc7wAePi9aosddBhcNULSe0ZS8zsXsp4UeUNk9aouINQTsvBUBWxUr0hdV3iJAqKPYGBbZn9drHr9iOfzldbllYZyMHnvgj5URjtPLO70FyR36x5EXr6ZYT8enhl6fxa4/s5964/F81A9736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5964" data-original-width="3976" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirh1qwT0wmsYNAJl88Zk3nZZfa9WR6D8ohxf1MbsVSYx7pZBcFxneREDKc7wAePi9aosddBhcNULSe0ZS8zsXsp4UeUNk9aouINQTsvBUBWxUr0hdV3iJAqKPYGBbZn9drHr9iOfzldbllYZyMHnvgj5URjtPLO70FyR36x5EXr6ZYT8enhl6fxa4/w426-h640/F81A9736.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6VK7-TZ0K3nk6F4ARstjCA1bOlUM3qH-oOQ3RlDUKIuY2Nk29ct4PNFu7VU42OsNixcT74KxwuDu0nXLPeRTvMc-b6QI18_CEeyfQE1nEoPmpMIgu_z9hLHs4WAgO-UF7rB9eUZQ-B8KE6K2Ged_Y2IBU6RuFvEig5K0JqPpcKfUEr5KTTrj6usA/s6080/F81A9738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6080" data-original-width="4053" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6VK7-TZ0K3nk6F4ARstjCA1bOlUM3qH-oOQ3RlDUKIuY2Nk29ct4PNFu7VU42OsNixcT74KxwuDu0nXLPeRTvMc-b6QI18_CEeyfQE1nEoPmpMIgu_z9hLHs4WAgO-UF7rB9eUZQ-B8KE6K2Ged_Y2IBU6RuFvEig5K0JqPpcKfUEr5KTTrj6usA/w426-h640/F81A9738.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQeWxgxbpiijrBKLB39C8DPOhbXbvfObCL76Md5G8mHHRtRrLeLkFUpaVB6x1-fktMDoZV-QjOmEesNLgs3sUupFSD2drsJanIY0IuG3EVbcmsCzX4ZrLGzjuioeU6pXpN9UYjdkXKIGEyaOU8L4UyiGJWL69yLxEERcPzVjxMtxHFfl1fEOMFXD5/s6080/F81A9744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6080" data-original-width="4053" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQeWxgxbpiijrBKLB39C8DPOhbXbvfObCL76Md5G8mHHRtRrLeLkFUpaVB6x1-fktMDoZV-QjOmEesNLgs3sUupFSD2drsJanIY0IuG3EVbcmsCzX4ZrLGzjuioeU6pXpN9UYjdkXKIGEyaOU8L4UyiGJWL69yLxEERcPzVjxMtxHFfl1fEOMFXD5/w426-h640/F81A9744.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdnuvnO_XSqg9gYOc7riWsra1uB4asUPkfwWNG8iao7OYboHCQ7KTBrEHPSXoV8c7hb1J7QoAinoMrBqDs2pUR6P1Ir8ezJlfe8vTbRSqtyjhsq7xMda-3Je-b0oPRzpg1upcRwR1FgTOfUQxQALP3B-bxQyS2qnXHPXlL1GCxWA8NnUd0jkYzZ8E/s6720/F81A9747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdnuvnO_XSqg9gYOc7riWsra1uB4asUPkfwWNG8iao7OYboHCQ7KTBrEHPSXoV8c7hb1J7QoAinoMrBqDs2pUR6P1Ir8ezJlfe8vTbRSqtyjhsq7xMda-3Je-b0oPRzpg1upcRwR1FgTOfUQxQALP3B-bxQyS2qnXHPXlL1GCxWA8NnUd0jkYzZ8E/w426-h640/F81A9747.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0cVIxaP9KAGubYgjtQGq7jz1QvrCAMwlqN4dNMt0RFN4V-wPgtfyImYkxAbVy1OMPkIvpZhx6LsF44YB0Ks9NXoSyhep1IG53yPO8xybX8VYCu1imfiGmA-k1vkr27dYV8lWgJ-vRZSDUGsO5zx9ZBla_9kKhatHQ9NHuTk7axnyvCTLB0rTA_u6/s6720/F81A9751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0cVIxaP9KAGubYgjtQGq7jz1QvrCAMwlqN4dNMt0RFN4V-wPgtfyImYkxAbVy1OMPkIvpZhx6LsF44YB0Ks9NXoSyhep1IG53yPO8xybX8VYCu1imfiGmA-k1vkr27dYV8lWgJ-vRZSDUGsO5zx9ZBla_9kKhatHQ9NHuTk7axnyvCTLB0rTA_u6/w426-h640/F81A9751.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYe7PjuRVLN2L7IAmB88P_CTbZY-gYUdDhqpRGajLcHXMoyZF2hJPMFZDWCd8lY0d4DORGIhAGqb1CtyuOaPOPHBuZLYhDFMcekWSueplJdczkUZ2KymtWeyzaBcm4u6xhAiBo0MkVSfcUOYcCD2DkznYWIx8duAP87ZIp27ZpLgFDGvCZKziADM_/s6720/F81A9757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYe7PjuRVLN2L7IAmB88P_CTbZY-gYUdDhqpRGajLcHXMoyZF2hJPMFZDWCd8lY0d4DORGIhAGqb1CtyuOaPOPHBuZLYhDFMcekWSueplJdczkUZ2KymtWeyzaBcm4u6xhAiBo0MkVSfcUOYcCD2DkznYWIx8duAP87ZIp27ZpLgFDGvCZKziADM_/w426-h640/F81A9757.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmnKJBpDyxE93Dd32xFXt8BxwAeSSheApaa-inoK_T3MDFM3BuRwdFBSh1M_I-RigPuxuUEeTJbVa5oWxw5VYmbyJATBzzLcs4nmX8hXe1bFqMD_etP2_K39w0oPQuQ8cpT84ZgEHgFSAPIGbX5oID1UZODwqkZIkNyIf2moAfuiSDiCxZIH-wII0/s5993/F81A9760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5993" data-original-width="3995" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmnKJBpDyxE93Dd32xFXt8BxwAeSSheApaa-inoK_T3MDFM3BuRwdFBSh1M_I-RigPuxuUEeTJbVa5oWxw5VYmbyJATBzzLcs4nmX8hXe1bFqMD_etP2_K39w0oPQuQ8cpT84ZgEHgFSAPIGbX5oID1UZODwqkZIkNyIf2moAfuiSDiCxZIH-wII0/w426-h640/F81A9760.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe7ErYYH6P9V7I2OUY4fFzJLbThi4_kLO6IHYeS0kjlzDyR2YZhHr46jQtVJAenenRRhiFnCJX0hhsfB5ELQZaHeRfchJVc8YcdAHg__AbXrwyNDF0QJ9wrPwjmotdLBFDVfSxV0a9YYO8ThDG5-lUdGEUBlaPVkAE7Cjqtxg1lNDsk03j6ybP92w/s6720/F81A9762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe7ErYYH6P9V7I2OUY4fFzJLbThi4_kLO6IHYeS0kjlzDyR2YZhHr46jQtVJAenenRRhiFnCJX0hhsfB5ELQZaHeRfchJVc8YcdAHg__AbXrwyNDF0QJ9wrPwjmotdLBFDVfSxV0a9YYO8ThDG5-lUdGEUBlaPVkAE7Cjqtxg1lNDsk03j6ybP92w/w426-h640/F81A9762.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhBI_73BF0qinlIOBjIEeRCXZ53ZoHTIOQNYNxs175noRdRXGgxDr07910uLFz3N-ylPR_89_aUqjY6SssxHBsDZ2-4a9B8AukcMmkl-O4rntDjFwsoqpY7gZWXGyNjzmHMxDFCT-THZ2ChEJyKNvBKfsWnZlhgD2qgexwXI2HgZlEpATVRwv7jlz/s6720/F81A9766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhBI_73BF0qinlIOBjIEeRCXZ53ZoHTIOQNYNxs175noRdRXGgxDr07910uLFz3N-ylPR_89_aUqjY6SssxHBsDZ2-4a9B8AukcMmkl-O4rntDjFwsoqpY7gZWXGyNjzmHMxDFCT-THZ2ChEJyKNvBKfsWnZlhgD2qgexwXI2HgZlEpATVRwv7jlz/w640-h426/F81A9766.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_cHk4cUaswReUFOdTSHtdhRVs4oF30b68_seTCOX9XBehqJRbkaIjxpzZb1pdbiVyyrc7AF7kVuPYCNmTwpluUQwLhJP7wA4dIB7w-khJKeGhnck1KJUiEPm-7_7AST4jIaTSk3jQifGyxwzVAzkpzs5oSxAq9Sli26L3bNelVH0qP_se1rFyqQK/s4480/F81A9769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="2987" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_cHk4cUaswReUFOdTSHtdhRVs4oF30b68_seTCOX9XBehqJRbkaIjxpzZb1pdbiVyyrc7AF7kVuPYCNmTwpluUQwLhJP7wA4dIB7w-khJKeGhnck1KJUiEPm-7_7AST4jIaTSk3jQifGyxwzVAzkpzs5oSxAq9Sli26L3bNelVH0qP_se1rFyqQK/w426-h640/F81A9769.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><p>I often wonder, when I see a tulip bulb erupting through the dirt, pushing its green leaves defiantly into the still-chilly grayness of March, if it knows the risk it's taking. Does that little flower think about how an early morning frost could snap its shoots, stunt its growth? Or does it just turn its face towards the sun and keep marching forward, hoping in the promise of warmer days? This may seem like a weird way to start your birthday letter, but I guess what I am trying to say, Blythe, is you and I have grown together these 11 years, and watching you experience life has made me less hesitant to throw out my own green shoots, even when I don't know if a frost will hit. Because you've shown me the joy of producing a flower is always worth the risk.</p><p>I know every year there is growth, but physically you have really shot up this year (and I know you will probably do that again this year!). I could hardly keep you in shoes as your foot just seems to keep sprouting. Your favorite thing to wear this year every day was a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Even though you have draws full of super cute clothes, the more comfy the t-shirt, the better. You still love to wear your cowboy boots but I think that's just because they require no work to pull on (you are the s l o w e s t at putting on your shoes! ha!). Actually.... you're pretty slow moving at most things you do. Most of the time I don't mind much, because it's just a result of how laid back you are. In a book I read this year an author described his daughter in a way that I thought explained you perfectly: You're wonderful to be on vacation with (great for conversation and slowing the pace), but painful to get out the door in the morning! ;) </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ7B_vG59B4fz0jh45__j-OhngKZF4PcPUH_KOPCRsAnrn8czlA8io3xKc8iQu3_D0oj08uMPTPDbN-amLCCAjj10TpdHe-FZXSi9GGcDMtwqd6KUt3sx2H4vbq5vCcIbhT2xSespImEPwl8nZIdLY5vLubMvvbCcqaMqHqkiBpTeCDIYeeawLM4f/s6720/F81A9775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ7B_vG59B4fz0jh45__j-OhngKZF4PcPUH_KOPCRsAnrn8czlA8io3xKc8iQu3_D0oj08uMPTPDbN-amLCCAjj10TpdHe-FZXSi9GGcDMtwqd6KUt3sx2H4vbq5vCcIbhT2xSespImEPwl8nZIdLY5vLubMvvbCcqaMqHqkiBpTeCDIYeeawLM4f/w640-h426/F81A9775.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHiJmZ4z2g6r-SoNPebxJAFJ4MGOgCx6TVQJg9zu1AK3ga8B43rYcCy5n-mRh_QVo2PjdqTYxpSR53vO0m_QisQbAuNihbGxLCDoeuKUc67aRF_65tO0JPzmZXLP28mYlO8DDk0qIucSyPuisRQycJdQjxtxSgepD9BWs4RxZ3A0f6_30qm-UxUeS/s6720/F81A9777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHiJmZ4z2g6r-SoNPebxJAFJ4MGOgCx6TVQJg9zu1AK3ga8B43rYcCy5n-mRh_QVo2PjdqTYxpSR53vO0m_QisQbAuNihbGxLCDoeuKUc67aRF_65tO0JPzmZXLP28mYlO8DDk0qIucSyPuisRQycJdQjxtxSgepD9BWs4RxZ3A0f6_30qm-UxUeS/w640-h426/F81A9777.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpA7fGoV7Yui8-cQxttHnuQ7VqC78UUXTaQtHU1Td-FwuMTCRQOCHXb-WLXO0VubSPM5GIW2pjZMG3Tnqhism6HvtBmMFW1TUN7G5phC6WCdOxfkPcowV-cKtCciOKm_VM3DdBYs1bvOpwVy0ETDp9YTEoeQ59yhwK-JjBlaht99N3ZGqyq55uAFg/s6720/F81A9781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpA7fGoV7Yui8-cQxttHnuQ7VqC78UUXTaQtHU1Td-FwuMTCRQOCHXb-WLXO0VubSPM5GIW2pjZMG3Tnqhism6HvtBmMFW1TUN7G5phC6WCdOxfkPcowV-cKtCciOKm_VM3DdBYs1bvOpwVy0ETDp9YTEoeQ59yhwK-JjBlaht99N3ZGqyq55uAFg/w426-h640/F81A9781.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2qfHDWmirzzhBhImZama3Vse6UuTOhLyE-jEDltt2SHZDiNYNl-wiQekFUlBAvq0NeiVhkBsGtP-Fgjw3dTi_KGEBIxB0GvU9gtW3wGgkn3goY0oZ4-vZM-p8BZzL2paQENuRDWkbM_c9CWn1t89f2AD1pbDnk2X4VIqzpu2xQrOPPABlouNNRRq/s6720/F81A9786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2qfHDWmirzzhBhImZama3Vse6UuTOhLyE-jEDltt2SHZDiNYNl-wiQekFUlBAvq0NeiVhkBsGtP-Fgjw3dTi_KGEBIxB0GvU9gtW3wGgkn3goY0oZ4-vZM-p8BZzL2paQENuRDWkbM_c9CWn1t89f2AD1pbDnk2X4VIqzpu2xQrOPPABlouNNRRq/w640-h426/F81A9786.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEily3_ITMODfZji4DK0HdhpPqjydNMT4tiobfMUWCrpjN6-6Hh-JpEPlNxSrPn3A8LNNuUrXXvBSQmHz1qYRn7Fr4KP-fweuPnyU8LW1Is8t30Su4dh11aIgbEmLD-qgpHoRw86t6ynScZvC8V5JQQrNl-iM3wSh41VRHBFji7U4rsF0i4g98pBaOzS/s6720/F81A9788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEily3_ITMODfZji4DK0HdhpPqjydNMT4tiobfMUWCrpjN6-6Hh-JpEPlNxSrPn3A8LNNuUrXXvBSQmHz1qYRn7Fr4KP-fweuPnyU8LW1Is8t30Su4dh11aIgbEmLD-qgpHoRw86t6ynScZvC8V5JQQrNl-iM3wSh41VRHBFji7U4rsF0i4g98pBaOzS/w640-h426/F81A9788.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotHNw_OhQSurHNSqvjwe_0o_O0hVQ1IPjtmM70TX1kg72IIeuQ_cdOXlwzTcqKWBTH8RRWF_d-kUniNutTHJmKXKicsXkiDcUXhXiYUeiWxeKt4lfY5HgWrHNzYgfWXQZn3RSWNMyiTFNweWNPEQJ2l5jJDTT-lpCQjzTib4ClZNQhk6bn-hHUQHz/s6720/F81A9792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotHNw_OhQSurHNSqvjwe_0o_O0hVQ1IPjtmM70TX1kg72IIeuQ_cdOXlwzTcqKWBTH8RRWF_d-kUniNutTHJmKXKicsXkiDcUXhXiYUeiWxeKt4lfY5HgWrHNzYgfWXQZn3RSWNMyiTFNweWNPEQJ2l5jJDTT-lpCQjzTib4ClZNQhk6bn-hHUQHz/w426-h640/F81A9792.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE33-kGA5WVvsMWfuQLTnDIjt1oQHI4XOBQMuGE8-zDrHPcUuHAmh_MpIF20RPobiv1WE4nU9KX-nxPX1QxkmEc7GKRmWcxlXVtrBlG6UQ6gzrniG-fJVPWsQt27JgZAfo6sGmAkXhykCFnkzGg9q4sx0W1cjOEPp6KrtE1XHTVhAlCSpIIP_4xnG2/s6720/F81A9794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE33-kGA5WVvsMWfuQLTnDIjt1oQHI4XOBQMuGE8-zDrHPcUuHAmh_MpIF20RPobiv1WE4nU9KX-nxPX1QxkmEc7GKRmWcxlXVtrBlG6UQ6gzrniG-fJVPWsQt27JgZAfo6sGmAkXhykCFnkzGg9q4sx0W1cjOEPp6KrtE1XHTVhAlCSpIIP_4xnG2/w426-h640/F81A9794.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTQz-jG1_UuZrteQMfFyx2cOY3yy8N0ielzFNW62PSiEQ89hg__PETAMepDaL-KqXdgdTBS9fyiRsRSh1SMLi3KBfIs7fZiXe_LNJLiEkgWDpYlacK9R2iU_4ZTi2H8ZQ4loUEu4HZ2Kg4HlG-W8b-LFTzxLL-UUf007_Xt1DavOG_svVjTQAmEkT/s6720/F81A9798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTQz-jG1_UuZrteQMfFyx2cOY3yy8N0ielzFNW62PSiEQ89hg__PETAMepDaL-KqXdgdTBS9fyiRsRSh1SMLi3KBfIs7fZiXe_LNJLiEkgWDpYlacK9R2iU_4ZTi2H8ZQ4loUEu4HZ2Kg4HlG-W8b-LFTzxLL-UUf007_Xt1DavOG_svVjTQAmEkT/w640-h426/F81A9798.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WrN6c8H2HUp3w0xsXe6FOgmTkBc1ITet6AumegpQkCXiT9tauXfyMYHtJHy6uRWKQhH0Ykb1IwKUROgOaG0A_4KIXDP_buuhb133K_vgGz8DYHw6Mod0kVRggGdUO2SDyyIvvpgwQwa_jBzxKae2weKtEwH6NAyX7Th-7Lyd2TvBXZpnzJHRBDX8/s6720/F81A9799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WrN6c8H2HUp3w0xsXe6FOgmTkBc1ITet6AumegpQkCXiT9tauXfyMYHtJHy6uRWKQhH0Ykb1IwKUROgOaG0A_4KIXDP_buuhb133K_vgGz8DYHw6Mod0kVRggGdUO2SDyyIvvpgwQwa_jBzxKae2weKtEwH6NAyX7Th-7Lyd2TvBXZpnzJHRBDX8/w640-h426/F81A9799.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN_8c8hw_cv6FDIrFnNWOgPUARfcTnhRlSdW9hZ8GhCmJOX_LHHFfFFxP-LBERIlQo6GXlysTmb1RC5lIrHnFTat3MFJHFLy_F2eavtuarxina6ILXbusI0TMOVYLwt9AFgFpQd4jezUHzCOKq5N4D1KtXywNOj13O5me3ZiO8I74ndvkiihcNkYl/s6720/F81A9803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN_8c8hw_cv6FDIrFnNWOgPUARfcTnhRlSdW9hZ8GhCmJOX_LHHFfFFxP-LBERIlQo6GXlysTmb1RC5lIrHnFTat3MFJHFLy_F2eavtuarxina6ILXbusI0TMOVYLwt9AFgFpQd4jezUHzCOKq5N4D1KtXywNOj13O5me3ZiO8I74ndvkiihcNkYl/w426-h640/F81A9803.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBWvHTh7tNuWGPwH0pGvRKmrQyPLxv6ySNx1cki85SxlDvTDnnmytKESeCus1HwvqZaZ0hS2YTeHRDDll63bwHY3gWh3bUmP-CcSVjD79nBjPbs7QjeyO422FmizJMUuloVdiqhmYxBNY0weRrwfAFun1QeMY4xULwiatPo8EzUwEjn06Y-nvGmG0/s6720/F81A9806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBWvHTh7tNuWGPwH0pGvRKmrQyPLxv6ySNx1cki85SxlDvTDnnmytKESeCus1HwvqZaZ0hS2YTeHRDDll63bwHY3gWh3bUmP-CcSVjD79nBjPbs7QjeyO422FmizJMUuloVdiqhmYxBNY0weRrwfAFun1QeMY4xULwiatPo8EzUwEjn06Y-nvGmG0/w426-h640/F81A9806.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nLPKE9ZNag7sAWL-X_fOA3zY8z-H97DiaWifz_ZgPHmj44zRQIYvyJcjWiPfZifLVsz4v5p4AI0BgG2IjphZ6kTMViHaAkDTkDfKkhrp-j9V-lTtPUoV_tF-KS3dzu7INy_5KWB0fPzmSutXIzBCsKtNs4rXywzLU0q8vSfBKaFS7KDdTsW7sqFR/s6720/F81A9809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nLPKE9ZNag7sAWL-X_fOA3zY8z-H97DiaWifz_ZgPHmj44zRQIYvyJcjWiPfZifLVsz4v5p4AI0BgG2IjphZ6kTMViHaAkDTkDfKkhrp-j9V-lTtPUoV_tF-KS3dzu7INy_5KWB0fPzmSutXIzBCsKtNs4rXywzLU0q8vSfBKaFS7KDdTsW7sqFR/w426-h640/F81A9809.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrJC8KpHeNRcR_pUv1DFlyvBp21iifvsUKPsrENwoogNENhYLfPp7SoI4Ri5FGyA12gNQo2z2HtnQ8qpYk37wl7iSlQ85OQ854WaLBYgOZA6mqILKUlG8V8Dj-TCK7iZkxsubvw27J0XsA60E1JlouRalpLyRi8yR2f5yYH8m6G6gNsKd-FqM9bD4/s6720/F81A9813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrJC8KpHeNRcR_pUv1DFlyvBp21iifvsUKPsrENwoogNENhYLfPp7SoI4Ri5FGyA12gNQo2z2HtnQ8qpYk37wl7iSlQ85OQ854WaLBYgOZA6mqILKUlG8V8Dj-TCK7iZkxsubvw27J0XsA60E1JlouRalpLyRi8yR2f5yYH8m6G6gNsKd-FqM9bD4/w426-h640/F81A9813.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Speaking of conversations, your dad and I just adore getting to chat with you... and so do others. So often I'll get a text from someone at church, or a teacher, or friend, and they'll say something along the lines, "I just love Blythe. She's so fun to talk to!" And you are. You are personable with others and can carry on conversations in ways a lot of kids your age cannot. You're also incredibly knowledgeable about a hundred different things, so I never quite know where the conversation will lead! This comes, primarily from your love for reading. You read voraciously! You usually have 3-4 books going at one time, unless you're really immersed in a series you love. You like a good novel (who doesn't?!), but you also are currently really enjoying a lot of historical fiction, which has really expanded your understanding of so many cool events in the past. </p><p style="text-align: left;">When you're not reading, you like to write, too. I have several drafts of stories you've started on the computer, and when I recently did a deep clean of your room I found notebook after notebook just scrawled all over-- some with outlines for entire book ideas. If they weren't plot lines or stories, they were drawings of inventions or games you wanted to create. Your creativity is astounding, and how you just jump in with both feet when you get an idea to make sometime is so fun to watch. I hope you never lose the spark to think outside the box. You're constantly making games for your siblings, or creating "monster truck worlds" for Sloan. You're a great oldest sibling for lots of reasons, but your creativity may top the list! </p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSH6hCNGfKC-H3vz3HLQpLUx0I5gUmej24iRUMfUETIe3PDka5uumVNoEfCtO4NbEfViZA40g94PrJlgVXxAj1432If0OvxXgsBVNfN7KbBfz1O6QLhsa4V03DxD6xS8gVem2L2NgIdo1A17yjGH5zM-8h5P0pCxpLzNu7n3dyb_vhT2-xymsdk8i4/s6720/F81A9837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSH6hCNGfKC-H3vz3HLQpLUx0I5gUmej24iRUMfUETIe3PDka5uumVNoEfCtO4NbEfViZA40g94PrJlgVXxAj1432If0OvxXgsBVNfN7KbBfz1O6QLhsa4V03DxD6xS8gVem2L2NgIdo1A17yjGH5zM-8h5P0pCxpLzNu7n3dyb_vhT2-xymsdk8i4/w640-h426/F81A9837.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Pxk8I7aHIcQbeNKZwamYu7TBXcmjA7BQ0_ZjfK8XvLzrNznyb7RKrQxNQFdbNbfawjNN_AaC9UxyvDb1zPcsLfS63Lkf9sp7SpEedHmCUlsw3wh7Wv8MvmVdGvTxmQguK-1ejOP5ZnuRa3l9Px2Tk5UxG2S_ZKW_62nSMzVEKEMjrfGiHvr1NLLb/s6720/F81A9843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Pxk8I7aHIcQbeNKZwamYu7TBXcmjA7BQ0_ZjfK8XvLzrNznyb7RKrQxNQFdbNbfawjNN_AaC9UxyvDb1zPcsLfS63Lkf9sp7SpEedHmCUlsw3wh7Wv8MvmVdGvTxmQguK-1ejOP5ZnuRa3l9Px2Tk5UxG2S_ZKW_62nSMzVEKEMjrfGiHvr1NLLb/w640-h426/F81A9843.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsO1Os6DNe0T0Pp2v06R4SO9DXBD83se_rg8zuJFPu_ZQqXH3YVlqwxR-j1IV8PVLMSzN8A8LvH0XE28jvVt0zrd0SrPgausoaVicU0inspec6DUEQVQCrQ4U6vKYB4XLLTznwK9oLhSjduYcGwASBLlV4j3bxUxkelwhk2QvMXiznb-4TPpUyHAy/s6720/F81A9847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsO1Os6DNe0T0Pp2v06R4SO9DXBD83se_rg8zuJFPu_ZQqXH3YVlqwxR-j1IV8PVLMSzN8A8LvH0XE28jvVt0zrd0SrPgausoaVicU0inspec6DUEQVQCrQ4U6vKYB4XLLTznwK9oLhSjduYcGwASBLlV4j3bxUxkelwhk2QvMXiznb-4TPpUyHAy/w640-h426/F81A9847.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyWXmfLWvJWU4vUghj6QKU7rN-GBJLU1WU4RLlU4KH_KNLhsjtS9qdDznjjCpQN36fj6cDXM8JD6ZVKIlwNNfRGlfexNLk44dH8Qa6AV9Y72J31AEP-w-81Pff7Hb00HafiDb73y9G2EZT3tN3MEN4aVmOcNsyGMHhkoB3Z_P3omfTFsHOywTFv8X/s6720/F81A9853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyWXmfLWvJWU4vUghj6QKU7rN-GBJLU1WU4RLlU4KH_KNLhsjtS9qdDznjjCpQN36fj6cDXM8JD6ZVKIlwNNfRGlfexNLk44dH8Qa6AV9Y72J31AEP-w-81Pff7Hb00HafiDb73y9G2EZT3tN3MEN4aVmOcNsyGMHhkoB3Z_P3omfTFsHOywTFv8X/w426-h640/F81A9853.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnorpc0-_gvgDUqIgNt48qXRf628GP7C32jbO-oJelau84KM-PEWFDiPooGdjO3-B2lhAN9hMnL-zM-w-iJ327sEJTHIo8nTNLu1zgp0fXJCGjQCMWawGx9VwvWNlpbV--i9WRZxVAHpEK6wwr6EakVtPlGeXkA5HEwX0iJKXx3wTFWi6ocpdiGSbV/s6720/F81A9857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnorpc0-_gvgDUqIgNt48qXRf628GP7C32jbO-oJelau84KM-PEWFDiPooGdjO3-B2lhAN9hMnL-zM-w-iJ327sEJTHIo8nTNLu1zgp0fXJCGjQCMWawGx9VwvWNlpbV--i9WRZxVAHpEK6wwr6EakVtPlGeXkA5HEwX0iJKXx3wTFWi6ocpdiGSbV/w426-h640/F81A9857.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZxVHfCfp0fawT90vejW8hQn_pVRxe5j20xRN2cIOD3Cb2SqMGu-VatF01qo9AYMQ5QItQYVuYh4XoivF3k-DqoDgVBEd3sgJ-77y6E0_uYu-Q6zvVLYOGhpluG3qiYrSamD-9WGIxXjAb94TCOmXzwacZGVofNTJF9kog36nj5-kFV9IL6lIOEIH/s6720/F81A9859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZxVHfCfp0fawT90vejW8hQn_pVRxe5j20xRN2cIOD3Cb2SqMGu-VatF01qo9AYMQ5QItQYVuYh4XoivF3k-DqoDgVBEd3sgJ-77y6E0_uYu-Q6zvVLYOGhpluG3qiYrSamD-9WGIxXjAb94TCOmXzwacZGVofNTJF9kog36nj5-kFV9IL6lIOEIH/w640-h426/F81A9859.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">You have recently started loving basketball, too. You got to play in your first league this year and you learned so much. You were timid at first, but you were always confident that you knew the plays and understood the game, because you always listen. Your coach commended you on how "coachable" you are, which is, I think, one of the most important skills any player can possess, because when you're older it usually doesn't matter if you can hit a freethrow, but it will always matter that you can listen and be open to ideas and know how to ask good questions. After the brief season was over, we keep finding you outside shooting, shooting, shooting. One day we even caught you running laps around the house to build up your endurance! Now that "March Madness" has started you are even more into the sport. We've loved watching you stick with things you weren't initially great at (layups), and become better and better. You also still seem to like to golf, and you are hoping to get back on the course with your dad this summer. </p><p style="text-align: left;">A couple other new things you tried this year were hunting with a crossbow and a triathlon. You gave each a 10/10 review, except maybe that the bike seat got uncomfortable during mile two and three. Watching you race in the triathlon just brought the biggest smile to our faces-- your dad loved watching you do something he enjoys, obviously, but beyond that we just loved getting to watch you jump in to something brand new with your typical Blythe-attitude: "Why not?!" You swam like an absolute pro, smiled and waved when you passed us on the bike, and then found a new friend to chat with while you both decided to just walk the mile "run." Such Blythe moves, all of them! Ha. You decided you wanted to try it again this year, but said you maybe want to "train" a little bit before hand so you can actually run. </p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4DobKgkvBQoqthtJ7JHtErrlKvi8pu4e0qMeuzHkhkoSvbr0oMxzwEDjMshCGX8MZWikjg6NdV3ajKv1XH1_ACmE_C_BavRVYHAt73rAtQHhWe6zHBSpj3qKxl8Q_tvVgElWyrF6hmy3paQmlqvKIE8lX9ZhbvqUEv05irkDMzqdreqyKAk8ctpG/s6720/F81A9863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4DobKgkvBQoqthtJ7JHtErrlKvi8pu4e0qMeuzHkhkoSvbr0oMxzwEDjMshCGX8MZWikjg6NdV3ajKv1XH1_ACmE_C_BavRVYHAt73rAtQHhWe6zHBSpj3qKxl8Q_tvVgElWyrF6hmy3paQmlqvKIE8lX9ZhbvqUEv05irkDMzqdreqyKAk8ctpG/w640-h426/F81A9863.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmE6UARn9S3zI8Zwml7FKi9NgigSRwFjbuzuqc22yk3RF2O164Kc34xQCevI005lvppkyLGsrSXtH-mCVXR4UH2LuZyZZTBcrs-brvFWwhL_mPOwljoQ4oUniT-mpcOmglzrqbm0zutS-R8OrhorDE9aWr0HyotAda-YtbyI-US-mUpU9CSmhW4pwL/s6720/F81A9868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmE6UARn9S3zI8Zwml7FKi9NgigSRwFjbuzuqc22yk3RF2O164Kc34xQCevI005lvppkyLGsrSXtH-mCVXR4UH2LuZyZZTBcrs-brvFWwhL_mPOwljoQ4oUniT-mpcOmglzrqbm0zutS-R8OrhorDE9aWr0HyotAda-YtbyI-US-mUpU9CSmhW4pwL/w640-h426/F81A9868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKZsWSSxCdZ8sTg-Us725HDKSf-c8kYoGSwCRKTIO2YEEE5md4jWYCoVfOsfBsAsdrbbkUUGrbOszML5bHwC-40TObs_jG3lX1Xqx44ufB53z0IC5WnHuDnpERr19XPAlIX5b1QF7JzoloaIsCb-0BAXKTwqBDW2gnA_mrA3yciU36O_aM8gcLue8/s6720/F81A9875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKZsWSSxCdZ8sTg-Us725HDKSf-c8kYoGSwCRKTIO2YEEE5md4jWYCoVfOsfBsAsdrbbkUUGrbOszML5bHwC-40TObs_jG3lX1Xqx44ufB53z0IC5WnHuDnpERr19XPAlIX5b1QF7JzoloaIsCb-0BAXKTwqBDW2gnA_mrA3yciU36O_aM8gcLue8/w426-h640/F81A9875.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8FD_mBtJ8VZKVMMTpVwgapD1XNMyBz88H3P9O3Nk0W9xAa4VCCdeGaxbXsyiS_-DooJpv2OdU_GWD6iumHHNwhzSN1715ZF6zXRVq69sYOEqJ2_aX6czYHr5gvLjIogfNthu81gra0d-7iJ4ufHo40HfO5AZojfXScs4zBEhaE6Ft8vQnJiKyeSk/s6720/F81A9886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8FD_mBtJ8VZKVMMTpVwgapD1XNMyBz88H3P9O3Nk0W9xAa4VCCdeGaxbXsyiS_-DooJpv2OdU_GWD6iumHHNwhzSN1715ZF6zXRVq69sYOEqJ2_aX6czYHr5gvLjIogfNthu81gra0d-7iJ4ufHo40HfO5AZojfXScs4zBEhaE6Ft8vQnJiKyeSk/w640-h426/F81A9886.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAAbWtA5FWKyKj-cbxDieconcAzirgjk3VY7fnVZCu4RqVODa-fubOLhYTLFAOkqWNC1nYLaBSb8_Xebx1db1z6P4tUmFXyaHkm_FZWsslp044CD21og6jB17QDLTRPzfeaCjWv6rcBFDoN2EsIlWysSJ_xHB1PSzxKrhgQ8Zh9b00ehaOPXC1XVo/s6720/F81A9888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAAbWtA5FWKyKj-cbxDieconcAzirgjk3VY7fnVZCu4RqVODa-fubOLhYTLFAOkqWNC1nYLaBSb8_Xebx1db1z6P4tUmFXyaHkm_FZWsslp044CD21og6jB17QDLTRPzfeaCjWv6rcBFDoN2EsIlWysSJ_xHB1PSzxKrhgQ8Zh9b00ehaOPXC1XVo/w640-h426/F81A9888.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPWOEVG5Wb4RiED9g091MuX2-waQncfn-TBul7zcmGLsp-u82vUhCVWuhkVLkMSh4tr6cxiH2hwsijxeg0SfZPcXNWvpAy8rAc6wnjNTAriWut0ALrhNjnw1fFirTcu0DDEiEXWU1nrZ-Q4Xt596jwHQpAyrKXtRY9hsTi0wGe0J2G-p1SaDPkJYl/s6720/F81A9889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPWOEVG5Wb4RiED9g091MuX2-waQncfn-TBul7zcmGLsp-u82vUhCVWuhkVLkMSh4tr6cxiH2hwsijxeg0SfZPcXNWvpAy8rAc6wnjNTAriWut0ALrhNjnw1fFirTcu0DDEiEXWU1nrZ-Q4Xt596jwHQpAyrKXtRY9hsTi0wGe0J2G-p1SaDPkJYl/w640-h426/F81A9889.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">As for hunting, we have discovered it is about the only thing that you don't mind waking up early to do (You have found a deep, deep love for sleeping in! That's my girl!). But in the woods with Papa, you don't mind being a little sleepy, bundling up against the fall-chill, and waiting patiently for a deer you may never see. You did get one exciting experience, where a pretty big buck quickly came by. You were drawn and read and he caught scent and ran. You said you only need one more second to get a good site and pull the trigger. You and Papa were both so wound up after that hunt, and you named the buck "December" and for Christmas drew a picture of it for Papa so you could remember that hunt. Even though it wasn't "successful" by most standards, I think you both found it very rewarding. </p><p style="text-align: left;">You're still a picky eater, still love to play piano, still get to laughing so hard you fall over sometimes. In a few weeks you have to have 8 teeth removed to make way for some adult teeth and prep for braces in a couple of years. You're on the verge of so much, and can see it in you often. A pre-teen who is still a kid. A kid who is a pre-teen. It's a wild place to process things. And just like I talked about at the beginning of this letter, we're still growing in this together. I've never raised a teenager before. You've never been a teenage before. We will mess up. We will try again. And I am so thankful I get to do the entire process with you. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopmn8qEK3wwiUpuu4aqTCYnAUjEBVxpoNT_4Q99L8wo29Ff4ZWujH4my0HJj3Ts8Z9I6MORqlNu-v0MgISRgMmHPdWf0vOKkZsLhFYSZPtAMqL1gL2P-mnI3zrFQ1Q-dJIP-ylR9VcoWB2S5z1XAuSR25AezKEdECgplAgNnovvX9ua7ZeNupreOZ/s6720/F81A9896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopmn8qEK3wwiUpuu4aqTCYnAUjEBVxpoNT_4Q99L8wo29Ff4ZWujH4my0HJj3Ts8Z9I6MORqlNu-v0MgISRgMmHPdWf0vOKkZsLhFYSZPtAMqL1gL2P-mnI3zrFQ1Q-dJIP-ylR9VcoWB2S5z1XAuSR25AezKEdECgplAgNnovvX9ua7ZeNupreOZ/w426-h640/F81A9896.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vrDu5Nwgt6NVa9AtuVuVTSSmRWNJQoIrI1nDs5_BdIKcOfUzvFeJv72T7krsLbcJ_S8vd0AAoFfyUj61Lmzf8lPEgc1c7jHveBLTOcR9itMP6nC_uRUbt8O4uXYcg9CN4I7jaHfQGAvXTnjWWfuZxGTnAgX1z8pTnnEm0oncYvYaPQPtVpeWSSCS/s6720/F81A9899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vrDu5Nwgt6NVa9AtuVuVTSSmRWNJQoIrI1nDs5_BdIKcOfUzvFeJv72T7krsLbcJ_S8vd0AAoFfyUj61Lmzf8lPEgc1c7jHveBLTOcR9itMP6nC_uRUbt8O4uXYcg9CN4I7jaHfQGAvXTnjWWfuZxGTnAgX1z8pTnnEm0oncYvYaPQPtVpeWSSCS/w426-h640/F81A9899.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhR4a5st0N1c7u7zR_jq14rVVQce2V8K4KWBOlXs2WEZe0iVaG2u-tKcPN6xhxy4iDn3ydc3Q8HoFQDSCtAOpGsBJZHAyjpGwVWcX1VNftactDm6dguARl4vxFIXXcdK-xyJWEKtV5p8dciXAzl5_FGAZrOvxy7JbCWPyWHsYFFzlEHZDFW7_gPwi/s6720/F81A9902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhR4a5st0N1c7u7zR_jq14rVVQce2V8K4KWBOlXs2WEZe0iVaG2u-tKcPN6xhxy4iDn3ydc3Q8HoFQDSCtAOpGsBJZHAyjpGwVWcX1VNftactDm6dguARl4vxFIXXcdK-xyJWEKtV5p8dciXAzl5_FGAZrOvxy7JbCWPyWHsYFFzlEHZDFW7_gPwi/w426-h640/F81A9902.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ec1ZkohFbz8C_FVXao_Ck8ypR_idLy5a8F3Chnr4vgkKnbk7MIWZuFV1vd8fUqHTmC74DoIzOrhH6mIMf5-FQZIXRSNJ91-S3Xs2jFKZ_LzgjsP59zHwYEkQI80ZR_bYGvW8kJ_dgNmHW1ITsX0PigyezJj7Bgv1LUcyUVHu3BPRW4wmIdhENLkH/s6720/F81A9909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ec1ZkohFbz8C_FVXao_Ck8ypR_idLy5a8F3Chnr4vgkKnbk7MIWZuFV1vd8fUqHTmC74DoIzOrhH6mIMf5-FQZIXRSNJ91-S3Xs2jFKZ_LzgjsP59zHwYEkQI80ZR_bYGvW8kJ_dgNmHW1ITsX0PigyezJj7Bgv1LUcyUVHu3BPRW4wmIdhENLkH/w426-h640/F81A9909.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJw98n5ePP1GDDT-yDMkLwpvkgAayTxPT-yV_HK_Tq53l5lNevSXnR7fHtbPubtvcl1Fm8NQyMW1y3geYdJ7lpNuEkjrJRY8jhM21Zn69KrL5d-iekzCtH8EaE7y5RqDnaa-59N6kBUrF787NajSgADKwFD3jD5koMva2PnftW-lneciWgc7ppIZY/s6720/F81A9912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJw98n5ePP1GDDT-yDMkLwpvkgAayTxPT-yV_HK_Tq53l5lNevSXnR7fHtbPubtvcl1Fm8NQyMW1y3geYdJ7lpNuEkjrJRY8jhM21Zn69KrL5d-iekzCtH8EaE7y5RqDnaa-59N6kBUrF787NajSgADKwFD3jD5koMva2PnftW-lneciWgc7ppIZY/w426-h640/F81A9912.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEBvOcgYOEeetCg1T-nv7TW9mp6vqHxjwt9dWNcS-ns8Odff_wbfdP5ez64D3gnA7QVYy99gi_9LbBoC9KOM4vS1HZ5LT5BLrUqJg1unJOgambfE-KgiYyorpAmJUHkQkxYCxxwxlPEWMI5spk9tIJ-yZsEM__GCeG3teWGj0i6dkMiutzuBgLBJq/s6720/F81A9914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEBvOcgYOEeetCg1T-nv7TW9mp6vqHxjwt9dWNcS-ns8Odff_wbfdP5ez64D3gnA7QVYy99gi_9LbBoC9KOM4vS1HZ5LT5BLrUqJg1unJOgambfE-KgiYyorpAmJUHkQkxYCxxwxlPEWMI5spk9tIJ-yZsEM__GCeG3teWGj0i6dkMiutzuBgLBJq/w426-h640/F81A9914.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaDex8YWuEvROIteccJx1NDJ41nuBtyQRes-TOCtZ6AmOiKT34vg-ZUXddjHd94_faw_fYxT8pVJupziBGeaNSnc-afEPu2_Wdv45kNutyQUFUlNUEvKMCjwXf1gD9dQMJDGalPHGpIi6FREvfWCo7_2ZiCdyJOeZabNfIA9u_3A83DHiu9uShFf_/s6720/F81A9915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaDex8YWuEvROIteccJx1NDJ41nuBtyQRes-TOCtZ6AmOiKT34vg-ZUXddjHd94_faw_fYxT8pVJupziBGeaNSnc-afEPu2_Wdv45kNutyQUFUlNUEvKMCjwXf1gD9dQMJDGalPHGpIi6FREvfWCo7_2ZiCdyJOeZabNfIA9u_3A83DHiu9uShFf_/w426-h640/F81A9915.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqLOzSdtvoq86fhF3UoMuoG9Y2WOXTtPXpVizpOqtpvZMU3JcPzcbCZyxgtoFid_0rvYYRDespeL7SxPV1J2APGIMg3GG11_VAKBgKdQw80Utl6e4Vf-AR_PJRxR8v_rW1vdwGu57klx2bA-1R_dDC78DYm3JqWEz9UkLvCELjoJGOW6GcUFA1fAS/s6720/F81A9918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqLOzSdtvoq86fhF3UoMuoG9Y2WOXTtPXpVizpOqtpvZMU3JcPzcbCZyxgtoFid_0rvYYRDespeL7SxPV1J2APGIMg3GG11_VAKBgKdQw80Utl6e4Vf-AR_PJRxR8v_rW1vdwGu57klx2bA-1R_dDC78DYm3JqWEz9UkLvCELjoJGOW6GcUFA1fAS/w426-h640/F81A9918.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-xRBQoh4MuqLC8QyQlH06GV7qLJiYsguwsHx17Xdk5cQQ33TFZuxIi8CBT_oKSh-tViPDzhlWuXP1klF1EbyRsmzxNt-CQ1ULLNPQCskPAvPHDV080EXCHpz_-EryRrgpLPjuslPNNIvCZLHlEU3VJxX6G9WDwitzryJKldd_xPEdndP3A3yQzEg/s5760/F81A9921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5760" data-original-width="3840" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-xRBQoh4MuqLC8QyQlH06GV7qLJiYsguwsHx17Xdk5cQQ33TFZuxIi8CBT_oKSh-tViPDzhlWuXP1klF1EbyRsmzxNt-CQ1ULLNPQCskPAvPHDV080EXCHpz_-EryRrgpLPjuslPNNIvCZLHlEU3VJxX6G9WDwitzryJKldd_xPEdndP3A3yQzEg/w426-h640/F81A9921.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaxihB1E_gHeUABfxUTmrhXUhe3UKrsbRd2p3ZAwJNR6vS_tsIOY3SR110QBKxKtDINgYAh0ItKFSethNmODTQG2iSeQyoa189AtMttArWMiq3J1tY02dej3MZUZrvN_5sQl-JRtmtGtqVRGdEd8oVTdfLs0EApsfOqXYiowUWVNokTGPcRyNa7YS/s5876/F81A9924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5876" data-original-width="3917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaxihB1E_gHeUABfxUTmrhXUhe3UKrsbRd2p3ZAwJNR6vS_tsIOY3SR110QBKxKtDINgYAh0ItKFSethNmODTQG2iSeQyoa189AtMttArWMiq3J1tY02dej3MZUZrvN_5sQl-JRtmtGtqVRGdEd8oVTdfLs0EApsfOqXYiowUWVNokTGPcRyNa7YS/w426-h640/F81A9924.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZczYeWY9VVt_mwLrhLupqHBNhbYXGOYhpRzjFKipYIUPjajbWclqLRHF9fmLcwrWXQiD91V7z5xinBf7hyADoIuwFt6F6KBjf28Fk1SmoMyet_0G2pFbHDZL9DsEvZc4lvISsGanpfCbpwOrKImRFFr78USkkghifO3rwvJgBKd4MnBA4Qh5_XRxp/s6720/F81A9925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZczYeWY9VVt_mwLrhLupqHBNhbYXGOYhpRzjFKipYIUPjajbWclqLRHF9fmLcwrWXQiD91V7z5xinBf7hyADoIuwFt6F6KBjf28Fk1SmoMyet_0G2pFbHDZL9DsEvZc4lvISsGanpfCbpwOrKImRFFr78USkkghifO3rwvJgBKd4MnBA4Qh5_XRxp/w640-h426/F81A9925.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">When I asked you what you wanted for your birthday, you gave me a few ideas (a jump rope, a book... you're SO simple and easy to please), and then you asked: "Can I get dad something for his birthday early though? I want to get him tickets to a Phil Wickham concert that he and I can go to." Ever since you were little, your dad has sang you one of his songs. Over the years you've grown to love his music. So we found the closest concert and you made a card, and on your birthday gifted your dad the tickets. Blythe Kathleen, I love your heart. You pay attention to what other people like and you want to experience it with them. You don't require fancy things, but would rather just have quality time with someone. </p><p style="text-align: left;">You're favorite color is red, you would eat Ramen for every meal if I let you, you want to shave the side of your head and have a funky hairstyle, you are a phenomenal friend, you are a wonderful student, you are a joyful and fun daughter. Not every moment is awesome-- we've had to have a lot of heart to hearts lately as you've struggled with patience and understanding with one of your younger siblings-- but most of the time you are exactly like the season you were born into: sunny springtime, bursting with new life, a respite from winter. Thank you for everything you are to our family. </p><p style="text-align: left;">And now, Blythe Kathleen, I look in your still very large brown eyes, and I no longer wonder how I will manage to keep doing all of it... I wonder how we got to age 11 so quickly and I wonder how I will feel in seven short more years where most of the doing of it all is behind me. Thank you for flipping this script for me. Your newborn days were hard, hard, hard for me... but <i>you </i>were a light in the midst of them. You've kept holding my hand in this parenting gig, showing me how to have joy in the heartaches, to embrace the outside-the-box things, and how to keep trying new things. For you, Blythe, I would <i>keep doing it all...forever. </i></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJht_XlIxueRRA9Wd7VZW0L-cEEPF55GRpDEMpxVdJcWGQcvi_6O7-akedIlnydNUajiHnAvwgFDgbVnTg70mb14-brUmBvV0NmySVbeJztU0yzLTo_euqq-6KbExI6NStSXI5nXV7Csbna-s5SFv7WjCDZ34ZL4WTpvxrY40LkO8szTCNrD4vbd6Y/s5935/F81A9926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5935" data-original-width="3957" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJht_XlIxueRRA9Wd7VZW0L-cEEPF55GRpDEMpxVdJcWGQcvi_6O7-akedIlnydNUajiHnAvwgFDgbVnTg70mb14-brUmBvV0NmySVbeJztU0yzLTo_euqq-6KbExI6NStSXI5nXV7Csbna-s5SFv7WjCDZ34ZL4WTpvxrY40LkO8szTCNrD4vbd6Y/w426-h640/F81A9926.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oZnNXsB6U1XyzND4xfrBmLsqq2LE_hgEaZF2RLZNmhrwAewHEWWE6GbT8TGTA7b30eHclt2LKaBO-Coc5hc-ynAqO7KuDDUXhSnoRY3uF3H67iT3Tx-s41e0f67px3J8ewUmdnA0jPIw6le3rXidTR6RCyGhQPv-tyljsIhj5QaOS06IgXGp6HL8/s6720/F81A9932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oZnNXsB6U1XyzND4xfrBmLsqq2LE_hgEaZF2RLZNmhrwAewHEWWE6GbT8TGTA7b30eHclt2LKaBO-Coc5hc-ynAqO7KuDDUXhSnoRY3uF3H67iT3Tx-s41e0f67px3J8ewUmdnA0jPIw6le3rXidTR6RCyGhQPv-tyljsIhj5QaOS06IgXGp6HL8/w426-h640/F81A9932.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKSn8A2_3Nyd_b2kXurRhOewWfdjQVdN-b_uWjw7yiBOmsfyQMCgW8IsNFVLjObtROuOS7KK4B6NheyXfnrCI2NbzW5HQCrvblC7E5hsg4wuRJ74aqI3vDjCwgUnzZZnBgmHaDJcbXK5opG-In8jPFsjSz2BX-_pBCFWgHE6b3CEGTybek89q20K-/s5847/F81A9935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5847" data-original-width="3898" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKSn8A2_3Nyd_b2kXurRhOewWfdjQVdN-b_uWjw7yiBOmsfyQMCgW8IsNFVLjObtROuOS7KK4B6NheyXfnrCI2NbzW5HQCrvblC7E5hsg4wuRJ74aqI3vDjCwgUnzZZnBgmHaDJcbXK5opG-In8jPFsjSz2BX-_pBCFWgHE6b3CEGTybek89q20K-/w426-h640/F81A9935.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Rc9MPhd_tEwIXdi7p_vNZ6AjqMBWTR1n_S7lEVU8BEkSgH0YwlkL3ueXYsc5nLW96i6V1iQDXx1g_jJ__d5iBEy2CfRqsQLet3t8uPOliQ4BXe1CQlX934g9uT2oKWP_SnYByaqIygV26_t1WFuAXCX-NMNMakhpPhCVFFXvtNuBAYaU4akEL79s/s5411/F81A9936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5411" data-original-width="3607" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Rc9MPhd_tEwIXdi7p_vNZ6AjqMBWTR1n_S7lEVU8BEkSgH0YwlkL3ueXYsc5nLW96i6V1iQDXx1g_jJ__d5iBEy2CfRqsQLet3t8uPOliQ4BXe1CQlX934g9uT2oKWP_SnYByaqIygV26_t1WFuAXCX-NMNMakhpPhCVFFXvtNuBAYaU4akEL79s/w426-h640/F81A9936.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCQR8pJRnmmr7jBlZCZPSaLm9U_oUkRBNHBFdS5ELwCbzlJU8iyCBEuAGL_u5vbOxoeHbJN0Tgjjth8_5xL_g4CwJ3uEjbNp0B6wrsIw6kiVmeM3nNzWgl3PiZhIxaGrx1164G9t5BcXr0uXr3PiB4TiYwcfdmFmv0aYRvHFoCvKOSRa5aGC5Cup-/s6720/F81A9954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCQR8pJRnmmr7jBlZCZPSaLm9U_oUkRBNHBFdS5ELwCbzlJU8iyCBEuAGL_u5vbOxoeHbJN0Tgjjth8_5xL_g4CwJ3uEjbNp0B6wrsIw6kiVmeM3nNzWgl3PiZhIxaGrx1164G9t5BcXr0uXr3PiB4TiYwcfdmFmv0aYRvHFoCvKOSRa5aGC5Cup-/w426-h640/F81A9954.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPvc2wJjiyftDGqG5KIchgbU_Igc47o5SHY8MGwcuVZdrwVbLQOfnaa8ciPz2XxrA30cO7KnpsFK6RQBBv1MhsI9DRLISDrYpO0WHZ0DDQdIeUqrj93k3TgkS3QMAJnRsjJ2wRDOw_kuqTdCNYEmvfmbKkWPUZMqB1s5SQtLWFPevhl6s4ba3ql4t/s6720/F81A9956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPvc2wJjiyftDGqG5KIchgbU_Igc47o5SHY8MGwcuVZdrwVbLQOfnaa8ciPz2XxrA30cO7KnpsFK6RQBBv1MhsI9DRLISDrYpO0WHZ0DDQdIeUqrj93k3TgkS3QMAJnRsjJ2wRDOw_kuqTdCNYEmvfmbKkWPUZMqB1s5SQtLWFPevhl6s4ba3ql4t/w426-h640/F81A9956.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoLjjHCN9mDzXEm9K7z8Uqw0fftyZBzvvV8OFgr6pIwkl6uT77tji_c8Nkm5CptnZN9lMFSVedTqfpEzoRv3Qcv_Z6EQNVu2wul8Hz9OYZ2ayCcoIUeRg_lgavlxkOzBosqrQSgWlNcDx4cGuSF1nB-yr62fVfhORS_luk7_eP5XnRWmJLwcxMWXg/s6720/F81A9962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoLjjHCN9mDzXEm9K7z8Uqw0fftyZBzvvV8OFgr6pIwkl6uT77tji_c8Nkm5CptnZN9lMFSVedTqfpEzoRv3Qcv_Z6EQNVu2wul8Hz9OYZ2ayCcoIUeRg_lgavlxkOzBosqrQSgWlNcDx4cGuSF1nB-yr62fVfhORS_luk7_eP5XnRWmJLwcxMWXg/w426-h640/F81A9962.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4f4GGIVHiKNH3DMOUJV189ucoQ9ROYnrS-DelSpsCfY-AtIu5l6QEWQEVA8M78RPn39k3fF2_vm_mW26WG1O9FRjxulSriRFl3TnSmcwWC5IJZakYSbV8cPeWyqky1sgZ2Z5JTCi5cVVoUlaAhrQvu9gFCXfwdbq_ZF3hakE4nBGsVGgzh2htT-O/s6720/F81A9966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4f4GGIVHiKNH3DMOUJV189ucoQ9ROYnrS-DelSpsCfY-AtIu5l6QEWQEVA8M78RPn39k3fF2_vm_mW26WG1O9FRjxulSriRFl3TnSmcwWC5IJZakYSbV8cPeWyqky1sgZ2Z5JTCi5cVVoUlaAhrQvu9gFCXfwdbq_ZF3hakE4nBGsVGgzh2htT-O/w426-h640/F81A9966.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>We pray you keep looking to Jesus for all of your days-- studying scripture, praying for the Spirit to fill you with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We pray you continue to bring light to darkness, as we see you do every day. We pray you know you can mess up, and still be covered in grace. And like I have ended every birthday letter: We hope you understand the why behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </p><p>Blythe Kathleen, happy ELEVENTH birthday! There is nothing you could ever do that could make us stop loving you. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtZuH-a_J1WxzGoJn2M822LAe4Rr2wDMGqmrUNo2g8R2C4jA1vycQTiqOZW-_JaYwqM4HVzozjmx3TlV2AHe2ZaodcpTGVZB_Y3Z19pNwk5v_orAPLYK-LeQwOBQ3z1ID2LAR5FVOGK_3KUdkNmJe2qj_kOC6OKTHYvfML4ToE_KyaIZuQQnyul29/s5956/F81A9968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5956" data-original-width="3971" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtZuH-a_J1WxzGoJn2M822LAe4Rr2wDMGqmrUNo2g8R2C4jA1vycQTiqOZW-_JaYwqM4HVzozjmx3TlV2AHe2ZaodcpTGVZB_Y3Z19pNwk5v_orAPLYK-LeQwOBQ3z1ID2LAR5FVOGK_3KUdkNmJe2qj_kOC6OKTHYvfML4ToE_KyaIZuQQnyul29/w426-h640/F81A9968.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-58825581019460393032022-08-30T22:38:00.002-04:002022-09-03T16:37:48.023-04:00Sloan is FOUR!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZffI88X1p7UOtjSw104XfqsVaiaxBgvuZpyub5X30nfXQ95TlUBd87eSdehfv9-R2k9jgEGKopR_VEoDxQ3oJh0F-L1BjjbzGu4i9QuVz1OgTegEsU2JVApzyIM11Z3MrGPV4CLJsb2gFytHWOTC5bWt5E-SSzDGwPc5sCa2Uxnd0gtpTZQjUCWs/s6255/F81A1924.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6255" data-original-width="4170" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZffI88X1p7UOtjSw104XfqsVaiaxBgvuZpyub5X30nfXQ95TlUBd87eSdehfv9-R2k9jgEGKopR_VEoDxQ3oJh0F-L1BjjbzGu4i9QuVz1OgTegEsU2JVApzyIM11Z3MrGPV4CLJsb2gFytHWOTC5bWt5E-SSzDGwPc5sCa2Uxnd0gtpTZQjUCWs/w426-h640/F81A1924.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9qnaugwOCLeh3lupZcaW-_lASEzJ0qYT_nlpRQoyL2pS8ONVCW-3pqXVMviS_CkGIUABAhSKEKxNR1wWUGCSG7Qdq9M0GbMPr-O9pnaG5AA9Crrfwm_vb4ix-DqzQ6DZm9Pkq5cstirGo6CDrx5CuBOfWDzWb4mwRPhe73NgH8hie6ZyOf2ETUOg/s6720/F81A1985.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9qnaugwOCLeh3lupZcaW-_lASEzJ0qYT_nlpRQoyL2pS8ONVCW-3pqXVMviS_CkGIUABAhSKEKxNR1wWUGCSG7Qdq9M0GbMPr-O9pnaG5AA9Crrfwm_vb4ix-DqzQ6DZm9Pkq5cstirGo6CDrx5CuBOfWDzWb4mwRPhe73NgH8hie6ZyOf2ETUOg/w426-h640/F81A1985.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe4UzHiMPvyXRsgmbk6uJWtyHOnufCflIUobVWZ27DmhBm4qaJmbFk_j6JE6VcEe0X1dvvuVv-zDbYNx1EvGt2u8XnkrEg7VaITkMydMqyoRMtbe6ks53zOw9oHmad6CRMVSDY73S29VhgBtW-9GmcIrAG8ruU_p2DXIEsMKHU9YTYh-_oLDNsiuf/s6720/F81A2067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe4UzHiMPvyXRsgmbk6uJWtyHOnufCflIUobVWZ27DmhBm4qaJmbFk_j6JE6VcEe0X1dvvuVv-zDbYNx1EvGt2u8XnkrEg7VaITkMydMqyoRMtbe6ks53zOw9oHmad6CRMVSDY73S29VhgBtW-9GmcIrAG8ruU_p2DXIEsMKHU9YTYh-_oLDNsiuf/w426-h640/F81A2067.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU313KKCD_7QJnkeI5KuTKWlws49roIjHwwQR16De0jKMlYY-dEavTwsguM8SAlKI-zmw3muD4pStPnjzmauCR_fRpWAXVHMOVFadb_HDUf4qEFqRF_MnVRO5R20GisEKnLFRtjAl-PaTi71VUbqSxKoZ91d7RMJXMUQfgMrn5byo-jZhntWuY5jT/s6720/F81A1984.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU313KKCD_7QJnkeI5KuTKWlws49roIjHwwQR16De0jKMlYY-dEavTwsguM8SAlKI-zmw3muD4pStPnjzmauCR_fRpWAXVHMOVFadb_HDUf4qEFqRF_MnVRO5R20GisEKnLFRtjAl-PaTi71VUbqSxKoZ91d7RMJXMUQfgMrn5byo-jZhntWuY5jT/w426-h640/F81A1984.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sloan,</p><p>Four years ago when I headed to the hospital to give birth to my first son, I was still wondering if you would be born and the sonogram would be proven wrong. Having spend over six years only raising girls, I simply wasn't convinced you'd actually be a boy. And then Dr. Costa laid a chunk, auburn-headed boy on my chest, and I forever had a son in you. I think I've already told you this, but in that first moment you reached up and grabbed my chin. I should have known then just how entrenched in your heart my own would become. </p><p>I was looking back at pictures of you, as mother's are want to do on birthdays, and I was shocked to see how much you've changed since your three-year-old photographs. You just look older, even though day by day I hadn't much noticed. However, even though you're a year old, you're still the same silly, joyful, rambunctious Sloanie-ba-donie we all know and love. You are <i>still </i>obsessed with vehicles. One day I gathered rocks, pebbles, sticks, mud, and sand for you in our driveway. You had all your construction vehicles at the ready, and I suggested you make a road. Immediately you said, "I can't make a road! I don't have a grader!" Do you think I knew what a grader looked like before you came into our lives? Of course not. But I do now. And apparently you <i>do </i>need one to make a good road. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mxcbQtyym94NNy6dm7p29iwqpyZJhNXilKgVNK8oEgDF6zzE4dxJ27oed8G-CThfpU80yt4F01loPbVZM8eYrxdYkuXmXCNyCDwD4dRbYbylvfglGbCg_XYzZdI2sOIYJmNwnZKnxUvy_RlC3EPOMvfwNleszOLnGSRuFWf1gU0UdB9I_VpHRPeS/s4335/F81A2110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4335" data-original-width="2890" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mxcbQtyym94NNy6dm7p29iwqpyZJhNXilKgVNK8oEgDF6zzE4dxJ27oed8G-CThfpU80yt4F01loPbVZM8eYrxdYkuXmXCNyCDwD4dRbYbylvfglGbCg_XYzZdI2sOIYJmNwnZKnxUvy_RlC3EPOMvfwNleszOLnGSRuFWf1gU0UdB9I_VpHRPeS/w426-h640/F81A2110.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthWTaa3WALRh1ZI7ZW_oj0td4m93SttaJDECOeyMc0TLaZ2gKIFqdkw-TRWxUhMTAspoipWf8PMqyvwzN2g7IYVHzynLMMnVirJG96ZHISaNWj3VlbwMfwdxnASrPIPO5l_Rkr6hUO9B2EZZGB8EtiMPvVeUbX_wJgoLHGjH2FDZEVsHfgTDiNgqr/s4364/F81A2105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4364" data-original-width="2909" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthWTaa3WALRh1ZI7ZW_oj0td4m93SttaJDECOeyMc0TLaZ2gKIFqdkw-TRWxUhMTAspoipWf8PMqyvwzN2g7IYVHzynLMMnVirJG96ZHISaNWj3VlbwMfwdxnASrPIPO5l_Rkr6hUO9B2EZZGB8EtiMPvVeUbX_wJgoLHGjH2FDZEVsHfgTDiNgqr/w426-h640/F81A2105.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VvkszlSsIzJMZVe_I7GXILHn_yok-sQCHXBMQ_A8o6VLeo55MzHwGX43fTlsU0kABiyAw5ECEeKnZoUJ53hdV4zIXNSVpgoWlZ-n6t7QGFlIeJNaIoRPJ3LV1acbSPxO8WkcS3Zi8bIt39ZSGFa24hhl28nTWGHdX4rAk2san4rKSM0c2XEUifgy/s5585/F81A2104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5585" data-original-width="3723" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VvkszlSsIzJMZVe_I7GXILHn_yok-sQCHXBMQ_A8o6VLeo55MzHwGX43fTlsU0kABiyAw5ECEeKnZoUJ53hdV4zIXNSVpgoWlZ-n6t7QGFlIeJNaIoRPJ3LV1acbSPxO8WkcS3Zi8bIt39ZSGFa24hhl28nTWGHdX4rAk2san4rKSM0c2XEUifgy/w426-h640/F81A2104.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWRzt6XRvm48xnTt8ymPCE08SLB4yfOwdPr1Sv1wPKU6e5OtGKkpt2AiuzjwQ4BORms3shmjjwzvMrOOjvsJOspZwPU1yz8Kfw5orgVi3PpfQoNdw3Xw9gdUs9wIUKauVj3CeX6QYHD59STo0s_8S9XylSkJyXDeDxNhzrDVcCHlwshOzbYiBPV1y/s5905/F81A2102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5905" data-original-width="3937" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWRzt6XRvm48xnTt8ymPCE08SLB4yfOwdPr1Sv1wPKU6e5OtGKkpt2AiuzjwQ4BORms3shmjjwzvMrOOjvsJOspZwPU1yz8Kfw5orgVi3PpfQoNdw3Xw9gdUs9wIUKauVj3CeX6QYHD59STo0s_8S9XylSkJyXDeDxNhzrDVcCHlwshOzbYiBPV1y/w426-h640/F81A2102.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewg8I4radjDo8nDnDKX9kQLGkRCDGMj4CfwA0Pf1OlQOnLblsBsv0NnSs_Hr-9ZuMcjJczgRSXNAr3QQq-BGlmz9TtgVuHA1YiFYD1m3pm-mY138AUDlxIANWuZhY48z31g2XOvyr6fQii9OkMQv5VYVRupCvDrZH9OA8rn0w208XfzFsdfOLim-L/s6720/F81A2098.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewg8I4radjDo8nDnDKX9kQLGkRCDGMj4CfwA0Pf1OlQOnLblsBsv0NnSs_Hr-9ZuMcjJczgRSXNAr3QQq-BGlmz9TtgVuHA1YiFYD1m3pm-mY138AUDlxIANWuZhY48z31g2XOvyr6fQii9OkMQv5VYVRupCvDrZH9OA8rn0w208XfzFsdfOLim-L/w426-h640/F81A2098.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteWOa47DZH7yek5ElGg3qBA75jry0CLJy9EbJD1Fu4NUZNrLjABKEDRlSc9ABzYrQyYyPX6zXv-jmJ_O4u-_AL24H6-7KbvBV0I9CQUnSm505Qb9XCA7YPEgu-6N9yt8AIHGMx6TMvaFTWapAGOqoZt1BoBMQNKmMwOOOmdTD0sk7n0KcM5hT5jXN/s6720/F81A2097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteWOa47DZH7yek5ElGg3qBA75jry0CLJy9EbJD1Fu4NUZNrLjABKEDRlSc9ABzYrQyYyPX6zXv-jmJ_O4u-_AL24H6-7KbvBV0I9CQUnSm505Qb9XCA7YPEgu-6N9yt8AIHGMx6TMvaFTWapAGOqoZt1BoBMQNKmMwOOOmdTD0sk7n0KcM5hT5jXN/w426-h640/F81A2097.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2D5TWsiw9UCifIb1ags-0yDAT-QlfuMbDwBdcbFbPzEoFki0CukyXD3GOUT7Y-nSsanakbFkpBZIuTMzy-jQdPQeeBsZXuxUXX3_IVfcnCmRQV-YcD2jJMZjTzV9SZuRUjIXF5m2Gia0aT92uy1GZcjbHZW64aRJ7IF1qiSC2z_fkjxEAIGK4oRK/s6720/F81A2094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2D5TWsiw9UCifIb1ags-0yDAT-QlfuMbDwBdcbFbPzEoFki0CukyXD3GOUT7Y-nSsanakbFkpBZIuTMzy-jQdPQeeBsZXuxUXX3_IVfcnCmRQV-YcD2jJMZjTzV9SZuRUjIXF5m2Gia0aT92uy1GZcjbHZW64aRJ7IF1qiSC2z_fkjxEAIGK4oRK/w426-h640/F81A2094.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZwsjFD7-xRKK0RisUGm9WXxEGFXl43xNTCCgEWh25YJhGdl2naHcz-_-h3AO1nmzG46rgxWmHiew9qW_iMvRBprdQwhVR7nYUhw6nTgLp2Xm1y3Gn-bHEsdvfiK2BJYgjJ14ftlkLOCRKgNLcJk330akDsYgzjn4yJl1rkzS2RoE4Yyy0WieN2Nt/s6720/F81A2086.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZwsjFD7-xRKK0RisUGm9WXxEGFXl43xNTCCgEWh25YJhGdl2naHcz-_-h3AO1nmzG46rgxWmHiew9qW_iMvRBprdQwhVR7nYUhw6nTgLp2Xm1y3Gn-bHEsdvfiK2BJYgjJ14ftlkLOCRKgNLcJk330akDsYgzjn4yJl1rkzS2RoE4Yyy0WieN2Nt/w426-h640/F81A2086.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>We have so many nicknames for you, because you just seem too big a personality to only have one name [though Sloan Lee is a pretty great one]. Your dad calls you Bubby. Most people call you "Sloanie-ba-donie" or "Sloanie-boy" or "Sloanie-pony." Your sisters call you "buddy" most of the time. Lately though you've dubbed yourself "The Big Red Bluster" after we watched a movie called "The Sea Beast." It seems incredibly fitting. I feel like you're just one of those guys that will continue to accumulate nicknames for the rest of his life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">You don't know a stranger. I know that is probably an overused statement, and it may not be the safest quality for a kid to possess, but it's so fun to watch you make friends everywhere we go. We recently visited Uncle Scot and Aunt Rian, and one evening we went to get snow cones. A group of high school students came right after we arrived, and all of a sudden I looked over and you were playing corn hole with a few high school boys you didn't know. Your dad and I joked because he said that if he ever had a boy he hoped he would have my personality, and I think he maybe got more than he bargained for in that deal ;). We love that you're so friendly though. You enjoy telling stories to anyone who will listen, and you're always up for fun. In fact, sometimes after you've been dismissed from the table, the rest of us will still stay and chat and inevitably something will make us laugh. At that point you'll come running back into the room, jump up on your table, and start laughing with us. You have no idea what was said that was funny, but you couldn't possibly miss out on the opportunity to laugh with us. </p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDK2niciRGARKY6lsUj-ijdlsWrJNZQEKjZJyrOEQLd7Iq0YBBv5BRo7YjuuAgqLsLMbKOkjg6Vdoi69uFS-9glggyHDcJahIv9GPQ5Ua9ox5Y2f6f2476FeACs3wKr8lGbBNz1K3DXL4EECy2P7L0fnzNRgdVYwPXgfMmrKxTZCvYMbKiGhFG_mF/s6720/F81A2079.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDK2niciRGARKY6lsUj-ijdlsWrJNZQEKjZJyrOEQLd7Iq0YBBv5BRo7YjuuAgqLsLMbKOkjg6Vdoi69uFS-9glggyHDcJahIv9GPQ5Ua9ox5Y2f6f2476FeACs3wKr8lGbBNz1K3DXL4EECy2P7L0fnzNRgdVYwPXgfMmrKxTZCvYMbKiGhFG_mF/w426-h640/F81A2079.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlE5nAx6aydxdVB6n_JDYNUDRJDI1q5hOdP_yoacX9Irem9a6IcJ7ad-6WTQzHx0y2xwwk9IV7WKq7grUaQkv5ZQVUHZ1PDgNJ65tnSNGdG3bwwCEdzvBhA2WvrfjAHcwAzY8UbypC-hhwwkxr_fh3ICKtHsEcG_Bf4_hI7AVNZCqR-Qi47_H5mpx/s5847/F81A2060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5847" data-original-width="3898" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlE5nAx6aydxdVB6n_JDYNUDRJDI1q5hOdP_yoacX9Irem9a6IcJ7ad-6WTQzHx0y2xwwk9IV7WKq7grUaQkv5ZQVUHZ1PDgNJ65tnSNGdG3bwwCEdzvBhA2WvrfjAHcwAzY8UbypC-hhwwkxr_fh3ICKtHsEcG_Bf4_hI7AVNZCqR-Qi47_H5mpx/w426-h640/F81A2060.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKocYKHViMjk50gPPA9GT-53w8g5msQU4ZEFNKset8zpHDU9LNs9dKwaj7C4pZcTTN5NgNy7ZwnhHf1kjfEYrZICx65wTAlzffUzGJFnsXou7VakgTQbuYvAO1Y4e_gK64uMhGULTN8rM07kkmTH6zYiY5M_kQTXGdwLq18fG6N69GcC21qZvobse/s6720/F81A2052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKocYKHViMjk50gPPA9GT-53w8g5msQU4ZEFNKset8zpHDU9LNs9dKwaj7C4pZcTTN5NgNy7ZwnhHf1kjfEYrZICx65wTAlzffUzGJFnsXou7VakgTQbuYvAO1Y4e_gK64uMhGULTN8rM07kkmTH6zYiY5M_kQTXGdwLq18fG6N69GcC21qZvobse/w426-h640/F81A2052.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijc5m83Ydi7QSi11ntGRgQU17ePwUkCLJnN6TM7Umm-60uHqz5RpJ80Qt5s8YBUXHV24B_RrV3QAnXoMZ1J5JoR3P2JzmbhAscmY8z9BImY7yNCSZk3WQku2y7ojO5j32CDy3FxAKQOP4XPi0u9lcG1k8syL68fyFeFRJ2dCJPul6X6MqjYmrYXCF7/s6720/F81A2045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijc5m83Ydi7QSi11ntGRgQU17ePwUkCLJnN6TM7Umm-60uHqz5RpJ80Qt5s8YBUXHV24B_RrV3QAnXoMZ1J5JoR3P2JzmbhAscmY8z9BImY7yNCSZk3WQku2y7ojO5j32CDy3FxAKQOP4XPi0u9lcG1k8syL68fyFeFRJ2dCJPul6X6MqjYmrYXCF7/w426-h640/F81A2045.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf_WnjZi1jO-g8vwd-m8Yo22KafNhyyzw667ku9-ySEoyGjBpi05SIuXK1OeAWwcveXBdg_KqJx8TkL5grr0KbjY6DKc0zON8GqTIPBPMmV_f939k35r8AJF9rdMgsufzmpB9oJYQARpxQJstT38uf5tPfHbVogeUClQko7oQIufH2AVPU_EKmoid/s5615/F81A2044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5615" data-original-width="3743" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf_WnjZi1jO-g8vwd-m8Yo22KafNhyyzw667ku9-ySEoyGjBpi05SIuXK1OeAWwcveXBdg_KqJx8TkL5grr0KbjY6DKc0zON8GqTIPBPMmV_f939k35r8AJF9rdMgsufzmpB9oJYQARpxQJstT38uf5tPfHbVogeUClQko7oQIufH2AVPU_EKmoid/w426-h640/F81A2044.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ibk7PElzi_z0qv3aR2VlpDroDMUn7bsuTXLHvAPlVYtisHJaSwFf-rffvqvVn16lU2WbLOfyndCA83t7s_SQIyLVwEG5apL8vhOtZewD2WIJiTLuju5APCu0yv_ksfxKVFanY6PoB4IVp46OwXWjMtL7J6SqgXqKMfVMesvMiXMk533YQo2gn1lb/s5876/F81A2038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5876" data-original-width="3917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ibk7PElzi_z0qv3aR2VlpDroDMUn7bsuTXLHvAPlVYtisHJaSwFf-rffvqvVn16lU2WbLOfyndCA83t7s_SQIyLVwEG5apL8vhOtZewD2WIJiTLuju5APCu0yv_ksfxKVFanY6PoB4IVp46OwXWjMtL7J6SqgXqKMfVMesvMiXMk533YQo2gn1lb/w426-h640/F81A2038.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zx8AdjOeA0ICkgr1ZrwGWjDzwixRjgFC-pMFaCn0zIgR6HlbcOmw51NprRgTufzNLVuiDF2yhtR8FUWP4ih3BYGUFrY39G42SA4rI27jTvBjoffcBiiYKiQfuDzZLFyowrlSYWH2qeS5rB8ZkxA70UT-cKlZhAX8Ib_-v6pfT0MYpZip3b6kOWI1/s6720/F81A2032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zx8AdjOeA0ICkgr1ZrwGWjDzwixRjgFC-pMFaCn0zIgR6HlbcOmw51NprRgTufzNLVuiDF2yhtR8FUWP4ih3BYGUFrY39G42SA4rI27jTvBjoffcBiiYKiQfuDzZLFyowrlSYWH2qeS5rB8ZkxA70UT-cKlZhAX8Ib_-v6pfT0MYpZip3b6kOWI1/w426-h640/F81A2032.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnx3FiGeYN1kD5ZvanunaF0APdcfDT42y4fMtogc0Lg46mvGZ7SNOJlpzKn24YJweOgsVQ4uXLda0f8MY2DApEPaN7uwWPmFBsbO7f4Kwsef-g-wNnLuVYCr2l9j1uVN-o4VBKFoi1r_OztE11YtpgyywO7xy7qFH_SkLfvce5wg_Gkm-oCuQB6xk6/s6720/F81A2027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnx3FiGeYN1kD5ZvanunaF0APdcfDT42y4fMtogc0Lg46mvGZ7SNOJlpzKn24YJweOgsVQ4uXLda0f8MY2DApEPaN7uwWPmFBsbO7f4Kwsef-g-wNnLuVYCr2l9j1uVN-o4VBKFoi1r_OztE11YtpgyywO7xy7qFH_SkLfvce5wg_Gkm-oCuQB6xk6/w426-h640/F81A2027.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZPsy4fSytyf15M8MWyeZ_ZJ48Yo_iEzET7vaxkrcSN3p8J101TqhX5TQQoYev50t-dAS0muCi028KFgGgbycL_QX8n8Xhdz8CoXs-50Ea6gYCyPjMHgjO6Vw582bCs5o_4enEDdoBHOfHSZl_dB7UCgsMVXPm1FGA4t0kyJD48plIm3DqRu9ftCJ/s6720/F81A2025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZPsy4fSytyf15M8MWyeZ_ZJ48Yo_iEzET7vaxkrcSN3p8J101TqhX5TQQoYev50t-dAS0muCi028KFgGgbycL_QX8n8Xhdz8CoXs-50Ea6gYCyPjMHgjO6Vw582bCs5o_4enEDdoBHOfHSZl_dB7UCgsMVXPm1FGA4t0kyJD48plIm3DqRu9ftCJ/w426-h640/F81A2025.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpud0aogj1_ygPbmx90BAIgw-_vkichRQ7A4BROS14m1oDWxTkxdRMpxt0cG8P7VbswhGdcocBpJ30ASqhXJE5tER5VBI8OpLCa3zP1D0DvXX8EnLme6wnL7YRRnEYe29THROYyGMVZ-LKvUCKBAHvmt3X186ZYZq3UsluU38v0_m2AbOkFxeBaaDh/s6720/F81A2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpud0aogj1_ygPbmx90BAIgw-_vkichRQ7A4BROS14m1oDWxTkxdRMpxt0cG8P7VbswhGdcocBpJ30ASqhXJE5tER5VBI8OpLCa3zP1D0DvXX8EnLme6wnL7YRRnEYe29THROYyGMVZ-LKvUCKBAHvmt3X186ZYZq3UsluU38v0_m2AbOkFxeBaaDh/w426-h640/F81A2024.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Your sisters are pretty great towards you. You needle them, wrestle them, and whine at them until you can usually convince them to play whatever it is you want to play [cars. It's almost always cars]. However, when they are at school you do a good job of playing by yourself. You enjoy looking at books, or listening to my old [old] books on tape. And, of course, you love being outside. You love to check the cows with Richard, or play in the pool, or jump on the trampoline, but you also like to just run around and be outside. Your favorite outdoor activities usually involve mud, dirt, or puddles. And I'm totally okay with that as you are totally washable. You jump all into things, and yet there is a gentle cautiousness about you as well. These are interesting juxtapositions, but I think they combine for a pretty cool kid. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">A big, HUGE accomplishment this year was potty training. You struggled, but we finally got there. Way to go, bud. Speaking of potty training, you're at such a fun age for funny things you say. Once [after many months of struggling], you went number two and then looked down in the potty and said, "Isn't it so beautiful?" After over half-a-year of struggling with you, I had to agree it was very, very beautiful. Once day you didn't want to eat the lunch I had set out for you and I reminded you that you had just told me you were hungry. You quickly responded, "I'm not hungry about lunch-- I'm hungry about chips!" Every night when your dad puts you to bed and is walking out of your room, you look at him and say, "Don't forget your heart" [at which point he pretends to give his to you]. Then you say, "I will keep it safe." Then I will whisper, "You're my favorite boy." And you'll say, "You're my favorite girl" Unless you're being silly, then you'll say, "You're my favorite boy, too." Or, your favorite, "You're my favorite Zubblewump." You're such a tender, sweet boy and we adore this about you. However, I'm not sure your theology is quite correct yet, as you once told me, "Jesus died me on the cross so I could have a mommy." But it still felt like a sweet sentiment. And the other day you ran inside shouting, "I need a drink! I need a drink really bad! I need to be cold in my body!" You do tend to expect immediency with your requests. </p></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnjCqDSSrf0xhs11yMrmqLBA7EGfiTlHUvG88l5sF78nwtSFSBIDXwxD1YgT676R6svcrWC_Yj3Qq4_rysnF3mhNlmWvJBEPqehn3S9lHhbd6ctpoEiWMFKbh64kRAFdAl8dqpKtvfZ5cwHBT7nV7QpPD9LXloNqr0OQheCUsbMlOQhbUeZXiuKX2/s6720/F81A2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnjCqDSSrf0xhs11yMrmqLBA7EGfiTlHUvG88l5sF78nwtSFSBIDXwxD1YgT676R6svcrWC_Yj3Qq4_rysnF3mhNlmWvJBEPqehn3S9lHhbd6ctpoEiWMFKbh64kRAFdAl8dqpKtvfZ5cwHBT7nV7QpPD9LXloNqr0OQheCUsbMlOQhbUeZXiuKX2/w426-h640/F81A2022.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2h30-RmuZpvnPH8rSxvodFCYo5Asmstys3A3BQEChXv-3ZA4lbxlDtsH-icfWl1L-tH1kpTDDoQcmsMfxj93e_S2jOtjyQ3r4_gvO5LNmUD8VJBuZ4PlMpVGYE3JXvbQR9qzH9kzDJhfM_H8_FIDHGzFxrbvx-yjFGNsfxW3gFaampZbj-nNF2Iz/s6720/F81A2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2h30-RmuZpvnPH8rSxvodFCYo5Asmstys3A3BQEChXv-3ZA4lbxlDtsH-icfWl1L-tH1kpTDDoQcmsMfxj93e_S2jOtjyQ3r4_gvO5LNmUD8VJBuZ4PlMpVGYE3JXvbQR9qzH9kzDJhfM_H8_FIDHGzFxrbvx-yjFGNsfxW3gFaampZbj-nNF2Iz/w426-h640/F81A2019.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRb7oRMwS08oq9VMKgbMKv3IpNXccjvOoTZ-hJGo6PJ5UTK9yVjaVgIEQH2hDxuzmVGCZ_xu32DN-0h6z62TEvc-zqD24VPivMNPVIsV3fo56rnk0gaaZhnctsxGjCXIi49HNjqve8WNdo97iguFQETber_XA-WtI3za_uundK9emuW3aXbJgz7b6/s6720/F81A2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRb7oRMwS08oq9VMKgbMKv3IpNXccjvOoTZ-hJGo6PJ5UTK9yVjaVgIEQH2hDxuzmVGCZ_xu32DN-0h6z62TEvc-zqD24VPivMNPVIsV3fo56rnk0gaaZhnctsxGjCXIi49HNjqve8WNdo97iguFQETber_XA-WtI3za_uundK9emuW3aXbJgz7b6/w426-h640/F81A2017.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyHCe9fV4ebs7I-gxeMkgBd5htxpuyZUwHRdyijNUZE5EzxNOTqb4vb-wM1Uj8Vd1lOZo4s-vGfwq-xet5fCTDIACLA4LWqnrzJZUS_uaxsewowNgplzKptO0Grz6cBG8RstZY3rWh5zCCtd0Y-jf78fPJfiq6d3jlFs5CQXIE86l9KcItmnzs1Db/s6720/F81A2014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyHCe9fV4ebs7I-gxeMkgBd5htxpuyZUwHRdyijNUZE5EzxNOTqb4vb-wM1Uj8Vd1lOZo4s-vGfwq-xet5fCTDIACLA4LWqnrzJZUS_uaxsewowNgplzKptO0Grz6cBG8RstZY3rWh5zCCtd0Y-jf78fPJfiq6d3jlFs5CQXIE86l9KcItmnzs1Db/w426-h640/F81A2014.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJR7I25eKiHw8HMFdDD1RzifAMNBsotYubl79RB_4AlM04mzUNLNmwVrxZCk_G8nsVtIRVmbw0vEC01_beZh_0yPzJilZOcb6nVdSvIdmfMmAsajI-kb3WW2VrzzqFmNE3YqFyJdCGX8o6DJGQ1qTNyUy8g9DaYsQjomsL3e3eWrn7dMuPeerZmHD/s6720/F81A2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJR7I25eKiHw8HMFdDD1RzifAMNBsotYubl79RB_4AlM04mzUNLNmwVrxZCk_G8nsVtIRVmbw0vEC01_beZh_0yPzJilZOcb6nVdSvIdmfMmAsajI-kb3WW2VrzzqFmNE3YqFyJdCGX8o6DJGQ1qTNyUy8g9DaYsQjomsL3e3eWrn7dMuPeerZmHD/w426-h640/F81A2011.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7OGW5XJEe0rU4EWmSHANzk9fsjdg9s0LJd253Hfqqx7errdV_retVirtSvR_mJRznIvA36lrE1eDWeZ5gmsAxjkuH_FqhFCIboML4ybDjDlCvceIuy3_s-peM_t4lexxN4Wg42BxiecXAHxt2WDk-bytHwwsHjEaii_nGsRnSOVSYhL5UiyOPAAd/s6720/F81A2009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7OGW5XJEe0rU4EWmSHANzk9fsjdg9s0LJd253Hfqqx7errdV_retVirtSvR_mJRznIvA36lrE1eDWeZ5gmsAxjkuH_FqhFCIboML4ybDjDlCvceIuy3_s-peM_t4lexxN4Wg42BxiecXAHxt2WDk-bytHwwsHjEaii_nGsRnSOVSYhL5UiyOPAAd/w426-h640/F81A2009.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SFIdc6MkYCFJPghkFC0yLuaCL8jj4zVjc0JZtAeCiZXBrKs5jzei0-MdyNMSb55ISOMOjAkqNmYnIg8amLl-h7fg3Ahvi5dvHeGxnVxqIBxmqbkHihnGqniW52fff2aYH7flBFjU0_dpOig_VCh_wAONPKekCq6nxnP9lEVbsE5aEraBKGpb4bnS/s6720/F81A2007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SFIdc6MkYCFJPghkFC0yLuaCL8jj4zVjc0JZtAeCiZXBrKs5jzei0-MdyNMSb55ISOMOjAkqNmYnIg8amLl-h7fg3Ahvi5dvHeGxnVxqIBxmqbkHihnGqniW52fff2aYH7flBFjU0_dpOig_VCh_wAONPKekCq6nxnP9lEVbsE5aEraBKGpb4bnS/w426-h640/F81A2007.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazBqGYEZ7WKDtqtR9EFIumppq5im4Lau8UzwF_phJ_RQIIMTXxUjy-8_Samv9gn2EPSfoVHYvKLi9_pE1jRPt_Hk_agNt7AC_c4Nqax0ILMWfogM1vUTlkzFyvy9e2i-CWv0AFRj_exXuU1uPtfhG20mCG3vhD4LtKKUZHY0bRWkZOsuGiClcIdn7/s6720/F81A2005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazBqGYEZ7WKDtqtR9EFIumppq5im4Lau8UzwF_phJ_RQIIMTXxUjy-8_Samv9gn2EPSfoVHYvKLi9_pE1jRPt_Hk_agNt7AC_c4Nqax0ILMWfogM1vUTlkzFyvy9e2i-CWv0AFRj_exXuU1uPtfhG20mCG3vhD4LtKKUZHY0bRWkZOsuGiClcIdn7/w426-h640/F81A2005.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQij6exdqstCN_md9ysWu7Kzep-fv7OQ2AebkMvZBlOxX3DToswZ1AHK5CgvxthaTaLrCst6zQrD2aV8IKDxkGvY150fU7n8PIMtHGIrv4ZOxAO3J8kNST7jLxb28glFPlT7dCtPWxQjGEIZe529Y-4fb6WN3AR3zWrbPxShMAGpIR17lFOcc6sxip/s4858/F81A1989.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4858" data-original-width="3239" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQij6exdqstCN_md9ysWu7Kzep-fv7OQ2AebkMvZBlOxX3DToswZ1AHK5CgvxthaTaLrCst6zQrD2aV8IKDxkGvY150fU7n8PIMtHGIrv4ZOxAO3J8kNST7jLxb28glFPlT7dCtPWxQjGEIZe529Y-4fb6WN3AR3zWrbPxShMAGpIR17lFOcc6sxip/w426-h640/F81A1989.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFi_kHKfinT_9NTob1aKYPOAaVsZhfpmfC186R5fR05P3hNEZEGnmSQocmjtwK0bo3gH4dPiD2UR6zsJscZkCe4ARwoqAKum28h8372ROGOpMzUj-9437rat__awizRF6haab3CcgbUKWoOW8ebLowbtPV3lKaHRdqFCbEddADDyh7Ny9TXK9YfgXj/s6720/F81A1988.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFi_kHKfinT_9NTob1aKYPOAaVsZhfpmfC186R5fR05P3hNEZEGnmSQocmjtwK0bo3gH4dPiD2UR6zsJscZkCe4ARwoqAKum28h8372ROGOpMzUj-9437rat__awizRF6haab3CcgbUKWoOW8ebLowbtPV3lKaHRdqFCbEddADDyh7Ny9TXK9YfgXj/w426-h640/F81A1988.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTpnBOrTALTg83d6pJdUcmHXZ9uSEfnYk05t2BR6EW-M-oYRunzYZWXiVhRDbITiERH-fvHjX2Z4V92Q2F09rZYwol9mmnB6_uuztL8xgR-v0rEZHV5ffMaqJSZ4443f7l-Qua65yht6EaPie4HE8vJSOc3VQYaImR5M0QfHiClWrzC2ZneoU9JwG/s6720/F81A1987.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTpnBOrTALTg83d6pJdUcmHXZ9uSEfnYk05t2BR6EW-M-oYRunzYZWXiVhRDbITiERH-fvHjX2Z4V92Q2F09rZYwol9mmnB6_uuztL8xgR-v0rEZHV5ffMaqJSZ4443f7l-Qua65yht6EaPie4HE8vJSOc3VQYaImR5M0QfHiClWrzC2ZneoU9JwG/w426-h640/F81A1987.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sTjPMD7-hSkvJqCOGWowiP5v46vwhlUWHIG81iqigyj7T9ntAUxYfXi7DPo_C1Ns61bjj3kcC8eUHDvtZbIENrduXHw6uQUg5e2ksBqBo6bVOAVN8eNE5VKGFhVSV6sJ5XyziZzlihw77iBKWwhFBqC0C33CYS3APHJJqZWqV5G2p58O2lRb6_fp/s6720/F81A1983.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sTjPMD7-hSkvJqCOGWowiP5v46vwhlUWHIG81iqigyj7T9ntAUxYfXi7DPo_C1Ns61bjj3kcC8eUHDvtZbIENrduXHw6uQUg5e2ksBqBo6bVOAVN8eNE5VKGFhVSV6sJ5XyziZzlihw77iBKWwhFBqC0C33CYS3APHJJqZWqV5G2p58O2lRb6_fp/w426-h640/F81A1983.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFikfzSeZig1NdptaYhZ3mmWnliuGxw0Y5BULNL5v1Cx8aARQU92kKN0593-Ep4R0x_wOVKHuAj5XadPNBQYLOVsyIFoFWb9lkh8iYN6YLOdB43RVFxkCf9Cz9x9R6SLdndpxYw1_XP1zGnFGqWvq8enaqyNpSLRciFfn3luTmn_e7oDSR2UXuffa/s6720/F81A1980.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFikfzSeZig1NdptaYhZ3mmWnliuGxw0Y5BULNL5v1Cx8aARQU92kKN0593-Ep4R0x_wOVKHuAj5XadPNBQYLOVsyIFoFWb9lkh8iYN6YLOdB43RVFxkCf9Cz9x9R6SLdndpxYw1_XP1zGnFGqWvq8enaqyNpSLRciFfn3luTmn_e7oDSR2UXuffa/w426-h640/F81A1980.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviLSo6TR6kPvBR8lcKcarl07GDtDkM1zhP7ofsXZbdJh1BlCc-I9woEaALeqqPpWUVnUdbZANy8YtiKcwot5-XbpVIrtvqRQyh_BtdTnprE101UydsoYHroNl6TWUe9wJmr6DkWZJjjF1ALjAIZHHhkpL0pygrwP97OEmznfRWsQGd4NxLHFCtPKJ/s6720/F81A1979.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviLSo6TR6kPvBR8lcKcarl07GDtDkM1zhP7ofsXZbdJh1BlCc-I9woEaALeqqPpWUVnUdbZANy8YtiKcwot5-XbpVIrtvqRQyh_BtdTnprE101UydsoYHroNl6TWUe9wJmr6DkWZJjjF1ALjAIZHHhkpL0pygrwP97OEmznfRWsQGd4NxLHFCtPKJ/w426-h640/F81A1979.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaon14jatc5zOjt9F2zCPE0nicW60UNw7BDmzzfSwFSUWltZ8xR4Hj7foK9ZAzShXLfW-itEGn1TgsCoGGmu7KLpjEyOWmUio3Bt7CouFY8VNiq5vDk-Js2-UBwg4a5_K84MeIpOSjFlZTMqCdpaAPhiv8gOJ-oUSI2992aecoxgG2MJrMRnbB4Ze/s6720/F81A1978.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaon14jatc5zOjt9F2zCPE0nicW60UNw7BDmzzfSwFSUWltZ8xR4Hj7foK9ZAzShXLfW-itEGn1TgsCoGGmu7KLpjEyOWmUio3Bt7CouFY8VNiq5vDk-Js2-UBwg4a5_K84MeIpOSjFlZTMqCdpaAPhiv8gOJ-oUSI2992aecoxgG2MJrMRnbB4Ze/w426-h640/F81A1978.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Our two most recent favorite stories to tell about you have to do with swords and flies. Your PopPop gave your dad a pretty cool sword for Christmas. You saw it in our room and asked me, "Is that for Daddy to kill people?" To which I, of course, adamantly responded, "No! Daddy won't every kill anyone." "Cause he's their best friends?" you asked. "Yes," I said. "And you won't kill people either, right?" Without pause, you said, "Yeah... cause I don't have a sword." :) The other story we like to tell happened when I was driving you all somewhere. There happened to be a fly trapped in the van with us. Nan asked, "Do flies bite people?" I off-handedly responded, "Most flies don't. Some flies do." You immediately demanded to know: "Is that a MOST fly?!" :) </p><p style="text-align: left;">You've grown a lot this year. beyond potty-training and funny quips, you're a sweet boy who loves to keep busy, run around, and make friends. You love "church days" when you get to go play with all your friends at church. You still nap hard, but you hit the ground running each morning. You're our caboose, Sloan. And I always thought the caboose looked like the most fun car on the train. For awhile I thought you seemed like so much light and joy in our lives because of the hard season we just stepped out of before having you when we lost your sibling, Jordan, to miscarriage. But now I know the truth: light and joy is just <i>who you are. </i>This is a beautiful thing, Sloan. As you continue to grow, we pray you continue to be those things to others around you, and that you press into the only true source Light and Joy-- Jesus-- as you go throughout this life. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPsjsbp644V52epNWgkDLceReiRtNYLxETM_-IVhTBEnuK6BB2IU5Y0i5YFTqZSQaiwPLkTmBVGQ2Rl5uOm0FjvIccTs1uKuBZLSJPXXy34AyVuOTWGcfbnU5-j1Dex2JXAyytuFm556LyHmhl5Xc2dq8-xNDi5PbHH6FVu8O7uFos9N4Qa5lfsA3/s5847/F81A1974.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5847" data-original-width="3898" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPsjsbp644V52epNWgkDLceReiRtNYLxETM_-IVhTBEnuK6BB2IU5Y0i5YFTqZSQaiwPLkTmBVGQ2Rl5uOm0FjvIccTs1uKuBZLSJPXXy34AyVuOTWGcfbnU5-j1Dex2JXAyytuFm556LyHmhl5Xc2dq8-xNDi5PbHH6FVu8O7uFos9N4Qa5lfsA3/w426-h640/F81A1974.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UUYT02u5ROee4_YIUHC3rZ6XdW6rFAzXZXTyMq__SBmE5B4DGBBvKGsdctxSaYhE0oG979TYhDNiy5429PHv_YS5XLLMX4gi9HDcyhBYWf-Z9Zk9RRUy-zT_myXWQSucrDXxDgTjR8RyRIIR48IaiGh4sclGP_5p7vYk87VdgGhnzfw9IhwEw45C/s6720/F81A1972.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UUYT02u5ROee4_YIUHC3rZ6XdW6rFAzXZXTyMq__SBmE5B4DGBBvKGsdctxSaYhE0oG979TYhDNiy5429PHv_YS5XLLMX4gi9HDcyhBYWf-Z9Zk9RRUy-zT_myXWQSucrDXxDgTjR8RyRIIR48IaiGh4sclGP_5p7vYk87VdgGhnzfw9IhwEw45C/w426-h640/F81A1972.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKnxrbvEb_0Q7aHRN4N51P9W2pU5vko2rMefYdGJjlelS0ORVTTphEGdns3gMzrSoG2aYm-1WjOdE_UmSv1AcLt4A3buWCcG-e-Pk8ML1M9rs-Pz8oG5Yru8diLbjX85D8inh8AFu-lr2mogUUv2NgEOlYN8N7pbvGU8KgGzvwD_nsWcBVlu8TVz2/s6720/F81A1969.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKnxrbvEb_0Q7aHRN4N51P9W2pU5vko2rMefYdGJjlelS0ORVTTphEGdns3gMzrSoG2aYm-1WjOdE_UmSv1AcLt4A3buWCcG-e-Pk8ML1M9rs-Pz8oG5Yru8diLbjX85D8inh8AFu-lr2mogUUv2NgEOlYN8N7pbvGU8KgGzvwD_nsWcBVlu8TVz2/w426-h640/F81A1969.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHKmThyjHIUlLkpWvm_ICNxdwym2UfSTrHHbVMWMRO_i5CHJJVHVySGYK8P0TQ5pi6A75j1BajpOYX1Y9RM4nJn2nCBYOJAXGCllzSjuJnrVYic2WQzaHGEV_OvDxAR7IEhvi4DeBJfGAXn-nK9PTE_TddmZ321C8rJSUzITvnbT91MG0TQfrwFmZ/s6720/F81A1961.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHKmThyjHIUlLkpWvm_ICNxdwym2UfSTrHHbVMWMRO_i5CHJJVHVySGYK8P0TQ5pi6A75j1BajpOYX1Y9RM4nJn2nCBYOJAXGCllzSjuJnrVYic2WQzaHGEV_OvDxAR7IEhvi4DeBJfGAXn-nK9PTE_TddmZ321C8rJSUzITvnbT91MG0TQfrwFmZ/w426-h640/F81A1961.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3Zvb5HSioi77ZcVnTwD_qZP24_5O-0Y_Qn7XWr8D5U3fQMAj0jUkFtaDQbZTKqCH4A8vqmCo-ziW3SPpLLa3KVO_IEuNVyjUt48r5xjkrs-jKbVEZaxEULi0OBAGtr-oeOwjsqOEDXtTHUUswl071w321mFIEnSTp81beFh_z_LscITEp_vUpeVa/s6720/F81A1958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3Zvb5HSioi77ZcVnTwD_qZP24_5O-0Y_Qn7XWr8D5U3fQMAj0jUkFtaDQbZTKqCH4A8vqmCo-ziW3SPpLLa3KVO_IEuNVyjUt48r5xjkrs-jKbVEZaxEULi0OBAGtr-oeOwjsqOEDXtTHUUswl071w321mFIEnSTp81beFh_z_LscITEp_vUpeVa/w426-h640/F81A1958.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JlqfUbW9rF0CsaLayM5ermCyaFkT9PDHegxCTO_qZYslhAdK5x6Zk7FYC0kh5gOFlCCi96EkmGi7uhgTz_8o644Us12jwQJ09sAXhSTnEk3y9dSbiTGte3uhsntWO06HfeEuVAEJOqhzVP5ZhVQCE3bEF5-94qvBbUQV921E5rK5CkP938kjYklw/s6720/F81A1954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JlqfUbW9rF0CsaLayM5ermCyaFkT9PDHegxCTO_qZYslhAdK5x6Zk7FYC0kh5gOFlCCi96EkmGi7uhgTz_8o644Us12jwQJ09sAXhSTnEk3y9dSbiTGte3uhsntWO06HfeEuVAEJOqhzVP5ZhVQCE3bEF5-94qvBbUQV921E5rK5CkP938kjYklw/w426-h640/F81A1954.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmW9_hm6ZGOfaBmp7FYS0yzzgbz9Ly_n0dHcson2Vik5BvIY8KrVam9eelKXFTCYHONkOAAXFPzWLfPwgTkimUq3osbs6pAfEL0SUHz_XjFDTP6ZV_vVdIP46o9mtXN1-PBBAnQau2sJiG7_WTE5H0LLKwXahBMupdF_h-C5p3Ksi-e6eeVScWraQ/s6720/F81A1953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmW9_hm6ZGOfaBmp7FYS0yzzgbz9Ly_n0dHcson2Vik5BvIY8KrVam9eelKXFTCYHONkOAAXFPzWLfPwgTkimUq3osbs6pAfEL0SUHz_XjFDTP6ZV_vVdIP46o9mtXN1-PBBAnQau2sJiG7_WTE5H0LLKwXahBMupdF_h-C5p3Ksi-e6eeVScWraQ/w426-h640/F81A1953.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFan56OZSXEovsQH9R31GOjsxhfFUTJAc-5cM8BoPDiTv5H2xrZdIEfWNBXZZyYYzFehSFalwUVtH2r5biR1CI7Z-5qMRmauLTnM0lH7WhFEq2i3gz4p3_Q5ih8HMNO4knU68rSTpk1kWava2vkX-5Fg7wY3zSVuUoaeYmo1iT218Cr4xsTsG9KU2O/s6720/F81A1948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFan56OZSXEovsQH9R31GOjsxhfFUTJAc-5cM8BoPDiTv5H2xrZdIEfWNBXZZyYYzFehSFalwUVtH2r5biR1CI7Z-5qMRmauLTnM0lH7WhFEq2i3gz4p3_Q5ih8HMNO4knU68rSTpk1kWava2vkX-5Fg7wY3zSVuUoaeYmo1iT218Cr4xsTsG9KU2O/w640-h426/F81A1948.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkTkxj6zl_TwS6fqkOrH1GWCzhAxWdkoMXwIWYUAZP9QAlM7GioCI97jA-A3qW9CgufYEJBcxhDiqXUXj2_RACr3sTRPPQK8AP3wcgiee4HrhXBPJeMcBBXjkZtHMqf5hws0uPkMPjCPXkejp3ina3-GLrwWBYpv64bV3pfIhrAuQUjOjnKuvYWJz/s6720/F81A1940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkTkxj6zl_TwS6fqkOrH1GWCzhAxWdkoMXwIWYUAZP9QAlM7GioCI97jA-A3qW9CgufYEJBcxhDiqXUXj2_RACr3sTRPPQK8AP3wcgiee4HrhXBPJeMcBBXjkZtHMqf5hws0uPkMPjCPXkejp3ina3-GLrwWBYpv64bV3pfIhrAuQUjOjnKuvYWJz/w640-h426/F81A1940.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSld8cuphF598zx36kGM4Xi6vmn2gFX1wW1PDyxXq2CJ9MWR6lyduam6H2pKdotZes_Fj_IOgY_Q_WtKNeVZd3qrYrueCC5ZmFHU1n22Gsm8LL5GAv72_dDGsIgqFwApNpS7y1xUMLzCQp5RgaQrI-IzVE4HzWCt5V5xfMOIWfc_QJP4dCaDVngHi/s6720/F81A1936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSld8cuphF598zx36kGM4Xi6vmn2gFX1wW1PDyxXq2CJ9MWR6lyduam6H2pKdotZes_Fj_IOgY_Q_WtKNeVZd3qrYrueCC5ZmFHU1n22Gsm8LL5GAv72_dDGsIgqFwApNpS7y1xUMLzCQp5RgaQrI-IzVE4HzWCt5V5xfMOIWfc_QJP4dCaDVngHi/w640-h426/F81A1936.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">With the big girls at school, you and I have lots of adventures together. I wouldn't have it any other way. You're the best Big Red Bluster I know. Thanks for being so much fun to be around, and for holding my hand tightly still while I sing you "Stop Your Crying." <i>Always, </i>Sloan. <i>Always. </i></p><p style="text-align: left;">And like I end every birthday note: Your dad and I hope you always understand the <i>why </i>behind our no-s. We hope you feel safety in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all.</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2vu1_G11XX9Jh1J4Kd4oic_nIdYFLEBM3Ln4RxtN-hwzk3HOWxNWXoXU8Cc6UPySBb0OG4VJDvbUkrVZSwaO8FStI36dLkyx-F5TQJDgPCk8OfXfxaWnwNjXN7gssSVrZtI6-2e1oindnKacgwoQSmYDbSUfXAxNd_1S-ovB403VIhicwTbK1eRu/s6720/F81A1935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2vu1_G11XX9Jh1J4Kd4oic_nIdYFLEBM3Ln4RxtN-hwzk3HOWxNWXoXU8Cc6UPySBb0OG4VJDvbUkrVZSwaO8FStI36dLkyx-F5TQJDgPCk8OfXfxaWnwNjXN7gssSVrZtI6-2e1oindnKacgwoQSmYDbSUfXAxNd_1S-ovB403VIhicwTbK1eRu/w640-h426/F81A1935.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuaNi97_OEHYsS-Qfq12nHqUTC3S35aJ0v2SIbd8D95WeG8n8mbaorWtClqONtlJzO1Cs74D2E-RcU_BZIDHoMB-JJSM5oF7ACHQ7LWp_H0uE-Z-hrmSlKFrDOfIE5EniMg4lrl3ufpHJmXQVi8Ac-7gdmTpc0inajesyCLCznrmVcclVYr56Y7U4/s6720/F81A1932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuaNi97_OEHYsS-Qfq12nHqUTC3S35aJ0v2SIbd8D95WeG8n8mbaorWtClqONtlJzO1Cs74D2E-RcU_BZIDHoMB-JJSM5oF7ACHQ7LWp_H0uE-Z-hrmSlKFrDOfIE5EniMg4lrl3ufpHJmXQVi8Ac-7gdmTpc0inajesyCLCznrmVcclVYr56Y7U4/w426-h640/F81A1932.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GWUxf50H6PZjsvL5guae5FaygRtnlMyU5rAoxyby4OCiU10Kl1K68Kk3X6nt4v0r7mBWmeX0tn1ey-JURxhUKTbkhHBcofO5gV7zgchEo4hRTsT2TPr5Tns4cu9OgpbrUHoq5Kz19_6bJ6sEI27Oaya_c--mfUizKM4y7sLotM4XGtdSzEab1IaT/s5527/F81A1929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5527" data-original-width="3685" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GWUxf50H6PZjsvL5guae5FaygRtnlMyU5rAoxyby4OCiU10Kl1K68Kk3X6nt4v0r7mBWmeX0tn1ey-JURxhUKTbkhHBcofO5gV7zgchEo4hRTsT2TPr5Tns4cu9OgpbrUHoq5Kz19_6bJ6sEI27Oaya_c--mfUizKM4y7sLotM4XGtdSzEab1IaT/w426-h640/F81A1929.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oMeGnV-HNGEKMNkgN0hD4nbmIl0GnfGGYsrVeNaAWVb0q8mn8lNuXYxRRAW3vAztXWlC37l5xDemUY-INFGrviXGoNmFlVDX6Pt1Iq38DlrqCTflvhhL1yw6oupHXbVizhyMfRnRmFxV3DOzn4xhZT0wsmNV2N78mITe_KJgXbeLA71wF7LWmzUl/s5876/F81A1927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5876" data-original-width="3917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oMeGnV-HNGEKMNkgN0hD4nbmIl0GnfGGYsrVeNaAWVb0q8mn8lNuXYxRRAW3vAztXWlC37l5xDemUY-INFGrviXGoNmFlVDX6Pt1Iq38DlrqCTflvhhL1yw6oupHXbVizhyMfRnRmFxV3DOzn4xhZT0wsmNV2N78mITe_KJgXbeLA71wF7LWmzUl/w426-h640/F81A1927.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1tLwVIWQvUymbebq3ZwTlyd-a1UKLupqMDuO75SNtJXLDTWemeyCoHgUNyVCiYbFDRsbKzMM1xvV7DtxXHm80Ke4FOHxVPV0vOfHOpaKH3k_27XB49RHgd8jytCvrjyt6kM4lsarcLMPFi1G3GJin85i0A5ibE0dsd9hjVNsmu40pPl9qqC0fW08/s6109/F81A1925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6109" data-original-width="4073" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1tLwVIWQvUymbebq3ZwTlyd-a1UKLupqMDuO75SNtJXLDTWemeyCoHgUNyVCiYbFDRsbKzMM1xvV7DtxXHm80Ke4FOHxVPV0vOfHOpaKH3k_27XB49RHgd8jytCvrjyt6kM4lsarcLMPFi1G3GJin85i0A5ibE0dsd9hjVNsmu40pPl9qqC0fW08/w426-h640/F81A1925.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgI-aESF4qEHETZBtjwcxmyoIkF6KS1Zae5dMM6fVfgwCIfsqy8-vLQCmCKWIS5Y32ahr-cR25BFPTjvpmxYUDMIqrkPLEeyyO2ws3QpbBjL9OQXjaw1J1sbMeA-N5Tpa5R6rGUD42CCYrbIFiZferGgPJXX0XaGd9bt1JiWtvOEOOZtdGacWxPta/s6720/F81A1921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgI-aESF4qEHETZBtjwcxmyoIkF6KS1Zae5dMM6fVfgwCIfsqy8-vLQCmCKWIS5Y32ahr-cR25BFPTjvpmxYUDMIqrkPLEeyyO2ws3QpbBjL9OQXjaw1J1sbMeA-N5Tpa5R6rGUD42CCYrbIFiZferGgPJXX0XaGd9bt1JiWtvOEOOZtdGacWxPta/w426-h640/F81A1921.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK4QKq6mCbJ65_1ZPvJppO3dYxmMHw6orLGnT620AHJWuFp5-B87CcQFl5JdHUNC4sGilLUyhhIJZeSeJ1i46goxK7o2j3bacZnsgxZMsjJ8G8COOrgltaCpbyL1047VOpqdL4xZOkT04AEdmpes-tK7nVxNURQmDTt7VuEQ_scu5ozotnVIUgVkf/s6720/F81A1919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK4QKq6mCbJ65_1ZPvJppO3dYxmMHw6orLGnT620AHJWuFp5-B87CcQFl5JdHUNC4sGilLUyhhIJZeSeJ1i46goxK7o2j3bacZnsgxZMsjJ8G8COOrgltaCpbyL1047VOpqdL4xZOkT04AEdmpes-tK7nVxNURQmDTt7VuEQ_scu5ozotnVIUgVkf/w426-h640/F81A1919.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIqD3COGG_r38wOZtwAbThsGsmwcK75JrZn8U01dt8NeTRoRwiBGCZYWWU6t41rn_mr9AsEVTZr7XoltHtCTlecTc0abcpLEKjGIPvmnccat9yxuSBH_mxrlaOtmn_YYCROS3-K-NKl3D2NX68t0-PHMqBnGEZ7OObsEytzmwFcFiRksBAl6-vtO3/s6720/F81A1917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIqD3COGG_r38wOZtwAbThsGsmwcK75JrZn8U01dt8NeTRoRwiBGCZYWWU6t41rn_mr9AsEVTZr7XoltHtCTlecTc0abcpLEKjGIPvmnccat9yxuSBH_mxrlaOtmn_YYCROS3-K-NKl3D2NX68t0-PHMqBnGEZ7OObsEytzmwFcFiRksBAl6-vtO3/w426-h640/F81A1917.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk_jOu0tJHZVcplJe6A9UkDE1ZPjHLrDkGk52rJ3m13PC20hVLuHB6WVKAHw651g5JQNRrt8SexdvulPbZj8sjF2DVMQFblH_VvOqkDSK3HNOfztIICM5X5jnZRDuhzVp1GZQMmNiGo6YFavWzEUhqgYjHzGh660nrH_37Wag4raT2T3u7zoFK-e9/s5808/F81A1912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5808" data-original-width="3872" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk_jOu0tJHZVcplJe6A9UkDE1ZPjHLrDkGk52rJ3m13PC20hVLuHB6WVKAHw651g5JQNRrt8SexdvulPbZj8sjF2DVMQFblH_VvOqkDSK3HNOfztIICM5X5jnZRDuhzVp1GZQMmNiGo6YFavWzEUhqgYjHzGh660nrH_37Wag4raT2T3u7zoFK-e9/w426-h640/F81A1912.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uB8EtMPrZhTZVYiol_1W99c6eJEpK8r3BBI1cNB6RFXaZv2qjUrsFBHb6gZTECmP8lR7Ytnu1HjV-p9p_fa_wvXSZoK8iPQl4G2sU3Qz7hc8JvD0j5_sfF1KZC-CqcKnivHc9NJCJwk3r3A_hm5vAXE53bO-RGUoUUBjrI9rBaDFZAN_tm2D6V_k/s6720/F81A1903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uB8EtMPrZhTZVYiol_1W99c6eJEpK8r3BBI1cNB6RFXaZv2qjUrsFBHb6gZTECmP8lR7Ytnu1HjV-p9p_fa_wvXSZoK8iPQl4G2sU3Qz7hc8JvD0j5_sfF1KZC-CqcKnivHc9NJCJwk3r3A_hm5vAXE53bO-RGUoUUBjrI9rBaDFZAN_tm2D6V_k/w640-h426/F81A1903.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1lbOYzy8tH7bqpbbtoHMYBzVO2wArO5SvsdBiRScQZyQmxPcTFgy-IWtHHNk-Phyc9_lLtq9ZvfBcYOGpLPPgFVTPe2Bg5hewkzLLSpKT1zszGJrls0TXPHsgw8O89JbSifZODX0UUiOZjypYYHgrLBZzBUz9dJhBT0ulEhYIpgwbdTC-a8nYFMy/s6720/F81A1898.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1lbOYzy8tH7bqpbbtoHMYBzVO2wArO5SvsdBiRScQZyQmxPcTFgy-IWtHHNk-Phyc9_lLtq9ZvfBcYOGpLPPgFVTPe2Bg5hewkzLLSpKT1zszGJrls0TXPHsgw8O89JbSifZODX0UUiOZjypYYHgrLBZzBUz9dJhBT0ulEhYIpgwbdTC-a8nYFMy/w426-h640/F81A1898.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkPb24gSvBzkbbwY-XnpNW0cHvnl0ufKJlenUr-t7Q-hK7ZPo63ymRmq-8cMrbA3rkSmP36Aa26LqrYRbCnbFh24_piuY8jUMLvfEto7qzXDN0ahgWgG8RHznn1ztmqr_bSw1owY1FPCWsiURvbLYihVu6UROEumseCxAJGzI0J2Yy6wvp93kDpEM/s6720/F81A1895.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkPb24gSvBzkbbwY-XnpNW0cHvnl0ufKJlenUr-t7Q-hK7ZPo63ymRmq-8cMrbA3rkSmP36Aa26LqrYRbCnbFh24_piuY8jUMLvfEto7qzXDN0ahgWgG8RHznn1ztmqr_bSw1owY1FPCWsiURvbLYihVu6UROEumseCxAJGzI0J2Yy6wvp93kDpEM/w426-h640/F81A1895.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2IgUZppPclqX0YeBmG9fT7vRal0QWxE2DLq6uhAR06ul5Y8mzUfg8TvbMjOrZdPviVpa14utM4kNrmBDuLpm0g8GuhAFQBlWAeATq1QfbHJzJnXOuRiEexxagoTUB-aJuZpCD6Z6Ov5kxdHgNL9CREGHkrGbFoqygMU4tyrle1yDPNAD0kquCmKb/s6720/F81A1893.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2IgUZppPclqX0YeBmG9fT7vRal0QWxE2DLq6uhAR06ul5Y8mzUfg8TvbMjOrZdPviVpa14utM4kNrmBDuLpm0g8GuhAFQBlWAeATq1QfbHJzJnXOuRiEexxagoTUB-aJuZpCD6Z6Ov5kxdHgNL9CREGHkrGbFoqygMU4tyrle1yDPNAD0kquCmKb/w426-h640/F81A1893.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCq6gCnyMXErYS53IsHq4xPy0Ip-Nmduwpr-dMJaItAHG3ev1LuETfVyumcZ4VGC6xm450OtsL1Lpc2ZxX9NVxGae8m8zgz4xpoOf298ZNGnFrFCqOkplajVfy3BjbiJxKCKtz5Ws6NR0tYFiAgWFliI67Y9DE30-SjWhatbs7eCNtsfFX7KdG9bX/s6720/F81A1892.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCq6gCnyMXErYS53IsHq4xPy0Ip-Nmduwpr-dMJaItAHG3ev1LuETfVyumcZ4VGC6xm450OtsL1Lpc2ZxX9NVxGae8m8zgz4xpoOf298ZNGnFrFCqOkplajVfy3BjbiJxKCKtz5Ws6NR0tYFiAgWFliI67Y9DE30-SjWhatbs7eCNtsfFX7KdG9bX/w426-h640/F81A1892.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCLHLm8QySZu-nnlMiwl82P2jJcS-rJvjpTxQ4Ns81YWpo5Nwl7LmghgvgmIN_1kstLN5Jpd9SIxCpRHKniBdV1OcUyoDw5XzY8jfeiZwfMbg1r2MtEQd_IycIIfhqY7KKfKDAksPM3EkgOOvRtTm_0zPSDYTXwkWYsEpMjz9dcla1TyObLCbX9gR/s6051/F81A2061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6051" data-original-width="4034" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCLHLm8QySZu-nnlMiwl82P2jJcS-rJvjpTxQ4Ns81YWpo5Nwl7LmghgvgmIN_1kstLN5Jpd9SIxCpRHKniBdV1OcUyoDw5XzY8jfeiZwfMbg1r2MtEQd_IycIIfhqY7KKfKDAksPM3EkgOOvRtTm_0zPSDYTXwkWYsEpMjz9dcla1TyObLCbX9gR/w426-h640/F81A2061.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Happy fourth birthday, Sloan Lee! There is nothing you could ever do to make us stop loving you! </p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-51435163838609825812022-05-17T16:15:00.005-04:002022-05-18T14:21:31.091-04:00Becks is EIGHT! <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNVcibojlOc7AKIPpjnIPBXjhcevMlX93pBDwn6dypOpRRuySCukO_52pAw64pxVsnwaV8l1z57XEXS9w3rYw26uu7FcgN6MBT5KV0-MiUoJb6ACiXEwCYIUS9fLKDhXvW9hqjFdxyglbljLmNL7dy-RtZx_8zLluTYJ2VmRoNwMpoO1-MiPQiItQ/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNVcibojlOc7AKIPpjnIPBXjhcevMlX93pBDwn6dypOpRRuySCukO_52pAw64pxVsnwaV8l1z57XEXS9w3rYw26uu7FcgN6MBT5KV0-MiUoJb6ACiXEwCYIUS9fLKDhXvW9hqjFdxyglbljLmNL7dy-RtZx_8zLluTYJ2VmRoNwMpoO1-MiPQiItQ/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxAALWh-DjLujX5A2Lkl5GQE9LycROx-VbRLLrOp3Nqnl9d2ajAe6w4R1UtU9_OC5SA0qimU5b1FBvMr8rYKLibzZxYOb-oJ4zFwKxqyh0OmE--yNLMgk2HeZ7Wi4h5nPcbpsBD5Xc_WLBofMMxgk2qYrp_t-MzUEMofluvsENfDoYvkLe_IgA0PE/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxAALWh-DjLujX5A2Lkl5GQE9LycROx-VbRLLrOp3Nqnl9d2ajAe6w4R1UtU9_OC5SA0qimU5b1FBvMr8rYKLibzZxYOb-oJ4zFwKxqyh0OmE--yNLMgk2HeZ7Wi4h5nPcbpsBD5Xc_WLBofMMxgk2qYrp_t-MzUEMofluvsENfDoYvkLe_IgA0PE/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3325.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QZ3kMLxZ3BjrrqGGxHMuRH9fOkTC2GsSiaKe4TtrXHrhTvaBhu9X4zr8iWs19rne51Z0s3li0vwoByTgGRhfpmGhDA7Ki46P4T9fB-X0sAFe307sRuaI8EBTZKNrtEJwsovMj4KKMXHNHILDnU1Je6Y0scPvaR-sku7VdFqQedavK8N-eUQK2Eip/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3172.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QZ3kMLxZ3BjrrqGGxHMuRH9fOkTC2GsSiaKe4TtrXHrhTvaBhu9X4zr8iWs19rne51Z0s3li0vwoByTgGRhfpmGhDA7Ki46P4T9fB-X0sAFe307sRuaI8EBTZKNrtEJwsovMj4KKMXHNHILDnU1Je6Y0scPvaR-sku7VdFqQedavK8N-eUQK2Eip/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3172.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzHDAIhUCR2ACgpVCTP9uklhqjLqC_9S1JygVRRRDwlaOqvOQ0d627JPFUUR4vzxbVqIExLBJOIlqd_XFpg4kBnONqRD48379dLDF-sBcxa-lMeaMNF_V2_oLHtO9rM4yhzcnMA7d42t9_tLNswdjr9P3Uxo34zpATOzdPiWfaBXbYsp4VYmiKCOw/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzHDAIhUCR2ACgpVCTP9uklhqjLqC_9S1JygVRRRDwlaOqvOQ0d627JPFUUR4vzxbVqIExLBJOIlqd_XFpg4kBnONqRD48379dLDF-sBcxa-lMeaMNF_V2_oLHtO9rM4yhzcnMA7d42t9_tLNswdjr9P3Uxo34zpATOzdPiWfaBXbYsp4VYmiKCOw/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3240.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIvzmkbGxq92KZcQI3hxprDzKd3X1zgTJ0C3hE_ai-A-1vxqkdgq_PwfJXjiZJ0x62-rMnsnIJgb2jL17_6_W6dvukP6zg_37pGpqJej4mZtfqZnLJR-IwG8RaHCYpfoQIqkxC3XknTD3wGy51qRF0NlAPQSTWiULWVUr7_BbOqS5YGXMAuyp6xBg/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIvzmkbGxq92KZcQI3hxprDzKd3X1zgTJ0C3hE_ai-A-1vxqkdgq_PwfJXjiZJ0x62-rMnsnIJgb2jL17_6_W6dvukP6zg_37pGpqJej4mZtfqZnLJR-IwG8RaHCYpfoQIqkxC3XknTD3wGy51qRF0NlAPQSTWiULWVUr7_BbOqS5YGXMAuyp6xBg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3201.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxuOBP0akz91z8J685IueyF_S9Kb1T0gEb0dy-74NVkTEATmJ9PuwzulZs44lGM56NllbPzgYt1g1uMzkJSwrT72HzPzxdt6W1JuMM5coIaAydvL4UEd3R_KS8AKELOCjYAObHT1hAzDEHIVMdc-Mjf62mtxUYUkjIWOoee9IyHNmOfSYNjRUnDhp/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxuOBP0akz91z8J685IueyF_S9Kb1T0gEb0dy-74NVkTEATmJ9PuwzulZs44lGM56NllbPzgYt1g1uMzkJSwrT72HzPzxdt6W1JuMM5coIaAydvL4UEd3R_KS8AKELOCjYAObHT1hAzDEHIVMdc-Mjf62mtxUYUkjIWOoee9IyHNmOfSYNjRUnDhp/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3141.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM3dDJ2GJA_34LIXRjzC4tjVaauuLxu-N_mD2j7Xj5bO2Mq6qdHnxXVBgJFuROLiHQ5UDZ6_74ok7fyxwLq-fDQELa4R9sFSZDjkQOkQ0dheMU3crXWW8M41rIujmkyGHsKkJ-HNoWJwBCTJRq13FFmazxNVS86CRecy4MEt4RYLh-yMy4MLkbL2a/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3295.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM3dDJ2GJA_34LIXRjzC4tjVaauuLxu-N_mD2j7Xj5bO2Mq6qdHnxXVBgJFuROLiHQ5UDZ6_74ok7fyxwLq-fDQELa4R9sFSZDjkQOkQ0dheMU3crXWW8M41rIujmkyGHsKkJ-HNoWJwBCTJRq13FFmazxNVS86CRecy4MEt4RYLh-yMy4MLkbL2a/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3295.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLZGmFnwCEh75q7OZ2LlOECn0bizaoChOgTJpH2Nc5B9rzJIFbHpfSPkXkgeBxn5qjvx5pvBrMmUKDySuTl23MWCsodRxfnN1wLZ-h_RaCuWd7ss6QBSO9lkN5f-vGVelNAeKU9QBsJb9UnCsq1KpZt552VMoprThfRrIYeJ8V6pzSDvmAs0VHpEv/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3267.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLZGmFnwCEh75q7OZ2LlOECn0bizaoChOgTJpH2Nc5B9rzJIFbHpfSPkXkgeBxn5qjvx5pvBrMmUKDySuTl23MWCsodRxfnN1wLZ-h_RaCuWd7ss6QBSO9lkN5f-vGVelNAeKU9QBsJb9UnCsq1KpZt552VMoprThfRrIYeJ8V6pzSDvmAs0VHpEv/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3267.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVFHwbHCFy4LFolhtWCTxMM8WqXp0J1SSH3akDSI186eMtYqAAwGtoWmdgKJJ9uICCEA70Z8ACZC2E_Xvnoo7dzY7Y-Ct8mn5Paeh7kKu5A36_zGHiHIJOw4dP0DIteQYPIggM5Ks-hGbNPDoEIPHHovF-TFPY0W7wUvEQGi2KR_ZORdoTH4sr1pV/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVFHwbHCFy4LFolhtWCTxMM8WqXp0J1SSH3akDSI186eMtYqAAwGtoWmdgKJJ9uICCEA70Z8ACZC2E_Xvnoo7dzY7Y-Ct8mn5Paeh7kKu5A36_zGHiHIJOw4dP0DIteQYPIggM5Ks-hGbNPDoEIPHHovF-TFPY0W7wUvEQGi2KR_ZORdoTH4sr1pV/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3317.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6ibaMzKP5WwbInktTh9kb4Ai3MiQKULgYP3__l9kRZqfwM_STaUcLZRPqBz4OKJFV_lft6MHJIZKgrn0zgAo9VRT6qOVeas07YB80kMmX3eA_q2XnRwtKVn-lFxpRPyh5RJCv47A3ZsVf5QOf4GD6vgAUXY3LFxu5qrDntmeQGmTtfhPDdMw0oiJ/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3277.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6ibaMzKP5WwbInktTh9kb4Ai3MiQKULgYP3__l9kRZqfwM_STaUcLZRPqBz4OKJFV_lft6MHJIZKgrn0zgAo9VRT6qOVeas07YB80kMmX3eA_q2XnRwtKVn-lFxpRPyh5RJCv47A3ZsVf5QOf4GD6vgAUXY3LFxu5qrDntmeQGmTtfhPDdMw0oiJ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3277.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p>Becks Lynae,</p><p>It seems an impossibility to be standing at the reality of age eight with you right now. Last week I had to put your brother on top of the washing machine for a time out, a trick I hadn't had to resort to since you were two. It took me right back to those toddler years with you, though. I loved you so intensely, but you completely depleted everything in me by the end of the day most days. Your tiny little fists would often be balled up as you stood toe to toe with me, exasperated I wouldn't cave and yet determined to last as long as your stubborn little body could. It was exhausting and yet I now see the fruit of those years together. I see so many of those traits still in you-- dogged determination, a lit up spirit, your own opinions-- and yet you've learned the beauty of boundaries, deep breaths, and thinking beyond the moment at hand. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiGezOqW9eFq-HYEJfLpKLj4TX_0AuUYx8mbPJEpZVaK6b7waserkd0SdOeq9W9fWPUf7lq-5mWuFpJnqTsZ2mGqWRzJtppVAr99tGowhBeLsQdzxFHZDpB1_nPmsIKAYVifVtz_3qXWXu89jJmIka4xXqbNElXG-VoUvj49P2IjrEKkuV-wLW9FN/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiGezOqW9eFq-HYEJfLpKLj4TX_0AuUYx8mbPJEpZVaK6b7waserkd0SdOeq9W9fWPUf7lq-5mWuFpJnqTsZ2mGqWRzJtppVAr99tGowhBeLsQdzxFHZDpB1_nPmsIKAYVifVtz_3qXWXu89jJmIka4xXqbNElXG-VoUvj49P2IjrEKkuV-wLW9FN/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3124.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGr6KezZfiar9e1J6fP4CF40YX04dDRUrkApw85Tl24KpUmQHy7M2W029J2dce9mXbufxqoU6pTUbhelFR-7Mr7azNJxqQrtlnu-t5cVRb7MA9Mti4VYm6GqV9SiC4Z_19upZFtkqpm1JVe5Vual2t9_wAGrNDrnpbxbdDMtAxlQ2Y59Jrd4nAGkL/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGr6KezZfiar9e1J6fP4CF40YX04dDRUrkApw85Tl24KpUmQHy7M2W029J2dce9mXbufxqoU6pTUbhelFR-7Mr7azNJxqQrtlnu-t5cVRb7MA9Mti4VYm6GqV9SiC4Z_19upZFtkqpm1JVe5Vual2t9_wAGrNDrnpbxbdDMtAxlQ2Y59Jrd4nAGkL/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3127.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWctHIX_7cignCxvXPZzylVSUpfYNOKqrQ4zraoba9PYhoxClpc3vXl6B37tY2hrZlNElVKfInDrof__K1j5tvr6hHMa4RitxC0IrMyJjNbDthgg4brBLnWv-rBzYvCcuwmtSIn1kIpgc4xKoAORSCKkRa2LhSRwW1tOaMcae0V-R6jw4CHtyEz_a/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWctHIX_7cignCxvXPZzylVSUpfYNOKqrQ4zraoba9PYhoxClpc3vXl6B37tY2hrZlNElVKfInDrof__K1j5tvr6hHMa4RitxC0IrMyJjNbDthgg4brBLnWv-rBzYvCcuwmtSIn1kIpgc4xKoAORSCKkRa2LhSRwW1tOaMcae0V-R6jw4CHtyEz_a/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3128.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisM7dLaM7pCBqyW49JMJoKbd_9NIIMUyCnKqib_hTJKFFCq6CgDHYtNEt4jLxsLMDyxrRQN37lnolEmu99Pln2fTBDYypn3nOQtZ6qN1YZidz3IiO60cg2AJbNkhgZsfQqaUbK8xQLVq7L8tCKsNevofZMqRrAKv9nG4xs3iYqIK09d18wEIR1JGwy/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisM7dLaM7pCBqyW49JMJoKbd_9NIIMUyCnKqib_hTJKFFCq6CgDHYtNEt4jLxsLMDyxrRQN37lnolEmu99Pln2fTBDYypn3nOQtZ6qN1YZidz3IiO60cg2AJbNkhgZsfQqaUbK8xQLVq7L8tCKsNevofZMqRrAKv9nG4xs3iYqIK09d18wEIR1JGwy/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3133.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_haCANMnM_zfb5cDYeV2xh-yBwGqwSTxeXSbLxT_JOrSqH7PQxbcYwcXIdbvvBysViBEDAg9effusHUg2GiGiG_EQ9o3HsQi6H8RbvpAi4hG9J50AFAPUWD8RaX7Zyht8W_Cygb61dufX7OR97v5UbBcG7DA5ZZ8TjDfwBLdvdlMtF808MwlpYM2x/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_haCANMnM_zfb5cDYeV2xh-yBwGqwSTxeXSbLxT_JOrSqH7PQxbcYwcXIdbvvBysViBEDAg9effusHUg2GiGiG_EQ9o3HsQi6H8RbvpAi4hG9J50AFAPUWD8RaX7Zyht8W_Cygb61dufX7OR97v5UbBcG7DA5ZZ8TjDfwBLdvdlMtF808MwlpYM2x/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3135.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbyAy_a5iJr1Hxzb5HjRxUpxNiZAbqrLZOg9u-70waCSa2Kxmq22DfNJYJGid7xg3F7cZdZ1rTEm8Q5pyRkH6JVi2WI8OQZHJ-Vf-V0BGu8yiBeHlyy9qtJToia1fFfW5eRR8WkYbLMiajkI8BhMNnKUilrPbuNZ__Vj4El63b1ARv7akB5iowRbz/s6117/KIrwinPhotography-3139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6117" data-original-width="4078" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbyAy_a5iJr1Hxzb5HjRxUpxNiZAbqrLZOg9u-70waCSa2Kxmq22DfNJYJGid7xg3F7cZdZ1rTEm8Q5pyRkH6JVi2WI8OQZHJ-Vf-V0BGu8yiBeHlyy9qtJToia1fFfW5eRR8WkYbLMiajkI8BhMNnKUilrPbuNZ__Vj4El63b1ARv7akB5iowRbz/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3139.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGwimY4n2kZDpPcFARiyUGZXoesMXn3xbxWmjawg0Y-6d0yP-Y3acJhiZvGmRC_mNj5ZpfTIdEAFhNRsRmDIKu8109_IY-JRKeLsmc5vxTVyhqNzDkoUCOhXHPLipZsNCzhBnvQMAxrg6LPIy6oN4Itk4331c7s_3eCXr6rWwkK8wLSU090qHg1a6/s6032/KIrwinPhotography-3143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6032" data-original-width="4021" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGwimY4n2kZDpPcFARiyUGZXoesMXn3xbxWmjawg0Y-6d0yP-Y3acJhiZvGmRC_mNj5ZpfTIdEAFhNRsRmDIKu8109_IY-JRKeLsmc5vxTVyhqNzDkoUCOhXHPLipZsNCzhBnvQMAxrg6LPIy6oN4Itk4331c7s_3eCXr6rWwkK8wLSU090qHg1a6/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3143.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YUapRKn0iGNX8hbfJevk1PYzJsxd4JE4M0-S2nrlT8YlWXpZHOhhkyYg3wucoZAFIhGKwyBgy46xF7CeRzHwdPZU89clSSEvDgH65R68-GaWvmt7SjM1nVMToQg3gjVbwBe69fni7ESTlnhm2aCuXfH_UBUTvg8rbTX9awRme0IzyPsWQ-dUNhev/s6177/KIrwinPhotography-3153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6177" data-original-width="4118" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YUapRKn0iGNX8hbfJevk1PYzJsxd4JE4M0-S2nrlT8YlWXpZHOhhkyYg3wucoZAFIhGKwyBgy46xF7CeRzHwdPZU89clSSEvDgH65R68-GaWvmt7SjM1nVMToQg3gjVbwBe69fni7ESTlnhm2aCuXfH_UBUTvg8rbTX9awRme0IzyPsWQ-dUNhev/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3153.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>I think the biggest help in this arena has little to do with your dad and I over the years and more to do with how you've led your own heart to follow Jesus. You've allowed The Helper, another name for the Holy Spirit, to dwell in you and guide you and I am repeatedly telling you how I see the fruits of this Spirit in your life. You obviously still need reminded from time to time [as does your mother ;)] to be more patient, more gentle, more kind etc, but we have truly noticed a difference in your heart's posture. You made this decision this year and talked to me about it, saying you wanted to be baptized. When I talked to you about what that meant you said, "I know I will still sin after I get baptized, but when God sees me he will see Jesus." On March 6 you were baptized and it was day of celebration for sure! We are so proud of you-- it's the best decision you will make to follow Christ. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qcRRdvB2w_tg2zll82jrjyupnlF5AirJtOS_8pcspXiAUCwmvKsGRl0ldtjsbnabr9bVKY27fD9fLIm5GFBmQKgeVhIP_rZWprNYF-b6W0eHnZZ0XZy-sgO-ndtQcYUAkM_EIxH0aA4h4EnhJrpn5q7gourzFH53pS59DjDZOhRzoHmqCOHs5x4O/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qcRRdvB2w_tg2zll82jrjyupnlF5AirJtOS_8pcspXiAUCwmvKsGRl0ldtjsbnabr9bVKY27fD9fLIm5GFBmQKgeVhIP_rZWprNYF-b6W0eHnZZ0XZy-sgO-ndtQcYUAkM_EIxH0aA4h4EnhJrpn5q7gourzFH53pS59DjDZOhRzoHmqCOHs5x4O/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3154.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3_2IuoH1lzQjVwoI705h-WRBYurR5-_FqnRxQqTdkjihZybVZqnTcwWYAOlPM220SN-iytrqGNCIx62SuKsbablZQK7wfynZSWZHd9rdphzlNqnsRWS7mgkDMaTZx4S9FDuQnQSrJchEi-nBINiaqCXYVrmUTVPUl7aGQcPW_wp5EuzbojNhNMfi/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3_2IuoH1lzQjVwoI705h-WRBYurR5-_FqnRxQqTdkjihZybVZqnTcwWYAOlPM220SN-iytrqGNCIx62SuKsbablZQK7wfynZSWZHd9rdphzlNqnsRWS7mgkDMaTZx4S9FDuQnQSrJchEi-nBINiaqCXYVrmUTVPUl7aGQcPW_wp5EuzbojNhNMfi/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3158.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelqzpaX6j24GEHbLXD5aGEiXEXgBk_G2_tFjGKleHyJOx4YzNB6TopnhLpW2CJVXdUgiwsnr30tphrBJpo-I7GfXOsdlGObLcy5bZXozitJrWTTcRjraBD7TYhvdt9fRL4A05M_2yj-Y_gJoest1RPHPHnTH43EzIAoDJOnnM5Xf7NLOv-Q3DsPUy/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3165.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelqzpaX6j24GEHbLXD5aGEiXEXgBk_G2_tFjGKleHyJOx4YzNB6TopnhLpW2CJVXdUgiwsnr30tphrBJpo-I7GfXOsdlGObLcy5bZXozitJrWTTcRjraBD7TYhvdt9fRL4A05M_2yj-Y_gJoest1RPHPHnTH43EzIAoDJOnnM5Xf7NLOv-Q3DsPUy/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3165.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUJo8Ls-lG_z3v-GKGCkKEJ5IKPapOR7698xDXDEDpePSWEg_TzsyRmsBCffsYCqvSHEcwDEv9hht1BtsIjuZWv1DbYjs_FcoughxK7961WHwDDXRivoA6DMxpqW-L9ZdA_2cqIR1fT1JQZQ3SmFmfMis4sDUSXN8MT2e7Zrt-3d5JgJCo503MGNt/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3167.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUJo8Ls-lG_z3v-GKGCkKEJ5IKPapOR7698xDXDEDpePSWEg_TzsyRmsBCffsYCqvSHEcwDEv9hht1BtsIjuZWv1DbYjs_FcoughxK7961WHwDDXRivoA6DMxpqW-L9ZdA_2cqIR1fT1JQZQ3SmFmfMis4sDUSXN8MT2e7Zrt-3d5JgJCo503MGNt/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3167.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cvop5svrGwtUlnaTcNLIpvm3BziS5mPuM2uJ4Z3WX6gTMDwf8BIedMsR9kXUrnvtfT7fZRvrUEO6DbDEKIoWLu0RLJuoIVw3MixIHc7ShhmOEI7jP3kqn9GIHaydrnfBN0XZjWZ_E_l_dtJR-d3ugjLIuIbj7OQ09Ioh4BsBqP4oWFFqKw3m4xgz/s5610/KIrwinPhotography-3171.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5610" data-original-width="3740" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cvop5svrGwtUlnaTcNLIpvm3BziS5mPuM2uJ4Z3WX6gTMDwf8BIedMsR9kXUrnvtfT7fZRvrUEO6DbDEKIoWLu0RLJuoIVw3MixIHc7ShhmOEI7jP3kqn9GIHaydrnfBN0XZjWZ_E_l_dtJR-d3ugjLIuIbj7OQ09Ioh4BsBqP4oWFFqKw3m4xgz/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3171.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9TOokRTQ7P4sfea3YvmaLeG52qL34L3wzXQmWNzQcBH_wRtTJrfmuFHMFaX7ba0ZTOAgmtA-9fpotww3M-ZP2xfFb-c5aSSJTf7paVHMGD0Vz2RngcqLczhq8s_D1HvT_jVQuMDegWHlxM8jYRpSdCOor0K3DdeKhh2cu1QVyvI-qKNBvl_cuf6B/s5923/KIrwinPhotography-3174.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5923" data-original-width="3949" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9TOokRTQ7P4sfea3YvmaLeG52qL34L3wzXQmWNzQcBH_wRtTJrfmuFHMFaX7ba0ZTOAgmtA-9fpotww3M-ZP2xfFb-c5aSSJTf7paVHMGD0Vz2RngcqLczhq8s_D1HvT_jVQuMDegWHlxM8jYRpSdCOor0K3DdeKhh2cu1QVyvI-qKNBvl_cuf6B/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3174.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbEsMmZ_CNMpHqGfQD4OTk6Vvk2VhfZ02gWYmnxGGGPPhtPY7YRPFvEnErVEqEM28-PDCYrwdEegKPaqty_GRnq00dt9Ym3tI379HS0v4EGg4qIDjWlQrhu2-FKkpCBRzkEoruACnKv8oJ3bvnoq1pXofavW-oRO16WWSxCBRnBMA4St0tsf1T_G_/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3178.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbEsMmZ_CNMpHqGfQD4OTk6Vvk2VhfZ02gWYmnxGGGPPhtPY7YRPFvEnErVEqEM28-PDCYrwdEegKPaqty_GRnq00dt9Ym3tI379HS0v4EGg4qIDjWlQrhu2-FKkpCBRzkEoruACnKv8oJ3bvnoq1pXofavW-oRO16WWSxCBRnBMA4St0tsf1T_G_/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3178.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErD9ALKFUv9-AsNTFCQJ6He4LtxFEFpr7y3SbEhDrhJODsS1h420pZC5m4tTJcPF6jx2yb07yU_OQWnBxnbzYjvxDsejSkI76J4CIU7ck5zzG5t2Xx94a2g0RhguA_XW_XeJGfhV1S5mGWBmZFHy6gSL_umHsz5LbIrtbiUHt6D4rAyyIe9ElJ0Ox/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3184.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErD9ALKFUv9-AsNTFCQJ6He4LtxFEFpr7y3SbEhDrhJODsS1h420pZC5m4tTJcPF6jx2yb07yU_OQWnBxnbzYjvxDsejSkI76J4CIU7ck5zzG5t2Xx94a2g0RhguA_XW_XeJGfhV1S5mGWBmZFHy6gSL_umHsz5LbIrtbiUHt6D4rAyyIe9ElJ0Ox/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3184.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6GV5pebjiinYY5_nNC442o542Ug4m8PGLF-jc_6wfOCJYm9PS5TsGARYkNx31hTJCg5M2DtzlNs1Po1_30wf4qQ8EVXpbNgp1XELrtQqG_qRGXrqmpsm9I1JeYEvhUM7ufWZ3IU4sKGej_fBXKga_rkK08uvCP_LzzT80IsY77JhrmSlsiId9EDv/s5007/KIrwinPhotography-3188.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3338" data-original-width="5007" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6GV5pebjiinYY5_nNC442o542Ug4m8PGLF-jc_6wfOCJYm9PS5TsGARYkNx31hTJCg5M2DtzlNs1Po1_30wf4qQ8EVXpbNgp1XELrtQqG_qRGXrqmpsm9I1JeYEvhUM7ufWZ3IU4sKGej_fBXKga_rkK08uvCP_LzzT80IsY77JhrmSlsiId9EDv/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3188.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>There were a lot of other big moments this year, too. A trip to Colorado right after your birthday, another season of tball, and a summer filled with little, mundane things like swimming, time at the creek, and catching tadpoles. All those little moments add up to a big thing in my book, and I think over time you will see they have for you too. Those moments are when you are in your element the most, Becksy. When you can have your hands in the dirt, your toes in the mud, a creature in your net, your siblings around you, the wind at your back, the sun in your face, and no agenda but to play and run and <i>be. </i>You are a gold medalist in those moments, filled with bursting joy and unbridled enthusiasm for life. It's so fun to watch you explore and dream. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G4voyiMdVkR5aEX3dTDQjDiPEIGa6a_AGV7PykWuvXAWUOIZBQzPV6xSPtDkrPGZdGDPW5qgQwMgEjcr_acLtz3ndB-PjOY7ObFT5QbpO3G2W6t4eM6q1d6dHq-NlDqDqLgdOlfqZC7q-06YA01MhIezWZFVqLmk3c65DXi0l0qA1HswoWBMPAj1/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3191.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G4voyiMdVkR5aEX3dTDQjDiPEIGa6a_AGV7PykWuvXAWUOIZBQzPV6xSPtDkrPGZdGDPW5qgQwMgEjcr_acLtz3ndB-PjOY7ObFT5QbpO3G2W6t4eM6q1d6dHq-NlDqDqLgdOlfqZC7q-06YA01MhIezWZFVqLmk3c65DXi0l0qA1HswoWBMPAj1/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3191.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYzwlLTe074iTmOKL5yrkY9npp4mv5UxvBfSyMYCyJAaWftJu5B_nDXmfGoBXzzt2n6QhEdqmES0rydRy6Q-olA7jDPbmP1U-s9cj56M1JbcDaTEBTfIGz9jjCuF7G9VMSzvIfhEOhzXQKK7K72_bu0Pq2fkhZNBLzZ998ztOrLvda5s1QrwHwNy3/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3192.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYzwlLTe074iTmOKL5yrkY9npp4mv5UxvBfSyMYCyJAaWftJu5B_nDXmfGoBXzzt2n6QhEdqmES0rydRy6Q-olA7jDPbmP1U-s9cj56M1JbcDaTEBTfIGz9jjCuF7G9VMSzvIfhEOhzXQKK7K72_bu0Pq2fkhZNBLzZ998ztOrLvda5s1QrwHwNy3/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3192.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHVsSWDeJDSFlBge9t5GbdUM3I2Vx3Fyv99VftpjgXD6CAUe5Y-kg1J5HT2EnEs6VidAnvYBxzjI1WOLJTF-5zF-mjCTdhhaQ5qFW5R-iSuBuErLij0WMkCozsKoVa6jYHJcmV9kJ345_KgNn7Lnssdp4SRpRhP-zK_DveYb0kB6gm77CGMMA21JH/s5007/KIrwinPhotography-3193.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5007" data-original-width="3338" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHVsSWDeJDSFlBge9t5GbdUM3I2Vx3Fyv99VftpjgXD6CAUe5Y-kg1J5HT2EnEs6VidAnvYBxzjI1WOLJTF-5zF-mjCTdhhaQ5qFW5R-iSuBuErLij0WMkCozsKoVa6jYHJcmV9kJ345_KgNn7Lnssdp4SRpRhP-zK_DveYb0kB6gm77CGMMA21JH/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3193.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTtDZAawuvPyAbYvhcHDVxpI_7y8g_t9E35aw-1dbEEwqJydu-HCNXH-GijgFY6dU_0EWoIc4bXDKwdvgSOH1QPGI1io2RncslcOOwDRVW5wBijOjBk38dFDLvnVC9HPHNTUFRJACakMK6awEZbG1CXbOiXpTphUxreIxO1bBfYDr5_12KQEMA2HZ/s6104/KIrwinPhotography-3194.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6104" data-original-width="4069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTtDZAawuvPyAbYvhcHDVxpI_7y8g_t9E35aw-1dbEEwqJydu-HCNXH-GijgFY6dU_0EWoIc4bXDKwdvgSOH1QPGI1io2RncslcOOwDRVW5wBijOjBk38dFDLvnVC9HPHNTUFRJACakMK6awEZbG1CXbOiXpTphUxreIxO1bBfYDr5_12KQEMA2HZ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3194.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0h_SF3FTjHKOsg3TXnh_RWLIQU7Zo2fzDzveVXBcoMzhAzmUjQcgqOC04zDdps0L_YUiiRdvMi8Rm4_93Hd5JuhMs42513Vx5BgxmV40Y6K9KyM3XjM6_QQpCVn0K7pcyL4-CLgR02A955YmU7oTdWEVgwGdPBG9QmL-H2h8axik00NRLBhRMZAD/s5597/KIrwinPhotography-3195.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5597" data-original-width="3731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0h_SF3FTjHKOsg3TXnh_RWLIQU7Zo2fzDzveVXBcoMzhAzmUjQcgqOC04zDdps0L_YUiiRdvMi8Rm4_93Hd5JuhMs42513Vx5BgxmV40Y6K9KyM3XjM6_QQpCVn0K7pcyL4-CLgR02A955YmU7oTdWEVgwGdPBG9QmL-H2h8axik00NRLBhRMZAD/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3195.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecHexGcgCCbK-O_eA6ppt-DoUXPElwpKOziNWZSAjnSZfNNyBlLPiYjP0CbiF-obcEiT0XpWjUtpVtnm1UPGJNtUJ-Lxl3aWOlteLTrqkeNwNEHsHyS6kfJWyaGydKE6ArCp2T2ltIvElybB6-VtGHNHOMJlgfAcjGqL1oU8VF8wX9udYClgjjN_p/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3197.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecHexGcgCCbK-O_eA6ppt-DoUXPElwpKOziNWZSAjnSZfNNyBlLPiYjP0CbiF-obcEiT0XpWjUtpVtnm1UPGJNtUJ-Lxl3aWOlteLTrqkeNwNEHsHyS6kfJWyaGydKE6ArCp2T2ltIvElybB6-VtGHNHOMJlgfAcjGqL1oU8VF8wX9udYClgjjN_p/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3197.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIK_N6XiT9vVjmGfxs5KTyt3sz0GlkJkGEUofJG6BLMXHckkQP3rjPhUh8GQihGkEThPVkq2caIyhZd-Lwno_r0Zz3AqgKLh6AKrlbEDHpKP0UAky-alYIr0GdUq1j3dCn_cbsOADx_4ySxg5i65UhafK70b1KXaAi9Xd3PYldorwh1TK1QQrO6cV7/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3198.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIK_N6XiT9vVjmGfxs5KTyt3sz0GlkJkGEUofJG6BLMXHckkQP3rjPhUh8GQihGkEThPVkq2caIyhZd-Lwno_r0Zz3AqgKLh6AKrlbEDHpKP0UAky-alYIr0GdUq1j3dCn_cbsOADx_4ySxg5i65UhafK70b1KXaAi9Xd3PYldorwh1TK1QQrO6cV7/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3198.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0hz0R7Tt3D_PI4rTQG8F_MCdRUREfiAfWeoLT6iYaQZnQGt_CHcrPsmsdorLPd8dUdOk8vQ7vafYOaI5rF3Zt7eCFICgm-PwGag-8QtXIlUZdIIQGJdgb7ZBAkUkEadLasiojyAq9BlZ_grolYUyn78t2VRRpvpLQqzZQPPMmA1Yj3WWudxAKbU3/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3199.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0hz0R7Tt3D_PI4rTQG8F_MCdRUREfiAfWeoLT6iYaQZnQGt_CHcrPsmsdorLPd8dUdOk8vQ7vafYOaI5rF3Zt7eCFICgm-PwGag-8QtXIlUZdIIQGJdgb7ZBAkUkEadLasiojyAq9BlZ_grolYUyn78t2VRRpvpLQqzZQPPMmA1Yj3WWudxAKbU3/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3199.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bCXJBPCVP433WqUzevv4Bqf05hZ8ZhLU8H57oKmFkEWBpKY4VErv5ECDsEupejC0Vwj2PUVn-KVjPfUOBWgZjWWGvbJ1oUo8opGMkszKwtihTTqLXRbN42p7R4-yxubfukhPhgkJoCSHhttAGRlar2dyfhnlekvdLNnJCXb2D5AH-41wp2grWDk_/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bCXJBPCVP433WqUzevv4Bqf05hZ8ZhLU8H57oKmFkEWBpKY4VErv5ECDsEupejC0Vwj2PUVn-KVjPfUOBWgZjWWGvbJ1oUo8opGMkszKwtihTTqLXRbN42p7R4-yxubfukhPhgkJoCSHhttAGRlar2dyfhnlekvdLNnJCXb2D5AH-41wp2grWDk_/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3203.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>One day we came home from church and you discovered a calf that had <i>just </i>been born right next to our fence row. The mama was cleaning it and being very protective, but you were enamored by the entire process. I brought out popcorn and we sat on the trampoline and watched that miracle for nearly an hour. The calf took its first feeble and wobbly steps and we watched. It searched and searched for the udder, the mom trying to help as best she could. Eventually it found it and figured out how to suckle a little. We watched it all but I think you, more than anyone else, were really taking it in like you seem to do everything. You notice details no one else does, little moments and sights and sounds that seem to be captured only by you. I like to think that that day, us munching popcorn and watching the incredible first moments of a calf, will stay with you the rest of your life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSOvl1uy31GauICRxeOub_c90SnnPlXmYrrpm0BOtp5k_0RMXZSYOHhgQTxC9O4nlOcgUocsfVyWp1yNumredYSp_6L3TWZZ4LehqJSqLecDi6hVxD6TfxMIphKYfg63RbaXjn8IDowFk6cxkXKyATB4mJNoCal65UrtEeP2vNrAAGa1nQIrvKHHZ/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSOvl1uy31GauICRxeOub_c90SnnPlXmYrrpm0BOtp5k_0RMXZSYOHhgQTxC9O4nlOcgUocsfVyWp1yNumredYSp_6L3TWZZ4LehqJSqLecDi6hVxD6TfxMIphKYfg63RbaXjn8IDowFk6cxkXKyATB4mJNoCal65UrtEeP2vNrAAGa1nQIrvKHHZ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3205.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5CF5b1eogu6KcraoED1bxbJUSdWZjJ5MzFX2vM_YOgHWMk5lwF24f61oxN9ek8vH5Ri5Ms6C6Udtr5VJdAXNUAGLl_T58P5jdSmwhhveCaNtj54YFIsVNeq1KvTQDLRstdd2FAgo1b7ZNCfL35FE-8J6cjRuyaedTuZ2sIgXwMOZWzgPRx8pr1DV/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5CF5b1eogu6KcraoED1bxbJUSdWZjJ5MzFX2vM_YOgHWMk5lwF24f61oxN9ek8vH5Ri5Ms6C6Udtr5VJdAXNUAGLl_T58P5jdSmwhhveCaNtj54YFIsVNeq1KvTQDLRstdd2FAgo1b7ZNCfL35FE-8J6cjRuyaedTuZ2sIgXwMOZWzgPRx8pr1DV/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3207.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsWUXfI-RoE6V0KKtUlEtTdI08BSgJssHta37PoqRxslP_BUZu4JK0Xy9CyhgVFb46VTF1wU-dV4EzRLBb1r6oy-U8Gq7rV9MZHvPMhJdpZo5iGnPxg2eHwwK2iexf1PmLZP_N1CFFPD4uL7bBeqGirFEocLIZthVo2da_Z1IaNnzyoEGOH70TydK/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsWUXfI-RoE6V0KKtUlEtTdI08BSgJssHta37PoqRxslP_BUZu4JK0Xy9CyhgVFb46VTF1wU-dV4EzRLBb1r6oy-U8Gq7rV9MZHvPMhJdpZo5iGnPxg2eHwwK2iexf1PmLZP_N1CFFPD4uL7bBeqGirFEocLIZthVo2da_Z1IaNnzyoEGOH70TydK/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3212.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0r5g78sbcyMmXtzqtSFyLRSbiSEtRg0bCEV43xOMmL7L31bfT0fXAzavQw_W2peSMvPtMuMzXGABNiBEUE9P5H7tUqO1PjpyvtorVTYKbsc7CDDOmRYrJ_XMui5kK7sF4GGoQR5zSoFhAPbNa4C244ZAYrUFSzVZ1XvknlhZJH51REPqKEnEW87y/s6104/KIrwinPhotography-3213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6104" data-original-width="4069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0r5g78sbcyMmXtzqtSFyLRSbiSEtRg0bCEV43xOMmL7L31bfT0fXAzavQw_W2peSMvPtMuMzXGABNiBEUE9P5H7tUqO1PjpyvtorVTYKbsc7CDDOmRYrJ_XMui5kK7sF4GGoQR5zSoFhAPbNa4C244ZAYrUFSzVZ1XvknlhZJH51REPqKEnEW87y/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3213.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpWb5oNKoLzVr9MPeenSsOb6ktqnNRke6nnbYtkAqSBRhkvIs09MY0Ol6LeeKVMHrVy83irB49J6hIZTt8a_yjdG3Geu8gjS3ycolYbGOeU2q0TA2Xq1EUWaonw1lb_TG0ViiRssCN6gJDDD8xXUPhklFTYi9_DQ4ntjJcuPirSDZDloPaBkUHOlU/s5948/KIrwinPhotography-3217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5948" data-original-width="3965" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpWb5oNKoLzVr9MPeenSsOb6ktqnNRke6nnbYtkAqSBRhkvIs09MY0Ol6LeeKVMHrVy83irB49J6hIZTt8a_yjdG3Geu8gjS3ycolYbGOeU2q0TA2Xq1EUWaonw1lb_TG0ViiRssCN6gJDDD8xXUPhklFTYi9_DQ4ntjJcuPirSDZDloPaBkUHOlU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3217.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dq48gIAyDbvBvEfqFjdm93Rx9TCc0mmZBUL0MjFyFObwpYMThuWeU-k1r-t-hRGMCr85QtyQJvvnafq_KzcpJIY8rxf1NFrOH6shnXbMJMIDItTaHINITOKtGznpz8QlFGnAd3ZNVuSTqiVJS4llGn9B_1R1DvfYNiRxFkpsf_SRUmkmetS8quKO/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dq48gIAyDbvBvEfqFjdm93Rx9TCc0mmZBUL0MjFyFObwpYMThuWeU-k1r-t-hRGMCr85QtyQJvvnafq_KzcpJIY8rxf1NFrOH6shnXbMJMIDItTaHINITOKtGznpz8QlFGnAd3ZNVuSTqiVJS4llGn9B_1R1DvfYNiRxFkpsf_SRUmkmetS8quKO/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3221.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjor8zoYtgCLO70dG3srMpNlckmmwXUTxh-05ITAYEF729LpZpWlGojN1vCQFnbhC5x0YZJ09b6tDROl2nvIctNtGkHfny4gR65GJBqSOynmlhQSlCLEfWjxAV6vpvSFQyurIvgjkZoY455_vZIyZx8Ahvlr64dMFNjqhhb0lCW1DaFZv3HuLukpZJj/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjor8zoYtgCLO70dG3srMpNlckmmwXUTxh-05ITAYEF729LpZpWlGojN1vCQFnbhC5x0YZJ09b6tDROl2nvIctNtGkHfny4gR65GJBqSOynmlhQSlCLEfWjxAV6vpvSFQyurIvgjkZoY455_vZIyZx8Ahvlr64dMFNjqhhb0lCW1DaFZv3HuLukpZJj/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3224.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUL7i1o7LSer0Ax8QAKAxryGiuFBXD4dKtCtsXQ0q8-YAioT_c_9Fn28rDmxdXtOkr3uNOCwjb-99L1f_2UwMC6LZ4FRbOXwerSmfBHYo0VkcqBTWJdRDdkNm0S0ePkiV6wIQAGMf2LgnV_Bt-szMhVBlhNVpZa-kNsX_AOP_TxA0oY1HaTby189n/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUL7i1o7LSer0Ax8QAKAxryGiuFBXD4dKtCtsXQ0q8-YAioT_c_9Fn28rDmxdXtOkr3uNOCwjb-99L1f_2UwMC6LZ4FRbOXwerSmfBHYo0VkcqBTWJdRDdkNm0S0ePkiV6wIQAGMf2LgnV_Bt-szMhVBlhNVpZa-kNsX_AOP_TxA0oY1HaTby189n/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3226.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-orKMlzzafWA99aQ4TVNEioeR-bheTUKtwbakg-_SMHabQ-1HMLAKgXR3uOZhda6w6gm8KcKb5dxkn-yW3ORCFpHpyK6xrGnt1lxiEqhnvGeUEGZHKC-L_ejpj95xwLNU_DoAoV0r80j3kGjbMTTjSXZjT6GouJ1PUeT2CpnG-ky3InF4aToS-sj/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-orKMlzzafWA99aQ4TVNEioeR-bheTUKtwbakg-_SMHabQ-1HMLAKgXR3uOZhda6w6gm8KcKb5dxkn-yW3ORCFpHpyK6xrGnt1lxiEqhnvGeUEGZHKC-L_ejpj95xwLNU_DoAoV0r80j3kGjbMTTjSXZjT6GouJ1PUeT2CpnG-ky3InF4aToS-sj/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3228.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuowHCuogJ8-SymqJflNxSNtcw0pDH4StjZ080OcJqjEtx5EgQVUgAM_bzqIRfYL4QqSqKJIwy5bqxNdH4tW_EZT7Iv5eX1y3gQrwDRS9NI5ActBSDwkIT-Om4pqESyDQdPPNe7shYrFvsg8b5VWbHcW3xHqp1bYbhXY77O2G3hXOW10OLvLcXurb4/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuowHCuogJ8-SymqJflNxSNtcw0pDH4StjZ080OcJqjEtx5EgQVUgAM_bzqIRfYL4QqSqKJIwy5bqxNdH4tW_EZT7Iv5eX1y3gQrwDRS9NI5ActBSDwkIT-Om4pqESyDQdPPNe7shYrFvsg8b5VWbHcW3xHqp1bYbhXY77O2G3hXOW10OLvLcXurb4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3241.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>Speaking of noticing things, you are still the one that pays attention to what people are wearing, jewelry, shoes, accessories, you name it! Just the other day I had on some sandals with a wedged heel and you said, "Mom, remember when we had our bookstore date and there was a mom and daughter that had matching sandals like that?" That date was months ago, and yet you still remembered this teeny detail! If your dad ever has a "should I wear this, or should I wear that" kind of question, you're the one he asks. If someone gets new glasses, or a hair trim, or new earrings, it does not go unnoticed by you. I think this is why you're very good at also perceiving people's motivations-- you know how people tick on a level that a lot of people never notice. Which means you can really drive your siblings batty, because you study them, study them, study them, and then know exactly what buttons to push to evoke the responses you want. We've talked a lot about using this gift for good and not evil ;). In a world where most people are moving too quickly, you're a noticer. And that is a special gift, indeed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dY306DXGZofns4gcMa3nncbuVLa_d7tDha3YLMM3QQxxuFXmhc5CqkwDyirz5aa1HIL1gJOrbpL5wZpCiM3PmhqdEz-UhPDUu2ezqsb063GfQD7waZZBIGnt4s3IV2XnncHuIuKIUlSuSiSuzEKT0gnd_qCkvvR1GmfD6kojbEwpnGk1nwrGTW4a/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dY306DXGZofns4gcMa3nncbuVLa_d7tDha3YLMM3QQxxuFXmhc5CqkwDyirz5aa1HIL1gJOrbpL5wZpCiM3PmhqdEz-UhPDUu2ezqsb063GfQD7waZZBIGnt4s3IV2XnncHuIuKIUlSuSiSuzEKT0gnd_qCkvvR1GmfD6kojbEwpnGk1nwrGTW4a/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3256.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0pSqz--xRzRPkskdkUYLgSYPhuf1oDs7IA5gGBRtPCURo0L1kNfW3-6GTlggxDObQHKEXUZnPzFf3Y21Zub3LL1Y4ppw3jbTjor4PZYBGLLEjGCy2P7r6hlEGo_izNzQzwvu-cORjgO7l82SA1fl8USJzMhxGSHXj7plrWASja1Sp6lDbEgIEinW/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0pSqz--xRzRPkskdkUYLgSYPhuf1oDs7IA5gGBRtPCURo0L1kNfW3-6GTlggxDObQHKEXUZnPzFf3Y21Zub3LL1Y4ppw3jbTjor4PZYBGLLEjGCy2P7r6hlEGo_izNzQzwvu-cORjgO7l82SA1fl8USJzMhxGSHXj7plrWASja1Sp6lDbEgIEinW/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3257.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cQhIjkubWi5Q0qicIqHqxm1vAPOBZoZQP40tc1bIFriX09kHi_YOYK0j_VmOJKH2RaVMr3rhxxA_rTRpC73uFLbEVMt7lrQLKY3dq9CIxTXlnk0XDMkmB4Xbl1FY8ibJa6U539f_KWrKUrxqa0UFzHyIw_0tR0urFAPLnWUhN1_FkcdvfE_c34Wm/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3261.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cQhIjkubWi5Q0qicIqHqxm1vAPOBZoZQP40tc1bIFriX09kHi_YOYK0j_VmOJKH2RaVMr3rhxxA_rTRpC73uFLbEVMt7lrQLKY3dq9CIxTXlnk0XDMkmB4Xbl1FY8ibJa6U539f_KWrKUrxqa0UFzHyIw_0tR0urFAPLnWUhN1_FkcdvfE_c34Wm/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3261.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0N-uj-w4SAkDXGmzUxRvdqS553LfRROKxUbQEMu75XsoiCFk8GKREhU1Qp3nharPntLsdM862m118ealAacUNLzrUmqUUN1lXegQI5zCN2sUL8wi2vDAeh53KOrQXo3LjkqcrnPEGbV-_EuelKZ__IdC_6LbZm4V4Pc65TxAD6XKezmJEsficmu2/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0N-uj-w4SAkDXGmzUxRvdqS553LfRROKxUbQEMu75XsoiCFk8GKREhU1Qp3nharPntLsdM862m118ealAacUNLzrUmqUUN1lXegQI5zCN2sUL8wi2vDAeh53KOrQXo3LjkqcrnPEGbV-_EuelKZ__IdC_6LbZm4V4Pc65TxAD6XKezmJEsficmu2/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3264.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXAhwSZ5eDpANQDX_QUQPHngYiFnxUV5brDmHVvhyFmDWo0z2WKZxokPkz2QNyK0_AVaX9n6P1pNt2d5pCK_02cI0khsZtHP1n3629SCpaXt60gj6eLelJiT7MkXTwiu72bXeVOhx976GLOAbars6onQWwnCjRRpjQnaeT9Rnv4K72Nk5BIZUb8I8/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3269.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXAhwSZ5eDpANQDX_QUQPHngYiFnxUV5brDmHVvhyFmDWo0z2WKZxokPkz2QNyK0_AVaX9n6P1pNt2d5pCK_02cI0khsZtHP1n3629SCpaXt60gj6eLelJiT7MkXTwiu72bXeVOhx976GLOAbars6onQWwnCjRRpjQnaeT9Rnv4K72Nk5BIZUb8I8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3269.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4mXUbadsYe4BZTCP4RKzds9CsoOVK-aq8O2amiMEEQ-fuOv8GgZOl6qJhuPlAmAeyooVIFRvPUJ1shKxoPw9swhxVIIUQa_au3dmG9h02BwAWVSacN-Xaj-uX113w0HoD4KndHHB_KbbxuKQyRzNum2w8SLbtNAgGV0HH7Ar5G3r8Pzkt9KSmH30/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3272.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4mXUbadsYe4BZTCP4RKzds9CsoOVK-aq8O2amiMEEQ-fuOv8GgZOl6qJhuPlAmAeyooVIFRvPUJ1shKxoPw9swhxVIIUQa_au3dmG9h02BwAWVSacN-Xaj-uX113w0HoD4KndHHB_KbbxuKQyRzNum2w8SLbtNAgGV0HH7Ar5G3r8Pzkt9KSmH30/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3272.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdzRsBTea07eERj0zdlxbQ4nSGalOpiy5WL7cKVjZe8XlEBZWtLMc6VDvDeCLkfr_wG3amb5Zru9RI4mv4GTcKV4KL67ASEpp_j8sSVs5hqSOCoaLTa_aGEreEVxatRt9yIAS3LPt0levbMWdEmjdlYI6RgADw7TA7VduSmHJFbT80jMt3dYBSATq/s5658/KIrwinPhotography-3273.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5658" data-original-width="3772" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdzRsBTea07eERj0zdlxbQ4nSGalOpiy5WL7cKVjZe8XlEBZWtLMc6VDvDeCLkfr_wG3amb5Zru9RI4mv4GTcKV4KL67ASEpp_j8sSVs5hqSOCoaLTa_aGEreEVxatRt9yIAS3LPt0levbMWdEmjdlYI6RgADw7TA7VduSmHJFbT80jMt3dYBSATq/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3273.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0uJuewRmb30GEs13XqJovPtoN-kA94__QjIEwlmkTFroee2F7uNz6TFpmiJPpA35BIyj_1xiPn88qC5RXDPSf3tdF029EuDtsTvzJ7Ji8QokSuUhXIUM4X82w-EaGy4HZLqePMCv_mc63mfm_JFNqhnhELb4fPoI76RMpQXa6SX8ab8syWXStDun/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3274.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0uJuewRmb30GEs13XqJovPtoN-kA94__QjIEwlmkTFroee2F7uNz6TFpmiJPpA35BIyj_1xiPn88qC5RXDPSf3tdF029EuDtsTvzJ7Ji8QokSuUhXIUM4X82w-EaGy4HZLqePMCv_mc63mfm_JFNqhnhELb4fPoI76RMpQXa6SX8ab8syWXStDun/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3274.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ2BCzLCRebr0lWx_gbTGVunBeloPc43qkwZOhaM6KvXTX7H-Ik7aYfI8oLelraXHEEvwKH5mMg-4t6WSEjznG3Vuydrb-09vKZTBKgy89whLNsiHzMtJlStP--KKgqaTgs4Fekl26jonCapEtDnEmYbvTXmHhxiDeP3EgJY-ji_xYXpSLYVsb9uG/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3285.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZ2BCzLCRebr0lWx_gbTGVunBeloPc43qkwZOhaM6KvXTX7H-Ik7aYfI8oLelraXHEEvwKH5mMg-4t6WSEjznG3Vuydrb-09vKZTBKgy89whLNsiHzMtJlStP--KKgqaTgs4Fekl26jonCapEtDnEmYbvTXmHhxiDeP3EgJY-ji_xYXpSLYVsb9uG/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3285.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>You learned how to really swim at the end of last summer, and you learned how to really read and love it this school year. Your confidence this year, Becks? Well it flew through the roof! When I think back on the super shy, timid kindergartner who could hardly look adults in the eye I barely recognize her. Your teacher this year was incredibly special and really pumped you full of encouragement and confidence. You started volunteering for things without prompting, raising your hand, and participating in ways you never have. It's been very fun to see you blossom. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtXduXCm86n2BKHuoroUazmQWPUCqdg176fgtyy-R0_llXrt2NxsbxQhd35pgiw-LnFy6FAISjMVnjR-Uz8zKOqYvg8scAckZzNLO-E72h-uvdbf3f33pagsqzlvlYgj7iGT9rsIImRH2XsxJYhHZdz53wFj6Ixz8kTo8uuK_mVyVEYEmGli5Zd3y/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3293.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtXduXCm86n2BKHuoroUazmQWPUCqdg176fgtyy-R0_llXrt2NxsbxQhd35pgiw-LnFy6FAISjMVnjR-Uz8zKOqYvg8scAckZzNLO-E72h-uvdbf3f33pagsqzlvlYgj7iGT9rsIImRH2XsxJYhHZdz53wFj6Ixz8kTo8uuK_mVyVEYEmGli5Zd3y/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3293.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdY1ooL6eZi68knlNIydKtcUgmL99g1hnUgjSzT54vkj9LLdjRX68wl8ZiFNA9pmM_KJgJSXXUtb0B6KAt0JHzDy3wd85YwcsA33b7b0zT7W65RJR6qNt93gC52B3LWylbqNY4yni0ej88jFPbSs79diFJ1TBEgpVeuAlGp8GIIetVCmC_c_RElLR/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3294.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdY1ooL6eZi68knlNIydKtcUgmL99g1hnUgjSzT54vkj9LLdjRX68wl8ZiFNA9pmM_KJgJSXXUtb0B6KAt0JHzDy3wd85YwcsA33b7b0zT7W65RJR6qNt93gC52B3LWylbqNY4yni0ej88jFPbSs79diFJ1TBEgpVeuAlGp8GIIetVCmC_c_RElLR/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3294.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRhm6VTBHbIy2533o9KRUHH2aH-44O6lh2ysHcbSFE5NA4DX2JCbbO6OORYM7ivFPkD3P2BjT_NDb55trk9RNWGC3CiE-3uuqLTz9dwO8XzKZw65ymvgMk3SRPhZ6R7lsJ8LsC0KTjNiClkJzZTN9O4FhUPHmGe01_WnX57DU4KFLZHrYBLE3cfxq/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3298.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRhm6VTBHbIy2533o9KRUHH2aH-44O6lh2ysHcbSFE5NA4DX2JCbbO6OORYM7ivFPkD3P2BjT_NDb55trk9RNWGC3CiE-3uuqLTz9dwO8XzKZw65ymvgMk3SRPhZ6R7lsJ8LsC0KTjNiClkJzZTN9O4FhUPHmGe01_WnX57DU4KFLZHrYBLE3cfxq/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3298.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoKvyXxoKFeHl8RNxOuEldvGLmNbDma1X9kpLJVTVxbmneVgBPIB3XPWKQemp0kiMzX0q0HCfORDUQH6egzCeljMk6R74NBFC42V2j5aPKNn0UKlHMV9P_x6lcZRhO3D0f1Cqs4T5kk1iLmD_6xwONtKZIKWdFCQU6J6X3w_6vSgE2Ju_20KiWhmi/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoKvyXxoKFeHl8RNxOuEldvGLmNbDma1X9kpLJVTVxbmneVgBPIB3XPWKQemp0kiMzX0q0HCfORDUQH6egzCeljMk6R74NBFC42V2j5aPKNn0UKlHMV9P_x6lcZRhO3D0f1Cqs4T5kk1iLmD_6xwONtKZIKWdFCQU6J6X3w_6vSgE2Ju_20KiWhmi/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3309.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDScBp0lWpKeVmDXR2Myeqr1F83dQNh_VoH-jgtQnzd5HvZ947hDIT1BjeZWiCqt_OQ1ebNUU49SxZHDJ8ZtdiHniIHmM5hyjUI1l4-2x8CG9CDVm918Cvk3UqCkI5UKaqB_AnDEWSOB6DOncmStvrc_5eofD893HNChhmBGqDcwg0354gesBQTtk/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDScBp0lWpKeVmDXR2Myeqr1F83dQNh_VoH-jgtQnzd5HvZ947hDIT1BjeZWiCqt_OQ1ebNUU49SxZHDJ8ZtdiHniIHmM5hyjUI1l4-2x8CG9CDVm918Cvk3UqCkI5UKaqB_AnDEWSOB6DOncmStvrc_5eofD893HNChhmBGqDcwg0354gesBQTtk/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3310.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRuXv0AAIPAObhFUInUSxcXiQwLgLPsI45JG2IaJBBt41rrz0rlq6XJwQRDG_KBGRZ__KtS73eq7kKTK6eX9GEj9i4k0gRgtFVdZPv5W2EiOIfxB4TL-nI7ojWiDG4CWZPwirnGiER-S4mWNVfylGahpZ941QbEERe9HWoNCVzbcMYwBoD5yYnzbc/s5875/KIrwinPhotography-3312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5875" data-original-width="3917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRuXv0AAIPAObhFUInUSxcXiQwLgLPsI45JG2IaJBBt41rrz0rlq6XJwQRDG_KBGRZ__KtS73eq7kKTK6eX9GEj9i4k0gRgtFVdZPv5W2EiOIfxB4TL-nI7ojWiDG4CWZPwirnGiER-S4mWNVfylGahpZ941QbEERe9HWoNCVzbcMYwBoD5yYnzbc/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3312.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKY-C18cq1utcA4Q4111P4hNT5z3t1Gyz3RV8nmbwTmVw_R7sYSFQGWewYUMnf6B9jO2w0IjPIQp8_qJ175qjTV2xWBhhbaqGJNAEdBimSfSQ16vDcQt3y-BCp7cd8SIvm-u0GPTFDQANeVB9T4vwFYXmjpKslnAX3eC2OK7GUHGesS5Ybs-OYRVs/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKY-C18cq1utcA4Q4111P4hNT5z3t1Gyz3RV8nmbwTmVw_R7sYSFQGWewYUMnf6B9jO2w0IjPIQp8_qJ175qjTV2xWBhhbaqGJNAEdBimSfSQ16vDcQt3y-BCp7cd8SIvm-u0GPTFDQANeVB9T4vwFYXmjpKslnAX3eC2OK7GUHGesS5Ybs-OYRVs/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3319.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkLl5vAt87ADe2ecnNG8eJnP-aHh2jQt57JrsSiioN9dlvinDNoMEOV_LliIRGwFzlCAvTsYfLKz0jQAB1aX6Gi_3JOYa8NA4shIVVKjrfDdfzKMVDy1hpwrbES1JdS0L04wbdjDW7UxfOqL9zzLdtZh0kvNd3wShVmQlHNLNJpJSzBTnYTXV7ztM/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkLl5vAt87ADe2ecnNG8eJnP-aHh2jQt57JrsSiioN9dlvinDNoMEOV_LliIRGwFzlCAvTsYfLKz0jQAB1aX6Gi_3JOYa8NA4shIVVKjrfDdfzKMVDy1hpwrbES1JdS0L04wbdjDW7UxfOqL9zzLdtZh0kvNd3wShVmQlHNLNJpJSzBTnYTXV7ztM/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3321.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaV7fAqx0bSzJUAsFifpgfGHvJSGWGNVgRJL44MlNuOc7rUOn5TOeehDrrb-jYYJjer1OxO6_W4n-aIw_cB6sGstQAB3NPEhpiMQYATVZuBgMuybDR358tiPsge6fwVfWUNwLjQW1g8u_CLZSUg45tbhqlp136aAhWREVyjdE_eezLsdTxr0T9Exe/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaV7fAqx0bSzJUAsFifpgfGHvJSGWGNVgRJL44MlNuOc7rUOn5TOeehDrrb-jYYJjer1OxO6_W4n-aIw_cB6sGstQAB3NPEhpiMQYATVZuBgMuybDR358tiPsge6fwVfWUNwLjQW1g8u_CLZSUg45tbhqlp136aAhWREVyjdE_eezLsdTxr0T9Exe/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3323.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>One big, huge, incredibly fun and special thing happened this year too: you got to go to Hawaii! This is not our typical type of vacation, but thanks to my cousin Lauri and Charles we had the trip of a lifetime. You got to see and swim in the ocean for the first time. You hiked Hawaiian mountains, saw monk seals, Pearl Harbor, and boogie boarded. We went to a luau, which you absolutely loved. You really liked hiking, and some of the trails we did required you to use a rope in some spots, but you were always up for the challenge. I love that when we go on hikes I know that you're never going to be the one to complain or get tired first :), it seems to be right in the sweet spot of your element, which I love. One night while we were there you curled up in your bed and were trying to explain to me this funny feeling you had in your tummy. I explained that it was homesickness. Even though most of us were together, we had left Sloan at home, and I think that coupled with missing the familiarity of routine and our surroundings, were felt by you. I suffered from the same thing when I was your age, and I don't ever want you to think it means you aren't strong. There is a kind of strength that comes from loving your home and being comforted by those you love, and missing it is not a form of weakness. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L5oYNiGprEdfMMBhCLBTj__YzZ6WL5MZZz3ALrKu1tnx_f8wQ7pv0XHDQwDnF65ckDkCbKgfDc_Fiip2sY4SHxagXe3d09S1VFeT5RlBFh9gH18DLvgRa2-pz2SFtnpxwELEQEDuDQnmpNDz-oCPgQa6pWnNP50ZUMl1iWi3GJ_Fopo2RcB_m4vh/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L5oYNiGprEdfMMBhCLBTj__YzZ6WL5MZZz3ALrKu1tnx_f8wQ7pv0XHDQwDnF65ckDkCbKgfDc_Fiip2sY4SHxagXe3d09S1VFeT5RlBFh9gH18DLvgRa2-pz2SFtnpxwELEQEDuDQnmpNDz-oCPgQa6pWnNP50ZUMl1iWi3GJ_Fopo2RcB_m4vh/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3330.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTwaHvjnyk3XHWS8H97w391buJkKeS5IFst7cGYVtZFUQsThVY4RmjkJFbdzye2SyD46RmYt-1t_BkttxwottnYQTGyWMDO18sQP0eRlKlKoR0eMOYOth_npbHJc9-YHIa7Hb3kJb2BLHjitukeLf9xQFV0cBHtZsl_4On2_rp5vIgH42j-FTqRrk/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTwaHvjnyk3XHWS8H97w391buJkKeS5IFst7cGYVtZFUQsThVY4RmjkJFbdzye2SyD46RmYt-1t_BkttxwottnYQTGyWMDO18sQP0eRlKlKoR0eMOYOth_npbHJc9-YHIa7Hb3kJb2BLHjitukeLf9xQFV0cBHtZsl_4On2_rp5vIgH42j-FTqRrk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3343.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-lsbedrHh04AD7XxJ_PkT-CMTR-Pj7Bpu2El1Tyh98Q1YjQPKlV2TH20aF0eL9ibHMVokGovO6QVIc7Nj2mYw_jQOgs_i9LRqfRN360CruMD95-5iEJveM0iEXCJMpBTk2HlCpIhmg5gkL4E5ziHPOkwJIMn1taP1_g0Y8RvA_Y-0lQfLoowCWRc/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-lsbedrHh04AD7XxJ_PkT-CMTR-Pj7Bpu2El1Tyh98Q1YjQPKlV2TH20aF0eL9ibHMVokGovO6QVIc7Nj2mYw_jQOgs_i9LRqfRN360CruMD95-5iEJveM0iEXCJMpBTk2HlCpIhmg5gkL4E5ziHPOkwJIMn1taP1_g0Y8RvA_Y-0lQfLoowCWRc/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3352.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8XfOmN_e7HNyb2GkLxTDqelKOlO2eNW22d9bJy9ZHgj_GnkJimx8flaxpQy8zqpzr9iTBMcrYT8PKFxq96tSQG71Hks9WX7xhD_cNSbLogBbuaQl8CgHOgCVxWnAl0mKMg2KcCXgzcQQKwyw4k4HYo9e2etB1rJqER0MG-rsxI4hKn73_pGwUw-g/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8XfOmN_e7HNyb2GkLxTDqelKOlO2eNW22d9bJy9ZHgj_GnkJimx8flaxpQy8zqpzr9iTBMcrYT8PKFxq96tSQG71Hks9WX7xhD_cNSbLogBbuaQl8CgHOgCVxWnAl0mKMg2KcCXgzcQQKwyw4k4HYo9e2etB1rJqER0MG-rsxI4hKn73_pGwUw-g/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3359.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURCc81CQZM5ImQZ4kLlsEFaV70Dt6llGfHvagt26JqyVHdFyuZ45rt1ypGDPNBUD1zzOaGuUMP0eRltWQmgcQuCE1go_kC_LkEvovRjwrP4MXnw4g6gnnoaDeQsrk7s10dr-sxdHXSHttxrVDTQXY7coUCzUMoyLWNz3nodx4lHwoFpQScd5L0fqY/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURCc81CQZM5ImQZ4kLlsEFaV70Dt6llGfHvagt26JqyVHdFyuZ45rt1ypGDPNBUD1zzOaGuUMP0eRltWQmgcQuCE1go_kC_LkEvovRjwrP4MXnw4g6gnnoaDeQsrk7s10dr-sxdHXSHttxrVDTQXY7coUCzUMoyLWNz3nodx4lHwoFpQScd5L0fqY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3366.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0P4ym84i0DjWFAciZwhuuKz5HzGFSAqVA9CqfE_lX-EClt5-WNEb-x2CXTTriM3KttQ2HM5qGwiXthp1ox5eZqcY2yNo3OI8ZH9kEGId4q1tMPExv0CepnIjEXBUjxXrlTuPlqvMwW3mCqEBUxXaLtbziw8VcPsE0hqAMgZsuycXGx_qBmdBN5h4/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3370.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0P4ym84i0DjWFAciZwhuuKz5HzGFSAqVA9CqfE_lX-EClt5-WNEb-x2CXTTriM3KttQ2HM5qGwiXthp1ox5eZqcY2yNo3OI8ZH9kEGId4q1tMPExv0CepnIjEXBUjxXrlTuPlqvMwW3mCqEBUxXaLtbziw8VcPsE0hqAMgZsuycXGx_qBmdBN5h4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3370.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgur_7SaX3f87qo9Q2djJpY_qZ4xcMYJONY7bY6lp-ZuAMlv95rqkz6KpHiDwLoMPisYy1BpY711U5Ek-QZvHL-ZGgKRVsMnP6JY9JD3lwBtE4n6vHUBpf2AdI3Ek62-NhiMYtDGhKhiRyE1fTzTtKVBGP-4Zd0LHN-DpnPDKCPZjQHdoXAeucXvPCG/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3371.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgur_7SaX3f87qo9Q2djJpY_qZ4xcMYJONY7bY6lp-ZuAMlv95rqkz6KpHiDwLoMPisYy1BpY711U5Ek-QZvHL-ZGgKRVsMnP6JY9JD3lwBtE4n6vHUBpf2AdI3Ek62-NhiMYtDGhKhiRyE1fTzTtKVBGP-4Zd0LHN-DpnPDKCPZjQHdoXAeucXvPCG/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3371.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0l1TQm0_z3RNbyzA5c0FzEDE4vlPtMs91smbPEp6UBymTe_DnJhb_xdElNS6nRpHlyjIfNId4XQ0j1PXQvKH1oEll9u2tpMQO2blEFGXa0RUVPwFQPx1m-AGbynfwwIanO9bIN5l3oXDEG8JGqinNtTQGg67p-qGzMYE54_8snT90tlU1GG7xfHNV/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3377.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0l1TQm0_z3RNbyzA5c0FzEDE4vlPtMs91smbPEp6UBymTe_DnJhb_xdElNS6nRpHlyjIfNId4XQ0j1PXQvKH1oEll9u2tpMQO2blEFGXa0RUVPwFQPx1m-AGbynfwwIanO9bIN5l3oXDEG8JGqinNtTQGg67p-qGzMYE54_8snT90tlU1GG7xfHNV/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3377.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>The things that make you the happiest right now? Being outside, your 2nd grade teacher, riding your bike, digging in the dirt, snuggling into your dad's lap, and babies. All the babies. When any of our friends come over with a baby you ditch whatever else is going on and just want to sit and hold the baby. You'll lay down next to them and pat their back, or hold them and talk to them. Just last night you randomly asked me, "So mom, how old do I have to be before I can start babysitting?" You are just an innate little mother-hen. There is nothing you want more every morning than for Sloan to hug you and kiss you. It's to the point where you'll bribe him with any manner of things to make sure this happens. Sometimes he gets so sick of your smothering love he wallops you, but all is forgiven if he'll sit with you while you read to him. You usually try to get him to sit on your lap but since he's about the same size as you it usually results in a side-by-side reading with lots of pauses for you to kiss his cheeks. You've devised a game where he runs around the house, but when he gets to you you blockade the hallway. This is remedied by him saying, "Home sweet home. Becks is my favorite." And then he has to hug and kiss you before passage is granted. Poor Sloan, you've manipulated him into loving you :). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0LJCiPVpbgU3Ir8SvetJagczibQganX6RX7SJ0QZoA7ntQe2FcAgBzeggpl0tnbdVWwo2VmlE2qVsnKMz84TZcnXhQua3BS1bs1IB4L73Z2qQ7OP9G3zO7tpeyj3eTGavRoVE-BAm_uvElp2fla4SRkcOKSzZ4uyde5Pr_XEfmTsUICiIpcrj5-5/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3383.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0LJCiPVpbgU3Ir8SvetJagczibQganX6RX7SJ0QZoA7ntQe2FcAgBzeggpl0tnbdVWwo2VmlE2qVsnKMz84TZcnXhQua3BS1bs1IB4L73Z2qQ7OP9G3zO7tpeyj3eTGavRoVE-BAm_uvElp2fla4SRkcOKSzZ4uyde5Pr_XEfmTsUICiIpcrj5-5/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3383.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XKvbozZjWe9LNAEviQP8nexPwnk95rp7p5Kwgi7lH10hpO4f_8kTNzeXHsQiw4EQdrj-lCDP3j5NKDA9rs7jiIsm3wuCsOnftAtQrR2hhK0eT2oYaEmmwtrj47QsrHyVDxefUd657FJlvnipsWkhxOmrUymm-qtzsq1zE4NQwFy_fPaT-zA_5koi/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3390.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XKvbozZjWe9LNAEviQP8nexPwnk95rp7p5Kwgi7lH10hpO4f_8kTNzeXHsQiw4EQdrj-lCDP3j5NKDA9rs7jiIsm3wuCsOnftAtQrR2hhK0eT2oYaEmmwtrj47QsrHyVDxefUd657FJlvnipsWkhxOmrUymm-qtzsq1zE4NQwFy_fPaT-zA_5koi/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3390.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-BcetlRnyWhECPU0PZU65xo_kHPAiUK4bzfKZxvQ5vxL6AwvZ4ECAy5MG3xpfOiQ6sfwKTblFXjYFrrZT64lockWeNO-r9g9fc1ieCQxecqpJQ2AeBFVnpqaP3TwkvhO5o7iHfRbc64Utk3GBJuzR7JccYiNnrEdFFjnjJ4Cb5pKZJn-MKckoajD/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3392.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-BcetlRnyWhECPU0PZU65xo_kHPAiUK4bzfKZxvQ5vxL6AwvZ4ECAy5MG3xpfOiQ6sfwKTblFXjYFrrZT64lockWeNO-r9g9fc1ieCQxecqpJQ2AeBFVnpqaP3TwkvhO5o7iHfRbc64Utk3GBJuzR7JccYiNnrEdFFjnjJ4Cb5pKZJn-MKckoajD/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3392.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_Zf5L4FmRFYXbb9E_PSVJguutEsQZNxvh1zhNFQPOW8FYLZWmILwF3OJU366w-MGhKtu1xIzKso8i3RyLul5YdUhEBXfzEeqGbo8oyfpQl7OFsfzIPsujOCulEIMpt0F_4xaiCGwUE2s3fRhVZ_L6WX31FvSzy2t38yvMNlRujEaiS8Pm0tseR3w/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3395.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_Zf5L4FmRFYXbb9E_PSVJguutEsQZNxvh1zhNFQPOW8FYLZWmILwF3OJU366w-MGhKtu1xIzKso8i3RyLul5YdUhEBXfzEeqGbo8oyfpQl7OFsfzIPsujOCulEIMpt0F_4xaiCGwUE2s3fRhVZ_L6WX31FvSzy2t38yvMNlRujEaiS8Pm0tseR3w/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3395.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi499cJJ5ND34WhbvrfCqRqU1z4uUCQyZuY7ZJIlAS8wz8pg6urSmAnL3bcX9RhUurQ2fPge2tdUVIav0SpMbH6Py_HzOe-JNcXVzzx_W2HcZ1S1h0KmJG3ee-HLKQgOiavmGBxyZ7yauZz66lIR9g98wJW9oPeAJAOX0Hnr5cNrV7YJ2h7NaZbjo5e/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3398.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi499cJJ5ND34WhbvrfCqRqU1z4uUCQyZuY7ZJIlAS8wz8pg6urSmAnL3bcX9RhUurQ2fPge2tdUVIav0SpMbH6Py_HzOe-JNcXVzzx_W2HcZ1S1h0KmJG3ee-HLKQgOiavmGBxyZ7yauZz66lIR9g98wJW9oPeAJAOX0Hnr5cNrV7YJ2h7NaZbjo5e/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3398.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuJt5LhZmVpgwbDeq4WUxm7nI9b-SltRa6uHGz9tArJZIIb-rSjGJvkoZZ2naHmA8Rymchf8GKq-XhjohK97hC0HoY3mltsgn9Z3J9371ATE0aC-f-rIy9bYtC0D7VbNwV_vU1T8nKMl4vqdGRKIJwC7Prrv1hnArbLjkAxS4QCCq9BVlh4E7N5IV/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuJt5LhZmVpgwbDeq4WUxm7nI9b-SltRa6uHGz9tArJZIIb-rSjGJvkoZZ2naHmA8Rymchf8GKq-XhjohK97hC0HoY3mltsgn9Z3J9371ATE0aC-f-rIy9bYtC0D7VbNwV_vU1T8nKMl4vqdGRKIJwC7Prrv1hnArbLjkAxS4QCCq9BVlh4E7N5IV/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3401.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwigs_giV4b7Z9aJxlfojgYJCDgEklJIaLJttPpw00UpaInXn616BtKJgY6c6ky8A5QXscXvRwpqzMY0CHytOiCNT5M4s_hJ8Pv01O4LsrTFelO-qIgyCE_d2ZYIMEhEjyjeZo5KshGXhcbt2B5MEoPX8klHueuUk9Zts6lg-fbBAkSpzDWIz_Biv/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwigs_giV4b7Z9aJxlfojgYJCDgEklJIaLJttPpw00UpaInXn616BtKJgY6c6ky8A5QXscXvRwpqzMY0CHytOiCNT5M4s_hJ8Pv01O4LsrTFelO-qIgyCE_d2ZYIMEhEjyjeZo5KshGXhcbt2B5MEoPX8klHueuUk9Zts6lg-fbBAkSpzDWIz_Biv/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3414.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkRQD5Cm71NFdQ74ZX2oPkzHM9bj-8deCFKTTpWIEv2Ckqd_BjKRWhzflqJN1d9EtqkiiuHoECwXUZK4wdwiq8VtLCs3E8lvqimhJ2V5Z0xT8IKP-ILFrifRu3HGbZcC8c7cNSsLpLdDSy2HDBHe5uxx-N9h1iPdRZeF_51iFLsg0zZag008snrW9/s5441/KIrwinPhotography-3415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5441" data-original-width="3627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkRQD5Cm71NFdQ74ZX2oPkzHM9bj-8deCFKTTpWIEv2Ckqd_BjKRWhzflqJN1d9EtqkiiuHoECwXUZK4wdwiq8VtLCs3E8lvqimhJ2V5Z0xT8IKP-ILFrifRu3HGbZcC8c7cNSsLpLdDSy2HDBHe5uxx-N9h1iPdRZeF_51iFLsg0zZag008snrW9/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3415.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqS-nh5Dkvp0oj4UtvMJBpneGQf6JwM3RkSFR3uXt0YSHty3T45rMB2OKtUubI7VY25McWW7a71kh9oNGJcjX3Iz9eg44PzPohxZU4o0gmiA10KLA_0bF-Cq9Zo2w3JfnnBIITihfn5kzksoo5vJwvbirgLzaDVe8FHZZWNJsNTydGYbqEukNJLwu/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqS-nh5Dkvp0oj4UtvMJBpneGQf6JwM3RkSFR3uXt0YSHty3T45rMB2OKtUubI7VY25McWW7a71kh9oNGJcjX3Iz9eg44PzPohxZU4o0gmiA10KLA_0bF-Cq9Zo2w3JfnnBIITihfn5kzksoo5vJwvbirgLzaDVe8FHZZWNJsNTydGYbqEukNJLwu/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3416.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FW_-xWfk7BL6bCb2I7BaxMb0ALAOySCQ8YGCEYySANpXxkbvRKtsHBtFTFum-eqQRyjIcY6mCU1gv1il0qSukDeBEEXjJzp3ZMnPbIwt-s3ZAnRijD0egXeeOzRvNbbYYwzKSAOayJpkwMUHC1YiBJoPs8G6CcBux8UtPA3fVO8FociiXw9cA9Cv/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FW_-xWfk7BL6bCb2I7BaxMb0ALAOySCQ8YGCEYySANpXxkbvRKtsHBtFTFum-eqQRyjIcY6mCU1gv1il0qSukDeBEEXjJzp3ZMnPbIwt-s3ZAnRijD0egXeeOzRvNbbYYwzKSAOayJpkwMUHC1YiBJoPs8G6CcBux8UtPA3fVO8FociiXw9cA9Cv/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3418.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>Oh Becks girl. You have the most wide-open, adventurous heart behind an often timid body. Watching an idea spark behind your beautiful blue eyes is one of my very favorite things. I hope you never tire of giving out hugs, digging in mud, and following Jesus. Eight years ago in a hospital room you came in a hurry. You weren't breathing initially, and they took over to the corner of the room. That space between delivery and your first cry was fleeting but felt oh-so-long. And it was in that space I truly became your mother. And it has been such a joy to be that for you. There are few things I enjoy more in this life than making you really laugh. Thanks for making each day an adventure. When I look at the pictures we took this year [a process you <i>quite </i>enjoy, might I add!], I see your face changing into that of a young woman. And I am looking forward all the nexts with you as well. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4n8RfFtDK22uBNBRlMhNY0TiDvqIYK5reBV1XGAo7-LwoMGdgOi9BhaCCPuNTfwvsqAaXNLgpwwOlY8nku9uDF2_OxLdkc4Wsd0UlkXiqhuBGZ8qpt8MFY0F_e113vAclHdwpqQpQDIaQBgcB7JzQKnK1NWdRpRgzK8twRfMX3b4VhmLNiuHXUBj/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4n8RfFtDK22uBNBRlMhNY0TiDvqIYK5reBV1XGAo7-LwoMGdgOi9BhaCCPuNTfwvsqAaXNLgpwwOlY8nku9uDF2_OxLdkc4Wsd0UlkXiqhuBGZ8qpt8MFY0F_e113vAclHdwpqQpQDIaQBgcB7JzQKnK1NWdRpRgzK8twRfMX3b4VhmLNiuHXUBj/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3421.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRMoXg02Xhd9sLtgACZFMbNKx-cQh-gBraK7NN-Ped0KQTclQ8WDho10yfyzUw1rDlg3rPB0mOOXua2NLOn3eaJ44a9PYyNj69dziqAeGyP78Hk9E0Y7cqaF94olrNVlZ9kXLo-51RmE2RbG6YkFIn_opZVRwTdy6diXBcR_3cC6Laa9frAhjRkG3/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRMoXg02Xhd9sLtgACZFMbNKx-cQh-gBraK7NN-Ped0KQTclQ8WDho10yfyzUw1rDlg3rPB0mOOXua2NLOn3eaJ44a9PYyNj69dziqAeGyP78Hk9E0Y7cqaF94olrNVlZ9kXLo-51RmE2RbG6YkFIn_opZVRwTdy6diXBcR_3cC6Laa9frAhjRkG3/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-3423.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis98hzewkXW-q3Gtc9Wq-RCYwAqU-SJfeTjQaxyIhBblE2UR9tjOchjgYydGZITLJiHfNIQjYUB5VPkXckJSRIG0wEqrbus9IvRd1-8l6NIu4x0_wVVtVHKS-BH4Z6x1qyRW9BKAYnTmrL_t6HD7nulhGcvWdBeX5hGgmwgzARaUaDKQ71oUyQlaaH/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis98hzewkXW-q3Gtc9Wq-RCYwAqU-SJfeTjQaxyIhBblE2UR9tjOchjgYydGZITLJiHfNIQjYUB5VPkXckJSRIG0wEqrbus9IvRd1-8l6NIu4x0_wVVtVHKS-BH4Z6x1qyRW9BKAYnTmrL_t6HD7nulhGcvWdBeX5hGgmwgzARaUaDKQ71oUyQlaaH/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3431.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDf8roQgsgN-DnSbgpmlnJwO410mzcd7BOVVdgPIF-fKFz2L77QXpFOz3rvH_Gag1n1GaokKoF6XVtSCjzaIzNxlZvGNDoCfRBD-HPOGaKfTIqM8Kh2pI8OHidRiadJQXEYGxdd2H0LTsScLMduas8gEjXgPh4YrCadg8R3slBFiJPtM6wHf6EFER/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDf8roQgsgN-DnSbgpmlnJwO410mzcd7BOVVdgPIF-fKFz2L77QXpFOz3rvH_Gag1n1GaokKoF6XVtSCjzaIzNxlZvGNDoCfRBD-HPOGaKfTIqM8Kh2pI8OHidRiadJQXEYGxdd2H0LTsScLMduas8gEjXgPh4YrCadg8R3slBFiJPtM6wHf6EFER/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3432.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cox7O-8jvIPC5xyMV7TRszBCJEMErqiPd6IPNPqFJrFB3sCa4PwXhDBktZt6ZlpqBWOeM90XwjxADClJ1AwMmlKcy1XzfDvA2Ne6o56D45BiZl9QibcbpgWcg_Xw_HSPFBUMDp6_Se4ZJN9zQs_ADhTkfXldFVfmW6y8s4ecJ-OuaWN2WyBEEP-N/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3434.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cox7O-8jvIPC5xyMV7TRszBCJEMErqiPd6IPNPqFJrFB3sCa4PwXhDBktZt6ZlpqBWOeM90XwjxADClJ1AwMmlKcy1XzfDvA2Ne6o56D45BiZl9QibcbpgWcg_Xw_HSPFBUMDp6_Se4ZJN9zQs_ADhTkfXldFVfmW6y8s4ecJ-OuaWN2WyBEEP-N/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3434.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWJFbOVChuV1at9-BD9BInEPHZYyZfCMPiMwQkbaGbtVVrHX5VJ6DeoYt5OMQg4c7P4KXkiOhIkaxkxzyNxaZIPdp10S6v6Kpzrsz-_A3tngWlV3dhtm4SRPExBupqZu-rDF-Dz7vID8T10UsXbLuHMwZUvWNYrNsXydn8y55YLqz385_1o_isH1J/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWJFbOVChuV1at9-BD9BInEPHZYyZfCMPiMwQkbaGbtVVrHX5VJ6DeoYt5OMQg4c7P4KXkiOhIkaxkxzyNxaZIPdp10S6v6Kpzrsz-_A3tngWlV3dhtm4SRPExBupqZu-rDF-Dz7vID8T10UsXbLuHMwZUvWNYrNsXydn8y55YLqz385_1o_isH1J/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3438.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7GsoqlaPJm5TSbtqbcHHEy6HIgkVLFU6IzLK0OKad5rFI2qIjSgSBfWF7tN_scE3J3MJq3iBj8p1JBNDwp9ufJrwVvmsxMoY33fpkGeKCj4is_yUryxGMHnK8Qb4ZzqYJoAGxGyTBWYtAVRxZaba740oLBFlbgStP_Gnir_Yht4RObxKeGiUxrvo/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-3440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7GsoqlaPJm5TSbtqbcHHEy6HIgkVLFU6IzLK0OKad5rFI2qIjSgSBfWF7tN_scE3J3MJq3iBj8p1JBNDwp9ufJrwVvmsxMoY33fpkGeKCj4is_yUryxGMHnK8Qb4ZzqYJoAGxGyTBWYtAVRxZaba740oLBFlbgStP_Gnir_Yht4RObxKeGiUxrvo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-3440.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>As always: your dad and I hope you always understand the <i>why </i>behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </p><p>Happy eighth birthday, Becks Lynae ! There is nothing you could ever do to make us stop loving you! </p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-86365137546434094722022-04-25T13:17:00.002-04:002022-04-25T13:17:23.386-04:00Nan is SIX!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5u4LTVRDgeZ8qfRDs70gGXrswB_K6hyJXBbT3qYA8c0O6PVL603Iw8yFm_nZfHExqhm-Mtvvwy6lTAbRKa4QB4YjhYzsHg-VPkCxMhzNrbcoxBvtek8R9ALbJW-TSV89uicatC00kXIGM2v19VfDu3hRO0iLaejE0Id6lnQYMV8JC1YAiFyneNxYr/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5u4LTVRDgeZ8qfRDs70gGXrswB_K6hyJXBbT3qYA8c0O6PVL603Iw8yFm_nZfHExqhm-Mtvvwy6lTAbRKa4QB4YjhYzsHg-VPkCxMhzNrbcoxBvtek8R9ALbJW-TSV89uicatC00kXIGM2v19VfDu3hRO0iLaejE0Id6lnQYMV8JC1YAiFyneNxYr/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7592.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyOexXuI2ISmw8puoaR5ydXy-xgP1qDDnc-l29R9g7HZggKn1pa9LtrATbp17DVS_IfRVpW4AVCUAwYUQln683fOlvHVRQ1j6qHtTIjMLNhCzt2h80eVLp4J9mKq73kisYyLc8fNSz-cx4067HW80AFkwqTAUfICyrtPFeJGuG4ZP9-O1N3Ko_w9o/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyOexXuI2ISmw8puoaR5ydXy-xgP1qDDnc-l29R9g7HZggKn1pa9LtrATbp17DVS_IfRVpW4AVCUAwYUQln683fOlvHVRQ1j6qHtTIjMLNhCzt2h80eVLp4J9mKq73kisYyLc8fNSz-cx4067HW80AFkwqTAUfICyrtPFeJGuG4ZP9-O1N3Ko_w9o/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7564.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-A4uunaErG4Vi-sLo0TEAP76Jgq5gmpbX1bOXm11XhEFVq580cilge_0RXhzz0PAVVXRBndi-IZDn0UkFGQxaL2cXNFvEUKTqa9Sindo9ZC036simNmt5jrv_NiEsJWkKsHCk5TKi_D-y9CZs_7RNAn-T3UdiPbdQl8qVGDwXZ2ObFP3pD4rVyDE/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-A4uunaErG4Vi-sLo0TEAP76Jgq5gmpbX1bOXm11XhEFVq580cilge_0RXhzz0PAVVXRBndi-IZDn0UkFGQxaL2cXNFvEUKTqa9Sindo9ZC036simNmt5jrv_NiEsJWkKsHCk5TKi_D-y9CZs_7RNAn-T3UdiPbdQl8qVGDwXZ2ObFP3pD4rVyDE/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7781.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhFK6xXMOmZ1ziMJQoGiwrNQYxSbQ1vS_YcUHbpcTx6wJGxRLAfAT08X-aSh0FRgDpR54JNi9tma3ng2gMebD7TPwaI79x2ev_YHKPraQBCLknLEBphDWpk91Ke4sxUsFMRTKSQxXsixD2r9QHgznxz9g8XLsz9IDhhiODo1a9p0vkpZj-izazU9v/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhFK6xXMOmZ1ziMJQoGiwrNQYxSbQ1vS_YcUHbpcTx6wJGxRLAfAT08X-aSh0FRgDpR54JNi9tma3ng2gMebD7TPwaI79x2ev_YHKPraQBCLknLEBphDWpk91Ke4sxUsFMRTKSQxXsixD2r9QHgznxz9g8XLsz9IDhhiODo1a9p0vkpZj-izazU9v/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7653.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV8tN2QEtv_WEaZh6NOmoIZLE8l7Efn5ofiUGHLq9S52OEzac_0ge0ER_4FnVBnVOmVXRp72lXGe6R8dwYtKoi7MQuzHZd56dXMqPL0Hk2kdcVn_teC3I4bHqfowPlubUZvuKoKvjrzsDu-B7gZuCp2GyMWc5-Pt0_pEgO9i5SENY0oberA7jRUIH/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV8tN2QEtv_WEaZh6NOmoIZLE8l7Efn5ofiUGHLq9S52OEzac_0ge0ER_4FnVBnVOmVXRp72lXGe6R8dwYtKoi7MQuzHZd56dXMqPL0Hk2kdcVn_teC3I4bHqfowPlubUZvuKoKvjrzsDu-B7gZuCp2GyMWc5-Pt0_pEgO9i5SENY0oberA7jRUIH/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7747.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p>Nan Louise,</p><p>I'm not quite sure how we arrived here so quickly, but you're SIX! I was looking at you on the morning of your birthday, just studying your face from every angle, and noticed how you're changing. You're looking more like a big kid, and your eyes have a depth to them that seems new and more nuanced than before. And yet, there is still a twinkle of mischief and naivety in them-- well, probably more than just a twinkle. You're constantly telling me to think about something "in your mind, keep it in your head, trapped!" And that is what I am trying to do when I look at you right now-- still so small, yet capable of so much, strawberry hair whipping in the wind. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjryM0ncjX1dIIPuepENaXuE-whl01nMonEeQS4mC2oH28lhBo28EWJKbeMDDFcyqkvm_cj126lU5dilOEcpm3PflGCOoe200h2abnbaOy4BFNFjtPvmYpPWgFGcfpJnfJ6NQFRCrKbUYe7RECNDVLrlBm5FwpFl4q1-pE3YxApVTj1F1BywQyrDqk/s5964/KIrwinPhotography-7541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5964" data-original-width="3976" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjryM0ncjX1dIIPuepENaXuE-whl01nMonEeQS4mC2oH28lhBo28EWJKbeMDDFcyqkvm_cj126lU5dilOEcpm3PflGCOoe200h2abnbaOy4BFNFjtPvmYpPWgFGcfpJnfJ6NQFRCrKbUYe7RECNDVLrlBm5FwpFl4q1-pE3YxApVTj1F1BywQyrDqk/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7541.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUqpM8sHHij97ju0QXz3OMg-l7ph_SnE99vE9MykoPTkyIfjx-73Cz5PNY13n789J6UVfkXvvEF96gIef2tu73KW7bd91WNjf8yOsStEl6EBcPqrgKQHrwLy9Ho80nb4bDysdE-tlcw5u2hXPEUtcAbjD95lBTuqW6yiMCwQRTCM9IxxRxokg_0n5/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUqpM8sHHij97ju0QXz3OMg-l7ph_SnE99vE9MykoPTkyIfjx-73Cz5PNY13n789J6UVfkXvvEF96gIef2tu73KW7bd91WNjf8yOsStEl6EBcPqrgKQHrwLy9Ho80nb4bDysdE-tlcw5u2hXPEUtcAbjD95lBTuqW6yiMCwQRTCM9IxxRxokg_0n5/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7543.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQu3F3_5ywW9sfbkkn9qbfGBYJG_zwItVPcyjYSmxgvb_lOqetn-qKs6_TY2gnjbBGoPYMOmBBS89tTbZSXvi1fwQNkojrUkTvX4MkvbcZfbY3-_O3fidffpqvpOwasUrZ3E1Xgfvedb8XjGKcbg7zOaYIQGNQ_7xbJFXL0LerfuVq-NtRlW8zVGk/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQu3F3_5ywW9sfbkkn9qbfGBYJG_zwItVPcyjYSmxgvb_lOqetn-qKs6_TY2gnjbBGoPYMOmBBS89tTbZSXvi1fwQNkojrUkTvX4MkvbcZfbY3-_O3fidffpqvpOwasUrZ3E1Xgfvedb8XjGKcbg7zOaYIQGNQ_7xbJFXL0LerfuVq-NtRlW8zVGk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7546.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ooEdPXgPT4e8DwjCIOv87QgdGaAccb5InF-H7aim7Y1vyGwpT_UEMm-7L5EnV4u4IhlMujB11Fdq5voQE4CA7rE-NAC3sIX0u43bycrY6PhI2vITOltrMuKtBdFHALQmNISlufS09fWbmQd10pj_ku7VL7I8dUoqsx9EWAJSXeqs0-BtE67ifjHf/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ooEdPXgPT4e8DwjCIOv87QgdGaAccb5InF-H7aim7Y1vyGwpT_UEMm-7L5EnV4u4IhlMujB11Fdq5voQE4CA7rE-NAC3sIX0u43bycrY6PhI2vITOltrMuKtBdFHALQmNISlufS09fWbmQd10pj_ku7VL7I8dUoqsx9EWAJSXeqs0-BtE67ifjHf/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7547.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-37T64pJt921Xvo3QSzezCyvJgUKp1ghgrirbs-MccaphSvjFTkxWA9wS6LQhGZV6Be-9dmNw69Fte1asuIe-LZOCuQGK6nrYo-pbul8pI4JXSLJB-WyKCOW5vdUMIGs2uxxhtEqBHJowhjJ2o88-YNZ3c_cV55r552GkRtFMrL4U3fpi8BZmQ4_v/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-37T64pJt921Xvo3QSzezCyvJgUKp1ghgrirbs-MccaphSvjFTkxWA9wS6LQhGZV6Be-9dmNw69Fte1asuIe-LZOCuQGK6nrYo-pbul8pI4JXSLJB-WyKCOW5vdUMIGs2uxxhtEqBHJowhjJ2o88-YNZ3c_cV55r552GkRtFMrL4U3fpi8BZmQ4_v/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7549.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCb8r2V9Eq8IHLan9dap4xWLCRpVoA-NWAYW-n_XKWXyJ_7uddgUcsKYpG-TlphaQ66a_-yPG3UMOMO_T0ciaVOgqrJ-O8IvuKHCADGZ5NQdbPBnLkYgz73Emg_W-8SlniP-Ir2VIWCmM_YSYhSa_-wQXQfaP_lSdvMHkKLd2Z3BJ5KNW8EiNS3FYL/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCb8r2V9Eq8IHLan9dap4xWLCRpVoA-NWAYW-n_XKWXyJ_7uddgUcsKYpG-TlphaQ66a_-yPG3UMOMO_T0ciaVOgqrJ-O8IvuKHCADGZ5NQdbPBnLkYgz73Emg_W-8SlniP-Ir2VIWCmM_YSYhSa_-wQXQfaP_lSdvMHkKLd2Z3BJ5KNW8EiNS3FYL/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7551.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXyvQQbJ0oKlMslHwZSqdiK1RYvGmTJFrkNR9G_5jyDi9YW4ijsQYSPHenuxjDtP-11xBzW8_kOSrHTE5lZGdBfNitAcgwGP8TsOTJya8wzz6zl9Y4u6msJRkgKmZz7frim8dp3njqJNrAVMNqP2i88h7NZJa7eMZA7C04vk7LiGC5Abe-z7jv2NS/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXyvQQbJ0oKlMslHwZSqdiK1RYvGmTJFrkNR9G_5jyDi9YW4ijsQYSPHenuxjDtP-11xBzW8_kOSrHTE5lZGdBfNitAcgwGP8TsOTJya8wzz6zl9Y4u6msJRkgKmZz7frim8dp3njqJNrAVMNqP2i88h7NZJa7eMZA7C04vk7LiGC5Abe-z7jv2NS/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7553.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>This was a big year for you: you started KINDERGARTEN and you were bursting at the seams to do so. You could hardly wait all summer to be able to head out the door with your sisters in the morning. Like most things you face in this life, you went full steam ahead and were all in from day one. You have the same, wonderful teacher your sisters had in Kindergarten, and just like when she taught them, she can do no wrong in your eyes. You love her dearly. Things have started clicking for you more recently, and you're wanting to read little books to me. You really want Sloan to allow you to teach him, but he's not always as into that setup as you are. You also are growing in the "that's not fair" department, but still struggle with wanting every single little thing to be even. I often repeat to you an axiom I often said in my classroom: "What is fair is not always even." </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGP58prQejFnaO0a4Uy6nBgr2HrKMoqMTGiqCIycLuxZ9ZmuiK4GjO5h5zV-gb5BvH1e45t5_qn7yuUcBX-4_JSHLwcCJXrHLGIUubzuv1lEqp8iOYRERv5nt4-oFVk3fgmH6ZjJtavbOizJ3Za6FJL8q_s8OHhWbI9bBbareSURTcEoWJs5RtqhHE/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGP58prQejFnaO0a4Uy6nBgr2HrKMoqMTGiqCIycLuxZ9ZmuiK4GjO5h5zV-gb5BvH1e45t5_qn7yuUcBX-4_JSHLwcCJXrHLGIUubzuv1lEqp8iOYRERv5nt4-oFVk3fgmH6ZjJtavbOizJ3Za6FJL8q_s8OHhWbI9bBbareSURTcEoWJs5RtqhHE/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7556.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNawWMtCNV5bgDCdEhwFmfQLMYcbVqdmwQW1im0BCJjn6G-YyKL_vfx_-SghOc6VmKpiRp5-PO1tHw0WJcpNBJtK_7RC6U04fOdUbozsIYr77Eb6Qz_ZQKJXDVYQ94cj3Yh7UgfEk5b8hb3u9ULyBeOJRWMYCcisg1Qud2zVw9oOun89DVOTMCtPTq/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNawWMtCNV5bgDCdEhwFmfQLMYcbVqdmwQW1im0BCJjn6G-YyKL_vfx_-SghOc6VmKpiRp5-PO1tHw0WJcpNBJtK_7RC6U04fOdUbozsIYr77Eb6Qz_ZQKJXDVYQ94cj3Yh7UgfEk5b8hb3u9ULyBeOJRWMYCcisg1Qud2zVw9oOun89DVOTMCtPTq/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7558.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqF1dr17r5CqtX5wMXww5blZHFpDp__4gqqPEaBpw-a5x34pMzMJil2abqJegclXoXUBQKiPzo3HkgxDnRDg-h2R-5bYVghROhHOwp2SjexiftPiL0fK1mt6j0h0qXHzRxlMq62GKbA2O3vaDTZN8nqT9C6VYIV67OUJ0-x5VzTsthCNV5Kfyr9_a/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqF1dr17r5CqtX5wMXww5blZHFpDp__4gqqPEaBpw-a5x34pMzMJil2abqJegclXoXUBQKiPzo3HkgxDnRDg-h2R-5bYVghROhHOwp2SjexiftPiL0fK1mt6j0h0qXHzRxlMq62GKbA2O3vaDTZN8nqT9C6VYIV67OUJ0-x5VzTsthCNV5Kfyr9_a/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7559.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTtsL7qQfYJlb62fc_a8ujTvGYoTq6YohZnnZHJRAnSGX44SeRJtwDJpthVoUr5iTntaF6BAvx6OAKgF94W6WhtBodRguir-UsC6hZzomGu7jfO0Ba19gkzN2-Huho8hHNS0DS7Nqydis9WI3JdDvtptJMQ5z4L0gtaN5q6nME0KkDyRlnCbBichx/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTtsL7qQfYJlb62fc_a8ujTvGYoTq6YohZnnZHJRAnSGX44SeRJtwDJpthVoUr5iTntaF6BAvx6OAKgF94W6WhtBodRguir-UsC6hZzomGu7jfO0Ba19gkzN2-Huho8hHNS0DS7Nqydis9WI3JdDvtptJMQ5z4L0gtaN5q6nME0KkDyRlnCbBichx/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7561.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsCh-UlAO991ys7yqMNDUlC6MlX9ZoSM5rhExXa5kAyOaMcH2TnatRbWNtmaUt44_gAUNTHv8DQKgfvvbcdembvvBvVjK5cjyk85lCHb0DBG2Czs_oWJ2qRZbkI3Zx1b0TfC4bhcHG_DYqutEsbKrNaOvNWZapcHqbl5TNVuTLRLwWEILso2s0kPg/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsCh-UlAO991ys7yqMNDUlC6MlX9ZoSM5rhExXa5kAyOaMcH2TnatRbWNtmaUt44_gAUNTHv8DQKgfvvbcdembvvBvVjK5cjyk85lCHb0DBG2Czs_oWJ2qRZbkI3Zx1b0TfC4bhcHG_DYqutEsbKrNaOvNWZapcHqbl5TNVuTLRLwWEILso2s0kPg/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7563.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2wggMpipjU16TY4tcpeLwRISmjcupDRn1yk3SHodD-VfqYDhnru47kAxy07NDQDXExmyTbaFog9Zw0nu080XZQ8p8FbGZrvDEmLemNy6ug3QhZAZePx3tB2bcau8DL57oFRUe2ITk6vY07SuY4wpkR2hUevO8OKMZa4Sni7APMmSBW1NYRn91sX6/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2wggMpipjU16TY4tcpeLwRISmjcupDRn1yk3SHodD-VfqYDhnru47kAxy07NDQDXExmyTbaFog9Zw0nu080XZQ8p8FbGZrvDEmLemNy6ug3QhZAZePx3tB2bcau8DL57oFRUe2ITk6vY07SuY4wpkR2hUevO8OKMZa4Sni7APMmSBW1NYRn91sX6/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7566.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eQaq4PmIFkqyyGYl-VfYPnHTKJzV-kHRegN3svHoakIDDweyX-zqlJk_5mLfSPHJ2ZLyhYnk8LhYxxhEPjvA2rdN3lWOTxhkcE7cTiXduw1KH_2v1jVioBZUqnRqEMzAcMLSLD1--xuY1wv3x65ksLovoyCjrxWj4uY2sTwiIGHS5N6zOdRicanw/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eQaq4PmIFkqyyGYl-VfYPnHTKJzV-kHRegN3svHoakIDDweyX-zqlJk_5mLfSPHJ2ZLyhYnk8LhYxxhEPjvA2rdN3lWOTxhkcE7cTiXduw1KH_2v1jVioBZUqnRqEMzAcMLSLD1--xuY1wv3x65ksLovoyCjrxWj4uY2sTwiIGHS5N6zOdRicanw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7569.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>You have made so many new and fun friends this year. A few months ago I asked you who your best friends were, and you listed SIXTEEN people: some from your class, some from our church, all your siblings, and some family members. And then you said, "Oh, and me! I like me too!" At recess it seems you most often can be found running around wildly with all the boys in your class. Just this morning you put on your rain boots and ran through the kitchen. You came back and asked me where your tennis shoes were because, you were "going to have to chase some boys at recess and the boots aren't very good for that." You are incredibly social and have no issues engaging with most people. You can be pretty commandeering once you're comfortable, so we're hoping to help you navigate that into leadership abilities rather than bossy tirades.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLrVC_t9bUzDC1FOcFgpS04PIYPX34SgUo_Awa1kgEVrWumVecXzQs-79ltTVYwgdzOnwOnWsRssq9I1giaEeyTrEcGP3IZFaOWSajk_nk_P-qLUc2mBbLpXBFNPWZE-lVj-dUDjzpaQTzJsp8NS_eZuTHlgoHTPT2IETnU9G_oE1k_SckGMqFP0f/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLrVC_t9bUzDC1FOcFgpS04PIYPX34SgUo_Awa1kgEVrWumVecXzQs-79ltTVYwgdzOnwOnWsRssq9I1giaEeyTrEcGP3IZFaOWSajk_nk_P-qLUc2mBbLpXBFNPWZE-lVj-dUDjzpaQTzJsp8NS_eZuTHlgoHTPT2IETnU9G_oE1k_SckGMqFP0f/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7575.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHvNoCho7kj6MqfniNNPTXUWlvhekLiq0WZf6X8DdplZ30dOIg_XaxE65TLqzQQuZbmdrO_VH09fHjB85n5pcQiAMjAimP5WCDDz8YNpJmaqz9irOaL78j94rBrTHJAcTzREI-SaIzIYCKKGbnbmxhFJmJLUc6UOyCXPO8SkMxTxaJTpBgy9NGWLD/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHvNoCho7kj6MqfniNNPTXUWlvhekLiq0WZf6X8DdplZ30dOIg_XaxE65TLqzQQuZbmdrO_VH09fHjB85n5pcQiAMjAimP5WCDDz8YNpJmaqz9irOaL78j94rBrTHJAcTzREI-SaIzIYCKKGbnbmxhFJmJLUc6UOyCXPO8SkMxTxaJTpBgy9NGWLD/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7578.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUX48pEYIGJV83bqjWQlnI6jKH7OO6e8PoIFbGEH4fBuYDmNweOjY0dxkPApbo55QWWq4AjyD-tGvchkjQuGwraNiVqsqAQndpRCOMzctTNtcqq-d8HRTRJlyG_8PrFw9RHR2piio9_3NmaxFGaea3TCDTF9LNdnU0htkBqnyczBJree0C3kK4t6wT/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUX48pEYIGJV83bqjWQlnI6jKH7OO6e8PoIFbGEH4fBuYDmNweOjY0dxkPApbo55QWWq4AjyD-tGvchkjQuGwraNiVqsqAQndpRCOMzctTNtcqq-d8HRTRJlyG_8PrFw9RHR2piio9_3NmaxFGaea3TCDTF9LNdnU0htkBqnyczBJree0C3kK4t6wT/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7579.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25R4Olz6Kmqg-kXzQ5QTWBYLC-qim6txn0Jo1kcCGS7DOdRJ9812iKbLFGC0-8b-t7kahRgUIaidQxN5LIrsnxsLhSohIi2-QfT_C4fbKAQ7tbhjAoH3AbJQeVyL_CukJ8veeepFopxwavLITx0Dzo_qCoGcz7zwsu83rXg7M9CNzoPR_PI2g3voY/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25R4Olz6Kmqg-kXzQ5QTWBYLC-qim6txn0Jo1kcCGS7DOdRJ9812iKbLFGC0-8b-t7kahRgUIaidQxN5LIrsnxsLhSohIi2-QfT_C4fbKAQ7tbhjAoH3AbJQeVyL_CukJ8veeepFopxwavLITx0Dzo_qCoGcz7zwsu83rXg7M9CNzoPR_PI2g3voY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7581.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovd9isdrOOszBohYKRn-N3H8BdUXwTYSQtqze3GL_qaHA8R-odOg520BKgnSYJJtVtIq7d47H0gBFarJeytcdxdPJi23WogI9V5jcflm01wv9GqKyqQMR_uTucXuiLgdv5BDZ620aUgcpNfoSNSwIWSGrA_FBDt_RFt18q9IHRnsKNA8eSYAKztvZ/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovd9isdrOOszBohYKRn-N3H8BdUXwTYSQtqze3GL_qaHA8R-odOg520BKgnSYJJtVtIq7d47H0gBFarJeytcdxdPJi23WogI9V5jcflm01wv9GqKyqQMR_uTucXuiLgdv5BDZ620aUgcpNfoSNSwIWSGrA_FBDt_RFt18q9IHRnsKNA8eSYAKztvZ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7582.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB4rErE-ZFpUlNPuwtAnglprAqhPar3zjksYLfkchIxK5XvqaxxC1nKergphyTUhHxS9CFZydhp9rhgXc6FKlPN48F3LFJVHdxCjzodoJdnGHisRlTKUkMizMAdkJ5NM3AwwA3iMAQxcPEF45uXpoM8ff9UnGlQ3_nyyDY_2NEhh3VrqzCUuBL-Y9/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB4rErE-ZFpUlNPuwtAnglprAqhPar3zjksYLfkchIxK5XvqaxxC1nKergphyTUhHxS9CFZydhp9rhgXc6FKlPN48F3LFJVHdxCjzodoJdnGHisRlTKUkMizMAdkJ5NM3AwwA3iMAQxcPEF45uXpoM8ff9UnGlQ3_nyyDY_2NEhh3VrqzCUuBL-Y9/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7585.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSe2JOGKCwcsNOrjzcq_a-QpJD26QY5I27CGipnNHXxa-jwtVMadTV3HxeyYTbQRCwSesC_nc5G61Mog6VpnlXNfKoTDE7ppt-GOgRy_usTn6oMgLoWxJmwPYvdfq-XeO6kAaLxvd6fo7SP1MpXaVXDSqrmn0Igkkdp-Sf8XeaXRhxnjFmffKQfdq7/s4480/KIrwinPhotography-7587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2987" data-original-width="4480" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSe2JOGKCwcsNOrjzcq_a-QpJD26QY5I27CGipnNHXxa-jwtVMadTV3HxeyYTbQRCwSesC_nc5G61Mog6VpnlXNfKoTDE7ppt-GOgRy_usTn6oMgLoWxJmwPYvdfq-XeO6kAaLxvd6fo7SP1MpXaVXDSqrmn0Igkkdp-Sf8XeaXRhxnjFmffKQfdq7/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7587.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>You are a never-ending fount of funny commentary. I know eventually I probably won't have a section in your birthday letter where I get to remark on some of your hilarious sayings, so I am going to capitalize on that for as long as I can. This year was exceptionally good, and I know I didn't even get to write them all down. Last year on Mother's Day you came up to me with tears in your eyes, and when I asked what was wrong you said, "I just really want to be a mom but it takes too long to grow up!" Once you fell and hurt your knee and Sloan came and kissed it and, while still crying, you said, "That wasn't really a kiss-- that was just a SMUDGE on my knee! You've got to make the kiss sound!" Another time you asked me about one of your friends who was in dance class if she was "going to get to be the knuckle cracker?" </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88Klau781Ybkng5yS8xT0YU505N7UCLThNnPSojgBoPtCtdHKsofcGP_TqdZLaaodnaZ3N70wmLaU9C7dQTCO_rzk53vV4rFaRbrgMxSS4WvSJ-oaogmkalsgnJRRoQ0iYtblr0kclS-NWomQX3pc94jpLoo7BRbL9jEMlsGocCk9_45ykccmf6hN/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88Klau781Ybkng5yS8xT0YU505N7UCLThNnPSojgBoPtCtdHKsofcGP_TqdZLaaodnaZ3N70wmLaU9C7dQTCO_rzk53vV4rFaRbrgMxSS4WvSJ-oaogmkalsgnJRRoQ0iYtblr0kclS-NWomQX3pc94jpLoo7BRbL9jEMlsGocCk9_45ykccmf6hN/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7591.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUFgepz7aExdddMhJ4GSMrY0HnVANMwdpQnGaKkJiG10EYtwue5GAOWAE-V7vlmx5n_Lg1pg0rPksM6VdyQYAib0jQSRWnHPznOaVQjifUPKOWZxSGW0KD_5UFDcTovGu_EUeMoLed6S70g69L2-eY-U8rFuz8Ag0uZd-Oy7a9YhJePrb4kfRrWdd/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUFgepz7aExdddMhJ4GSMrY0HnVANMwdpQnGaKkJiG10EYtwue5GAOWAE-V7vlmx5n_Lg1pg0rPksM6VdyQYAib0jQSRWnHPznOaVQjifUPKOWZxSGW0KD_5UFDcTovGu_EUeMoLed6S70g69L2-eY-U8rFuz8Ag0uZd-Oy7a9YhJePrb4kfRrWdd/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7593.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKuXlHbVAWQxLW6Dl5ajCEP0Ue9vusFo2EjpVtFBR9iuEm_VUsWW4eM3bcehBzzSR4Ch0HSlXbg9_SoeHFaeBLQzzgaSWur8kChtjs9ki582KyjTL6_NOTG7Q-TugiYRwtlpDWsyKu69XQdcs17FOKGeoHOuFulLbLKoovPRjXQ5u0XxVpSL8MjdI/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKuXlHbVAWQxLW6Dl5ajCEP0Ue9vusFo2EjpVtFBR9iuEm_VUsWW4eM3bcehBzzSR4Ch0HSlXbg9_SoeHFaeBLQzzgaSWur8kChtjs9ki582KyjTL6_NOTG7Q-TugiYRwtlpDWsyKu69XQdcs17FOKGeoHOuFulLbLKoovPRjXQ5u0XxVpSL8MjdI/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7596.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpG-WQGt1cBw4cXSWuSnyH03GYYIKx-ceu-bi85gZ1pYrsoJXM-1MMUviGmRsE-ojV8mW-OturRJN5jqQ_dMqTXX6QeThPxI80q40rxRZxv_4WSoPB20AumFmMGyhah0GkFnnw-ZFgJypX1GaOwhi8BBZuIeCy8thtKUew0f5jx1tdGWu5USax2MKa/s6028/KIrwinPhotography-7597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4019" data-original-width="6028" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpG-WQGt1cBw4cXSWuSnyH03GYYIKx-ceu-bi85gZ1pYrsoJXM-1MMUviGmRsE-ojV8mW-OturRJN5jqQ_dMqTXX6QeThPxI80q40rxRZxv_4WSoPB20AumFmMGyhah0GkFnnw-ZFgJypX1GaOwhi8BBZuIeCy8thtKUew0f5jx1tdGWu5USax2MKa/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7597.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UuEVCER-fDRyPVXSfEJojVwetjG9mQoThniMTYrKV2J5Hftz19-hKo-ucs6caW1CpcUsRhoxpgvu43lzE40AFj5zyKvpejq77BCiakPV5d-5VbkQfEqQj84qX2FI7WnpOhN1bCzY8c9HU6biBGpXspb4agne3G-AszdGPX-Q_8xvFWdNAncgabXe/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UuEVCER-fDRyPVXSfEJojVwetjG9mQoThniMTYrKV2J5Hftz19-hKo-ucs6caW1CpcUsRhoxpgvu43lzE40AFj5zyKvpejq77BCiakPV5d-5VbkQfEqQj84qX2FI7WnpOhN1bCzY8c9HU6biBGpXspb4agne3G-AszdGPX-Q_8xvFWdNAncgabXe/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7600.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGozxezVo2gJey_RjL5zegOSDSvL5FAIM4MKq2xzXyhYTLHXVBoPhtq7WvZcXXlYIfh3bhsJ_i6cYjMknGVkeUcGm2vbQEF9n7vg5vMCmqgsNrNCbUrIfL81jSnoy1-utbqo025-5jLIg9gRfI1eFR3DKyH8Mrq9ex8Oq1GqoM1oQgf9cwagutw0h8/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGozxezVo2gJey_RjL5zegOSDSvL5FAIM4MKq2xzXyhYTLHXVBoPhtq7WvZcXXlYIfh3bhsJ_i6cYjMknGVkeUcGm2vbQEF9n7vg5vMCmqgsNrNCbUrIfL81jSnoy1-utbqo025-5jLIg9gRfI1eFR3DKyH8Mrq9ex8Oq1GqoM1oQgf9cwagutw0h8/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7602.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>You have a knack for saying things in just the right exact way as to get the point across. One morning you poured Becks's cereal for her and then yelled out, "Come quick! It's gonna sog up!" Another time you told me, "Sometimes my nose gets all crinkly, and it feels kind of spicy... but then I don't achoo!" I knew exactly what you meant. When I asked what you wanted for your birthday you said, "I want a crown... and to be queen of everything!" I said I didn't think that was possible and you said, "Fine. A drone." You never miss a beat. It was similar to when you got a dollar for losing your first "real" tooth and, while holding the money, said, "I'm going to buy a horse!" Your dad said he didn't think that would be enough money to buy a horse and you immediately said, "Okay. I'll buy a bug!" </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mDQtPr44W_yB5tJh19-o_t__4--1DJRyXd2PEXhbeq4BroRueIc0Io5Wz4XCgWZvigjHiOtZFNMGGl4NaEWA-pAzprh2ET-Nu0dbPusdQe_9tNgiDgGAKUUuweonb9TfJwP2DfL7HjC32Jj86aDpaTsXShAE5NsBpBR3bJeZg5ZP4MSNlbnZQpxr/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mDQtPr44W_yB5tJh19-o_t__4--1DJRyXd2PEXhbeq4BroRueIc0Io5Wz4XCgWZvigjHiOtZFNMGGl4NaEWA-pAzprh2ET-Nu0dbPusdQe_9tNgiDgGAKUUuweonb9TfJwP2DfL7HjC32Jj86aDpaTsXShAE5NsBpBR3bJeZg5ZP4MSNlbnZQpxr/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7604.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNLI8NxW0QL2TRzmnkYf4o5ozHVRpBg3KBaopGcIC9E96tbfV-59icNzU9FC4RKyNtXv26oV_F4wY3jmFCafu9rQNRqSf68wR2ffEKuVm_jbtfSIZIGxNv4qWPUJx808ERW7rz3CnUFxUwL9nQE2B8kuDrxfTush9QnAys7iYy3gnz9GuA48jr2FK/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNLI8NxW0QL2TRzmnkYf4o5ozHVRpBg3KBaopGcIC9E96tbfV-59icNzU9FC4RKyNtXv26oV_F4wY3jmFCafu9rQNRqSf68wR2ffEKuVm_jbtfSIZIGxNv4qWPUJx808ERW7rz3CnUFxUwL9nQE2B8kuDrxfTush9QnAys7iYy3gnz9GuA48jr2FK/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7606.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEpj1_pxaYcA7uoxAQyHCLIVK7Eiz5XPG1Y1GVFXBlDP-UeYCpuCzHjPb7xUwThlTFXyjbGrGO3O0naoJp0rgJX8yYvcUM0_Z2hbacHcDBuxwyWKOUpwMZjSnhz6EbQ1iVjyefVhpDgXNPNyNgR4KnAhwPmKHMINB-z4UNNJsO03NsfyyN3fiiolh/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEpj1_pxaYcA7uoxAQyHCLIVK7Eiz5XPG1Y1GVFXBlDP-UeYCpuCzHjPb7xUwThlTFXyjbGrGO3O0naoJp0rgJX8yYvcUM0_Z2hbacHcDBuxwyWKOUpwMZjSnhz6EbQ1iVjyefVhpDgXNPNyNgR4KnAhwPmKHMINB-z4UNNJsO03NsfyyN3fiiolh/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7617.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMIR8n9l6STMpJX6KExlwlmjWvIKBmzLiiQ0b7dyHXMDpiIGhro92XrFspdZu85bz2sLa5maqeIceenGY1VB54s6qv3vdJYcKRIODD13ZTQ1NXLbQvNGGbAgOafnIWl67Limjwx8A2ba676xGUcdN3qiwyXaI3SMbpPAqmprfAHeDRTuay4EEhO01/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMIR8n9l6STMpJX6KExlwlmjWvIKBmzLiiQ0b7dyHXMDpiIGhro92XrFspdZu85bz2sLa5maqeIceenGY1VB54s6qv3vdJYcKRIODD13ZTQ1NXLbQvNGGbAgOafnIWl67Limjwx8A2ba676xGUcdN3qiwyXaI3SMbpPAqmprfAHeDRTuay4EEhO01/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7620.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflls9cSQ181HRBMiPUhtFR20yvOkrMWswb8Sxq3zS1b4Lf7QJfLexst55phQ4nfWg9etkSx95m_eJdBuhlduDyNLbBRTBSPg--gLMXF0-UUP2RhoRoU85-yK-awD8FL4-TKrAAsU618CAu2Qo2GW66j194wQlnAZ26ph--r-4XzffqIp_WUmwL_Vf/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflls9cSQ181HRBMiPUhtFR20yvOkrMWswb8Sxq3zS1b4Lf7QJfLexst55phQ4nfWg9etkSx95m_eJdBuhlduDyNLbBRTBSPg--gLMXF0-UUP2RhoRoU85-yK-awD8FL4-TKrAAsU618CAu2Qo2GW66j194wQlnAZ26ph--r-4XzffqIp_WUmwL_Vf/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7623.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu94OpCxQPzUsLvIvY9XW0Lyo8-e-BFK4iLqVELFcCSBo4wxZNxttDumGXFeqYI8KpzKgDILDn5hcjTGWE1nm-5Kq-iZkaf10pgEufyHb4BUPdfcU8oG1vMxwo5IqXJ7l8K4typnaONADVMLMubp6lfuoA9mBXE538pposA5TVbruKiMnKhp_RzkwA/s4480/KIrwinPhotography-7624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="2987" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu94OpCxQPzUsLvIvY9XW0Lyo8-e-BFK4iLqVELFcCSBo4wxZNxttDumGXFeqYI8KpzKgDILDn5hcjTGWE1nm-5Kq-iZkaf10pgEufyHb4BUPdfcU8oG1vMxwo5IqXJ7l8K4typnaONADVMLMubp6lfuoA9mBXE538pposA5TVbruKiMnKhp_RzkwA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7624.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPaSaQyadPEQ5lA1hBmSaizqqxGKKwVsx2-ChvowjEgVVbsqusXuirUT0o8UdZjzUgwiCL9nwm18oR8goTXypPMlLeqxau1VglI9uT_2Xxrj5Vl7fTEUto3FJjiKEBeY2tFBJITT8Yi6ooq24wVNVF4jzW9BRErEQJeT-sgK6hRsL6UDeFJsRL9d0/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPaSaQyadPEQ5lA1hBmSaizqqxGKKwVsx2-ChvowjEgVVbsqusXuirUT0o8UdZjzUgwiCL9nwm18oR8goTXypPMlLeqxau1VglI9uT_2Xxrj5Vl7fTEUto3FJjiKEBeY2tFBJITT8Yi6ooq24wVNVF4jzW9BRErEQJeT-sgK6hRsL6UDeFJsRL9d0/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7631.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxqR3agP6HuaoH08nn-0nvSokylVZFvRqHCTEWRG066EVuq71ofI4kVOY4i1nwX_WicD8a2R2YpXwTUyXsrlfY2gMcajVlXKTdgiZi_maHozJm436j8IATLl_ArscxyIq0rnT4UuEJmNsVffS3CaCTEN7Rr3w-HiEh7vOIL_aquUGx1cL40geNFhx/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxqR3agP6HuaoH08nn-0nvSokylVZFvRqHCTEWRG066EVuq71ofI4kVOY4i1nwX_WicD8a2R2YpXwTUyXsrlfY2gMcajVlXKTdgiZi_maHozJm436j8IATLl_ArscxyIq0rnT4UuEJmNsVffS3CaCTEN7Rr3w-HiEh7vOIL_aquUGx1cL40geNFhx/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7632.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKubYs7gdbKilCg5WRTzRGbstAdTJVBLevAwwyzA9hRkfnRca13ejX3cf6uy4KD2J34rxRMkbWCbQFqvwtrdWAeBD4zW084SHAd6fFAsVXeUeMROT0Q1CdSb2G5l7O6Vz0MOs7fLsyFWN5KksYgBRe1vbUJOl7A-62GZ04p6_QhS3U5NCT2Vu1xmKb/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKubYs7gdbKilCg5WRTzRGbstAdTJVBLevAwwyzA9hRkfnRca13ejX3cf6uy4KD2J34rxRMkbWCbQFqvwtrdWAeBD4zW084SHAd6fFAsVXeUeMROT0Q1CdSb2G5l7O6Vz0MOs7fLsyFWN5KksYgBRe1vbUJOl7A-62GZ04p6_QhS3U5NCT2Vu1xmKb/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7633.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I think the most telling thing you've expressed lately though was after school one day. That morning had been particularly difficult for you, and you had barely managed to get ready in time because everything was making you emotional and you were crying a lot. I was talking about it with you over your snack, and asking what was going on that morning, and you said, "That wasn't ME making me cry, it was my heart: it was like a man was wrestling my heart and I HAD to cry." I felt like that was pretty profound language for you to be able to express yourself that way. And while it made me giggle, I think it also taught me a lot -- you tend to roll with your emotions, highs are high, lows are low. The saying, "wears her heart on her sleeve" is very accurate for you. I am glad you can express yourself so well, even if in the explanation you confess you don't really know why you were crying but simply needed to. We've all been there. I pray I can help you navigate these big feelings well over the years. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWcOLaMIA1dmOvQoMBlYOPKDA50SiM9hRIh854MMio7JYoAjP04bMpr_Q2j-AUbsmRvLVVdk2PwmeTM-NKlsghlNQx7drL12DGqU26Sw5KADniwu8MIURgtaHMq5_pGfOUvmv6eoJAmfxIy5kAFvmgpFH8rqwxpOTdyMIRFMMpsnmzV8RST0fY_TL/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWcOLaMIA1dmOvQoMBlYOPKDA50SiM9hRIh854MMio7JYoAjP04bMpr_Q2j-AUbsmRvLVVdk2PwmeTM-NKlsghlNQx7drL12DGqU26Sw5KADniwu8MIURgtaHMq5_pGfOUvmv6eoJAmfxIy5kAFvmgpFH8rqwxpOTdyMIRFMMpsnmzV8RST0fY_TL/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7641.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoH0Vk98qXbEUGPdzpG8ZyU6_c-tu3LASbZnCMPmyqJ5AYxQzVuSCNlMYvjMBGuYA3bwQvR9IX7gg0wZuqGIeT7KPgoVvWqpC4MgXBKv_zNCBFZD4lYwJdFo4iv-x1fS4tZQ7Wun0SWgDSrYXtb5LvN-bd56yq7xhlsv3fCvOd9cpJ7OVGXhXQ6VW/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoH0Vk98qXbEUGPdzpG8ZyU6_c-tu3LASbZnCMPmyqJ5AYxQzVuSCNlMYvjMBGuYA3bwQvR9IX7gg0wZuqGIeT7KPgoVvWqpC4MgXBKv_zNCBFZD4lYwJdFo4iv-x1fS4tZQ7Wun0SWgDSrYXtb5LvN-bd56yq7xhlsv3fCvOd9cpJ7OVGXhXQ6VW/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7646.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCUZpW4zT5x61fxhdi1j8CxfD-3T_GQfgcVGdtTSY4JrNpFNxAfIAIjyRFI1tX1_Tl6GRqb1pw0QPQtf0ck1PeCo1YO06dj7a6QHEonlKwQIdecpbVrt89vkzV0sudUlQplYjBnMrrp9BUyrJDdWQBdN7hXQxqBFfBlCnNnOzSP9EUVSsN6EIKVXs/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCUZpW4zT5x61fxhdi1j8CxfD-3T_GQfgcVGdtTSY4JrNpFNxAfIAIjyRFI1tX1_Tl6GRqb1pw0QPQtf0ck1PeCo1YO06dj7a6QHEonlKwQIdecpbVrt89vkzV0sudUlQplYjBnMrrp9BUyrJDdWQBdN7hXQxqBFfBlCnNnOzSP9EUVSsN6EIKVXs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7651.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqD6DllxM9bD_FLXgkduYtKBWEeKjAjows-4vEwKgoDIQtfZxjXWJ85K0ImNNjTQn-MlwzEwcC7SExFlKpXMZictX3Wpf5VEknE_GdNA338Qqm022SlQ-Qb5YERdrnGPXd-MmJVwPBxMcw_-SaMie3a7-sCCrXAsgszJFqJwM4z0KT5N5cWGnBzFs/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqD6DllxM9bD_FLXgkduYtKBWEeKjAjows-4vEwKgoDIQtfZxjXWJ85K0ImNNjTQn-MlwzEwcC7SExFlKpXMZictX3Wpf5VEknE_GdNA338Qqm022SlQ-Qb5YERdrnGPXd-MmJVwPBxMcw_-SaMie3a7-sCCrXAsgszJFqJwM4z0KT5N5cWGnBzFs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7652.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvGzVIsVsm-mJc0iV5bJQQBUbPucKba6H1bM3QMOTdLH7sNgaMK0m69xmePzeip-nAXpIdKZ3OeKSXdNyw7AeSuHOqHns3XUEy2V39q2Uu0iFxgy4FEVvSdMECp2gHsbfphDsMdOQIjHVRAtLyJwjb1WS0AsdFPS39hJ0bD2b3VP6EL3RQs-mCLnK/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvGzVIsVsm-mJc0iV5bJQQBUbPucKba6H1bM3QMOTdLH7sNgaMK0m69xmePzeip-nAXpIdKZ3OeKSXdNyw7AeSuHOqHns3XUEy2V39q2Uu0iFxgy4FEVvSdMECp2gHsbfphDsMdOQIjHVRAtLyJwjb1WS0AsdFPS39hJ0bD2b3VP6EL3RQs-mCLnK/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7663.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI2Ive357PHKNI0xTgpORHk-0geWde6Trxkr3oOuj-6mT7e70qOYjrt4jQqVPB7sYMwXG6gSrFaB-m--Ypp8CJ38lCruJrl5CsMi0Ex-rkK-hD_rtM956BICiDBSav1dk3NAfz161MwQ_dz-FTiFLK_EqSWnJYLYl5ifNBFlfUVVITriT7fBBowzd/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI2Ive357PHKNI0xTgpORHk-0geWde6Trxkr3oOuj-6mT7e70qOYjrt4jQqVPB7sYMwXG6gSrFaB-m--Ypp8CJ38lCruJrl5CsMi0Ex-rkK-hD_rtM956BICiDBSav1dk3NAfz161MwQ_dz-FTiFLK_EqSWnJYLYl5ifNBFlfUVVITriT7fBBowzd/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7665.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>You love to play outside, and if you're inside you are most likely drawing, coloring, or playing with some small dolls or figurines of some sort. You absolutely live for our once a week, special family movie night. Every once in awhile you ask to just have some time to play by yourself in your room, which in a family of six is considered quite a luxury. You do have your own room again though, as sharing with Becks didn't quite work out; you never could quite figure out how to stop talking to her long enough to go to sleep. Maybe in a few more years we can try again. You're determined to learn how to ride a bike this year, and if we can help you figure out how to get your feet and body to slow down enough to meet your brain then I'm sure you'll master it in no time. You absolutely love to play on the ninja course Nini and PopPop got you for Christmas, and I can often find you in our backyard wobbling through it's obstacles. At the end of last summer you really took off as a swimmer, jumping of the diving board and swimming to the side all by yourself, so you're really looking forward to pool season again! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvPtPJQ3LDMed34BbNWmllgzHO67r8racTxagPhGBWQDKSN9Ra1IqsBMzm9SPEkueRTyq69u9HZQ4bO3pJM9nq8H9DtuJHyFILQKkXIBI_kp735sRhsW9QYCtZ31S1rkBRJuz2sZLOjfdaj3IsrXdeursmsD-B3bXd5IVMPg4JhAqOyOMyiWkfnoQ/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvPtPJQ3LDMed34BbNWmllgzHO67r8racTxagPhGBWQDKSN9Ra1IqsBMzm9SPEkueRTyq69u9HZQ4bO3pJM9nq8H9DtuJHyFILQKkXIBI_kp735sRhsW9QYCtZ31S1rkBRJuz2sZLOjfdaj3IsrXdeursmsD-B3bXd5IVMPg4JhAqOyOMyiWkfnoQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7680.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoe649uXATl64c1yOb6_pGH3lrTqhrLMGPj50eunIc4hyKnBJIQPwj5TDiFqC5jfXTsfUVKujpbpyZ4lcaDrQIgpTn4ABqJK9h6qXiYV1mCrNDULXDP_0_t4pbuX-AFGYzMq8O_OqxlMp-Pexj1fden5q5KW0GvC8GYiFJb3lo6TruhHhsY0ybGlG/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoe649uXATl64c1yOb6_pGH3lrTqhrLMGPj50eunIc4hyKnBJIQPwj5TDiFqC5jfXTsfUVKujpbpyZ4lcaDrQIgpTn4ABqJK9h6qXiYV1mCrNDULXDP_0_t4pbuX-AFGYzMq8O_OqxlMp-Pexj1fden5q5KW0GvC8GYiFJb3lo6TruhHhsY0ybGlG/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7681.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun5TkQ0QXfCjpja9xQUIv12uW6knXci5C8ydjV6EULVE99-WYPZprQ8NWTzKRYUVeYYwAIM9XlkIy01nEvluExJxJnbioQZutfmp8H32p003TOk8oPtT7Z2zJQDiuVpUIoEWMwgaH-6GHHnibfCGI_hwqmyckEEyHMybTVXw6XNocvWLPJyPCLg0M/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun5TkQ0QXfCjpja9xQUIv12uW6knXci5C8ydjV6EULVE99-WYPZprQ8NWTzKRYUVeYYwAIM9XlkIy01nEvluExJxJnbioQZutfmp8H32p003TOk8oPtT7Z2zJQDiuVpUIoEWMwgaH-6GHHnibfCGI_hwqmyckEEyHMybTVXw6XNocvWLPJyPCLg0M/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7687.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfXwQ9D4ZDP9rW-vTGBP202_bl1BattS7tcBMDWrvABS94Gf3TgGlGJe8pRFUMBQY1vJ5XvWRDOnrAO6yVico9ZaN918y_YUvkg_TT9A07B2nCXWPAyP_Hmx39gqUM3wDCt93AXIbDe5xYOgojoJOtED0_59yOw2vj-9kIW0bAbTSZC9Ow4vEBbWB/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfXwQ9D4ZDP9rW-vTGBP202_bl1BattS7tcBMDWrvABS94Gf3TgGlGJe8pRFUMBQY1vJ5XvWRDOnrAO6yVico9ZaN918y_YUvkg_TT9A07B2nCXWPAyP_Hmx39gqUM3wDCt93AXIbDe5xYOgojoJOtED0_59yOw2vj-9kIW0bAbTSZC9Ow4vEBbWB/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7690.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Kjhl_HQChg_UmnypGN93M85xwpjY8xpEYVr3zL4IZRTZg6tehtIp423vpwiw_n0vEgUOm66m2Tu-LmcbPGwaXjXce2LzU9hzApvZVz9jIEVd_1nihv_2SJ7c8ihH5V8wxYOgN4OvvJ6tMWPt6ZVrE_kDXgH828WtnlMxAs2uQp0tN0XnH-ZyttI/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Kjhl_HQChg_UmnypGN93M85xwpjY8xpEYVr3zL4IZRTZg6tehtIp423vpwiw_n0vEgUOm66m2Tu-LmcbPGwaXjXce2LzU9hzApvZVz9jIEVd_1nihv_2SJ7c8ihH5V8wxYOgN4OvvJ6tMWPt6ZVrE_kDXgH828WtnlMxAs2uQp0tN0XnH-ZyttI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7692.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LWGUAZrq8RuAAxftmb21PyqWBowlWLxyx4Kzir6Di5Ruma8ozCwHtCQbWy9cndYDQBeKWHafSU9e2O6oarXxQcYllUa19yp2ekxr207V_4pbP1krCxVD7obApsPRClAR6dba0msYJZsZw_rps-GCinFRmuR59484uvE_SRTLvsJvV6qF5x4PLVi_/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LWGUAZrq8RuAAxftmb21PyqWBowlWLxyx4Kzir6Di5Ruma8ozCwHtCQbWy9cndYDQBeKWHafSU9e2O6oarXxQcYllUa19yp2ekxr207V_4pbP1krCxVD7obApsPRClAR6dba0msYJZsZw_rps-GCinFRmuR59484uvE_SRTLvsJvV6qF5x4PLVi_/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7698.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZsd6Ig57WLwJe2R5tX34rSeSI0RSEVgw9NVCWpXIQDaKqe4HmHV7ac7fmVKsCOcnN0mHypo_USWAYUpJXPJhALl8ENkG3iU1agvXfBMJNIyP2JcETFGHKDtuts92bTBPa_-iS-vLgUxEuORNha6Et9sVpUAvNNUSi-xN9VvBUhQu0nX-PBQwp9ff/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZsd6Ig57WLwJe2R5tX34rSeSI0RSEVgw9NVCWpXIQDaKqe4HmHV7ac7fmVKsCOcnN0mHypo_USWAYUpJXPJhALl8ENkG3iU1agvXfBMJNIyP2JcETFGHKDtuts92bTBPa_-iS-vLgUxEuORNha6Et9sVpUAvNNUSi-xN9VvBUhQu0nX-PBQwp9ff/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7702.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZbGNA3elsvsAn9r1V_f2AN_epUjIyI0N-ALwY2uOOyTNSBPgcH2eqpHgy9XhXDAprJoTogWR7HLVir0wORPe8F2XgQPi8fZ8y0UpnmhIlqjB9pAmyDbZVpnatKHUM1qZ_gZx3eWQn1VX-gUyFrFGb52p9-p1YVCke5wp4i9LWu6016pQ58qaJuwA/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZbGNA3elsvsAn9r1V_f2AN_epUjIyI0N-ALwY2uOOyTNSBPgcH2eqpHgy9XhXDAprJoTogWR7HLVir0wORPe8F2XgQPi8fZ8y0UpnmhIlqjB9pAmyDbZVpnatKHUM1qZ_gZx3eWQn1VX-gUyFrFGb52p9-p1YVCke5wp4i9LWu6016pQ58qaJuwA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7706.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>You loved visiting Hawaii this year! While we all love our usual trips to Colorado-- and you do love hiking mountains-- Hawaii and the salty air seemed to suit you quite well. Your hair took to the extra humidity in beautiful ways [mine did not!], and you were quite adventurous which shouldn't have surprised us at all. You were determined to be the first one to the top of our big hike, and the first one down. When anyone asks you what your favorite part of the trip was though, you say "Shaved ice!" It was pretty good, I'll admit. But you also loved playing in waves, flipping over on the boogy board, seeing sea turtles, and hanging out Lauri and Charles. Charles's military uniform did nothing to stifle your tenacity in ordering him around, and you loved playing all his silly games. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9lGRNkqZh26ZxETvubSFj2S3EbU7J7HkN7x6nuXfGU-jophv6wibRZEmo0cCm_lBsZI5QbFm0KUEp7hNIAvO3jRDn3GGkU9rvZHE3GQpvLcQ7SZaZj1_McyTLLhCb9x2NSMFk02IGNdWl4mVq2RvAt2aYmcSGg2frBPdH62zlG1ju_bkfo0XOI75/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9lGRNkqZh26ZxETvubSFj2S3EbU7J7HkN7x6nuXfGU-jophv6wibRZEmo0cCm_lBsZI5QbFm0KUEp7hNIAvO3jRDn3GGkU9rvZHE3GQpvLcQ7SZaZj1_McyTLLhCb9x2NSMFk02IGNdWl4mVq2RvAt2aYmcSGg2frBPdH62zlG1ju_bkfo0XOI75/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7712.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IR1JvEis6O_1gAsLg0CyT8hNUxbx_SEc51bmVD_sr7N-9ts13JYOfGGjfk5KlxfgPBgqG6kRLE9fUwNfeXyYzv0r5wsLBr3mobkEvjH9aB1XOSQ3aLikMcaRsGMCHlRAIHqY66RuKu6AzAFcOYl5XfStVdilTePqQHsw6A8wdOM3oUsKSP6hkQFW/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IR1JvEis6O_1gAsLg0CyT8hNUxbx_SEc51bmVD_sr7N-9ts13JYOfGGjfk5KlxfgPBgqG6kRLE9fUwNfeXyYzv0r5wsLBr3mobkEvjH9aB1XOSQ3aLikMcaRsGMCHlRAIHqY66RuKu6AzAFcOYl5XfStVdilTePqQHsw6A8wdOM3oUsKSP6hkQFW/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7713.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhf8wJzRpCkxuk5UsSM5Y5cBhI1_W7OfLquuMLbHYVtvtVPYXa8f3xjXK-qL18qwXFehL6wUUFv7pD4gpfxCQ_JJResOjTnYFeGZi2sx5c5M1v9Ovpu9-pzNa9mtzZ79rQ2LJlckcSSPBFyEW1FKZ7aTXOimKbOl4ZZ9Nx2mpMTWE04irlQUKQnB5/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhf8wJzRpCkxuk5UsSM5Y5cBhI1_W7OfLquuMLbHYVtvtVPYXa8f3xjXK-qL18qwXFehL6wUUFv7pD4gpfxCQ_JJResOjTnYFeGZi2sx5c5M1v9Ovpu9-pzNa9mtzZ79rQ2LJlckcSSPBFyEW1FKZ7aTXOimKbOl4ZZ9Nx2mpMTWE04irlQUKQnB5/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7715.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCuJ1hMzwNv3UP3gZa5GZ2SIwNWPccj65GTrOfoz4GjFSRdpEQQmUohx0UMrZnulvGCLLdZ9Bkro-3PVE37A00uVykE6wL5A-o2yHQjWsBJpXXAzWo3jSvbfL69Y8NcCqES54rd0LLjzJOh7vRtz789RfGvKF1FuTQQRmpHzMH77iL_KdXUyAOtT_/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCuJ1hMzwNv3UP3gZa5GZ2SIwNWPccj65GTrOfoz4GjFSRdpEQQmUohx0UMrZnulvGCLLdZ9Bkro-3PVE37A00uVykE6wL5A-o2yHQjWsBJpXXAzWo3jSvbfL69Y8NcCqES54rd0LLjzJOh7vRtz789RfGvKF1FuTQQRmpHzMH77iL_KdXUyAOtT_/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7718.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDalw3TSgv-R_-C9YRphaHBAtNSLvMMdv47pmxdgL5p8puwUVovuDvfmwCRFGXD7Z1WrAlHPclhnV2LJa_TYVsmY0nuWctjNz_ZWCm3OPeyYmLBdPx0K8Rvy-J0dWV4wqSVIUJMU5T72IiNpZALksRzRK5rGaZke6h9Ssf0n2_HBCIl7zmzABUR3s4/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDalw3TSgv-R_-C9YRphaHBAtNSLvMMdv47pmxdgL5p8puwUVovuDvfmwCRFGXD7Z1WrAlHPclhnV2LJa_TYVsmY0nuWctjNz_ZWCm3OPeyYmLBdPx0K8Rvy-J0dWV4wqSVIUJMU5T72IiNpZALksRzRK5rGaZke6h9Ssf0n2_HBCIl7zmzABUR3s4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7719.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8RbvEKsaa8NvTEj-xGmKcUP_PiEZKlCeym8L_kjoaLDW4m6AiKAveX8pY43zmk_qZHzb35ABjIzbY3csSePAMraTZx02rLZgUw9xImRgHh2yZ7eE5Rz2D5pCgCEV73JBo-JuEPNKCldeJvmOrG3ReUu1Fo3tB6dMYi_5g31syrS02E-cVLd_NIE9/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8RbvEKsaa8NvTEj-xGmKcUP_PiEZKlCeym8L_kjoaLDW4m6AiKAveX8pY43zmk_qZHzb35ABjIzbY3csSePAMraTZx02rLZgUw9xImRgHh2yZ7eE5Rz2D5pCgCEV73JBo-JuEPNKCldeJvmOrG3ReUu1Fo3tB6dMYi_5g31syrS02E-cVLd_NIE9/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7721.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0VKVPcd9AFng4mq2dtkyW57VWVbdve2MvZ3fNfLndjA0aoqvSwpykzhiFWweuqk_v8bLYmWsWIZ3BwLlwimJZsbJZwknq-LvtCm2_If0EvQLIB6r1AXWec42f3eaiYUyyudnX3QTWxK3Iq4ID-y9aWaxbVxCYO1aOs1Qq24-8bFWJe9V6TCGD0iU/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0VKVPcd9AFng4mq2dtkyW57VWVbdve2MvZ3fNfLndjA0aoqvSwpykzhiFWweuqk_v8bLYmWsWIZ3BwLlwimJZsbJZwknq-LvtCm2_If0EvQLIB6r1AXWec42f3eaiYUyyudnX3QTWxK3Iq4ID-y9aWaxbVxCYO1aOs1Qq24-8bFWJe9V6TCGD0iU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7726.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>Last year in your letter I mentioned that there is something untethered inside you-- a fire burning that is unique. Your dad and I are still praying for the wisdom to know how to keep that fire from being a wildfire, but also recognize it for the gift it is and teach how to stoke it at the necessary moments. You're inquisitive yet process things emotionally first, and foremost. I always say that I could walk in a room and shout in an angry voice, "NAN! I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A COOKIE!" and you would burst in to tears because you would only hear <i>how </i>I said the words and wouldn't even be able to process what I actually said. This is very, very different than how I operate, and so it has been a unique gift to be your mom. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKgqU_xcUIlfD2ZM9QTNOGBRBGr5-34OTBU889TT3aVUUXrv2Y-plyBUg__wwODnANP1PkXp_w7lPlXwP2qOedR6wOh4bQGFPtLv0fCSmIGYJkryvnu9P87q4s4ERu3cLA5J56nRVj2nWOBVLcXOeaLL9uAeaib8llaQuAvL7xP_4Db6_oqmw6m0M/s5634/KIrwinPhotography-7736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3756" data-original-width="5634" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKgqU_xcUIlfD2ZM9QTNOGBRBGr5-34OTBU889TT3aVUUXrv2Y-plyBUg__wwODnANP1PkXp_w7lPlXwP2qOedR6wOh4bQGFPtLv0fCSmIGYJkryvnu9P87q4s4ERu3cLA5J56nRVj2nWOBVLcXOeaLL9uAeaib8llaQuAvL7xP_4Db6_oqmw6m0M/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7736.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLz0MjownpstBxWFesDMymseWhLiNIiyk4FDoc7bw70vo-wvh_Q7fY62NznjGJvccbXsi0UaCMbKqV0dtjZaaKDdddzwStKXw41ahb1FCJwCZD5ZFGOAnLQle2IoTtnxzxDAfzDmVd5zYdafMtzjlDcEPTw5Nj--XxkQOi3FYr-cslMNFy9F63n7C/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLz0MjownpstBxWFesDMymseWhLiNIiyk4FDoc7bw70vo-wvh_Q7fY62NznjGJvccbXsi0UaCMbKqV0dtjZaaKDdddzwStKXw41ahb1FCJwCZD5ZFGOAnLQle2IoTtnxzxDAfzDmVd5zYdafMtzjlDcEPTw5Nj--XxkQOi3FYr-cslMNFy9F63n7C/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7739.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9UUDJkMDfaJXY7arw8EMhNxtP0B5Mbe3Hf9nZN8MvWBL5pv7sIj_3lXyskd4clNwjIVDJ7yz6RI5lcUZpWz9iut5cjRqrtAaDJucJyL70FhutTECcOdinFUOKZ_BxwmOqSLiURVDdHvHPsV2pHQhb7GwtgJpB-m16k0yhOveep0zKQmyyRels_oF/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9UUDJkMDfaJXY7arw8EMhNxtP0B5Mbe3Hf9nZN8MvWBL5pv7sIj_3lXyskd4clNwjIVDJ7yz6RI5lcUZpWz9iut5cjRqrtAaDJucJyL70FhutTECcOdinFUOKZ_BxwmOqSLiURVDdHvHPsV2pHQhb7GwtgJpB-m16k0yhOveep0zKQmyyRels_oF/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7745.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24QPIgkbByz0u31pkOzoBYr6YNy2Ba2oFBeHGUfUapZ2kOYOFTG4X8MY32Tzf9hiqTI1D_bjUcT-u1wQ3Ke2JY57ST0XnFc0sb0mQsw31QiNooW_SCdkVC3Wek-JD3CpZsXMm2_quf1Dm3UPa16uu6caVlzqprVqg3rEbQUZ5ndK5TRcR_-PLp5b9/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24QPIgkbByz0u31pkOzoBYr6YNy2Ba2oFBeHGUfUapZ2kOYOFTG4X8MY32Tzf9hiqTI1D_bjUcT-u1wQ3Ke2JY57ST0XnFc0sb0mQsw31QiNooW_SCdkVC3Wek-JD3CpZsXMm2_quf1Dm3UPa16uu6caVlzqprVqg3rEbQUZ5ndK5TRcR_-PLp5b9/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7752.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG8y0rR5zEKX7Nwk1qEppOqKNBi3jRu5vVlBHEX64YXVQHxrczZlWKjacL0fxfr62B3AFxIuc7owTUJiXqCTbOwBcSmgqF-Q3TysU5vx_bvemVcj7LcMBQBlZMy2MXUkhZBalJm29hqlKi2JiCeSFoy8Ox_9Fx0rIF6c12f4L-ztY45B0LYHfzFEB/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG8y0rR5zEKX7Nwk1qEppOqKNBi3jRu5vVlBHEX64YXVQHxrczZlWKjacL0fxfr62B3AFxIuc7owTUJiXqCTbOwBcSmgqF-Q3TysU5vx_bvemVcj7LcMBQBlZMy2MXUkhZBalJm29hqlKi2JiCeSFoy8Ox_9Fx0rIF6c12f4L-ztY45B0LYHfzFEB/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7758.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVU69aeCOt7wIRY2_mPXx-j4ddiV6zPMgVg342LpoK8J6G7QZeFXi9IhN4CebC-Gjd98fGU67A6G-6fmYWa-XzAa-lOm6AV4RFiDk7Py9b_m2gbKM_qZlzLjDEYldlms4W3VVHtDH6cbBRkVFDnIZBny-_1lQ9ZE6Q9GDxTcOSszYeus3HXAJS_Be/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVU69aeCOt7wIRY2_mPXx-j4ddiV6zPMgVg342LpoK8J6G7QZeFXi9IhN4CebC-Gjd98fGU67A6G-6fmYWa-XzAa-lOm6AV4RFiDk7Py9b_m2gbKM_qZlzLjDEYldlms4W3VVHtDH6cbBRkVFDnIZBny-_1lQ9ZE6Q9GDxTcOSszYeus3HXAJS_Be/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7761.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>YOU are a unique gift, Nanny Lou. Your pregnancy was a wild ride-- from your dad getting Zika to my pelvis separation at the end. And it brought up to you, the wildest ride yet ;). You have a drumbeat inside you that is wild and free, untethered to any song that has ever been played before. I absolutely love how God made you, and am learning more and more how to have a heart that is wide open to this life and to all people simply from watching you do it so well. I pray often that you would have eyes to see God, ears to hear him, and a heart that loves him, and I am excited to just sit back and continue to learn from you in all these areas. </p><p>As I have ended all your letters, I want to end this one: We hope you understand the why behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCemF0b1NnANQz8hgXWi81GMlgB2BtT71k3NVxLoC_UhNm51KtqcU0S1d5V5DeP_vc4Y-ebtgQJkxzA31HNTAOQx0OHDHT--9ImESP6c-r4nsI8-Z6cfpgExg1YOd72VhbOk9aw5ZkMlETLfj7bSIIiBn1H24nppSHrc-3UMwigjQwRBhpfx70rO_6/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCemF0b1NnANQz8hgXWi81GMlgB2BtT71k3NVxLoC_UhNm51KtqcU0S1d5V5DeP_vc4Y-ebtgQJkxzA31HNTAOQx0OHDHT--9ImESP6c-r4nsI8-Z6cfpgExg1YOd72VhbOk9aw5ZkMlETLfj7bSIIiBn1H24nppSHrc-3UMwigjQwRBhpfx70rO_6/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7762.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboM56uP3j_YvhbzYwPm0qfjYH2opyLIG_RYosfBixHvDCES0YrXMl7xiUqUMSi_-i6Q76zfV27JycnAyZv-dcba9Df6p-8_HfyiOcdLzpjZtpU0dMwWgEvcYEvOkgR5MlPMps-8ttDaHhAI0LY3_X87U0utkD1EdhPedSDDJ0Mu6WDw2FPkzBbo_W/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboM56uP3j_YvhbzYwPm0qfjYH2opyLIG_RYosfBixHvDCES0YrXMl7xiUqUMSi_-i6Q76zfV27JycnAyZv-dcba9Df6p-8_HfyiOcdLzpjZtpU0dMwWgEvcYEvOkgR5MlPMps-8ttDaHhAI0LY3_X87U0utkD1EdhPedSDDJ0Mu6WDw2FPkzBbo_W/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-7767.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXIuqnM8g1rCqsNbnvBBX2VhtvGuWCd1l98ikXMAbTIH_6Ixy6PlcM2-oy__acmwUiyythQWeA_7ZynwqDVl8WbCF-fA0kqXVCgLomLDGhOT23eLZ8FahP0l3SqsDabF98QI8tovUssetG0rZf54AQ0yoiNHmVg9VTVUTsxp0_RgTfz8yLNGU41Mo/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXIuqnM8g1rCqsNbnvBBX2VhtvGuWCd1l98ikXMAbTIH_6Ixy6PlcM2-oy__acmwUiyythQWeA_7ZynwqDVl8WbCF-fA0kqXVCgLomLDGhOT23eLZ8FahP0l3SqsDabF98QI8tovUssetG0rZf54AQ0yoiNHmVg9VTVUTsxp0_RgTfz8yLNGU41Mo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7770.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bx19IoygQl4Yg1yAqEeCjbEeXb1Sq-Xw8qE81ZrS4aHtl5rI0ZfoErjFVEdQqsIkRCxf_2z81YUiEDFTJbv7oSPMRJIzyBOPvYcwhzHWipiVV7LYKFYYSdF-aDQz51ObNkYga5i5vtip8HsIbVZ0Osx34QdLdAnH_3d9TYXUYAj0iEYKxmyQALFq/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bx19IoygQl4Yg1yAqEeCjbEeXb1Sq-Xw8qE81ZrS4aHtl5rI0ZfoErjFVEdQqsIkRCxf_2z81YUiEDFTJbv7oSPMRJIzyBOPvYcwhzHWipiVV7LYKFYYSdF-aDQz51ObNkYga5i5vtip8HsIbVZ0Osx34QdLdAnH_3d9TYXUYAj0iEYKxmyQALFq/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7771.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy-QArambwu5MXqeV-fUNC511moY0Hn6D_CTxOOxdLDxH2RvB_KGo39UrRhpqar_1YrywK64LF6OgvCiXkHw8etGJfyTlxC_9lNhLBMmuDgxOkZ-xKOY9vi1odokNNYKJSd1PZQGR6dVk20NouMhJ0jjF5ZDgIHxF5MvVlHjUprZprqVjTONvc-4V/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy-QArambwu5MXqeV-fUNC511moY0Hn6D_CTxOOxdLDxH2RvB_KGo39UrRhpqar_1YrywK64LF6OgvCiXkHw8etGJfyTlxC_9lNhLBMmuDgxOkZ-xKOY9vi1odokNNYKJSd1PZQGR6dVk20NouMhJ0jjF5ZDgIHxF5MvVlHjUprZprqVjTONvc-4V/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7773.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2MiRVc46c_yARM8CIkss8e8OxEI1cbIEfSkDzwlaLKyaPnQ285Nx1fLi6qGcLcp4hgZgYmilbNvsaVwKuQo5M2EDLGr0G73M9sc3QZ3C_8zquYoDydTRhheRVy62qxyZFF3ckaY1SHT1Eg6_SGBSo4gb86HL_as_P665X0Q6JWs5ReO1BVigti4D/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2MiRVc46c_yARM8CIkss8e8OxEI1cbIEfSkDzwlaLKyaPnQ285Nx1fLi6qGcLcp4hgZgYmilbNvsaVwKuQo5M2EDLGr0G73M9sc3QZ3C_8zquYoDydTRhheRVy62qxyZFF3ckaY1SHT1Eg6_SGBSo4gb86HL_as_P665X0Q6JWs5ReO1BVigti4D/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7776.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWcQd10kMJLJKZqYiT58p7dgWpZA4Ny0iC13cLBO7AnYt1Jqx-JNMojjycjlDuWY-8MwAKH2U3qjGqQXr5eNeoTvFm99pF-EWjQNku2blSm1GpmxpgQKVMBevTVQn52nm9cHA391-nya6NN61B6o5hAsLp8iQEppmPTlKn1UvSkiP7TKs3gdoC1w-/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWcQd10kMJLJKZqYiT58p7dgWpZA4Ny0iC13cLBO7AnYt1Jqx-JNMojjycjlDuWY-8MwAKH2U3qjGqQXr5eNeoTvFm99pF-EWjQNku2blSm1GpmxpgQKVMBevTVQn52nm9cHA391-nya6NN61B6o5hAsLp8iQEppmPTlKn1UvSkiP7TKs3gdoC1w-/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7778.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30pQqX67el-OxtzxDclFpT5iagDbS-VwCu2OUxrngEijws_wkUXCiVOvSMuvsDmwwO2yN3Ce_ALD0PERFlZshCpEMwCDssyj17VQWvVXz9tML1-K4ogWXhyaMrtGo0nEJ5WH37bPGBH47ZlAxOjFBJyB_EcefV3RHRjDE2VZNDQWx2iyuDX9ZS5gi/s5302/KIrwinPhotography-7780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5302" data-original-width="3535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30pQqX67el-OxtzxDclFpT5iagDbS-VwCu2OUxrngEijws_wkUXCiVOvSMuvsDmwwO2yN3Ce_ALD0PERFlZshCpEMwCDssyj17VQWvVXz9tML1-K4ogWXhyaMrtGo0nEJ5WH37bPGBH47ZlAxOjFBJyB_EcefV3RHRjDE2VZNDQWx2iyuDX9ZS5gi/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7780.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAE7oFxaOmOPyvIFcFEfdcDURC2RCdmAAxRa92ahbp7KTS52ZszNRm5WFWTUqLDH8MnFMj7RDCxZy0cZxPKBkxSZsrz43IN2big_EhSeX6r7d7R9bA9vw3WVtmjrDqFXWNv3KjFvcUdxv6SAMfmNDbyD6R9ANVCsFasSKLKjjZL_lA_imjbBlgMBGg/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-7782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAE7oFxaOmOPyvIFcFEfdcDURC2RCdmAAxRa92ahbp7KTS52ZszNRm5WFWTUqLDH8MnFMj7RDCxZy0cZxPKBkxSZsrz43IN2big_EhSeX6r7d7R9bA9vw3WVtmjrDqFXWNv3KjFvcUdxv6SAMfmNDbyD6R9ANVCsFasSKLKjjZL_lA_imjbBlgMBGg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-7782.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>We love you, Nan Louise. There is nothing you could ever do that would make us stop loving you. </p><p>Happy sixth birthday! </p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-402793019728560012022-04-04T15:49:00.011-04:002022-04-04T15:49:57.326-04:00Blythe is TEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Kd7aDnpFWKwA3mNLwKrsyjq5-upbXq9sD74o9JreAKHBAnsj5oifeOAez1r0r1rtKvlPdVgJh6E1AX50NXsmaKSQq6ge7uwt9Sp7w54r-vZL17UCQHqPL_2U587BEFPdaII_3XI4fh1SZRzjR65zHXYbYAbVrTNrhSqOxl8pI5WuhirRLJ_tE8-R/s4854/KIrwinPhotography-6487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4854" data-original-width="3236" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Kd7aDnpFWKwA3mNLwKrsyjq5-upbXq9sD74o9JreAKHBAnsj5oifeOAez1r0r1rtKvlPdVgJh6E1AX50NXsmaKSQq6ge7uwt9Sp7w54r-vZL17UCQHqPL_2U587BEFPdaII_3XI4fh1SZRzjR65zHXYbYAbVrTNrhSqOxl8pI5WuhirRLJ_tE8-R/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6487.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmoDNOmMYuW6qah6VcKGiOhKiVC1M90UmKC0kVS68-yaKxjukFVfWHToqOg0OdZXxZgTrbVdptR0DIIv9RWmLr10xYeIs7i34NSwj7Rv2UHP2hqwW7fIPs3UoJ4DUwPVtA9sKCoxM0Pe8z95XNW5m6u6wsamBQqwgJ51AIH3h6ykaZ4jkcu97nHMN/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmoDNOmMYuW6qah6VcKGiOhKiVC1M90UmKC0kVS68-yaKxjukFVfWHToqOg0OdZXxZgTrbVdptR0DIIv9RWmLr10xYeIs7i34NSwj7Rv2UHP2hqwW7fIPs3UoJ4DUwPVtA9sKCoxM0Pe8z95XNW5m6u6wsamBQqwgJ51AIH3h6ykaZ4jkcu97nHMN/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6441.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBa-fpPlRVuw1G2psQOcBAdpk2FK2EzkswWdvJgR3TpEhZBvMZLaYmLwWM-Y2U1YqAFRUztwLkaWYh9U7xJOfMTnUatryBgSQ5muru26I_tn774vdW7Q-aTbrkQx9W88f5m0q_IENyWxgXyhUQRpcPyqAJ9PLjsmWsziH6g59C4KXejWWW1oD-0by/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBa-fpPlRVuw1G2psQOcBAdpk2FK2EzkswWdvJgR3TpEhZBvMZLaYmLwWM-Y2U1YqAFRUztwLkaWYh9U7xJOfMTnUatryBgSQ5muru26I_tn774vdW7Q-aTbrkQx9W88f5m0q_IENyWxgXyhUQRpcPyqAJ9PLjsmWsziH6g59C4KXejWWW1oD-0by/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6507.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymNPblvDkPUyCuL3cvvTd8XiJsKHZqZKcgC4ARtsaWCPsN7ttV5h3c26q6PILMGAsxntHMzs5WpOAyExJlf1FUseY9Ucvlj2u1GBKJgz0aXcwBNHZgEnqpa-g3Iu1w9hKQCZ50khK-K1XpM4l2ocE3uGBE37ncaECGQPKndLxSkFEXauIZLWC7y3X/s6057/KIrwinPhotography-6387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6057" data-original-width="4038" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymNPblvDkPUyCuL3cvvTd8XiJsKHZqZKcgC4ARtsaWCPsN7ttV5h3c26q6PILMGAsxntHMzs5WpOAyExJlf1FUseY9Ucvlj2u1GBKJgz0aXcwBNHZgEnqpa-g3Iu1w9hKQCZ50khK-K1XpM4l2ocE3uGBE37ncaECGQPKndLxSkFEXauIZLWC7y3X/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6387.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKYItbmZi6uTNom-6Vt_DAp5L3KnxPAU_PQmeGYOkMmj6MMq-lDLouuNhOsCRQ10BMSJPUZM_4ZsMFsrXL0tNcdfifXcbnmZ22Syp1dj0jBfVQoZo5rLp6gXRtCGj5YKgnI5qDM4FZ0NxXkkdeWlH2y7N9HNtjHJ6H17V7zFCMqjgLLQqsOlP8Yq3/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKYItbmZi6uTNom-6Vt_DAp5L3KnxPAU_PQmeGYOkMmj6MMq-lDLouuNhOsCRQ10BMSJPUZM_4ZsMFsrXL0tNcdfifXcbnmZ22Syp1dj0jBfVQoZo5rLp6gXRtCGj5YKgnI5qDM4FZ0NxXkkdeWlH2y7N9HNtjHJ6H17V7zFCMqjgLLQqsOlP8Yq3/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6394.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-myZxl9QoYUaCpFbQMA69sU0bS3ivxR3MpI8RxA9MGWEObl1QAdTlSDoYNPLxfyMnmByRDgU6ErjnvGwjb0XE1DKrP8FDnMNhDeXEcE6OU_OFIyHcey2_EFgxQ-e7b-w0RqPDr7D4PcW4q904I9Dh_P2ByDv7NpKzkaCP0dsMT6d_QYxcePx9-Bvs/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-myZxl9QoYUaCpFbQMA69sU0bS3ivxR3MpI8RxA9MGWEObl1QAdTlSDoYNPLxfyMnmByRDgU6ErjnvGwjb0XE1DKrP8FDnMNhDeXEcE6OU_OFIyHcey2_EFgxQ-e7b-w0RqPDr7D4PcW4q904I9Dh_P2ByDv7NpKzkaCP0dsMT6d_QYxcePx9-Bvs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6395.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDL5H6HDqJlQXVsc7eT7GXZSUwPHnMIHTHsNs9E6Q_NbisN1BvQHdhZSS7BNQIzr9zX9zBs2fjftd9DltQ8QA1cmguWJawdPbRkb97OumbTUZEpBRFVMZH0Bdt_LdebKl9d5jck_z_pyO00qu0Trk-B312iAczkX44P7j65WmZbl-pkjXwd87yLUhE/s5594/KIrwinPhotography-6397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3729" data-original-width="5594" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDL5H6HDqJlQXVsc7eT7GXZSUwPHnMIHTHsNs9E6Q_NbisN1BvQHdhZSS7BNQIzr9zX9zBs2fjftd9DltQ8QA1cmguWJawdPbRkb97OumbTUZEpBRFVMZH0Bdt_LdebKl9d5jck_z_pyO00qu0Trk-B312iAczkX44P7j65WmZbl-pkjXwd87yLUhE/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6397.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uEnYMxpjX3Qogfh0xiWQkI5l_OVIn0Ybw034xZlBxK8MZRLKvYike7g0upFbECVf5PpTbrByfW6Sj-NwHx0ZnQYHFjvI5j44nihKv6RVrwkncf8jLaXhrm1WAwBZMF4ZsQ13uennSY4vAk7lpHJMrTsVDp_S-opGpPfKJLFMTG5VwI3ixO0Iwt0t/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uEnYMxpjX3Qogfh0xiWQkI5l_OVIn0Ybw034xZlBxK8MZRLKvYike7g0upFbECVf5PpTbrByfW6Sj-NwHx0ZnQYHFjvI5j44nihKv6RVrwkncf8jLaXhrm1WAwBZMF4ZsQ13uennSY4vAk7lpHJMrTsVDp_S-opGpPfKJLFMTG5VwI3ixO0Iwt0t/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6403.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX7b20LHqTFoKrQ97z9Ydd6iIW8FM2A5QWRbja05hXejJKtG-r-s7YdT_9waGX7GCQFgkwKwugVkpx7_j_WNZ8mXTnNBxl0fsFhECE5elolXwUW2wkEH1D0V5otbyNKOvwgT2fG0blc8Z2A7QuZtQkvalQem-G6tIdapyZCTqV1NPbhjWik8gTK37/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX7b20LHqTFoKrQ97z9Ydd6iIW8FM2A5QWRbja05hXejJKtG-r-s7YdT_9waGX7GCQFgkwKwugVkpx7_j_WNZ8mXTnNBxl0fsFhECE5elolXwUW2wkEH1D0V5otbyNKOvwgT2fG0blc8Z2A7QuZtQkvalQem-G6tIdapyZCTqV1NPbhjWik8gTK37/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6405.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3WVq1P8IkWjXOI10ztWqC7MLoxYTI8oWDqu0PAIYAj1xRtM0tSgXPKh0o06aFFHwd5JgRjAV1tlp7MVSi2GBQWfVXEkgMEY_-9G0qcz1SHX_o2rT_hNHnsfsPwhz2IT9fWrzjiscovVFOReU11UQn6lt5LfQt5ZDRe0o-80od54nKmumYYa2JbnM/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3WVq1P8IkWjXOI10ztWqC7MLoxYTI8oWDqu0PAIYAj1xRtM0tSgXPKh0o06aFFHwd5JgRjAV1tlp7MVSi2GBQWfVXEkgMEY_-9G0qcz1SHX_o2rT_hNHnsfsPwhz2IT9fWrzjiscovVFOReU11UQn6lt5LfQt5ZDRe0o-80od54nKmumYYa2JbnM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6406.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>Blythe Kathleen,</p><p>To be here, on this day you turn ten, feels like such a gift. There are moments as a parent that time feels like such a thief, here to just keep taking and taking until-- poof-- you're out of our home and we're left with only memories. But on days like today, when I sit and truly reflect on the TEN years we've gotten to have with you and parent you and just enjoy your presence, I realize that time is also such a generous giver. These past ten years have just been filled to the brim with so much joy because you have been in them. </p><p>Ten feels like a threshold. Once we walk through this door together, we're on a new journey of sorts. The next decade will look so different than the last one: teenage years, middle school, high school, driving, leaving home... so much is on the horizon. And yet, at age ten you're still a kid. A decidedly BIG kid with feet I can barely keep in shoes and teeth coming in at every odd angle and hands that feel roughly the size of my own when I hold them, but still a <i>kid.</i> In our current culture, kids are leaving their childhoods sooner and sooner, and your dad and I have countless conversations about how we want to preserve your childhood years for as long as possible. This isn't because we still look at you as a baby, or because we don't want to challenge you and push you, and it isn't even because we are scared of what comes next: it is simply because you only get to be a kid once, and there is so much good and valuable that happens in simplicity and free play. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsUrfcUN5D50oKPUwfREL_7pgDqWl-Nn9uZvxI9KtuBjdDB142mgUb2dHcQEc9ExrpjxwJ_yKxH7TN9A1ZXJeDFh30880KOkA8ttpr4jO5j9-wrg_gS81ioJ6KhGXR6XoQ0j-jrLVTdtxR5YsRbz8b3YfXMnBO8SGK7N6EetHCavQJdknDKKhjox0/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsUrfcUN5D50oKPUwfREL_7pgDqWl-Nn9uZvxI9KtuBjdDB142mgUb2dHcQEc9ExrpjxwJ_yKxH7TN9A1ZXJeDFh30880KOkA8ttpr4jO5j9-wrg_gS81ioJ6KhGXR6XoQ0j-jrLVTdtxR5YsRbz8b3YfXMnBO8SGK7N6EetHCavQJdknDKKhjox0/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6408.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qVAEyEhe5uXRhfXhPITdzWzm7R2enl1s94-ozCzbsxUEgehOcKHm_bi3xPWNvPwtJkAJfW0kqAniLOC0BpqzNtsE-a7EhrIzJN1_MiJoXkOC3a4Q5VTpo9girIB6A0T1z-MPzSsDONxEEOFn-gZyieAaZX6oY5srv2S4trkMSeVzABia3GmN-lM3/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qVAEyEhe5uXRhfXhPITdzWzm7R2enl1s94-ozCzbsxUEgehOcKHm_bi3xPWNvPwtJkAJfW0kqAniLOC0BpqzNtsE-a7EhrIzJN1_MiJoXkOC3a4Q5VTpo9girIB6A0T1z-MPzSsDONxEEOFn-gZyieAaZX6oY5srv2S4trkMSeVzABia3GmN-lM3/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6409.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTYGI-cTLalEJjj_N-xEgzvVkX3Ny9pL9RvDCDuEHV7T43dhKs0dHhVgFR0HqjUDUXvU4opnBoHNw_tbUtOhwU8mjo8vSa5A4RCAAAbZjy37Bs4XwS_jjjhPaJtoVtNRiQ_M8j5yReexNuZLNKg88PWXrO67D0Ie3yuJV5Vg4j1RGPj6eY9jrBQJ1/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTYGI-cTLalEJjj_N-xEgzvVkX3Ny9pL9RvDCDuEHV7T43dhKs0dHhVgFR0HqjUDUXvU4opnBoHNw_tbUtOhwU8mjo8vSa5A4RCAAAbZjy37Bs4XwS_jjjhPaJtoVtNRiQ_M8j5yReexNuZLNKg88PWXrO67D0Ie3yuJV5Vg4j1RGPj6eY9jrBQJ1/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6412.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhfwStqcT-qosHwPYL2a9OTJ4_dqi1IiiXhm1JsQVP-QgJwn0GlccKA6_p52_Kq6BjwKOqwnBTFe68zgkUzr4Pdj__z9zuoQzS89qNyFVCjzbrM9llL8pyDs2aRHTu4OB7zDm5273j4doPGciESQtaN5ar-Lwq21GNc8nzXpNyZ0hG1Vqlyu4yam7/s5947/KIrwinPhotography-6415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5947" data-original-width="3965" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhfwStqcT-qosHwPYL2a9OTJ4_dqi1IiiXhm1JsQVP-QgJwn0GlccKA6_p52_Kq6BjwKOqwnBTFe68zgkUzr4Pdj__z9zuoQzS89qNyFVCjzbrM9llL8pyDs2aRHTu4OB7zDm5273j4doPGciESQtaN5ar-Lwq21GNc8nzXpNyZ0hG1Vqlyu4yam7/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6415.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bKRgsB_xeSXRKxtxbpHYK6lwA63a-UMKuFgJFrtlpKFAwKxDh48yTTXrR_cZ92FL-7fEa5xIGeG5fAhn81VDPqUI8Tv1jV-kuuy9hz-Ewfb32S9M11mQ0FEYlAXxgW54NC5XNKKFuTk7lnz6BPU_TS1B0WaoHertcPuPUKdiKRCZqta6XNeSWA6q/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bKRgsB_xeSXRKxtxbpHYK6lwA63a-UMKuFgJFrtlpKFAwKxDh48yTTXrR_cZ92FL-7fEa5xIGeG5fAhn81VDPqUI8Tv1jV-kuuy9hz-Ewfb32S9M11mQ0FEYlAXxgW54NC5XNKKFuTk7lnz6BPU_TS1B0WaoHertcPuPUKdiKRCZqta6XNeSWA6q/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6417.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVsKVU_5qpC9CU1Uw6uO0x6vukIjN596qeOULIioURLz5Tvx4jqPm-6xz91aMY25JXXs76fmwo17T2wGsANvKyGOI0pEcIQTGEY6NlawS4cqcq8X3jXF-7aRmcVpG1-NGRtd6GK926DHFtsiCYQXhbtMRJxVl_2cJlU3HquSmhl1dIfn9wecv_YPS/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVsKVU_5qpC9CU1Uw6uO0x6vukIjN596qeOULIioURLz5Tvx4jqPm-6xz91aMY25JXXs76fmwo17T2wGsANvKyGOI0pEcIQTGEY6NlawS4cqcq8X3jXF-7aRmcVpG1-NGRtd6GK926DHFtsiCYQXhbtMRJxVl_2cJlU3HquSmhl1dIfn9wecv_YPS/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6419.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>This was a good year for you, but I haven't seen you face a year you didn't bring some fun and light to, so you've enjoyed them all. Last spring you got to go turkey hunting for the first time with Papa, and you didn't see any turkeys, otherwise you were convinced you would have been able to get one, no problem. I tell this little story because it highlights something we adore about you: your absolute confidence in yourself. You have the ability to simply be completely yourself, and be confident that you being yourself is exactly what the world needs. And you're right: it is. You're currently studying about the Revolutionary War at school and you've gone head-over-heels in reading whatever books you can get your hands on about the topic. Because of your new-found love for Rev War, Papa let you borrow one of his tri-corn hats. I walked down the road to get you off the bus the next day, and there you were, wearing the tri-corn hat, feather and all. You think it's awesome, so you're going to wear it. And because you do it with confidence, it IS awesome. You're unique in this and Brent and I talk about it and pray frequently that this is something you can carry with you for the rest of your life: don't let nay-sayers squash the brilliant confidence you bring into this world. It is such a gift. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuDVxXlgXhFeRhN2h1eyAJBwcxV8lcrFfP_J70ka0KGxN68FEtgDn2j_F3Ql09ODMwTE5uq3cK_oFFV7jXAqdIAoY7VJIYA0nHuOlcULYFFom3stBumxG0u8pNLWw4gVUJl9OIRdwQtpd2_DNZ3nyjg4mmTNmbrXDoINm-2fo7AAm04SodcXJZWGn/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuDVxXlgXhFeRhN2h1eyAJBwcxV8lcrFfP_J70ka0KGxN68FEtgDn2j_F3Ql09ODMwTE5uq3cK_oFFV7jXAqdIAoY7VJIYA0nHuOlcULYFFom3stBumxG0u8pNLWw4gVUJl9OIRdwQtpd2_DNZ3nyjg4mmTNmbrXDoINm-2fo7AAm04SodcXJZWGn/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6420.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbC9AbUHfD0aogDXX427zL1Gswr231oiK45ovCLLDCL7Rp_cQhlrm7K-5I0OxkOADWBIGB2gOEITp9v5wM6jUv7zpnF1Tp3_v1iwvsXm1bCH6xhSYDPtM2pCXPsNWjBRSE2u25Hw-Vl5wbpM7jZK0gVH3oECCL5t6x3rluORZGNvgJgvjbQrkzCVv/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbC9AbUHfD0aogDXX427zL1Gswr231oiK45ovCLLDCL7Rp_cQhlrm7K-5I0OxkOADWBIGB2gOEITp9v5wM6jUv7zpnF1Tp3_v1iwvsXm1bCH6xhSYDPtM2pCXPsNWjBRSE2u25Hw-Vl5wbpM7jZK0gVH3oECCL5t6x3rluORZGNvgJgvjbQrkzCVv/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6422.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2Lr62pPvs2nx5-nje4nzb_tUWDMSXl_3mcziYYvPEQ70O0FI6Sytr75ew5KfKpPeM3ACA9UlGya5B-wmjtojtQ9xAgQ0bn39iX8EkNK68zIBqoQrJzZVB34iZ7R2XJysCUjcp5wFGvyuXdA_HkUv8OfpXnOIreo1FRNDyQieln8-xe-P3HF6XHn2/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2Lr62pPvs2nx5-nje4nzb_tUWDMSXl_3mcziYYvPEQ70O0FI6Sytr75ew5KfKpPeM3ACA9UlGya5B-wmjtojtQ9xAgQ0bn39iX8EkNK68zIBqoQrJzZVB34iZ7R2XJysCUjcp5wFGvyuXdA_HkUv8OfpXnOIreo1FRNDyQieln8-xe-P3HF6XHn2/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6423.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwMKYGqK6_02GDJ0fGj15nNQwGMLi8ZUyFA48JH7kXc9teaeE7P9IRWEqYpDyputvoGeJSklOWSaJIHrdYQpS5lc4qv7WABa3gB7HZM2lPT8QM-trJ5FXANi65WM1_AHaE7gAymyranRBjuMavcsJIELJM2M5sKFUjOTPZrM75YnCaBh5wHInjRGj/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwMKYGqK6_02GDJ0fGj15nNQwGMLi8ZUyFA48JH7kXc9teaeE7P9IRWEqYpDyputvoGeJSklOWSaJIHrdYQpS5lc4qv7WABa3gB7HZM2lPT8QM-trJ5FXANi65WM1_AHaE7gAymyranRBjuMavcsJIELJM2M5sKFUjOTPZrM75YnCaBh5wHInjRGj/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6424.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QyZ1IIdzHZoAXrE_5DKeDEHmkzucMnn4nyotDz0ckZY8Bx9Goad925Xcb6QsvmTl-7jW9aksIbSndJCoXVSMP1yjZtjFLsa113REUkySIeYPDRSXLjukgOWpFm7-WXIfpV8pFB6xw1-i8BWKupW_vevYdeGZPyapd5vnCqBKgJMr0m3M87yLswbR/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QyZ1IIdzHZoAXrE_5DKeDEHmkzucMnn4nyotDz0ckZY8Bx9Goad925Xcb6QsvmTl-7jW9aksIbSndJCoXVSMP1yjZtjFLsa113REUkySIeYPDRSXLjukgOWpFm7-WXIfpV8pFB6xw1-i8BWKupW_vevYdeGZPyapd5vnCqBKgJMr0m3M87yLswbR/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6425.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgIagElJJVzAFblp8FJpUSWYipYFBxZ4XjFp7YTZkmFmXKi4bfXkz6xWt5bzHH2bWBMVkPxgz-JlH7Rru5fcSzOl_iRPZfh1HcPhINSvjawDGD0sBUeoHaTvHAWjPx9yfy0Gqec3yif0jepFmSdz05WYasICfmfcAT_Gj0vl6MHdyoXu_up-Uv6pL/s4480/KIrwinPhotography-6426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="2987" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgIagElJJVzAFblp8FJpUSWYipYFBxZ4XjFp7YTZkmFmXKi4bfXkz6xWt5bzHH2bWBMVkPxgz-JlH7Rru5fcSzOl_iRPZfh1HcPhINSvjawDGD0sBUeoHaTvHAWjPx9yfy0Gqec3yif0jepFmSdz05WYasICfmfcAT_Gj0vl6MHdyoXu_up-Uv6pL/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6426.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbSBhFTe9FdRU9mx_feZTszwz7zSzO0g1nV7Us5p0dVVOT6ztgc7tbKjt_Oxo5gJXLUfEzSKm-vPy9cRv4oKJ3Oqn5NpjlSE6FZbzxovhUGTkF_sLGwOulRUoEjyEUxedNefCX07Wmp7AK_gDof4_dcd-io1XCANwmHM2Xav8-kLTVektlMR2UY1j/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbSBhFTe9FdRU9mx_feZTszwz7zSzO0g1nV7Us5p0dVVOT6ztgc7tbKjt_Oxo5gJXLUfEzSKm-vPy9cRv4oKJ3Oqn5NpjlSE6FZbzxovhUGTkF_sLGwOulRUoEjyEUxedNefCX07Wmp7AK_gDof4_dcd-io1XCANwmHM2Xav8-kLTVektlMR2UY1j/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6427.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>To kick off the summer we had another awesome trip to Colorado, which I think is safe to say you now love as much as your dad and I do. It's been really fun to watch you grow in your endurance to do longer hikes and this time you even tried rock climbing. My favorite moment from the trip with you, though, was down by the horse barns [big surprise ;)]. There was one horse that was in a separate pin from the others, and we figured it must have been one that was being broken or at least learning the ropes in some capacity. Because of this, he was fairly skittish when we tried to get near him, unlike the other horses. But you were determined to pet him and make him feel at ease. I watched you, over the course of twenty to thirty minutes, so incredibly patiently, try to accomplish that. First you sat down near the fence but didn't look at him; you willed yourself to make no eye contact and just let him get used to your presence. Then you slowly stood, but still looked away. Next you turned towards him, but only did short bursts of eye contact, still giving him time and space to process you. Slowly, slowly, slowly you would take one step, then wait several minutes before taking another. Once you were next to the fence, you slowly, slowly, slowly raised your hand. Eventually you began moving your open palm towards him, but he trotted away. Thirty minutes, and you didn't accomplish your goal-- I was sure you'd be upset. Instead, you walked back over with a smile on your face, proud of how patient you'd been and pleased that he'd even let you get as close as he did. I've since seen you do the same with the cows in the pasture behind our house. It's an image of you I just love: you're so gentle and kind, patient and intentional. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYoZmBoMMLq1BGsbBccVd669vehWT-cJRbzB5XkGhc-TKqSUj_URydIGYpV0aIg0PuA9iyZmHguWYuNJCTuKZlzFa9BcRRQxO9VQq85ksGMFE0rF-35ZT4NUqUEq5rjuwiuozeV6zylzOCS7hIlNAVH0SjD42ZqH9Lc5tQw5Tlx0UJ_ETYZEVqykb/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYoZmBoMMLq1BGsbBccVd669vehWT-cJRbzB5XkGhc-TKqSUj_URydIGYpV0aIg0PuA9iyZmHguWYuNJCTuKZlzFa9BcRRQxO9VQq85ksGMFE0rF-35ZT4NUqUEq5rjuwiuozeV6zylzOCS7hIlNAVH0SjD42ZqH9Lc5tQw5Tlx0UJ_ETYZEVqykb/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6430.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy_YmQyFf-w3B4rAIorz1CQU66FoHPWSiu1wnyuxTJe-pdxFDDyNDovfytLNOkbmrw7dIowdSdY2ZdIj0CAd8bLgioTd5iup3efIqelumiC-1L5keBNeQM11eggA2I-i7s1UiAj_gKvl3I-OqsDg3Bq55UIqAYEyQAqvlMJMnPl2oGAo9HqLpQjLo/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy_YmQyFf-w3B4rAIorz1CQU66FoHPWSiu1wnyuxTJe-pdxFDDyNDovfytLNOkbmrw7dIowdSdY2ZdIj0CAd8bLgioTd5iup3efIqelumiC-1L5keBNeQM11eggA2I-i7s1UiAj_gKvl3I-OqsDg3Bq55UIqAYEyQAqvlMJMnPl2oGAo9HqLpQjLo/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6431.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kAwLQKyEIv5j-Kl8bK9KTCfzKm_nzlTgMniCXOU7VQ3UHc16VnGOn67A1Yivq2i3QDScXtmzEFjZJmRNLmzldIOtVOEOz35-Nurfwx4VDH7WStOTZ-4Cxo4MAN8SujgYFo0oP1Ae4nsmZT-157vWSX2NYlzLvtkpyY9ZVR727TjGosGyizOrsGoz/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kAwLQKyEIv5j-Kl8bK9KTCfzKm_nzlTgMniCXOU7VQ3UHc16VnGOn67A1Yivq2i3QDScXtmzEFjZJmRNLmzldIOtVOEOz35-Nurfwx4VDH7WStOTZ-4Cxo4MAN8SujgYFo0oP1Ae4nsmZT-157vWSX2NYlzLvtkpyY9ZVR727TjGosGyizOrsGoz/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6435.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zl7t3pN2igrbyxDKHgnmlITCHPfUxzrq5W_UCmmZaYg38GjrpXmx95sLEzEgYTxGOQzexaJ1aZ4Cd7EueJMdgtfx1W_blNqBvOwiuNiVVYzqp2AWrjfrLoYjd67ctfntg3c5XrfM4Iz950aw34ShOB2M84HpQNlojEHcslRtDKRQ6FqxqJy-iYOw/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zl7t3pN2igrbyxDKHgnmlITCHPfUxzrq5W_UCmmZaYg38GjrpXmx95sLEzEgYTxGOQzexaJ1aZ4Cd7EueJMdgtfx1W_blNqBvOwiuNiVVYzqp2AWrjfrLoYjd67ctfntg3c5XrfM4Iz950aw34ShOB2M84HpQNlojEHcslRtDKRQ6FqxqJy-iYOw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6436.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4h7oUctWeUPytK1emQqrD-s4kQyJBIh7X29VUMbHZCKZOlOii0rWCSRw55PHdErzqR7IlcbcyQSRHtRMTqR5Fl_wDcKPU9-8_LhluDyIUPEFMSvJqCggV6YDXLQawXwJ7OYgwYEZMf3z4RevwwBO9g_QWAa05XQTFhh0yZ587DZ0d2kOUiuKi9Sr/s6012/KIrwinPhotography-6440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4008" data-original-width="6012" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4h7oUctWeUPytK1emQqrD-s4kQyJBIh7X29VUMbHZCKZOlOii0rWCSRw55PHdErzqR7IlcbcyQSRHtRMTqR5Fl_wDcKPU9-8_LhluDyIUPEFMSvJqCggV6YDXLQawXwJ7OYgwYEZMf3z4RevwwBO9g_QWAa05XQTFhh0yZ587DZ0d2kOUiuKi9Sr/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6440.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIpaLVqcl-HDXvmDAbQlJK8N90ZnlSmaNGa_YcfVKi94m2Khk5L3Kk9yFf0kBx10ZOX6ASyJYCpMDWIAlp5CQrCnnZ5eGyUd90NlceTUbajarx5kUZSdbxRnOTYlTRIThlqxL1kqIl8vI_m6IJ_eOcTwIc1ROYk3Hjx75Kyzv8EIboFgRt9N-Ze6R/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIpaLVqcl-HDXvmDAbQlJK8N90ZnlSmaNGa_YcfVKi94m2Khk5L3Kk9yFf0kBx10ZOX6ASyJYCpMDWIAlp5CQrCnnZ5eGyUd90NlceTUbajarx5kUZSdbxRnOTYlTRIThlqxL1kqIl8vI_m6IJ_eOcTwIc1ROYk3Hjx75Kyzv8EIboFgRt9N-Ze6R/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6449.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Last fall we were able to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Hawaii to stay with a cousin of mine. You got to see and explore and try so many new things. You pushed yourself to the limit a few times: once while we hiked a pretty difficult stretch that involved spots that required us to hang onto ropes to make the next move. Later in the week you strapped on some snorkel gear. You were very hesitant at first, as was I. Stepping into the ocean can be a bit unnerving, knowing there is so much life just below the surface. But after several minutes you put your head in the water. You saw some small fish and eventually began to figure out how to float and kick around while snorkeling. I was really proud of you because I could tell it was not quite in your comfort zone, but you were still willing to try it. Then you saw a pretty large fish and decided you'd had enough! I can't say I blame you. You loved watching and playing in the waves, playing in the sand, hanging out with Laurie and Charles, hiking the mountains, eating shave ice, and watching monk seals. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-Ca5-vBjGBhbmRBNDvJaMEskKapmPKqXmF4YsPDSfFSs453b1wF_rdnxphmFg7WPa4_ZBSFKUJ143VgxpjJnOrlORcoByCs_hVBLizO89WBw-dsSAzFQOxGVIhfYk8nJD-OeSwtMK--1hOxSACTBP2scxfnRoyoiQ1E8Cz8B4HNz26nsOSBYIK0_/s5492/KIrwinPhotography-6536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5492" data-original-width="3661" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-Ca5-vBjGBhbmRBNDvJaMEskKapmPKqXmF4YsPDSfFSs453b1wF_rdnxphmFg7WPa4_ZBSFKUJ143VgxpjJnOrlORcoByCs_hVBLizO89WBw-dsSAzFQOxGVIhfYk8nJD-OeSwtMK--1hOxSACTBP2scxfnRoyoiQ1E8Cz8B4HNz26nsOSBYIK0_/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6536.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R_bZnDLRhTF85s3AEBEdX6eXjabkSldk7rBVHGqIm0sm4OWx4kDJaHw3vKYFKPgnqJD9a_dHa8k538irKNKOm7mzI1fbA5L6SMftInmDqD9heciqD6W5B7eegUJ2oewWWCX5DaishYTdUeluHtte96RgUMQsP-tv5h6qxtwDtrCJGfQtIoLsKwn8/s5633/KIrwinPhotography-6537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5633" data-original-width="3755" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R_bZnDLRhTF85s3AEBEdX6eXjabkSldk7rBVHGqIm0sm4OWx4kDJaHw3vKYFKPgnqJD9a_dHa8k538irKNKOm7mzI1fbA5L6SMftInmDqD9heciqD6W5B7eegUJ2oewWWCX5DaishYTdUeluHtte96RgUMQsP-tv5h6qxtwDtrCJGfQtIoLsKwn8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6537.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXdmBxvQFjxcmJaD9KMowtV9H3PYvb6u2h1lk7rFiLbT9DplGkfig6g1c2cFMPYv4-T-Cw0wHI6q5kajq3t7vpV3Q-8oE0RSyLSryiJ8HTQdIU-WRWVXp_Z3t0NSOgVb1ilszfR2G9LhqmzXqHsoQ3ACamwAGA87zjk7moHlx55tul4kH2AyeRGFy/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXdmBxvQFjxcmJaD9KMowtV9H3PYvb6u2h1lk7rFiLbT9DplGkfig6g1c2cFMPYv4-T-Cw0wHI6q5kajq3t7vpV3Q-8oE0RSyLSryiJ8HTQdIU-WRWVXp_Z3t0NSOgVb1ilszfR2G9LhqmzXqHsoQ3ACamwAGA87zjk7moHlx55tul4kH2AyeRGFy/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6542.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSrEA3BWEcQDn0ekSILPzxNhWPt3kw9Yj_S9MdRq_UQwsHEe_3CrpnaoPqertitl8jHnrgAf-loEFOZ94RgSfeh_34cNLFSC2HlqKnd9PexsQWg0_h_aOfyQsJfRq67ZJBEWzr3nghSUOHdXY_-N5xyGL2l7LrEzTg9INgKy19IdmECRYaOBgvpoA/s5232/KIrwinPhotography-6543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5232" data-original-width="3488" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSrEA3BWEcQDn0ekSILPzxNhWPt3kw9Yj_S9MdRq_UQwsHEe_3CrpnaoPqertitl8jHnrgAf-loEFOZ94RgSfeh_34cNLFSC2HlqKnd9PexsQWg0_h_aOfyQsJfRq67ZJBEWzr3nghSUOHdXY_-N5xyGL2l7LrEzTg9INgKy19IdmECRYaOBgvpoA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6543.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpEbxOoZ3-u2v6ZG6zuFw2PBMtV_Iofb_04_Z4dbdUdMr-XcjUo1ikQ4sVvBLnHMRGT84KJZwZLJwk9LWBiBfJPuac9rKR7SpKQSi72kpa60Cb_TLFOrDoICKP8vvhmnajBT3OLah4UmcoVRm5Anf_BLZQGg3WY4O-bWXhD7yz-bGiCKI_6cQG_N3/s4925/KIrwinPhotography-6544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4925" data-original-width="3283" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpEbxOoZ3-u2v6ZG6zuFw2PBMtV_Iofb_04_Z4dbdUdMr-XcjUo1ikQ4sVvBLnHMRGT84KJZwZLJwk9LWBiBfJPuac9rKR7SpKQSi72kpa60Cb_TLFOrDoICKP8vvhmnajBT3OLah4UmcoVRm5Anf_BLZQGg3WY4O-bWXhD7yz-bGiCKI_6cQG_N3/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6544.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYGm9J1U5_IkNBQD_iS96Nc-e0NWBmN6CXXai9jTG138M_eZvEP68RhXtAEmkOTikO-ADGBhWuwrFlfkUJACNCuxzCGtg3kK6yZW0vJMyVIIj3sSDhKTf5bPVgdUiH9p9RUNCn3gkv8UkjjzRVi4DCuaHqXEzcWWjkVcbx0H61G6HIJ208y5sCFi4/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYGm9J1U5_IkNBQD_iS96Nc-e0NWBmN6CXXai9jTG138M_eZvEP68RhXtAEmkOTikO-ADGBhWuwrFlfkUJACNCuxzCGtg3kK6yZW0vJMyVIIj3sSDhKTf5bPVgdUiH9p9RUNCn3gkv8UkjjzRVi4DCuaHqXEzcWWjkVcbx0H61G6HIJ208y5sCFi4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6545.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChTtD0koqBTNIjlYlz--arRyvQQZCFTee6HaE484cJalfry58BtUTJrhI1J_HHa1OBn0nx0ukk9GpZOLksLsOEDL-58yBdUdgPW9OlIxXc_gzFMOfx8XzFpA_kmC0scZs-orHOBNvpIB8CZb0tEIZDHTqgnQwUQrg1HGbECYy1_7hNP-FnspEzine/s5964/KIrwinPhotography-6546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5964" data-original-width="3976" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChTtD0koqBTNIjlYlz--arRyvQQZCFTee6HaE484cJalfry58BtUTJrhI1J_HHa1OBn0nx0ukk9GpZOLksLsOEDL-58yBdUdgPW9OlIxXc_gzFMOfx8XzFpA_kmC0scZs-orHOBNvpIB8CZb0tEIZDHTqgnQwUQrg1HGbECYy1_7hNP-FnspEzine/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6546.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOb_7gl8TA09o0fFbee__5lGpCseBDCUHu3l41PyPbiTEd10TvtKuEmJwEXZwmsg6dCIh_wExpiy-Cq_9rrvLr8kNCmidcW0ZIQeYckPBIKRSrYK56fRpIfWzoXJaL1dFFHkfLUosclt4DF5Z9QsPY4kAgEH13BXVeOjBq_xrk_zA0slidae77f91/s5421/KIrwinPhotography-6549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5421" data-original-width="3614" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOb_7gl8TA09o0fFbee__5lGpCseBDCUHu3l41PyPbiTEd10TvtKuEmJwEXZwmsg6dCIh_wExpiy-Cq_9rrvLr8kNCmidcW0ZIQeYckPBIKRSrYK56fRpIfWzoXJaL1dFFHkfLUosclt4DF5Z9QsPY4kAgEH13BXVeOjBq_xrk_zA0slidae77f91/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6549.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiMzKAJ1GhobnydGaNoywjGxC7SmXKh8JCm2VSR9Fy0ycIuEnx_SrC-IPmDD5s2Uh6Zvy24tM_Yd9Xz3hPUBQZa0_Ord0WkZdqQ2CegDmkqs5Cursi568lf0TN4-qpNmLOLCH4WCGs3QG_OZeMfpQK6IPk7mXeER4j_L3cM7vqmg1r6JCIzfZUTNs/s5421/KIrwinPhotography-6550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5421" data-original-width="3614" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiMzKAJ1GhobnydGaNoywjGxC7SmXKh8JCm2VSR9Fy0ycIuEnx_SrC-IPmDD5s2Uh6Zvy24tM_Yd9Xz3hPUBQZa0_Ord0WkZdqQ2CegDmkqs5Cursi568lf0TN4-qpNmLOLCH4WCGs3QG_OZeMfpQK6IPk7mXeER4j_L3cM7vqmg1r6JCIzfZUTNs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6550.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVE_LmVtZGf6QcXXLHXSEm7yiR9YzeL6pIW3-JZhjqp7fcEPKZwId0IljiHepiCaQDFBbYILbBCUIH1Ia9W5ZVZ32ic99ztrQbK3OloRsSNNx1ZYTLpZOskepb3NAQArv9MlMHq8i3Ky6BnmL_2BsQbwYX65fb0PXjdKJfdAIkcFqp3ctxTH7WBTw/s5337/KIrwinPhotography-6551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5337" data-original-width="3558" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVE_LmVtZGf6QcXXLHXSEm7yiR9YzeL6pIW3-JZhjqp7fcEPKZwId0IljiHepiCaQDFBbYILbBCUIH1Ia9W5ZVZ32ic99ztrQbK3OloRsSNNx1ZYTLpZOskepb3NAQArv9MlMHq8i3Ky6BnmL_2BsQbwYX65fb0PXjdKJfdAIkcFqp3ctxTH7WBTw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6551.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7M-ELTonZGvcYRpdmwRZuHpULiSgB0rK1gnw_LyREV7FBDkK1EcoBJ0kETnZXu4Gk-0AEMuvOWQ4lxguz0tFgV0EUeIHuqa4fqBFWxG5IH4WUj6mF2phRhFxAHWX5B-RedvshcAEZuxHQivvsUfBgRCcZIipJLE7FSoFQFu9Lp5I9g0Me92v2say/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7M-ELTonZGvcYRpdmwRZuHpULiSgB0rK1gnw_LyREV7FBDkK1EcoBJ0kETnZXu4Gk-0AEMuvOWQ4lxguz0tFgV0EUeIHuqa4fqBFWxG5IH4WUj6mF2phRhFxAHWX5B-RedvshcAEZuxHQivvsUfBgRCcZIipJLE7FSoFQFu9Lp5I9g0Me92v2say/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6554.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLDRyB02IwZCUDHY_jSqocXXnb79lhHBCfycai7leOJ2kUkkJ18wzIwkoWTW-BZq6Um84Q499Cn3zoiRoeChE_PuKTKBg8qktOqSUIN4IbzqxYS1UheCC59qk_RyHYqifzTwGAXWUYlAXBVLBONMW-2vzFbNg0yzssm5Pw4xLp-fPOO17NpURnXZ2/s5326/KIrwinPhotography-6556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5326" data-original-width="3551" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLDRyB02IwZCUDHY_jSqocXXnb79lhHBCfycai7leOJ2kUkkJ18wzIwkoWTW-BZq6Um84Q499Cn3zoiRoeChE_PuKTKBg8qktOqSUIN4IbzqxYS1UheCC59qk_RyHYqifzTwGAXWUYlAXBVLBONMW-2vzFbNg0yzssm5Pw4xLp-fPOO17NpURnXZ2/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6556.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>Your current hobbies are, still, all over the map. I love this about you. You are creative and imaginative, so you love to create, whether that is with branches and sticks outside or with words in your notebook or with legos in the basement, you're always making something. We recently visited some friends and they had a board game you liked. When we returned home, I woke the next morning to find you in the living room surrounded with paper and scissors and crayons, recreating the entire game from memory. You drew all the characters, made a complicated decoder system, and even made three dice! When I commented you said, "Why spend money to buy it when I could just make it?!" You truly are astounding sometimes. You also really, really enjoy reading. We've had to implement a "no-reading-at-the-table" rule. I was recently reading a true-crime novel and one day you asked me something regarding the trial in the book and I realized you had picked it up and read the book jacket-- I am quickly learning nothing with words on it is safe around you and I may need to be more diligent about what I leave lying around! Ha! I felt like your birthday gifts were pretty bland this year and I worried you would feel let down: You took the simplest part of your gift-- a blue, one subject notebook on which I wrote "Blythe's Writing Notebook" -- and have carried it with you everywhere. When grandparents came over IT was the first present you showed them. I think it cost $2. I should have known I needn't be worried, because that is who you are, Blythe: you are the girl that is grateful for the simplest things. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFxace5gh_tI4KIJAwds7s8C34WaB03eIx-m2JKrWtMIJfkuSayb9Cx8x7nWt_mhZJP0K6X9EgTK_KEfPKodDyJcbuugWH6Kaml67uTd7bprBifbeOcqrHqIsQ_dxwOfovT610FtdE8As0OMtrlapoMdDPk2CaFa0ZkJPeMyreVMmkQLxu46Edf8l/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFxace5gh_tI4KIJAwds7s8C34WaB03eIx-m2JKrWtMIJfkuSayb9Cx8x7nWt_mhZJP0K6X9EgTK_KEfPKodDyJcbuugWH6Kaml67uTd7bprBifbeOcqrHqIsQ_dxwOfovT610FtdE8As0OMtrlapoMdDPk2CaFa0ZkJPeMyreVMmkQLxu46Edf8l/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6452.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MosIopBQzftDlil5a38oC7Zl65bIBoGhuNGpB_Dxr0BFaq6FZGu-Mr1sl858OKMdK4wBiLFva_uae6YpYcJGCqoHzBUPsPhCdqqzBZgZIPSvfow-8YL1Qqh_FpmTHVmpxY0SThz-1EPhOxpFDKGogLE_AuOoowNw-Bh7-rMABLSVNDxUJzeZBt7j/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MosIopBQzftDlil5a38oC7Zl65bIBoGhuNGpB_Dxr0BFaq6FZGu-Mr1sl858OKMdK4wBiLFva_uae6YpYcJGCqoHzBUPsPhCdqqzBZgZIPSvfow-8YL1Qqh_FpmTHVmpxY0SThz-1EPhOxpFDKGogLE_AuOoowNw-Bh7-rMABLSVNDxUJzeZBt7j/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6453.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHSHARQpuYceN21aZ_YpDNkCxWWyz9lyAeMx4hO5Gghq710SpJxUY1WJq4s0HW_0MDJkUYn7Gwm_1kF6FkbBl7HmVvkuvdxE1ISfAjiMC5LOdiidMmWEHXU1KzuKag_ikt7m1r3rCn4Z2BKdC-NxjQTkgGJx_xymf3qRJUckmcU_y1AYtrN9HuflC/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHSHARQpuYceN21aZ_YpDNkCxWWyz9lyAeMx4hO5Gghq710SpJxUY1WJq4s0HW_0MDJkUYn7Gwm_1kF6FkbBl7HmVvkuvdxE1ISfAjiMC5LOdiidMmWEHXU1KzuKag_ikt7m1r3rCn4Z2BKdC-NxjQTkgGJx_xymf3qRJUckmcU_y1AYtrN9HuflC/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6454.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKsMKFszIaKhiEOXv7Av4Efpw7Aq_vR-lSzy8YDnKFtR0nW8Dqqh6c_xyUyN3K9sJSOxfmFRiKcxdGVICNfZy8ijcLzzuB0q5TaWTOoAz7M6V_39Yq7TRP9xvDW-FxG2ULh6SXB-m0kimHt7i9jS_SllVum87dytEq3RHcGd_hvVb8B86Rqmg0uq_/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKsMKFszIaKhiEOXv7Av4Efpw7Aq_vR-lSzy8YDnKFtR0nW8Dqqh6c_xyUyN3K9sJSOxfmFRiKcxdGVICNfZy8ijcLzzuB0q5TaWTOoAz7M6V_39Yq7TRP9xvDW-FxG2ULh6SXB-m0kimHt7i9jS_SllVum87dytEq3RHcGd_hvVb8B86Rqmg0uq_/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6456.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP08R4H3AGzkLBJZA0t1lEI8ES5s14WtrIt1c87DZcd9N_W0re8utxEeOuqkFeh6WC0-lrbQgFe9FspmIGXXtmg0DrTRYo_WK3oPlsaNPBLNrg8LCuxfKWQV1okAM_tdMa_-gzaDY8WflAkocXZ_mozIj5UWPvRqmYhbjfdu297buKDml9Bp3cz2m/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP08R4H3AGzkLBJZA0t1lEI8ES5s14WtrIt1c87DZcd9N_W0re8utxEeOuqkFeh6WC0-lrbQgFe9FspmIGXXtmg0DrTRYo_WK3oPlsaNPBLNrg8LCuxfKWQV1okAM_tdMa_-gzaDY8WflAkocXZ_mozIj5UWPvRqmYhbjfdu297buKDml9Bp3cz2m/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6458.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInU4LrdIkDMvDUf0vZo9CatDHWPEe5eZFT_VEVKVeRvln0POaFztK_kQIGm0mpjJclVjF-FeMsJx5G-mnJq5APpkk_AaK3w8VOpT5RxpI17H9bPj6ANot3o6uGWb6BqRZJBTKu-d_lgU7mUvMMZErTMrBstEtY3N0Taf_wYKiE5Bf87VaCkXeqn90/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInU4LrdIkDMvDUf0vZo9CatDHWPEe5eZFT_VEVKVeRvln0POaFztK_kQIGm0mpjJclVjF-FeMsJx5G-mnJq5APpkk_AaK3w8VOpT5RxpI17H9bPj6ANot3o6uGWb6BqRZJBTKu-d_lgU7mUvMMZErTMrBstEtY3N0Taf_wYKiE5Bf87VaCkXeqn90/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6460.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshIr-f4H1Z8Xi6w9xUlVjrACY0KAd1Znc9Rz_n4sb8fQkouhb4B6AYk_jPZ8ZZCeplpo8vA_m2x1rkZVUUWfXvYFcpbqnpDDC8GFJdy-lv516JpKZMZRhHkSKdkPOinHwadp66fVYnNlsmJ3RhvV7hUgvm-H280BrLVwtagD6yYUohKZjKWIPJMNY/s5941/KIrwinPhotography-6464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5941" data-original-width="3961" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshIr-f4H1Z8Xi6w9xUlVjrACY0KAd1Znc9Rz_n4sb8fQkouhb4B6AYk_jPZ8ZZCeplpo8vA_m2x1rkZVUUWfXvYFcpbqnpDDC8GFJdy-lv516JpKZMZRhHkSKdkPOinHwadp66fVYnNlsmJ3RhvV7hUgvm-H280BrLVwtagD6yYUohKZjKWIPJMNY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6464.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>You still really like playing piano, and have a real knack for picking up songs and figuring out how to play by ear, too. You fill our home with music, often. You also love riding your bike, even after a really nasty fall last year. We're hoping to do some longer trails together this year, and you've liked the freedom to ride a little further from home from time to time now. One thing you've started enjoying a lot, too, this year has been shooting baskets with your dad. In the evenings, after supper, I can often find you two out there chatting, shooting, and working on your form. You also got to attend overnight church camp for the first time, and you LOVED it and are excited to go back again. You've decided to forego organized softball this summer and try your hand at golf. You have big plans with your dad on the course for the summer, and it's another one of those confidence things for you when you just were like, "Eh. It's just a summer...I'll give golf a try and see what I like best!" Most kids don't have that kind of clarity and maturity to realize that hobbies don't have to be set in stone when you're just ten years old. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYNLmfttKQe32AB9WfAvzsnpFS00NKn0smClFWzxz7yreoqtCQr6TwkzL8qQ3NjQDky-6G-tV7UBV8C_phKBN3Es-2hAzQfaHq6wUuqmSPYmQ--r2gSL3vw2i3VVAQBXSIQirnQCbZwsd4NdS1TP6qrkxEFGu-e0Nix0LBinXIGSDbVcqbIqnVwAT/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYNLmfttKQe32AB9WfAvzsnpFS00NKn0smClFWzxz7yreoqtCQr6TwkzL8qQ3NjQDky-6G-tV7UBV8C_phKBN3Es-2hAzQfaHq6wUuqmSPYmQ--r2gSL3vw2i3VVAQBXSIQirnQCbZwsd4NdS1TP6qrkxEFGu-e0Nix0LBinXIGSDbVcqbIqnVwAT/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6521.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIzouzEokueTIiOYiEtIVNQ71tgKJtRZ4UJy8l6nkgnZRPK93hpDrS4YuFr99aZ5OVC8AgdRL4Z3PCjpIlSeeWaLFHw_fnw05U1jh-b_7HPcaTDEZkrm6NotunNOs5rrCDVMCfTX9aE-CDl9heeXIl0GIoCZ90uXndiEXv-DXGHt5Eo3FpYtgQ-X7/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIzouzEokueTIiOYiEtIVNQ71tgKJtRZ4UJy8l6nkgnZRPK93hpDrS4YuFr99aZ5OVC8AgdRL4Z3PCjpIlSeeWaLFHw_fnw05U1jh-b_7HPcaTDEZkrm6NotunNOs5rrCDVMCfTX9aE-CDl9heeXIl0GIoCZ90uXndiEXv-DXGHt5Eo3FpYtgQ-X7/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6522.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhyl_AT7n7mUWUpT3MQsNrsG0qLyfnJ522nxmEr1cwu4mSVQbTLOOzNYJa0jB6R4NXWqUFcVQk0PjBV4OkEpPIng-SqLkdSxQFVlu_9P--JKkKyGexCh-jEGj7ucJpZJ646Lyrjf1Rx51sDW_RAv4TGrEyEjF0LzpyePUBm1AAjO_hmK7yCCvpR86/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhyl_AT7n7mUWUpT3MQsNrsG0qLyfnJ522nxmEr1cwu4mSVQbTLOOzNYJa0jB6R4NXWqUFcVQk0PjBV4OkEpPIng-SqLkdSxQFVlu_9P--JKkKyGexCh-jEGj7ucJpZJ646Lyrjf1Rx51sDW_RAv4TGrEyEjF0LzpyePUBm1AAjO_hmK7yCCvpR86/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6528.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztg88xDD79QaSy41ZiET0fvd7hMR2C1M-cppMzQqXe1KkvSSU8j4EV0K8ZeXb6y4UiTlCHEyZKDT0XyPbBAF2iZZm3OYmfbXE3H1JVGM1FXSfPeTmQovxh98DJwMvzvIdlz3dfQtQILFDOo3phegWJLsaeAg1n0V_nl9Ins4fL6F7eRnUOL05woOu/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztg88xDD79QaSy41ZiET0fvd7hMR2C1M-cppMzQqXe1KkvSSU8j4EV0K8ZeXb6y4UiTlCHEyZKDT0XyPbBAF2iZZm3OYmfbXE3H1JVGM1FXSfPeTmQovxh98DJwMvzvIdlz3dfQtQILFDOo3phegWJLsaeAg1n0V_nl9Ins4fL6F7eRnUOL05woOu/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6530.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZj00Zjwe9j-7h3N-5TjzvRg10bd9v8L1087_hmlhSmYXopF0FUJRS4oVv4Ta8e5zlKKxGWBiANIO_leVjfabG6EQEzU3vpUrT99PeuPsois7Qv2RbJe5Xmlxt9Bp8VZuYIJO36GK2DxXIMVNuwPsNASBJ2zu94FJwXTpUUPfeO84c2adWmvhiTCaC/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZj00Zjwe9j-7h3N-5TjzvRg10bd9v8L1087_hmlhSmYXopF0FUJRS4oVv4Ta8e5zlKKxGWBiANIO_leVjfabG6EQEzU3vpUrT99PeuPsois7Qv2RbJe5Xmlxt9Bp8VZuYIJO36GK2DxXIMVNuwPsNASBJ2zu94FJwXTpUUPfeO84c2adWmvhiTCaC/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6532.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXX_QwiU2JSKaB8RFZb2oMhUMkUepfFA7GCquzE85POMFsnpOOPjjVsyV4eC_ff50RJAkLBALdHNdYnw5zzZUWYXe726KHa3xqV-wHAFvvdONMv-kRlbG6Aq5KS9rEwQuQKlgu8Tt2m1QSP0Mrhhq95CatqgkvvcufHxIGE13K1uGv3ndJRTyW0prz/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXX_QwiU2JSKaB8RFZb2oMhUMkUepfFA7GCquzE85POMFsnpOOPjjVsyV4eC_ff50RJAkLBALdHNdYnw5zzZUWYXe726KHa3xqV-wHAFvvdONMv-kRlbG6Aq5KS9rEwQuQKlgu8Tt2m1QSP0Mrhhq95CatqgkvvcufHxIGE13K1uGv3ndJRTyW0prz/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6533.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_04mhqnudyMz3yIljCGjX3ADUsk2gUqBi8HS0mB-pmjXqSCd0YLjhgslQuORzfQwDElwUr5CvyoHoeYfeIZgKoESduN2Z97EpmtIW6a87g5P8-8Jb_XfEprZRY6W7VEZpmOsavGYnIef66gWQiEdOmTYMdTpxW8ResgmvKSK9xxvVBiUsPbuYjMrZ/s5657/KIrwinPhotography-6534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5657" data-original-width="3771" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_04mhqnudyMz3yIljCGjX3ADUsk2gUqBi8HS0mB-pmjXqSCd0YLjhgslQuORzfQwDElwUr5CvyoHoeYfeIZgKoESduN2Z97EpmtIW6a87g5P8-8Jb_XfEprZRY6W7VEZpmOsavGYnIef66gWQiEdOmTYMdTpxW8ResgmvKSK9xxvVBiUsPbuYjMrZ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6534.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>A couple months ago we were driving home from the river and somehow you and I ended up alone in the car. You were in the front seat, controlling the radio--one of your new favorite things to get to be able to do-- and I realized something and said, "Blythe, you get to do something I'll never do in this life: be a big sister!" And then I proceeded to tell you what a good one you are, because it's true. I always joke that I tried really hard to be a great mom to you, and then I just turned things over and you're now the cruise director! You come up with great activities and lessons for your siblings all the time, and you're generally willing to include them in whatever you're doing. But beyond entertainment, you're also a great role model. When Becks got baptized this year, you wrote her a note about what to expect, walking her through the process. Afterwards I found you two in your room and you were teaching her how you read your bible and showing her the ropes. Earlier this summer you and I were sitting on the porch reading the book of John, on our own in our own Bibles but side by side. At one point you asked where Isaiah was and I realized you were looking up a cross reference and I was so excited for you I could have burst-- learning to read the scripture and letting your heart be molded by it is such a beautiful thing. I love that you're taking more and more ownership of your faith-- it's a beautiful thing to witness as a parent because I know that the Spirit guiding you from the inside out will do far more for you in this life than me trying to guide you from the outside. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEigJZh7IT7C-8Gpv6KD8IXtNw_j0JMPvn1N4ga2MIRBrw9QKVAIOLhg6wS1iriP7yukTHyjt3PEGlal2_AgdBizdWiJNQYZ2-hKe5-h4_hGA_bHaOoEscNIyqGRCpi3j4E2eIm7pTSR34Aju8N-bEzyFz46X9d5L3NGPltsbiUy4yj4LCIipPapmH/s5940/KIrwinPhotography-6465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5940" data-original-width="3960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEigJZh7IT7C-8Gpv6KD8IXtNw_j0JMPvn1N4ga2MIRBrw9QKVAIOLhg6wS1iriP7yukTHyjt3PEGlal2_AgdBizdWiJNQYZ2-hKe5-h4_hGA_bHaOoEscNIyqGRCpi3j4E2eIm7pTSR34Aju8N-bEzyFz46X9d5L3NGPltsbiUy4yj4LCIipPapmH/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6465.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_Y47X3WiIHwqsZEcPS9hGGY6PJfbuuFwBjLLqK1OdJ_Ta_XrM6A1OX4Oy5qKHpZhZqJaOyair4FYEyfo9dJk2tKk6ZLzp2FDKY0sQLEFWiU6DTUiFQQxuOq-qVjtyktUZ-xzKIkGKjYQ-hZLn844T9ytDjKzSMha7HVPdXdt1hARCI3mLIHI0L-z/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_Y47X3WiIHwqsZEcPS9hGGY6PJfbuuFwBjLLqK1OdJ_Ta_XrM6A1OX4Oy5qKHpZhZqJaOyair4FYEyfo9dJk2tKk6ZLzp2FDKY0sQLEFWiU6DTUiFQQxuOq-qVjtyktUZ-xzKIkGKjYQ-hZLn844T9ytDjKzSMha7HVPdXdt1hARCI3mLIHI0L-z/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6466.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8n4eJ4y-tDhNjJidXnBtxmWoDeztQhyNd9srh0nGSMaU6TJEQo2Ubky-2hmrgCQtYDekVzurVtJelfoN5fyNj5uinimS6zdBkMtCT6Hbsxs1ODE_Jt3uU01k0imbDnYMabvRwkBwrsmuwj5NIjAI2u9mbFlikXDUKXhGEt4tPJcnfRCHex26UpMv/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8n4eJ4y-tDhNjJidXnBtxmWoDeztQhyNd9srh0nGSMaU6TJEQo2Ubky-2hmrgCQtYDekVzurVtJelfoN5fyNj5uinimS6zdBkMtCT6Hbsxs1ODE_Jt3uU01k0imbDnYMabvRwkBwrsmuwj5NIjAI2u9mbFlikXDUKXhGEt4tPJcnfRCHex26UpMv/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6468.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7yZwXGW5wj1ELu4eSSLdjOVJ1rXjupNHtLMI_haJijCCsKTd2aAF65eEZtlfTfYhl5en4ybUXjIbrjXVmGHBBqksPDP_bpeueN9FcvbqGyR7zvL4tGfVrTvimkMAzrWGyXfO5eSYXof3qX4Y7x5fzSwrySKeUQxwwW-QUvUt8oVD1sVRdczU3faJ/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7yZwXGW5wj1ELu4eSSLdjOVJ1rXjupNHtLMI_haJijCCsKTd2aAF65eEZtlfTfYhl5en4ybUXjIbrjXVmGHBBqksPDP_bpeueN9FcvbqGyR7zvL4tGfVrTvimkMAzrWGyXfO5eSYXof3qX4Y7x5fzSwrySKeUQxwwW-QUvUt8oVD1sVRdczU3faJ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6469.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nDkwmPrSTv0YPI_JnECBQ0bgBi6J1eExQEDx3vqoSSWW76qk89FCM-dxfdQx95TuYQBo9zlyw_BRsNm3PjtgYbSUlBQ7AzB_Gb5pf0mKvU5JyuOD7B8sTvA0t6n2gBP_7YmR9EVZj83YqWr4v3CK23f0x5rIttCEt4CggaYmv_iITJtqo57jSX-5/s5975/KIrwinPhotography-6470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5975" data-original-width="3983" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nDkwmPrSTv0YPI_JnECBQ0bgBi6J1eExQEDx3vqoSSWW76qk89FCM-dxfdQx95TuYQBo9zlyw_BRsNm3PjtgYbSUlBQ7AzB_Gb5pf0mKvU5JyuOD7B8sTvA0t6n2gBP_7YmR9EVZj83YqWr4v3CK23f0x5rIttCEt4CggaYmv_iITJtqo57jSX-5/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6470.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdnVUPFa-9etcOS68zI9jdc0J_cS04mnfrUhBsZ6NSE0STN3kbRFZvu5lGwvNKhBawgQRjXNFyBoUPP0o_9tC9lpAGtQ1S1IPNVKPzuYKH8wueYRqLXePwIE7I42-iS7Ei175gJciVL822s1IzhIGrQF1uLmPK5OtBDBfpl3QlB44lcg4aI0nzCur/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdnVUPFa-9etcOS68zI9jdc0J_cS04mnfrUhBsZ6NSE0STN3kbRFZvu5lGwvNKhBawgQRjXNFyBoUPP0o_9tC9lpAGtQ1S1IPNVKPzuYKH8wueYRqLXePwIE7I42-iS7Ei175gJciVL822s1IzhIGrQF1uLmPK5OtBDBfpl3QlB44lcg4aI0nzCur/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6474.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7gxrus6XM8N7qwrS-MCGjI1cbAO-MddsxuGAs7RCN7tiiaeV30pWeTVoOLg11ONP9C4dfEhuDBIfNZilosREEjQySLKmF9hX-dMpl8mqJNcq2N8gjrOmELdtauvhLbSE2nomg-YrtcwDYwqcDAoBhBZ1w1diY71oQgR8gn8hZg_BtJX0RWKdf5Sk/s6153/KIrwinPhotography-6476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6153" data-original-width="4102" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7gxrus6XM8N7qwrS-MCGjI1cbAO-MddsxuGAs7RCN7tiiaeV30pWeTVoOLg11ONP9C4dfEhuDBIfNZilosREEjQySLKmF9hX-dMpl8mqJNcq2N8gjrOmELdtauvhLbSE2nomg-YrtcwDYwqcDAoBhBZ1w1diY71oQgR8gn8hZg_BtJX0RWKdf5Sk/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6476.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>Over and over again Blythe we are floored by how you radiate joy and live up to your name in so many ways. Often when I think of the fact that we prayed joy over your life-- that you would be profoundly joyful and that you would bring profound joy to others-- I think of the verse in Ephesians 3 that says God will do MORE than we can think or imagine. In your abounding joy and your ability to bring it to others, God has, in fact, done more than we dreamed when we said those prayers ten years ago. There is a movie we watched several years ago (Inside Out) where the viewer goes inside the main character's brain. While there we visit different "islands" that make her tick, and one island is "goofball island." Ever since we watched that movie, your dad and I often refer to your "goofball island," because it is alive and well. The night before your birthday your dad told me, "I've got a lot of responsibilities as a dad to that girl, but a high priority for me is to protect goofball island." Don't ever let the silly and simple joy you find in everyday moments be squashed, Blythe. Your goofball island is one of our favorite places to visit! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeBBu97LNi5__6A5OmFGK2VaNRqwo7WDQColzIBW9B-1YaYPAjkQpfHS6wIxfnTUKYJSnCbOdAw8OkX9WaeUCr4hjrL4UGh0OXgg_06dtPL7fNCA1wuOmlWnsRRWrui_C1eiQyXA6vrlFJlXdsuaTVuu-2ZzU9bT68S7y-QfLQxgskr5omWr8_45l/s6011/KIrwinPhotography-6478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6011" data-original-width="4007" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeBBu97LNi5__6A5OmFGK2VaNRqwo7WDQColzIBW9B-1YaYPAjkQpfHS6wIxfnTUKYJSnCbOdAw8OkX9WaeUCr4hjrL4UGh0OXgg_06dtPL7fNCA1wuOmlWnsRRWrui_C1eiQyXA6vrlFJlXdsuaTVuu-2ZzU9bT68S7y-QfLQxgskr5omWr8_45l/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6478.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwejtzDleCvd8k_VwtJnt6keD_xoOgNMRtGN7oVgkmoYcO3lhI73H0297sQ3LLFu7NZiLvmo3ZXlo7VQQRZIgEA2Epe6H3KnfaXZbpfjwLmTRvHi50zE8gYjqcUXh5B3KqUQ5-otnph8eT4bAxXJjvGHC7iWzC3qfN5bTDfaVhMEiXzJABIYnZHVzv/s6153/KIrwinPhotography-6479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6153" data-original-width="4102" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwejtzDleCvd8k_VwtJnt6keD_xoOgNMRtGN7oVgkmoYcO3lhI73H0297sQ3LLFu7NZiLvmo3ZXlo7VQQRZIgEA2Epe6H3KnfaXZbpfjwLmTRvHi50zE8gYjqcUXh5B3KqUQ5-otnph8eT4bAxXJjvGHC7iWzC3qfN5bTDfaVhMEiXzJABIYnZHVzv/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6479.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQwa93y85oLez0xXMF9L16aQ8gG_4GP3lQXUPnh1ug6rr0aQiY9TWMLxXrGV2ddCKTM6VS9xzb3HeZZDuGUlxj71OTh5SIa2N468t-KshA-0mLIz2s_L93X56ZADA9VRvm0QfhL6_AW7R99smz06i6Gwa7_dx0ObbD_J5MByAK9R2dCpgemN444mA/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQwa93y85oLez0xXMF9L16aQ8gG_4GP3lQXUPnh1ug6rr0aQiY9TWMLxXrGV2ddCKTM6VS9xzb3HeZZDuGUlxj71OTh5SIa2N468t-KshA-0mLIz2s_L93X56ZADA9VRvm0QfhL6_AW7R99smz06i6Gwa7_dx0ObbD_J5MByAK9R2dCpgemN444mA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6482.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPRzRfP9eM5lPmrtqYsL0xcf2fdU8NztBy-3QSqSRQxzWpjyCJLV7nqwqUJV_6g3-J6XJed3Z6kG54iX7UVzYxWnYrga4QN8OiS0oYsEKjzOYsRzpY-lh-3Ma3yBatmLPXnRVHdwlXvybD5A1Tsgy4OywOalNG4Oz4Nx47l7ORfObyZltEbfrC2pr/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPRzRfP9eM5lPmrtqYsL0xcf2fdU8NztBy-3QSqSRQxzWpjyCJLV7nqwqUJV_6g3-J6XJed3Z6kG54iX7UVzYxWnYrga4QN8OiS0oYsEKjzOYsRzpY-lh-3Ma3yBatmLPXnRVHdwlXvybD5A1Tsgy4OywOalNG4Oz4Nx47l7ORfObyZltEbfrC2pr/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6486.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEbr8jb3w0hguj-V89yjLdmLTkBch4TNSnHNyjsmqzmHxYk17taDyWXGEpU2FxL4ylSa91qfLDMkWVNZuBH46YP5gsBWgZ7bJyv1nwFEgVBpr5GBivuoe8qBJq8IwlJd42JjLii73ZIMWn6iA2RWjXuuQcToIUdxXOroUJTwaMwOYGFGBUS01O6yw/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEbr8jb3w0hguj-V89yjLdmLTkBch4TNSnHNyjsmqzmHxYk17taDyWXGEpU2FxL4ylSa91qfLDMkWVNZuBH46YP5gsBWgZ7bJyv1nwFEgVBpr5GBivuoe8qBJq8IwlJd42JjLii73ZIMWn6iA2RWjXuuQcToIUdxXOroUJTwaMwOYGFGBUS01O6yw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6493.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7Sj2VIPgZHSewFPkNYrwgkNj5eUonRiAyrN4ejIHUDjPPvnrgUUHPeErQXi55IpmbsoWOMpbV-cxOotaZqlb5nGPdlLYdWoNPYEF0h0zNHmuGHsydzt8j7f8OBeb7HbK7LaONMmJFefdDCfWGYs2gRdOoOMyBt2lpBhYBQD7rzzBIlEJF_B1Jku_/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7Sj2VIPgZHSewFPkNYrwgkNj5eUonRiAyrN4ejIHUDjPPvnrgUUHPeErQXi55IpmbsoWOMpbV-cxOotaZqlb5nGPdlLYdWoNPYEF0h0zNHmuGHsydzt8j7f8OBeb7HbK7LaONMmJFefdDCfWGYs2gRdOoOMyBt2lpBhYBQD7rzzBIlEJF_B1Jku_/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6497.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>Blythe, you continue to be such a gift for our family. I am sorry for all the times and all the ways I put pressure on you to "have your act together" since you're the first born. Your dad and I both hope you know that your mistakes are not seen as flaws, and our love for you is not based on how "good" or "perfect" you are. Getting to be in your presence as you make great choices and getting to be in your presence as you struggle to figure something out are all part of what makes being your parent so beautiful. Today, on your birthday, we rejoice in the last ten years we've been given with you. We celebrate all the life we have gotten to live with you, but we also lean into the future. I do not grieve you getting older, but thank God that I get to be here with you to witness you do it. </p><p>One of our favorite songs to jam to this year has been Ellie Holcomb's "Sweet Ever After." It says, "Got a lot of bad days still comin' our way, but a sweet ever after. Wind and waves breaking over our walls, but the ship, it don't shatter. The real life lesson 'bout a life well-lived is you lose what don't matter. But the sun's coming up on the stairway to Heaven in the sweet ever after." You've become more emotional this past year, and we discussed this just a few weeks ago, how becoming a teenage girl is going to present some emotional challenges, but we have to lead our hearts to Christ. It is as you turn ten, and we are peeking over the horizon at the teenage years, that I am ever more grateful this song is in your heart: I pray that no matter what you face you will always carry with you this beautiful hope of heaven-- you <i>will </i>have bad days, but the ship won't shatter. Losses can be embraced because we have a sweet ever after. May you hold this truth as you face the next decade of your life-- may you hold it, embody it, and celebrate it every day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVi2jPTCWjbB3IzOxlEpLaU3S1va-TWmv5ykb-0hrEaM_PQam13E1Szs1XEnme2FlL-XUNN5t-vuYSJkD6X6qQce7R5Nt_koqCkIynIrVOkQFoFOuWEXOHGTIuM5muLfWfQsCI6pLaX94LjqebBHXsYmSdy0ATKjCFh1KLkx6cO8GHDuBTnBWJHDA/s5137/KIrwinPhotography-6499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5137" data-original-width="3425" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVi2jPTCWjbB3IzOxlEpLaU3S1va-TWmv5ykb-0hrEaM_PQam13E1Szs1XEnme2FlL-XUNN5t-vuYSJkD6X6qQce7R5Nt_koqCkIynIrVOkQFoFOuWEXOHGTIuM5muLfWfQsCI6pLaX94LjqebBHXsYmSdy0ATKjCFh1KLkx6cO8GHDuBTnBWJHDA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6499.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedFlZ0eFvRoh6ZhsFS2AAfumP3DVD-weLolIAA50i1blY5fl9pRNXnQCccQ5trm8MnYq6D0TX7O12CwaOLxVJtb1DY74afaIIDkbnD0gFimTAqV9P18-LBo3R7k9FWyr4XScJrb_Pe44f0ZIPCJ2RGU05d1xkfUaBHjEI4asg_meV0UhAZBojQmk8/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedFlZ0eFvRoh6ZhsFS2AAfumP3DVD-weLolIAA50i1blY5fl9pRNXnQCccQ5trm8MnYq6D0TX7O12CwaOLxVJtb1DY74afaIIDkbnD0gFimTAqV9P18-LBo3R7k9FWyr4XScJrb_Pe44f0ZIPCJ2RGU05d1xkfUaBHjEI4asg_meV0UhAZBojQmk8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6501.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtCrqeMkcIdDdq_AMvnuJad2ng2DQvQIuhwpN74pv6RzzNSuYMdqQWVx3l6UXMwdlfrIq32Wd4a-TCJZ4cbg98qSxX5pZpr5cWTDNC3dGKlcTYVNgAF2zC8BGq2oa-TOIl6w7gwKSMJQ3cBmzOOJB9fH--l8M1iFp8o9uO1uRkZuRIbKD7Ciq80aV/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtCrqeMkcIdDdq_AMvnuJad2ng2DQvQIuhwpN74pv6RzzNSuYMdqQWVx3l6UXMwdlfrIq32Wd4a-TCJZ4cbg98qSxX5pZpr5cWTDNC3dGKlcTYVNgAF2zC8BGq2oa-TOIl6w7gwKSMJQ3cBmzOOJB9fH--l8M1iFp8o9uO1uRkZuRIbKD7Ciq80aV/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6502.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCytIaSwgYFh_ZqmO1Pb03YocCCffY9l8i2z3tatxziCyaYmXV73KHCnlmY3EvFk87Hbulq-iIPumtR1vlawgCbodqsim-n8pmxHxDuHpOShEUqfEAxvf48Mk5uZvCvMw0Ids31RnpYC8W2U-GLO0NOTGW5hN2pA_k95rX2RhyWJ4ZD1VPINXK2rgb/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCytIaSwgYFh_ZqmO1Pb03YocCCffY9l8i2z3tatxziCyaYmXV73KHCnlmY3EvFk87Hbulq-iIPumtR1vlawgCbodqsim-n8pmxHxDuHpOShEUqfEAxvf48Mk5uZvCvMw0Ids31RnpYC8W2U-GLO0NOTGW5hN2pA_k95rX2RhyWJ4ZD1VPINXK2rgb/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6503.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHel7rgM2zbDYprfOOIGQCsjmlBAfDbRzkBoetFEEdz3ndqxfx2kRBanW2svI33TXgA2xDlWMfZT_erPckPSpB-7d7QMVElozj-EjGW9hCxxwwjmtb_0wCXY1bxXEfhShvTSodxXa6cjZUo_T6vlUAb5N1J-hURYxgJKZBTsaiM51rsTzrdSDOB9G9/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHel7rgM2zbDYprfOOIGQCsjmlBAfDbRzkBoetFEEdz3ndqxfx2kRBanW2svI33TXgA2xDlWMfZT_erPckPSpB-7d7QMVElozj-EjGW9hCxxwwjmtb_0wCXY1bxXEfhShvTSodxXa6cjZUo_T6vlUAb5N1J-hURYxgJKZBTsaiM51rsTzrdSDOB9G9/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6504.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs5vvHlLQcM8IhZwg_p0OgnDSZEU-T1W2KcfI_A4MmqvKLN1d2LtjqEOeHcLzhUz8cNBLY_79zMkqbJCubq7APfXLyl6UceSo8oWtay0y55DITkKgGM8-7pj0kt07V_tfe_TcpvT4uN1Vet-LRtlhbW0QShxQDGNaOeF1RY3Z1pRdyChdq8lKCYBI/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6507-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs5vvHlLQcM8IhZwg_p0OgnDSZEU-T1W2KcfI_A4MmqvKLN1d2LtjqEOeHcLzhUz8cNBLY_79zMkqbJCubq7APfXLyl6UceSo8oWtay0y55DITkKgGM8-7pj0kt07V_tfe_TcpvT4uN1Vet-LRtlhbW0QShxQDGNaOeF1RY3Z1pRdyChdq8lKCYBI/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6507-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Blythe, you were born in an absolute frenzy ten years ago. Everything was wild and chaotic and felt so out of control. Then you were laid on my chest, and it was as if from that moment forward God was saying, "I'm going to use this child to calm the frenzy in you." You are gentleness and calm in chaos; you are fun and carefree in stifled times; you are creative and intuitive when inspiration seems lacking; you are confident and joyful when others seem to have lost their way. We are figuring this parent thing out by trial and error and you, our first born, have met us with grace every time we misstep. We pray you keep looking to Jesus as your ultimate guide, and like I have said in every single birthday letter to you for ten years: we hope you understand the why behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you .We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see what it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </span></div><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"> Blythe Kathleen, happy TENTH birthday! There is nothing you could ever do that could make us stop loving you. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoWXVPOTBwPDHa7ZBeRZdW22ZQWXdZsxVfs_Pk7ysVGj9ZbV4fEYJuBX21K7aKTSNZh_EsSGescO2LDrvvg4fH5-d0Y96mnoXa0DWCWb69iIKAY2Wkhbd1ESL13Ym1VPv5BISZf_tlo5Ck8aNlu2_N7NVatBzv1oihtEfMJwABW9JQIYbDext89eQ/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoWXVPOTBwPDHa7ZBeRZdW22ZQWXdZsxVfs_Pk7ysVGj9ZbV4fEYJuBX21K7aKTSNZh_EsSGescO2LDrvvg4fH5-d0Y96mnoXa0DWCWb69iIKAY2Wkhbd1ESL13Ym1VPv5BISZf_tlo5Ck8aNlu2_N7NVatBzv1oihtEfMJwABW9JQIYbDext89eQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6508.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3IqnsUKRTmU0FoqWlLNrReiFCrc6UsKTas8oNmuk8WdWCvJ1_vlhtM2UJT2yb1aRl4vnfFnkM5h6zUGjBPNf6yX3bVpxb-aLHmmBKixm-oXkJW7mrFOfurFP5V-hilNfo9Jp2jvKEcnCRS0INI3JtBPMFueNV9PwRXUQGFNmTJ2FRryaaJEtntfT/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3IqnsUKRTmU0FoqWlLNrReiFCrc6UsKTas8oNmuk8WdWCvJ1_vlhtM2UJT2yb1aRl4vnfFnkM5h6zUGjBPNf6yX3bVpxb-aLHmmBKixm-oXkJW7mrFOfurFP5V-hilNfo9Jp2jvKEcnCRS0INI3JtBPMFueNV9PwRXUQGFNmTJ2FRryaaJEtntfT/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6510.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4hfHTrivBBCNS4n8bSqIoKsXA7OuZDfzRBZKWnIXOBwEO83cvAr_hPzu1NVlDU82T5LqjPmCus8sDatbkeEHLUpTcjI9qIHVJNx1mx8eqv3uoDbqwYQDu8qCwEeaHzu4CzhKCAPpnRYjEyj0yeboxJywKBk7TxpcKrrDTgMdpFGh9DzRMpE89muB/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4hfHTrivBBCNS4n8bSqIoKsXA7OuZDfzRBZKWnIXOBwEO83cvAr_hPzu1NVlDU82T5LqjPmCus8sDatbkeEHLUpTcjI9qIHVJNx1mx8eqv3uoDbqwYQDu8qCwEeaHzu4CzhKCAPpnRYjEyj0yeboxJywKBk7TxpcKrrDTgMdpFGh9DzRMpE89muB/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6512.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09j3P3wRKyy1FA4Fp3YHhXdp3l324RIjLf6G7exsCOA68r9ba0wLWPHim2S2EW2fqAjGOS5p4PsNOmfw0u88rCwBIMtU-iCXAgQtU7aFQfLd-IQOPRdxy3l-460NiYZwMyYPYSNsmtk1xESaJ1pnR3kwj4PmniLBmjDnNE_9Wp5YknC3V4iWohhrT/s6259/KIrwinPhotography-6513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6259" data-original-width="4173" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09j3P3wRKyy1FA4Fp3YHhXdp3l324RIjLf6G7exsCOA68r9ba0wLWPHim2S2EW2fqAjGOS5p4PsNOmfw0u88rCwBIMtU-iCXAgQtU7aFQfLd-IQOPRdxy3l-460NiYZwMyYPYSNsmtk1xESaJ1pnR3kwj4PmniLBmjDnNE_9Wp5YknC3V4iWohhrT/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6513.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE8TULYZwvk3mkji6UvZtTFnOLMG-p9bsQ4UDvxX3yAiq0khOByb7uMQKUDN1WPZwlJ1Iz1_XODfMvmSjOSmZCcav8kPuWYXV4MZtp2J6H4uR_yCp0VuL4sKsMiwkIDwhNtTzjKLKQWKggWlN29inHK6J6vbQgfUGgMqa0BQE7XBjX5gjlW5Oxora/s5940/KIrwinPhotography-6515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5940" data-original-width="3960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE8TULYZwvk3mkji6UvZtTFnOLMG-p9bsQ4UDvxX3yAiq0khOByb7uMQKUDN1WPZwlJ1Iz1_XODfMvmSjOSmZCcav8kPuWYXV4MZtp2J6H4uR_yCp0VuL4sKsMiwkIDwhNtTzjKLKQWKggWlN29inHK6J6vbQgfUGgMqa0BQE7XBjX5gjlW5Oxora/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-6515.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ir7p0-Q_VdvEEMwOMsd2LOkYhuhJhjbH-GPL7QWgyIYiEVRnQg6TlZpQKNVneuMXrQ57jQo3p9sC6T6fLV0BIIS30lee3N_8V2_HpAOY3hSt-mPWsK57RJeOgnyFbEJt3s0_7fjPPLoNlJtjEskpoCHfwTgWUvfuRe_-BfqDi7lX0HiIw4SKYbe4/s6720/KIrwinPhotography-6516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ir7p0-Q_VdvEEMwOMsd2LOkYhuhJhjbH-GPL7QWgyIYiEVRnQg6TlZpQKNVneuMXrQ57jQo3p9sC6T6fLV0BIIS30lee3N_8V2_HpAOY3hSt-mPWsK57RJeOgnyFbEJt3s0_7fjPPLoNlJtjEskpoCHfwTgWUvfuRe_-BfqDi7lX0HiIw4SKYbe4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6516.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC37qpjSKgx8qrgEUVSQXWFWdAATC_Dj1x0GzFtS0ZRebe9I_wPhkUblohx9aerVcf4gZ9OrZt4654vipeG8yCJBTf1--of5AKt4lfEQA1c4AQdD7Mb3DVbxpV2ua1HNdVe5F8a-ZXJXel58D5JrQImGPayhPFUOmrgzE7CsjN7VulfIaFVOqF_VxR/s5917/KIrwinPhotography-6520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3945" data-original-width="5917" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC37qpjSKgx8qrgEUVSQXWFWdAATC_Dj1x0GzFtS0ZRebe9I_wPhkUblohx9aerVcf4gZ9OrZt4654vipeG8yCJBTf1--of5AKt4lfEQA1c4AQdD7Mb3DVbxpV2ua1HNdVe5F8a-ZXJXel58D5JrQImGPayhPFUOmrgzE7CsjN7VulfIaFVOqF_VxR/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6520.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0Y_p8YaYMjPsYx41lm86f6S_JU33XrWu-cI6iRhrP90QkUrqZPkqqOLF1dg3TO1mFT-0fSThm7OKS10qtEyPLgpqXIHOY4RqUkge69aes4VAvcy8QdOA8BCgpF1RMdYP70h2GXOp_FcLhXRYGkAP4Zqn6L5RTaA0WN4cSbXPaLrjNFDFSeT_YVBy/s6059/KIrwinPhotography-6518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4039" data-original-width="6059" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0Y_p8YaYMjPsYx41lm86f6S_JU33XrWu-cI6iRhrP90QkUrqZPkqqOLF1dg3TO1mFT-0fSThm7OKS10qtEyPLgpqXIHOY4RqUkge69aes4VAvcy8QdOA8BCgpF1RMdYP70h2GXOp_FcLhXRYGkAP4Zqn6L5RTaA0WN4cSbXPaLrjNFDFSeT_YVBy/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-6518.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span><p></p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-36125652130204706892021-08-25T00:33:00.006-04:002021-08-25T00:33:55.336-04:00Sloan is THREE<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9ln4hhIdfapP8mURr58ALz_43F92hRDaPzo-1c4hyZ5K_YVa290FK78KV4678bmOS7cfqcYQ4-TkP2ROTq75NapC26mxMPZ4yu-ov41sWoYrD8IjGtWVW2hGN4rQWUP4QCOEEvvnqMU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9ln4hhIdfapP8mURr58ALz_43F92hRDaPzo-1c4hyZ5K_YVa290FK78KV4678bmOS7cfqcYQ4-TkP2ROTq75NapC26mxMPZ4yu-ov41sWoYrD8IjGtWVW2hGN4rQWUP4QCOEEvvnqMU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0650.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVNPiQdtIjPpc_yPCZsLyvjP21sCL91hq0THaZY-pYwtcU3j2GYmPdlsrXRBX35TDo5C_SYb4NSZpg8cejx2SxOhNQ_yGpM_ZNR7JUzBE4RJgM0VEgKxw02fZRmBcR8QrmB89CfevQyg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVNPiQdtIjPpc_yPCZsLyvjP21sCL91hq0THaZY-pYwtcU3j2GYmPdlsrXRBX35TDo5C_SYb4NSZpg8cejx2SxOhNQ_yGpM_ZNR7JUzBE4RJgM0VEgKxw02fZRmBcR8QrmB89CfevQyg/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0560.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HTziIPNezMqNifqDr2v2Kc7Um1120II4iUK1Iw_a7pKDUVWQCqonhPKkUTDxl_lUC9okPSpbyUeor7sjkfdvvi46deHWCj9yKthfqskzQ8O4_90_fYPkU2Ma9FcV6bsuvH1F-nbFXnk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HTziIPNezMqNifqDr2v2Kc7Um1120II4iUK1Iw_a7pKDUVWQCqonhPKkUTDxl_lUC9okPSpbyUeor7sjkfdvvi46deHWCj9yKthfqskzQ8O4_90_fYPkU2Ma9FcV6bsuvH1F-nbFXnk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0667.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUny4V3DXY3TKQ3ndMY4F__FDL_79LnsFu4syUX8OmS-LQYhwICNbzGryCVcIq1kZjxCSfTzFjgyGWfhIytSgZmqHwwFJBvDfZlTH-_gcOPbzSD_PaZ87OAOdSPD7Fuoor7Csa5qudrc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUny4V3DXY3TKQ3ndMY4F__FDL_79LnsFu4syUX8OmS-LQYhwICNbzGryCVcIq1kZjxCSfTzFjgyGWfhIytSgZmqHwwFJBvDfZlTH-_gcOPbzSD_PaZ87OAOdSPD7Fuoor7Csa5qudrc/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0582.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB4dT5-JM2u2cXT3ufXKYqCrzPakQPhcRaUQdOLetRrcoZT3sSFps8IhxafBzszfvEpP12hyxyeqSW8bZDAzm50wOVFAwo_V13lKQu6qOVr9I3SVhDOAsVlL2GDy_uJqqsmYY0QFoBmA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB4dT5-JM2u2cXT3ufXKYqCrzPakQPhcRaUQdOLetRrcoZT3sSFps8IhxafBzszfvEpP12hyxyeqSW8bZDAzm50wOVFAwo_V13lKQu6qOVr9I3SVhDOAsVlL2GDy_uJqqsmYY0QFoBmA/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaW3VvaBeWznKVcdOs0_MS119oauKZG1QnOjRz2_PuLZjrzpVkAe_5SRMziki6gX07CFzA-SSdRY29byeBPt22z-a1ERGjxJuWAcFIphirXmz-Joz2ZbYHSFPbJqxaOf02fH35rgH7Bc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaW3VvaBeWznKVcdOs0_MS119oauKZG1QnOjRz2_PuLZjrzpVkAe_5SRMziki6gX07CFzA-SSdRY29byeBPt22z-a1ERGjxJuWAcFIphirXmz-Joz2ZbYHSFPbJqxaOf02fH35rgH7Bc/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0500.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdC7CGtwq3FRCoRkVV2nL1S1DyHKxQ_q2FV1hK8mmeD4sh1Wa-oNYRDfPXZI31MilhhYUUJSV3hmYv_eMBPffOM36y3HTMpsMJpYAIKiS2MlQWt31nfCAx4P1HWhZ2sl1Zie1p26RXwA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdC7CGtwq3FRCoRkVV2nL1S1DyHKxQ_q2FV1hK8mmeD4sh1Wa-oNYRDfPXZI31MilhhYUUJSV3hmYv_eMBPffOM36y3HTMpsMJpYAIKiS2MlQWt31nfCAx4P1HWhZ2sl1Zie1p26RXwA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0457.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j-xFwyVWTBqykXbrqKT1gxC-M7e_qKLf02fdO3sivBp7Fdeiyz90E2ZenGgpPSteqydif7Xq7uzjRAtQQmdc7RpQJOGEzRDRx_pUstASlaLkdOLwKfvtIu-7LMXjWHunrJFIc7bJ3t4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j-xFwyVWTBqykXbrqKT1gxC-M7e_qKLf02fdO3sivBp7Fdeiyz90E2ZenGgpPSteqydif7Xq7uzjRAtQQmdc7RpQJOGEzRDRx_pUstASlaLkdOLwKfvtIu-7LMXjWHunrJFIc7bJ3t4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0354.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYADxbY_QepA5j0XVOVBcToHfoZA_ffpk2Lflt25vc_3sLSfbceqEF66v4HfyhyheqX5BckZO8uB1yZJgl59Y5VTYpXBOtSIYduR_lDBJy5L1qyrT1_IPmt6kXnfoBFFUE59kSySLVQYA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYADxbY_QepA5j0XVOVBcToHfoZA_ffpk2Lflt25vc_3sLSfbceqEF66v4HfyhyheqX5BckZO8uB1yZJgl59Y5VTYpXBOtSIYduR_lDBJy5L1qyrT1_IPmt6kXnfoBFFUE59kSySLVQYA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0662.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sloan Lee,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm at a loss as I sit here on the night of your third birthday-- how could you possibly be three? I know every parent probably thinks this to a certain extent when a child turns the next age older, but since you're our caboose it feels especially cruel that time has to move so quickly. However, if time moving is what eventually brought you into our family, then I cannot be mad for long because you-- at any age-- continue to be a gift to us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh Sloany-ba-donie boy, you have completely shifted our house in so many ways. It's louder, for sure, messier [with cars], and I have no idea how you are sticky by 8 AM but, you are. You STILL drool, and if we give you ONE m&m you can still be drooling chocolate an hour later. I have no idea how. Or why. Or how. [Speaking of, when you get an M&M you point to the M and say, "It's like McDonalds!"] In regards to letters, you're of course too busy to be interested in learning those, however one day I was doing an alphabet puzzle with you and you pointed to the N and said, "That says 'BA DONNNNNN'!" I couldn't figure out what you meant and then it donned on me: when Netflix comes on for our movie night every week a giant N appears on the screen and the music says, "Ba donnnn". You don't miss anything, my boy. Your dad and I can be having a conversation that we think everyone is oblivious to and pretty soon you pipe in and repeat something we've said. You know everyone's vehicle [better than I do!]-- all our neighbors and friends and family. You are very observant and take everything in with those big brown eyes. </div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4HXzDg72x-v5L1ivyNYbu926_bOaXxEoX1Vn73uG4aJDZRxuhDHZaCARcnd67317X9_eKXsVRnqc6VuJNYHxY3PF1LbXoFBfIpSp4eh77xTeq7NmupBbf-buBpjy62TTldXuTQ6VGaU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4HXzDg72x-v5L1ivyNYbu926_bOaXxEoX1Vn73uG4aJDZRxuhDHZaCARcnd67317X9_eKXsVRnqc6VuJNYHxY3PF1LbXoFBfIpSp4eh77xTeq7NmupBbf-buBpjy62TTldXuTQ6VGaU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0647.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNKshC4X3PLj1Yo-vtxEBqmrn7Ar0igWVBiWPpau78Jk2kazccBhGkdm8uTvBgCZTLnGpVwNhbtzY19IFZApGirvokLqSMEGVjFeVRALZBfClqhiuG5ovReSDst6ri7l_nWDEMabVRD4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNKshC4X3PLj1Yo-vtxEBqmrn7Ar0igWVBiWPpau78Jk2kazccBhGkdm8uTvBgCZTLnGpVwNhbtzY19IFZApGirvokLqSMEGVjFeVRALZBfClqhiuG5ovReSDst6ri7l_nWDEMabVRD4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0645.jpg" width="426" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNKshC4X3PLj1Yo-vtxEBqmrn7Ar0igWVBiWPpau78Jk2kazccBhGkdm8uTvBgCZTLnGpVwNhbtzY19IFZApGirvokLqSMEGVjFeVRALZBfClqhiuG5ovReSDst6ri7l_nWDEMabVRD4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDz5EAP3P5rH5G5U7v6692_IH1dd6Zw-EB5dqzQqY6kJAJEb-h__unKbN-XgbyqJFJim23QEl_X8huHVd_pXLXYVqZ6nKjFcB0UOHozU6BwjZTclRE0XR_HaYgBKwmX-MA5e827Wf9OE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDz5EAP3P5rH5G5U7v6692_IH1dd6Zw-EB5dqzQqY6kJAJEb-h__unKbN-XgbyqJFJim23QEl_X8huHVd_pXLXYVqZ6nKjFcB0UOHozU6BwjZTclRE0XR_HaYgBKwmX-MA5e827Wf9OE/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0642.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9N2Iib0B07fEphkrYryko1uph50uWxrpUEjUzTQ41M2ElsHC0y6PK0aXiAvkF9cKJAOiJxDGgsrz3n1SDCGdnseK5mNmj0XXhxQY8E-kYGjH_IALBB95-sO5QNw4MqjJawy6brXvAF4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9N2Iib0B07fEphkrYryko1uph50uWxrpUEjUzTQ41M2ElsHC0y6PK0aXiAvkF9cKJAOiJxDGgsrz3n1SDCGdnseK5mNmj0XXhxQY8E-kYGjH_IALBB95-sO5QNw4MqjJawy6brXvAF4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0634.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi218RFiG-9hKSi06pAk3_94pAf81_JkSdULVOwfgmm3_85xb8huuwNpSpiL1yLxhIsXLCDh6B61SVBjl8UgkuOVBeCYt0LA3CdjIorX5rZBGQkUHRQjsXLlP79H1xzB-9NfJKf53i_VHk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi218RFiG-9hKSi06pAk3_94pAf81_JkSdULVOwfgmm3_85xb8huuwNpSpiL1yLxhIsXLCDh6B61SVBjl8UgkuOVBeCYt0LA3CdjIorX5rZBGQkUHRQjsXLlP79H1xzB-9NfJKf53i_VHk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0632.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGjOq-V2zxxTNzLoC9tnKd6Lh5wqEx7_CEVyevBX9ikA2SChJcEjmFUG6fg6yUsevmoHU9aGNHioR7Iy3KV64uuu_TUeiSJNT1kAuTfoKrG9qQbUqEyuy1MVvVc61kr3HUNlV_2qrOiA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGjOq-V2zxxTNzLoC9tnKd6Lh5wqEx7_CEVyevBX9ikA2SChJcEjmFUG6fg6yUsevmoHU9aGNHioR7Iy3KV64uuu_TUeiSJNT1kAuTfoKrG9qQbUqEyuy1MVvVc61kr3HUNlV_2qrOiA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0630.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEs-TsuOJDHjC5S_p38bl27wx9vhRk4coPO9P71hPE0wX646D2OOBIeSMlnq7vPbP6GwRcD7PkvBsShMnEIi7hNql8Zvn7KLSBbeEcKyXI2oy3manCLNRcOBPW5HxW5Sc3g9jfnOO4ic/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEs-TsuOJDHjC5S_p38bl27wx9vhRk4coPO9P71hPE0wX646D2OOBIeSMlnq7vPbP6GwRcD7PkvBsShMnEIi7hNql8Zvn7KLSBbeEcKyXI2oy3manCLNRcOBPW5HxW5Sc3g9jfnOO4ic/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0609.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Last year in your letter I mentioned that you loved cars. Well, that love has only grown. You lay on the floor so you can get the perfect view of their moving wheels and you will play and play and play. While you do love having your sisters join you [they make everything fun!], you can occupy yourself with a stack of cars and some racetrack or your construction vehicles for nearly an hour. You've now even developed a little "voice" that you speak in for the cars when they are animated, and it is deep and hilarious and I love to just sneak around the corner and listen to you: "Hey dumptrut.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><i style="text-align: left;">Hey cement mitser. </i><span style="text-align: left;">Let's go to the store.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><i style="text-align: left;">Yeah. Let's go to the store." </i><span style="text-align: left;">For your gifts this year no one wanted to give you anything practical because seeing you light up every time you open a new car is priceless. So even though you need winter gloves, a helicopter now resides in your room. You have slept with your new airplane. "Mack and the truck" [from</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><i style="text-align: left;">Cars</i><span style="text-align: left;">] has had to go with us on errands and out to eat. You're acquiring a collection of Jeeps and get so excited when you see a real one on the road. I know you'll outgrow this phase all too soon, so for now we will relish our table being a garage, the window sill being a parking lot, and the hallway being a racetrack. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzpFqmumYrXhGA02HtalShlmGjxsD-5X17fBbwW-t-LkoNEwMTmr6gKwn-VfD_jPQ3pzfAIil6BD7NG3a0B-IGLozcLqdGyVn1HkY8CHX553D7rjSyhrhEL1XY_XxJSLswl_gsS0SZ64/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzpFqmumYrXhGA02HtalShlmGjxsD-5X17fBbwW-t-LkoNEwMTmr6gKwn-VfD_jPQ3pzfAIil6BD7NG3a0B-IGLozcLqdGyVn1HkY8CHX553D7rjSyhrhEL1XY_XxJSLswl_gsS0SZ64/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0358.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HYgK30lOMRrbEo1286VHqhIbzi9C9VBa61qSSnzYdkyClx9A9aBdsoQquojm9iH45pztYQ07Mc5zSlPIYsSK45p3V0eP2sga5V4ExQ_LFIisXGw00eGRjZOicgVnRADN9J_AqTg9Mvc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HYgK30lOMRrbEo1286VHqhIbzi9C9VBa61qSSnzYdkyClx9A9aBdsoQquojm9iH45pztYQ07Mc5zSlPIYsSK45p3V0eP2sga5V4ExQ_LFIisXGw00eGRjZOicgVnRADN9J_AqTg9Mvc/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0382.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0VEWglckXDxWpjjMHsCNp2k_IRFYeMs_JKXYWcRlBcpXJ-ODuKTz6bPg6EcQimClR0fJJTkJ55RJ-tH8o-AzYkOSTZj1kicO2Mk3vn5TEd5eHHwKFBjZlD9hcfgE9AZPYL4dq8HjNOk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0VEWglckXDxWpjjMHsCNp2k_IRFYeMs_JKXYWcRlBcpXJ-ODuKTz6bPg6EcQimClR0fJJTkJ55RJ-tH8o-AzYkOSTZj1kicO2Mk3vn5TEd5eHHwKFBjZlD9hcfgE9AZPYL4dq8HjNOk/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0367.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D_kPTb0aqKH0AtLqUPHts0Ci-JXcFXLiPCFzR3mogPOhvaIgDzVKYoF6_ZQCqajlWAzIO8Tz06_wyvnKLXNwNPgFVCLLdCvZ82kadYQaJhm9M7VDnMh2AHuxjEPwfJUYagK1_8xguMA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D_kPTb0aqKH0AtLqUPHts0Ci-JXcFXLiPCFzR3mogPOhvaIgDzVKYoF6_ZQCqajlWAzIO8Tz06_wyvnKLXNwNPgFVCLLdCvZ82kadYQaJhm9M7VDnMh2AHuxjEPwfJUYagK1_8xguMA/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0376.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nuORFklgkg2D5ZF5VIhI7BxDj8ola_O4kSGNu2D33pVQ81pDzN_KT5PGOnxh1TjZpEyi1ZCi8V02IUrmy89H12ZUJ1cwf_QZuVM3FgyYbHZiXG1DUOFegZjsvLxZzO0bxlZocH7FyTU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nuORFklgkg2D5ZF5VIhI7BxDj8ola_O4kSGNu2D33pVQ81pDzN_KT5PGOnxh1TjZpEyi1ZCi8V02IUrmy89H12ZUJ1cwf_QZuVM3FgyYbHZiXG1DUOFegZjsvLxZzO0bxlZocH7FyTU/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0373.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBGYQExlur7yX6HNZHKbD0BYtQW4ioV8BVAyTZGgigO1Alqaev6php9s_gj-LM8Bhao_aWxYBR8XBRwqc3TI6FwnBz8-cuPN6V51ES_Z7dN9YjIIBcLlDbuFWjd1a5kEHP7NT1Hq7ehM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBGYQExlur7yX6HNZHKbD0BYtQW4ioV8BVAyTZGgigO1Alqaev6php9s_gj-LM8Bhao_aWxYBR8XBRwqc3TI6FwnBz8-cuPN6V51ES_Z7dN9YjIIBcLlDbuFWjd1a5kEHP7NT1Hq7ehM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0372.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcA2NOqFpCtKjyMXLH_yNHmFxg9FeHELiAddQ2f6mgdLmq7jnk_sR4H1ZoxHCvLzH9nHvOdO77oIAAMunGSGT-cpQUgw2icwuUM7yBd26rNogHdT58fHaPwkY62Uq34p6PXiAS7M53wk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcA2NOqFpCtKjyMXLH_yNHmFxg9FeHELiAddQ2f6mgdLmq7jnk_sR4H1ZoxHCvLzH9nHvOdO77oIAAMunGSGT-cpQUgw2icwuUM7yBd26rNogHdT58fHaPwkY62Uq34p6PXiAS7M53wk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0592.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhUQpR5OX3_Y0uWFTWx9acSanGs_6DjkIE7RTVLL4wBYGFsN9Z972wy3CkCQmjcTk1NRAzZ4AMDxZHeN8vYNgrSJGyBxJuQiSB6U7icww5wCXXP3WAbT-VNDxlQxE7jf2yB9nghwDzHc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhUQpR5OX3_Y0uWFTWx9acSanGs_6DjkIE7RTVLL4wBYGFsN9Z972wy3CkCQmjcTk1NRAzZ4AMDxZHeN8vYNgrSJGyBxJuQiSB6U7icww5wCXXP3WAbT-VNDxlQxE7jf2yB9nghwDzHc/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0587.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXTegodYDpyhqGzUZkngoKj4h1ukcw6MehMwb5EuQDEqBu-oIAvRekAvOthkue0mfxfL890LxIIzlnc5WuV6R_hHVrBWAvy4wypcwcs5Kw1RuFRqrEP878Lb9gFWyDHZ-S7tm7rP-5Rc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXTegodYDpyhqGzUZkngoKj4h1ukcw6MehMwb5EuQDEqBu-oIAvRekAvOthkue0mfxfL890LxIIzlnc5WuV6R_hHVrBWAvy4wypcwcs5Kw1RuFRqrEP878Lb9gFWyDHZ-S7tm7rP-5Rc/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0583.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaznPAh237NRPo9P7XN3mmVmbbtKLpLkEYD70KSLth-h_o6G2ymny17q5lbp4hN58EaokfmQtoNHxytJEzc0faD95RrYVy1zNQbls13IXXlXHpq5BzSGpO4fwidkQ3Cie7rCRWCre67o/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaznPAh237NRPo9P7XN3mmVmbbtKLpLkEYD70KSLth-h_o6G2ymny17q5lbp4hN58EaokfmQtoNHxytJEzc0faD95RrYVy1zNQbls13IXXlXHpq5BzSGpO4fwidkQ3Cie7rCRWCre67o/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0580.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qfrYYvcqLdVs83Bm8cFm7UoJKo19rQfFSIrtwUiZ1lhKqYrhDWkICEvhtwEZDbxvmqgo6oxF3al3j33dGucomCznoMizlFAuCMnXViZ6Cl2Gu3ggqusrUPk8X0RvlVLRaPGwZMpHfp4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qfrYYvcqLdVs83Bm8cFm7UoJKo19rQfFSIrtwUiZ1lhKqYrhDWkICEvhtwEZDbxvmqgo6oxF3al3j33dGucomCznoMizlFAuCMnXViZ6Cl2Gu3ggqusrUPk8X0RvlVLRaPGwZMpHfp4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0574.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlS8nj4WG-VUNAJ0q3xe82dEl7-ei7iXdwkw9Z5soIH_r9xOBGtllkEfHSPhX-X6uppT5vXNdx0f49Zurc71ZR7ebYcU6PGr4OkPkSIfbO14aDw2c3gWOcJMrqGugccWIktAqSZHb9Sg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlS8nj4WG-VUNAJ0q3xe82dEl7-ei7iXdwkw9Z5soIH_r9xOBGtllkEfHSPhX-X6uppT5vXNdx0f49Zurc71ZR7ebYcU6PGr4OkPkSIfbO14aDw2c3gWOcJMrqGugccWIktAqSZHb9Sg/w427-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0569.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYyDmogHnHr4qomamEggk-zwh27vA5Bppyj3IMfz7SUR8zJTUePANA_PThWC2sF7l7N_H-dw3GxBigYm9jTpp3UtzQARFvK3vJ5CvggXn4rM-a0ZgpKos5iOsv2tapMpgeHi9YOkOJbo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYyDmogHnHr4qomamEggk-zwh27vA5Bppyj3IMfz7SUR8zJTUePANA_PThWC2sF7l7N_H-dw3GxBigYm9jTpp3UtzQARFvK3vJ5CvggXn4rM-a0ZgpKos5iOsv2tapMpgeHi9YOkOJbo/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0566.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKohueb-PIz1XKUuGGjD6-tO8OFi_gYvrQpdICxD4BpkwC6ioykbwtVKH0B0nhRea5TuTZKOzS4l0d2qnF0V098PP0325WaMr2qr_XdgTKLLLKoQFpYq5SHBuUIbhqu5Yq6k_aSLrxyM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKohueb-PIz1XKUuGGjD6-tO8OFi_gYvrQpdICxD4BpkwC6ioykbwtVKH0B0nhRea5TuTZKOzS4l0d2qnF0V098PP0325WaMr2qr_XdgTKLLLKoQFpYq5SHBuUIbhqu5Yq6k_aSLrxyM/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0555.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNf_kTU54qh7OPuFTOuIzGVVyNT_QaN7Hlk2WtZieZTsR_R8qevOMLrqDVY3Bx9Nb7Quh-fphMccgVPH6vGrcn7FZv5SI8jSqBxbgeW3LlCrtL2MvsZtpuWP1h62qoy0x_5zm5VnHagbU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNf_kTU54qh7OPuFTOuIzGVVyNT_QaN7Hlk2WtZieZTsR_R8qevOMLrqDVY3Bx9Nb7Quh-fphMccgVPH6vGrcn7FZv5SI8jSqBxbgeW3LlCrtL2MvsZtpuWP1h62qoy0x_5zm5VnHagbU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0535.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You have slimmed down a little this year, but are still pretty hefty and strong. The last few months when your sisters have upset you, you've begun to throw things at them or, when simply reacting, slapping at them. And you're already big enough and strong enough that this is dangerous so we've had lots of time outs and conversations... so man, in fact, that now when you sit down in a time out for something like this you immediately just start touching my cheek really softly because you know that's how our time will end: "Sloan, you've got to be gentle... like <i>this... </i>" and then I will shoe you with your hand on my cheek. Gentleness is actually a trait we've been praying for you since we found out you were a boy. It's a fruit of the Spirit we should all strive for, but your dad and I are especially praying that you can lead with your gentleness, and I know those seeds are being planted now in these spirited time outs and repeated lessons. However, for the most part, your sisters adore you and you them. Your relationship with Nan has especially grown this year, as you spent most of the year with just her as Blythe and Becks were at school. She pretty much solely calls you "Buddy". You play puppies and cars and torture our neighbor's cat together. She is the Scout Finch to your Huck Finn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu2LBeUTFCEb4SpSYDOvME15m8ySLHvOgXdunHig1HgPIUExint_Sstn3kkDDchHZpaaWrf-dlC6bW8r4XdtbGzTHW8IHo6s8DBZSdvr1G4jhg9Zku32og8RuqMoeEhyh9hz7_PevBFE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu2LBeUTFCEb4SpSYDOvME15m8ySLHvOgXdunHig1HgPIUExint_Sstn3kkDDchHZpaaWrf-dlC6bW8r4XdtbGzTHW8IHo6s8DBZSdvr1G4jhg9Zku32og8RuqMoeEhyh9hz7_PevBFE/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0523.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREchGE_hdcFTn9b6Fzq59QrSEZtNUm3DC7KRBuUv4PHPmo3YklWzrQFppinNG3EY9YBnq3DkdbdxrZUgnYyy2GYJ2mrYjkYWvaZg5T1odLtAOHmm4SmrWc88W5-YCf6jT9nddosUIAt8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREchGE_hdcFTn9b6Fzq59QrSEZtNUm3DC7KRBuUv4PHPmo3YklWzrQFppinNG3EY9YBnq3DkdbdxrZUgnYyy2GYJ2mrYjkYWvaZg5T1odLtAOHmm4SmrWc88W5-YCf6jT9nddosUIAt8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0519.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbzXjaNKuSqfdn-d_cyLA4Hwgtx-oKJKAsF_YVWKZlX0vuRQUTUh2Rapbsv9Qiua9nBDfE-7j_U28hmbBuxDnlZp0X8JjK6JXdFjXQ6hBpTx0Fspp61NaDTtwtXSptiYtW4MFe4IM1IU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbzXjaNKuSqfdn-d_cyLA4Hwgtx-oKJKAsF_YVWKZlX0vuRQUTUh2Rapbsv9Qiua9nBDfE-7j_U28hmbBuxDnlZp0X8JjK6JXdFjXQ6hBpTx0Fspp61NaDTtwtXSptiYtW4MFe4IM1IU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0517.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqnKpXfwNu3GyTS3P70IdxJqicwC1uKJpo5e8LXr_dbswBnGYa_blXISBCYZVg46hIrRmHbE-xXpZQVH8vkokA6LXaniwL3J8Mr7mQDlYYALaxLjh0T9bNVRZVWqaViCalLRmRPW2tPg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqnKpXfwNu3GyTS3P70IdxJqicwC1uKJpo5e8LXr_dbswBnGYa_blXISBCYZVg46hIrRmHbE-xXpZQVH8vkokA6LXaniwL3J8Mr7mQDlYYALaxLjh0T9bNVRZVWqaViCalLRmRPW2tPg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0515.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXInbLLCw2f-hcWcyBerarE3H2LG2x2jHkDeXHzk3K7xD0Q7F15dlBB-9qarZIyFWDNiOPFVE8GLRyzSx2zLDlxYmS6cKEN0FpvlnW2UyzD9_KB-OnB9XfFUBzCtuDmh6eQbgD0EUQ3o/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXInbLLCw2f-hcWcyBerarE3H2LG2x2jHkDeXHzk3K7xD0Q7F15dlBB-9qarZIyFWDNiOPFVE8GLRyzSx2zLDlxYmS6cKEN0FpvlnW2UyzD9_KB-OnB9XfFUBzCtuDmh6eQbgD0EUQ3o/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0514.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-dyEFR4B2lRgZCOR7k2ypnEwXJUJi9nRqpDe92nFWrQpi7zv14kYdZ6-dSAyDYfs-pOdJ9AoB4K0moZ2GowazpW1_-R_2EMtcz8zpmsu4QH4yNP5neFQjcAodxUDN5Z1qP_VTAVucHE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-dyEFR4B2lRgZCOR7k2ypnEwXJUJi9nRqpDe92nFWrQpi7zv14kYdZ6-dSAyDYfs-pOdJ9AoB4K0moZ2GowazpW1_-R_2EMtcz8zpmsu4QH4yNP5neFQjcAodxUDN5Z1qP_VTAVucHE/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0497.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1-6fBjOyYLr2H6zWNJW8X-6F_vutIYQAvqvX1CzH_yeRnWKHhQAm8WrvQaU9cjINzj3Jm1x3p6MRv-oFTf5b0y-g_ixjMNEfyrnD-vvIeI9xJCgd8BozbFNJZuDVNsWe6qUOuWD2A-I/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1-6fBjOyYLr2H6zWNJW8X-6F_vutIYQAvqvX1CzH_yeRnWKHhQAm8WrvQaU9cjINzj3Jm1x3p6MRv-oFTf5b0y-g_ixjMNEfyrnD-vvIeI9xJCgd8BozbFNJZuDVNsWe6qUOuWD2A-I/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0496.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_H3DZHm177R1hkpo_ETgIFBTvpvPrfqcIGskjEjk6xF7jnkzBu9SVBHg0gANANL9S2D7BkZnq-wDNZcd1hbFqjmPoqqhvY2QkVsxWuzbQt8kS5ZXNbGlZM5CEp81auF-_7qnEPqxSYpo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_H3DZHm177R1hkpo_ETgIFBTvpvPrfqcIGskjEjk6xF7jnkzBu9SVBHg0gANANL9S2D7BkZnq-wDNZcd1hbFqjmPoqqhvY2QkVsxWuzbQt8kS5ZXNbGlZM5CEp81auF-_7qnEPqxSYpo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0488.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeH_kf6z8kKXOcLSR8CP79xLpEkVsXo4nM1miJ9jSqr0p1Ll6ejFf-vO5J67t5aD88oI5E9qEyQPK3HtP-ygDod_TynRAyGUmdcXkwsPT_6IJZgJeINGTmAcIhIkW1lpaX3xTXAMuJ3I/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeH_kf6z8kKXOcLSR8CP79xLpEkVsXo4nM1miJ9jSqr0p1Ll6ejFf-vO5J67t5aD88oI5E9qEyQPK3HtP-ygDod_TynRAyGUmdcXkwsPT_6IJZgJeINGTmAcIhIkW1lpaX3xTXAMuJ3I/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0483.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yDxzR4nHhlryxszghMh6ugDemX1wmLrrNIB_CMQobAcOFLu5NsZcaTMbze9_gJ9tKM7qukV56E9t3mhuNJw_Ei09RUymwc8tcDRMwVBiBTK1ARScAnf3tw492gXzA5dJb-_PdIdhZs4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yDxzR4nHhlryxszghMh6ugDemX1wmLrrNIB_CMQobAcOFLu5NsZcaTMbze9_gJ9tKM7qukV56E9t3mhuNJw_Ei09RUymwc8tcDRMwVBiBTK1ARScAnf3tw492gXzA5dJb-_PdIdhZs4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0481.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G1Y7wz08uLzusDP7PLXR3wkdPrdeYtZd56tBDPymkvhXxLY13_9crqOBF9hII97FGklL11SISJwfMTawcfM3s4Ft29SGByg-eWr_8ssFmSs2hxZXPAiNXhCLNB9UVpodHm46tg4aiIA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8G1Y7wz08uLzusDP7PLXR3wkdPrdeYtZd56tBDPymkvhXxLY13_9crqOBF9hII97FGklL11SISJwfMTawcfM3s4Ft29SGByg-eWr_8ssFmSs2hxZXPAiNXhCLNB9UVpodHm46tg4aiIA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0470.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAmgAZ6yQwv-kuN3C-AOjF8FD-r4lNVJ60RK-mNj7YDyqVqfrp_5f1y55BZVCUnkWffZiPoTmpHNcXhbaqqqSp1tBMeFldaXbRpjVk07EVcJvScv8T_5ObSrNeWJoq_qQBOALG4Dwl2Q/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAmgAZ6yQwv-kuN3C-AOjF8FD-r4lNVJ60RK-mNj7YDyqVqfrp_5f1y55BZVCUnkWffZiPoTmpHNcXhbaqqqSp1tBMeFldaXbRpjVk07EVcJvScv8T_5ObSrNeWJoq_qQBOALG4Dwl2Q/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0468.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There is something tender, cautious, and kind in your spirit, Sloan, and you seem to just wedge a place into a soft spot in people's hearts-- your dad and me included! And now that you're talking [non stop] this is even more true. Just the other day your dad said, "He is just speaking in paragraphs now! When did that happen?" And while I feel I can absolutely describe you as tender and kind, you are also so busy and loud and physical. You love to run around outside and drive your little red car up and down the street. Our neighbors are building on and they had a big pile of dirt where they dug out the basement and you would always ask to go "play on Beth's mountain." You love bike rides with your dad and are now old enough that you've been able to go to the creek a couple of times and you could hardly get enough. You actually love the outside so much, that one morning you went outside and our neighbor had to bring you home! You hadn't run off but you were just busy playing in the front yard [barefoot and in your pajamas! In early March!]. You have slowed down a bit on eating this year but that's probably because you are RAVENOUS every morning and eat about three different breakfasts... then you're pretty set for the rest of the day and the other meals you sometimes can give or take. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KPN1-GsXgWMVqESLk05wyrkOXIfQhve2jb86qImhxGH9IytEfodFvLA2IOOcC_Tznk80RlU34IcaK-aco1rXmAq-pAu57MYwuYFjJmHhqANVD2J-qi-ZkA5QAniERObFpgt0Nd47doc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KPN1-GsXgWMVqESLk05wyrkOXIfQhve2jb86qImhxGH9IytEfodFvLA2IOOcC_Tznk80RlU34IcaK-aco1rXmAq-pAu57MYwuYFjJmHhqANVD2J-qi-ZkA5QAniERObFpgt0Nd47doc/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0453.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7I6ppI-78DNWT-jrd74zsnlaFg-XmBgCHtMb9n4kSE4_aO9RWHV8va0x31upLwjnM5Yo-6d0bm7BejccLahmSvP1j_1n52FJkniThBYyJy9ZVrTVOiGizRevhVY_dGbFdfoFHtgz6UAA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7I6ppI-78DNWT-jrd74zsnlaFg-XmBgCHtMb9n4kSE4_aO9RWHV8va0x31upLwjnM5Yo-6d0bm7BejccLahmSvP1j_1n52FJkniThBYyJy9ZVrTVOiGizRevhVY_dGbFdfoFHtgz6UAA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0452.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisS4HZhJvQB1esjFHPgnpglBcbfd_9k_pYXX00qOMf0jXce0CVMjzFXArZr7gm7qIsOxqP1fEFKw43aLW8xh8bEPSsO-pxj31Uk_LJTQb_7KU4Fb9M9GgemUDZ9dkgMlzmwYKogRRTYo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisS4HZhJvQB1esjFHPgnpglBcbfd_9k_pYXX00qOMf0jXce0CVMjzFXArZr7gm7qIsOxqP1fEFKw43aLW8xh8bEPSsO-pxj31Uk_LJTQb_7KU4Fb9M9GgemUDZ9dkgMlzmwYKogRRTYo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0451.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO5CaC6ZyMAKiS3t4lcmScEz4NcAhztKcxamC_qx0jdmWiRCT0ryyd8FXVALBj0Q2_wXWAXcuplf6ZQprjy9TV2-Xu7isRVBNhIz5nieb78oXHnhVB1JPC3vJFKLZTaOWxGXxDEu1CO8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO5CaC6ZyMAKiS3t4lcmScEz4NcAhztKcxamC_qx0jdmWiRCT0ryyd8FXVALBj0Q2_wXWAXcuplf6ZQprjy9TV2-Xu7isRVBNhIz5nieb78oXHnhVB1JPC3vJFKLZTaOWxGXxDEu1CO8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0446.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJFENEGCMFemUQ1VF6J_vBR_q_4E57VKyNqjgAyxE80k3268mSSjZEFYZN0JuqLehNDLmzAU4t0nVMBkndPtqAW1qaQxzXgTWPz8sbeFI1_oE4eaXrcL-CLqs1lghrHlUKSvuYnccagw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJFENEGCMFemUQ1VF6J_vBR_q_4E57VKyNqjgAyxE80k3268mSSjZEFYZN0JuqLehNDLmzAU4t0nVMBkndPtqAW1qaQxzXgTWPz8sbeFI1_oE4eaXrcL-CLqs1lghrHlUKSvuYnccagw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0441.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEAGERzMESrclVIPJoCdbK6zkmOplPbd5KlphWQlZdPCTa_qKR8YjFG7B_DvwYtJKD9YgJlyxE8EXg08a5ume3SvbdiAfYXDWxTwna8bTfbUffYXyiQ3zm-j37uZw3ME1WrpiMdViw2I/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEAGERzMESrclVIPJoCdbK6zkmOplPbd5KlphWQlZdPCTa_qKR8YjFG7B_DvwYtJKD9YgJlyxE8EXg08a5ume3SvbdiAfYXDWxTwna8bTfbUffYXyiQ3zm-j37uZw3ME1WrpiMdViw2I/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0435.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_MzZrTMCPA8pHwFw9S5TenkGXD5XL1Izv_jeAuub5dYFfcSGv2TuomLBNkKqHIhUuHFE0cULKYwhjBRnlSl0h96OA3JE7GIKjOM7cVjB7GZ-9IMupM1d4X4t2RjzERG3wZmhAlRdjUU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_MzZrTMCPA8pHwFw9S5TenkGXD5XL1Izv_jeAuub5dYFfcSGv2TuomLBNkKqHIhUuHFE0cULKYwhjBRnlSl0h96OA3JE7GIKjOM7cVjB7GZ-9IMupM1d4X4t2RjzERG3wZmhAlRdjUU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0434.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj660VrTScYKR0nOTpl0COJhcuhcespaRQ9raBCR8tZkUvO934vniet8qa1EH6Q6IlE7s9tHnUEPznVep9UxXZiIXa2q1c8GM35YTmzJyNdlHOj_7b0UpXfkWi2wZ4-YC9ALbGZI37tKs8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj660VrTScYKR0nOTpl0COJhcuhcespaRQ9raBCR8tZkUvO934vniet8qa1EH6Q6IlE7s9tHnUEPznVep9UxXZiIXa2q1c8GM35YTmzJyNdlHOj_7b0UpXfkWi2wZ4-YC9ALbGZI37tKs8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0433.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXEt78-i7f32enXuHKIlx03W1kDscO7QdPm-jkiGRzWddvdeCKsIKd03qVPk-DJgcF8hD7Ll2FtqJGdy0Nm2VhUbc0KCIO093-Q3bOgm2aBC01qYFEFKOfsCa2rxV7VHreW30_80v_58/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXEt78-i7f32enXuHKIlx03W1kDscO7QdPm-jkiGRzWddvdeCKsIKd03qVPk-DJgcF8hD7Ll2FtqJGdy0Nm2VhUbc0KCIO093-Q3bOgm2aBC01qYFEFKOfsCa2rxV7VHreW30_80v_58/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0429.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeNa_RyM8Jg5jx7wL6w8Dp5IkW5t5QCNCn2eZv_iqlBve64ioFsJighx7wNc1qT8dP66frMAfUHdBHgHZS0UBF88M-Txdr73sGF4UocnTJCEhbSguhVgGi6ba2WNTdXANCNHO-Z3YILo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeNa_RyM8Jg5jx7wL6w8Dp5IkW5t5QCNCn2eZv_iqlBve64ioFsJighx7wNc1qT8dP66frMAfUHdBHgHZS0UBF88M-Txdr73sGF4UocnTJCEhbSguhVgGi6ba2WNTdXANCNHO-Z3YILo/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0425.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdlay6fzM9j0e5NBlnmZjKEPg4-zObHwZi4MVAphZfJ91gVbWYzY9JHWSPgg1SwtVZNwDC-lXSevC_N17k5RZb03946fZBWs6Q-ATzrrOCW20BETbz8xfw2xK9C8xt71BkRe919SuogQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdlay6fzM9j0e5NBlnmZjKEPg4-zObHwZi4MVAphZfJ91gVbWYzY9JHWSPgg1SwtVZNwDC-lXSevC_N17k5RZb03946fZBWs6Q-ATzrrOCW20BETbz8xfw2xK9C8xt71BkRe919SuogQ/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0421.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The other night at supper one of the girls prayed and then you asked for your turn: "Jesus, thank you for the sky and my sandbox and bulldozers and dumptrucks and diggers. Amen." You were coloring one day [not your favorite pastime, but I'm working on it], and you were coloring a rhinoceros. You started coloring his feet and told me, "I'm coloring him's stompers." When watching Pocahontas for movie night, she got in her canoe and you about burst with excitement pointing and saying, "A pond boat! A pond boat!" [It was just like the boat that Papa takes you in on his pond, therefore, the canoe was a pond boat!]. During movie nights there are inevitably points in the movie that scare you a bit-- any loud noises make you jump-- and you crawl up and snuggle in tight with your dad and I. It's that tender spot in you. Oh, and you also fractured your leg again this year and ended up in another cast again for a bit. Let's try not to make this a super routine part of every year please? </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG-_vZgoOZZsGbn0f9RjjYQh_2dsQXDM2HtJoYuPmBZ1MJWuS_MjuYeij_sRYYwrAO-fitj9V0LcOMSmE5kxVS71oUVlbluL6PG0cS9GVhYT91hMirtKavYqfX24F9KhFXWB2e4ZrWZY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG-_vZgoOZZsGbn0f9RjjYQh_2dsQXDM2HtJoYuPmBZ1MJWuS_MjuYeij_sRYYwrAO-fitj9V0LcOMSmE5kxVS71oUVlbluL6PG0cS9GVhYT91hMirtKavYqfX24F9KhFXWB2e4ZrWZY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0411.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsPlmWNDlKpI8BLgA7H3NDo6q7t-YI4jPJPYvmDSpVYBh5wqnCUl1w2C_g-Uqv5C7K-jjCVYtyVRXwELJ-yyUt2zevViNvL8Mjdqq01TWUTYOjKRiFYSl4MOS793khZParJsg1Jicq-g/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsPlmWNDlKpI8BLgA7H3NDo6q7t-YI4jPJPYvmDSpVYBh5wqnCUl1w2C_g-Uqv5C7K-jjCVYtyVRXwELJ-yyUt2zevViNvL8Mjdqq01TWUTYOjKRiFYSl4MOS793khZParJsg1Jicq-g/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0400.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2ZIDIoA4GZNBSJ51CbzZOVXHmYWtBvuQ3C0fo88gxcdflJdNYydXygIxKEiVd6rwqBDSrN869g3pxuJSBhZmd9Zx5kzZiHWouSB6U0ZlEyTjJWHVR09wH8u6LtBTMNfZVkv8TNwc81k/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2ZIDIoA4GZNBSJ51CbzZOVXHmYWtBvuQ3C0fo88gxcdflJdNYydXygIxKEiVd6rwqBDSrN869g3pxuJSBhZmd9Zx5kzZiHWouSB6U0ZlEyTjJWHVR09wH8u6LtBTMNfZVkv8TNwc81k/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0395.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8LEz1o198GMyRqDUwxrI_4fk8EzlGYatQOUO-QdphxhZlDrkhyphenhyphenTzm4FclkDwHNFAIeAoibSYpyoAFl3X-xXy0QH6jvGfUttrCZrT7CHD5Xgfl-f_rZk1YoLNtxTImRSqL5mhSErLnNI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8LEz1o198GMyRqDUwxrI_4fk8EzlGYatQOUO-QdphxhZlDrkhyphenhyphenTzm4FclkDwHNFAIeAoibSYpyoAFl3X-xXy0QH6jvGfUttrCZrT7CHD5Xgfl-f_rZk1YoLNtxTImRSqL5mhSErLnNI/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0340.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfQI_-VwTNdADKMfKMCZnAtDqssEEMdyYb0bG-Swzs7cYQiyQ60GA3TR61rCkDN2Bhwrn_yoIQRGt2VlWGBY8m9CMKFVomCtfk8QH0Gwcu-qOW03Fyh3VUm-Zj7t2TTc3HfyXQp1vJJs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfQI_-VwTNdADKMfKMCZnAtDqssEEMdyYb0bG-Swzs7cYQiyQ60GA3TR61rCkDN2Bhwrn_yoIQRGt2VlWGBY8m9CMKFVomCtfk8QH0Gwcu-qOW03Fyh3VUm-Zj7t2TTc3HfyXQp1vJJs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0336.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BdrVQuYzrrkF-_qgSeloyWDgQN53r3BcRk9YPHGqiJSs73j0UOWVMeYgXo2tRM6fI9EYluZ2XtAzjwKkGzwZkTgJ6QTeEtmlQH6O6v0WEZ0Ivk02bfFfszYDWUu0FQSXDAVllvxtdfo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BdrVQuYzrrkF-_qgSeloyWDgQN53r3BcRk9YPHGqiJSs73j0UOWVMeYgXo2tRM6fI9EYluZ2XtAzjwKkGzwZkTgJ6QTeEtmlQH6O6v0WEZ0Ivk02bfFfszYDWUu0FQSXDAVllvxtdfo/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0335.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhj_ZPCyrtMJR0kArKPtHLd1ppDF26W6Qa0_qoI1MXaAir4MUDBUEjU7fUVSwgcGuBu6CnKtMLLDvOMniKxcZRcLiu0t7xNKFchlic324b9nkp__eEPKHfsNvL-IK8oq9RFVdJTEUCll8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhj_ZPCyrtMJR0kArKPtHLd1ppDF26W6Qa0_qoI1MXaAir4MUDBUEjU7fUVSwgcGuBu6CnKtMLLDvOMniKxcZRcLiu0t7xNKFchlic324b9nkp__eEPKHfsNvL-IK8oq9RFVdJTEUCll8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0326.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXR9TYofSiUXE67oMs0Y0NLvisNi6rADKLPMvg-p6Tv_tZTDtUIP_rueVa9OReGD0cDXkGewnGqYfalSlZWfbdhnsFB9zi_lptxL_Ca1V_JxJsx0B11BR4NgsK2szo5_JdrrSXKZHuvM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXR9TYofSiUXE67oMs0Y0NLvisNi6rADKLPMvg-p6Tv_tZTDtUIP_rueVa9OReGD0cDXkGewnGqYfalSlZWfbdhnsFB9zi_lptxL_Ca1V_JxJsx0B11BR4NgsK2szo5_JdrrSXKZHuvM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0321.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d4rt_thl157iu4HELh5mrVP7P-Ply6dlTmY4oJQena9Pqq-yeSGgV7151MFwbScguvP4TpXWSoGXuVfT1qe_uwLIDhphM1w2onCT8Rt8xggfTVaMk3MVebV-tMN8As73TWbvngEv5iU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d4rt_thl157iu4HELh5mrVP7P-Ply6dlTmY4oJQena9Pqq-yeSGgV7151MFwbScguvP4TpXWSoGXuVfT1qe_uwLIDhphM1w2onCT8Rt8xggfTVaMk3MVebV-tMN8As73TWbvngEv5iU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0310.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Three is a big year of changes. You officially move away from toddler hood and become a little boy. And Sloan, I won't lie-- that change is breaking my heart a little bit. It's not because you aren't the most fun little boy, but it's because you're my last. Every chapter you close, I close too. And I have always loved having a two year old in my home, yet here we are, at the end of that story and embarking on three. And I'm just letting you know this now: this is going to be what it's like for you for every big milestone we leave behind. You'll be my last "first day of Kindergarten," my last "first baby tooth lost", my last "potty training" [okay. That one is fine. Come onnnnn, you can DO THIS!], my last "dropping a kid off to college" ... whatever it may be, you're the end of the road and you're going to get a lot of emotion from your mother because of that so I'm just apologizing now. Your dad said to me the other day, "How are you feeling about being done with two year olds?" and I, in all seriousness, said, "I don't want to talk about it." Your dimpled hands are mostly gone. We've ditched pacifiers for good [we told you we left them all in Colorado after our trip last spring]. You don't need help going down stairs. You sit in a regular chair and sleep in a regular bed. But you know what? Growing up is really great. Learning to do new things is hard but can be so much fun. So as we close the toddler chapter together, you and I can grow up together, a little more every day, deeper into who God is calling each of us to be-- okay? </div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_naIa27oFIkMJ1Iu5FmM0QVUrJfrrZI3bSnTtfImZxsyBxvJIdQyAnoHdzMfS7AYwQertrFPPm5-f0_eG85rMu6hHBv_Ks2EEnYjqntIldFNcsJcktGYyI2jlzkzzLcVluWTLt2OktI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_naIa27oFIkMJ1Iu5FmM0QVUrJfrrZI3bSnTtfImZxsyBxvJIdQyAnoHdzMfS7AYwQertrFPPm5-f0_eG85rMu6hHBv_Ks2EEnYjqntIldFNcsJcktGYyI2jlzkzzLcVluWTLt2OktI/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0309.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX853ISuCxqsy1Zkgmr6g4RP-kTDlm3bUVSjCJC_AcCrYid9MnpisB79ADbML1_GxEqUbAO_6X84XrtInKsbFob1NGwpQhSyMyfbqdvD_33hFRJtSDe8-n9Q05S2LrBJmwdtCBz881_yI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX853ISuCxqsy1Zkgmr6g4RP-kTDlm3bUVSjCJC_AcCrYid9MnpisB79ADbML1_GxEqUbAO_6X84XrtInKsbFob1NGwpQhSyMyfbqdvD_33hFRJtSDe8-n9Q05S2LrBJmwdtCBz881_yI/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0308.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv45PlNT0SVTP6bxYs1bkPtrqhujI1eXYoNHTGingNyNiM5kO_iGjJVFIASI_bOEFh2KPitwuoqaj8-vS5UP46IrYFwmXFGTXI9YXWwofH89om02vU58Lpm2vJBK3Ij23HmoR7Lr5o-k/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv45PlNT0SVTP6bxYs1bkPtrqhujI1eXYoNHTGingNyNiM5kO_iGjJVFIASI_bOEFh2KPitwuoqaj8-vS5UP46IrYFwmXFGTXI9YXWwofH89om02vU58Lpm2vJBK3Ij23HmoR7Lr5o-k/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0300.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunCsO5AR6iMjCjLzv7aqtn0wCmI6D77BPfbj9uznEZpJDVYnCeDMc6nX3EMTNkodIo4tfm1qCXe98gmecwxe_ZUrhrXB4DADn5I1PwWZuGTWqROVDGX_9CKfQIRVHdZ65lEA76s2zRLg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunCsO5AR6iMjCjLzv7aqtn0wCmI6D77BPfbj9uznEZpJDVYnCeDMc6nX3EMTNkodIo4tfm1qCXe98gmecwxe_ZUrhrXB4DADn5I1PwWZuGTWqROVDGX_9CKfQIRVHdZ65lEA76s2zRLg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0298.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5o7JkdBKsM0TE6wYUL21Yt6xcq_90rRMK6Tu359QC9zScdLprDXUm6vQTk1gNoQuGA8M3UTatuQtEoQVo_7BKfftg-M9-T7ktV7CV45oB2bQ1bqU4c9RUvvgCq34NktsqtqsyJOFGaY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5o7JkdBKsM0TE6wYUL21Yt6xcq_90rRMK6Tu359QC9zScdLprDXUm6vQTk1gNoQuGA8M3UTatuQtEoQVo_7BKfftg-M9-T7ktV7CV45oB2bQ1bqU4c9RUvvgCq34NktsqtqsyJOFGaY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0292.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnr4G3RYVx4fCvmhycXkIIe8oUkIlP0ro40a9gqe7bqbTXP6jTOJgpfl4a39WsQtSMz2al9DskG6g7tuKmGfoAST15Podndloxsjrh85BIokPYMM1dMawM32EhVJUzdTlFFrQlzFoYLU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnr4G3RYVx4fCvmhycXkIIe8oUkIlP0ro40a9gqe7bqbTXP6jTOJgpfl4a39WsQtSMz2al9DskG6g7tuKmGfoAST15Podndloxsjrh85BIokPYMM1dMawM32EhVJUzdTlFFrQlzFoYLU/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0289.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAwK_HjeVvr-PAbHteXtTUED-AQSV34LjcwB6qYjw1IhOipYgdeoJHvrwOTmDb13dAQAmUVEsJR32SnxY94GqUhoUZYP8xZlf1Wzvn9szd-qIovxBWwbH7Uae0qg2c78uxq8-RmqkZmc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAwK_HjeVvr-PAbHteXtTUED-AQSV34LjcwB6qYjw1IhOipYgdeoJHvrwOTmDb13dAQAmUVEsJR32SnxY94GqUhoUZYP8xZlf1Wzvn9szd-qIovxBWwbH7Uae0qg2c78uxq8-RmqkZmc/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0287.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This year you and I will have a lot more one on one time together-- I haven't had this much with a child since Blythe was two! I'm really looking forward to all the adventures we will have together. You are absolutely our little joy machine. When I put you to bed there are several different songs I sing you from Amazing Grace to Blessed Assurance. But one that has kind of become our song is from Tarzan. I will sing "stop your crying, it will be alright, just take my hand and hold it tight... " and by the end, I snuggle in close, and say, "from this day on, now and forever... always" and you whisper back, "Always." Always, Sloan. <i> Always. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And like I end every birthday note: Your dad and I hope you always understand the <i>why </i>behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy third birthday, Sloan Lee! There is nothing you could ever do to make us stop loving you. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrEOOes_jFNHJwfZDjE0_J6gXHD5vEmstBNTnmECpu4LEp7SAVqDgTzrRtLa4EWlQL0eE0zgB3Il5tJVeuwBNyiC_ufJ69szHtiVfmFNKOgnRcvR1caIaKUQTp5dJD5sWrizo6BNXoiU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrEOOes_jFNHJwfZDjE0_J6gXHD5vEmstBNTnmECpu4LEp7SAVqDgTzrRtLa4EWlQL0eE0zgB3Il5tJVeuwBNyiC_ufJ69szHtiVfmFNKOgnRcvR1caIaKUQTp5dJD5sWrizo6BNXoiU/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0423.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-4T_13aSaX6JhOHV5L6loxeJGLcBPPQuX_t5pLtkhe8lFxRX7rOL0TxJfvsXqFuxb2g2wbm65Xruib78qHrAzYTsucO6tMMd-i2VttQp_dcD2lG0qjOtg-Jw-MmJZg5lRQ4zn_PiuBs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-4T_13aSaX6JhOHV5L6loxeJGLcBPPQuX_t5pLtkhe8lFxRX7rOL0TxJfvsXqFuxb2g2wbm65Xruib78qHrAzYTsucO6tMMd-i2VttQp_dcD2lG0qjOtg-Jw-MmJZg5lRQ4zn_PiuBs/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0250.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k49BGZU14ExKGX-4Mayh5PuSNthHumF9a_wK0Z6x6VXgz1SPVvrJ0A-CJJWjONOxf11md_tLgLZzUZncHAjRZSaRibaTn1r_fVV-BvnxwnuvCiFwTrzQxnNy31EvS-vPgKHL88gfYNI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k49BGZU14ExKGX-4Mayh5PuSNthHumF9a_wK0Z6x6VXgz1SPVvrJ0A-CJJWjONOxf11md_tLgLZzUZncHAjRZSaRibaTn1r_fVV-BvnxwnuvCiFwTrzQxnNy31EvS-vPgKHL88gfYNI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0248.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRQ4TFzdVjL0n1dA-pKunu6Wsl7btdCLZ5LOoP40NkUku5QA7c4kWNzyYZM7kkbYrJtdcyNsyZYjkj5_Rwt2l7G0ot9JGd9PIKi0PBMOYKsKa0tut2P9vhAPkfdOTHea31wDwBQy6TQI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRQ4TFzdVjL0n1dA-pKunu6Wsl7btdCLZ5LOoP40NkUku5QA7c4kWNzyYZM7kkbYrJtdcyNsyZYjkj5_Rwt2l7G0ot9JGd9PIKi0PBMOYKsKa0tut2P9vhAPkfdOTHea31wDwBQy6TQI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0247.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBN9xZyr6v4JqWVQKCkHZ5HgG3Ok5P6wHp3EsMVcF-PBT7m1NKTd3HySIB6uA5VwsNCmSCwGcEvh972rcq3kXEEdaTXAMWXE9QUW_uiKIpmwwxkfXgrX-ezyXCF7VYy15qEO_UwpA-sYc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBN9xZyr6v4JqWVQKCkHZ5HgG3Ok5P6wHp3EsMVcF-PBT7m1NKTd3HySIB6uA5VwsNCmSCwGcEvh972rcq3kXEEdaTXAMWXE9QUW_uiKIpmwwxkfXgrX-ezyXCF7VYy15qEO_UwpA-sYc/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0244.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiJkzXgaRhucHtB_JYGIgz_aKIcz3G2JSfBMGkdlN2oHq1hwubD__8rJ8_Gu9bEG4DrPcG8iLeAd75Ceo1P7rlqj2vkFZSjXVZc5dg2UeLG6nhexeqyt68OObAy43JSk7Sf8zFtpNz2M/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiJkzXgaRhucHtB_JYGIgz_aKIcz3G2JSfBMGkdlN2oHq1hwubD__8rJ8_Gu9bEG4DrPcG8iLeAd75Ceo1P7rlqj2vkFZSjXVZc5dg2UeLG6nhexeqyt68OObAy43JSk7Sf8zFtpNz2M/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0232.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdG86JJQOFcVZzx9ZmiIX2oVB93nXk04wGzamImBilqWeFjuA9sIb76AUn8CTb5c6aeJdDVidGyAqtl4LAt75LCl3PEvM9eNRGyHtbc_ssKoXYYuHg56sPbBFTN5We4Fwxauw4NtzFOo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdG86JJQOFcVZzx9ZmiIX2oVB93nXk04wGzamImBilqWeFjuA9sIb76AUn8CTb5c6aeJdDVidGyAqtl4LAt75LCl3PEvM9eNRGyHtbc_ssKoXYYuHg56sPbBFTN5We4Fwxauw4NtzFOo/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0221.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-70566795863931867642021-06-21T17:41:00.002-04:002021-06-21T17:41:12.811-04:00BECKS is SEVEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxbtRWFRuHVobfRB7KIXLNHsfaIr9PNe1hpUzHD5Z0iwKexFwT3UQ39N83ollx1uo9G48BEjaSkt1WF6DEJtxmkxyEIXOuXCeyHfL-zsq8eqYjdw39tbgpS3fcIdFouycqVVHeQmWydM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxbtRWFRuHVobfRB7KIXLNHsfaIr9PNe1hpUzHD5Z0iwKexFwT3UQ39N83ollx1uo9G48BEjaSkt1WF6DEJtxmkxyEIXOuXCeyHfL-zsq8eqYjdw39tbgpS3fcIdFouycqVVHeQmWydM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0319.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB_t3wRraHi2vGUmLoaVugCPqp1-VoL9fg__TJAvI0PBlVkpIRAO8-eW9Xb0Ue9K9afDeg6FeniBvhyr_K4ATjKlN35S7gweQDYr_N8hMh_WmAAhhCtPOkeH0UAevKReTjFrw6oVAuq0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB_t3wRraHi2vGUmLoaVugCPqp1-VoL9fg__TJAvI0PBlVkpIRAO8-eW9Xb0Ue9K9afDeg6FeniBvhyr_K4ATjKlN35S7gweQDYr_N8hMh_WmAAhhCtPOkeH0UAevKReTjFrw6oVAuq0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0250.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz6-7-ugdV_XjblICqTMDSUQl3Kn3WLBvObq4c4r1UiGezVbehL8JrJuLAlPECEOQz7bjdqFaVP78B7M4M_F2S3FJNFV40DH4fuQtdmvwqjk40vhPNxC8jKMs2Pi1HCyDYkJY8iOXQmU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0289.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz6-7-ugdV_XjblICqTMDSUQl3Kn3WLBvObq4c4r1UiGezVbehL8JrJuLAlPECEOQz7bjdqFaVP78B7M4M_F2S3FJNFV40DH4fuQtdmvwqjk40vhPNxC8jKMs2Pi1HCyDYkJY8iOXQmU/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0289.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyWpiB2eMpbc4kqyt8Hwqv3npgzKkpF3cGSzqrZXsYLG3m4smD06oGzX-BrrynUA7uIgZLER67jqJwPhk_OmJe1YuqOL65PhcPmYIHjtMzIe2ACIJDpU7bMVvspCWCWFl6YoOcaoS6sg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0269.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyWpiB2eMpbc4kqyt8Hwqv3npgzKkpF3cGSzqrZXsYLG3m4smD06oGzX-BrrynUA7uIgZLER67jqJwPhk_OmJe1YuqOL65PhcPmYIHjtMzIe2ACIJDpU7bMVvspCWCWFl6YoOcaoS6sg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0269.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p-mOrTEr2sqptSJiXqJciGM8yg-rdC0AQ0rr0GHw-FBC2yLUPvpOHSpf0SrHrGF8H1K2euwWgCQjcauW1HeFllrGaIowNuYRgCtUkp3T7bkMBNdYOzN5xq_yeW4g5NlbG1_GQ1NULtM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p-mOrTEr2sqptSJiXqJciGM8yg-rdC0AQ0rr0GHw-FBC2yLUPvpOHSpf0SrHrGF8H1K2euwWgCQjcauW1HeFllrGaIowNuYRgCtUkp3T7bkMBNdYOzN5xq_yeW4g5NlbG1_GQ1NULtM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0329.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhWbLpsnkBoSfvdyuGRzAZ25FjONjbPpMehJDPVbt5RLcXbL8pmNB24lVYYaydOWkOIz41UQJLbgPGDzo4FTwE7eLrtootHZY9Co_FmwcRxmork90A66RsE656awA7ga4i7OcAB8JVcw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0442.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhWbLpsnkBoSfvdyuGRzAZ25FjONjbPpMehJDPVbt5RLcXbL8pmNB24lVYYaydOWkOIz41UQJLbgPGDzo4FTwE7eLrtootHZY9Co_FmwcRxmork90A66RsE656awA7ga4i7OcAB8JVcw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0442.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNrcO50JVuIzZvO2c8KumRfgyIIFhLYgkrWMnfVQzZWeoc71y6gvtji3IDZi3R4ohXq6Y8Hh1srXW69EDiNC7e0QQ8h5QXKKecSNz2Q-EnTzp2-Mf2cYHfQUBKf9wX5X4RjcH8oMLXrA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNrcO50JVuIzZvO2c8KumRfgyIIFhLYgkrWMnfVQzZWeoc71y6gvtji3IDZi3R4ohXq6Y8Hh1srXW69EDiNC7e0QQ8h5QXKKecSNz2Q-EnTzp2-Mf2cYHfQUBKf9wX5X4RjcH8oMLXrA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0429.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUpWVslttjJlUA49kwZpwlgk4hjTiT6y7FfNpB_eYNErK1UBZTLm5Tp4x2QhId1zP7jLMEHA8OkIzfuokbLGqt5blsFQ4HaqdPx8g0l6PJ1-o6XDc_ghVcFF4nhTh0frdt5MgBq84fh8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0553.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUpWVslttjJlUA49kwZpwlgk4hjTiT6y7FfNpB_eYNErK1UBZTLm5Tp4x2QhId1zP7jLMEHA8OkIzfuokbLGqt5blsFQ4HaqdPx8g0l6PJ1-o6XDc_ghVcFF4nhTh0frdt5MgBq84fh8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0553.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPHEOiAsTNFQezEPTNq-3Nms-G8tbVzFuBB_EOSipmfoBXvM0jT1NPj4jzRKczm8dNIQp5Y5CYxUykaSV0QiL3djBqBwh7y6s3pspCtKTBfOJlTMPd0Tw9kMYuarLQg5Jbohvd0s0m4o/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPHEOiAsTNFQezEPTNq-3Nms-G8tbVzFuBB_EOSipmfoBXvM0jT1NPj4jzRKczm8dNIQp5Y5CYxUykaSV0QiL3djBqBwh7y6s3pspCtKTBfOJlTMPd0Tw9kMYuarLQg5Jbohvd0s0m4o/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0549.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: right;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>Becks Lynae, </p><p>I got behind at writing you this letter this year. You have been seven for a month now. I keep telling myself I haven't written it because we've been busy with vacation and ball, but I think the reality is more that when I think about writing this I don't know how I will ever capture the spirit of who you are right now. To write ABOUT you, TO you, is a tall task when one is as unique as you are, but I will do my best to put in words all you are right now. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwCax4HfXMZsYGg6nBtqrGS-K9TvSM00C8_-1cFALnp1COYdAQRSV9dmUW_b86-GFAZqsAeMttTDlD6Q8FVf4Vo-Y5ARpIL1PhW3duWGlGvkp8XozSceYZqoAHkf6AkfH5uVsnW8VEVI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwCax4HfXMZsYGg6nBtqrGS-K9TvSM00C8_-1cFALnp1COYdAQRSV9dmUW_b86-GFAZqsAeMttTDlD6Q8FVf4Vo-Y5ARpIL1PhW3duWGlGvkp8XozSceYZqoAHkf6AkfH5uVsnW8VEVI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0558.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIn_2I-P_b9RVaExvakPQbxMKZVzq3aALDRXrAKzfiHzXA00bGm8PH3XwpmsNbZDaPXXqXZAEmKKlNB2Xpb3b4xKKJISh3Ls0zjql-_s_Oc8JxmwT1mnSVsqygJ2dlfijk1dhZ1pH4WLw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIn_2I-P_b9RVaExvakPQbxMKZVzq3aALDRXrAKzfiHzXA00bGm8PH3XwpmsNbZDaPXXqXZAEmKKlNB2Xpb3b4xKKJISh3Ls0zjql-_s_Oc8JxmwT1mnSVsqygJ2dlfijk1dhZ1pH4WLw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0556.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINcb7bVJWHWQTuAb6tKL604KutDIBltSx1x-9Ki8xvj1z9WnZ1kqkT9vlRY0amC3yAkdMhkKycKDD2VCB3Bvj4WqZ22Bm0yNLtsQ1JA8l-i27qB966A9MdZ5aHgdMllVoX1PKIUz_YOo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0555.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINcb7bVJWHWQTuAb6tKL604KutDIBltSx1x-9Ki8xvj1z9WnZ1kqkT9vlRY0amC3yAkdMhkKycKDD2VCB3Bvj4WqZ22Bm0yNLtsQ1JA8l-i27qB966A9MdZ5aHgdMllVoX1PKIUz_YOo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0555.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq10_obMJ_KdzNfuxd55XzgKZSL4GiEXMhaB7imAwKB_Gt0lGXXYLyzYOsUJ7vyi3NNNi0y8b7ZvQTvFU-eV3sEsd6xRGhEf4I_8S8LfCPuovMKHHpINZXJjKHKFoyuvbfr-f4a9JHdwE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0552.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq10_obMJ_KdzNfuxd55XzgKZSL4GiEXMhaB7imAwKB_Gt0lGXXYLyzYOsUJ7vyi3NNNi0y8b7ZvQTvFU-eV3sEsd6xRGhEf4I_8S8LfCPuovMKHHpINZXJjKHKFoyuvbfr-f4a9JHdwE/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0552.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uQEnY4bPKNyxOyOCQ0ofrr1B7xLo7GcrRZTLgnFKMXSerJORawLt87y9l0WJsrN_gal8HB5xb-ne2jcoIpSR3qoOVjIBkpCJK8AjgP0VhSJu0XYgthuHBy85a5MSsRXn4ySTfzPata8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uQEnY4bPKNyxOyOCQ0ofrr1B7xLo7GcrRZTLgnFKMXSerJORawLt87y9l0WJsrN_gal8HB5xb-ne2jcoIpSR3qoOVjIBkpCJK8AjgP0VhSJu0XYgthuHBy85a5MSsRXn4ySTfzPata8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0546.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62sL326_5q-DeJx1dbkd09EhxteCjTSMQDnWikkXYsMWoCyPte-o96dO76YhHh0Ecwawq-QmbF9ZtireOWeE9Tt1gA9nnnggi8OLofG-IIwEMMo61f-8-egGE8PatnY7RGpCrtvs9Bgg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62sL326_5q-DeJx1dbkd09EhxteCjTSMQDnWikkXYsMWoCyPte-o96dO76YhHh0Ecwawq-QmbF9ZtireOWeE9Tt1gA9nnnggi8OLofG-IIwEMMo61f-8-egGE8PatnY7RGpCrtvs9Bgg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0544.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lZbpABQijuj9Sgz13ie6K_YO9HlP3JjXxCQ-AyBVhWFPoR2ILVlqbPPRx1Y-XWMfwnij_sXqXP2tLXsISJ71dygFSw82m-ekiMHR-okxTxe2lbZguLn3SpdROQqS6gQ1vjGZt_3bOL4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lZbpABQijuj9Sgz13ie6K_YO9HlP3JjXxCQ-AyBVhWFPoR2ILVlqbPPRx1Y-XWMfwnij_sXqXP2tLXsISJ71dygFSw82m-ekiMHR-okxTxe2lbZguLn3SpdROQqS6gQ1vjGZt_3bOL4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0541.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6m7p84un78S42XrKwZT-wtN7VNvnivVXCLiGKySXxhbEOsY_rtJ4xcaHpbNfWiIvYIgu61jZ8dJpCrmR6x-nlgTNHUOAxF8ba_Cw_L1jcxWmIccC1tAYfqfKT9LZcvoyuEpT6cIjqYs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6m7p84un78S42XrKwZT-wtN7VNvnivVXCLiGKySXxhbEOsY_rtJ4xcaHpbNfWiIvYIgu61jZ8dJpCrmR6x-nlgTNHUOAxF8ba_Cw_L1jcxWmIccC1tAYfqfKT9LZcvoyuEpT6cIjqYs/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0540.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">When I think of who you were just two years ago, to who you are right now as a bursting seven year old, I am amazed at how much you've grown and how you've pushed yourself to try new things. When you began school you were hesitant and reticent. You always like to learn, but your fear of trying new things or failing at something in front of others held you back considerably. However, this year I saw you slowly but surely push back against those things. You had some phenomenal and boisterous friends that encouraged you and [literally] held your hand along the way. In the year between your 6th birthday and now, I have watched you begin to peel back some of your shell to try new things and find your own voice in a public setting. Your reading took off and your friendships deepened. You no longer needed Blythe to do everything with you. I'm excited to see this new confidence continue to grow. </p><p style="text-align: left;">You still come alive in a pile of mud. Many times I'll be walking around outside our house and I will see two little foot prints in a section of mud and I don't have to ask because I know they are yours. We were able to go on our special hike again in Colorado this year, and I will always remember how you just COME ALIVE when we take to the trail. You seem to like to physically exert and challenge yourself, and you're determined in the next year or two to hike Twin Sisters mountain with your dad. Knowing your determination and inability to give up when you've set your mind to something, I have no doubt that you WILL summit it. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZFqL_kxqHyJHQUrT8mJlZHvqjGlVqwsSrUk58DIOxH9vujlIOBx4dSgYRwHXXkIG-SRzUo4h0XT0qkScYBVB48B8HwoDbD2GvgbXqr3eLRDyevbLv7d86AUBs8YnMMf1ib7kZf7PklA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZFqL_kxqHyJHQUrT8mJlZHvqjGlVqwsSrUk58DIOxH9vujlIOBx4dSgYRwHXXkIG-SRzUo4h0XT0qkScYBVB48B8HwoDbD2GvgbXqr3eLRDyevbLv7d86AUBs8YnMMf1ib7kZf7PklA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0536.jpg" width="426" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iznhmcVZOb-WI113TVHVGkZaO939VpuSZ0rAMw6ZIAgE5tJ9RL_St39kqZDnMfb_j4d5QT9tLVYsgZUXk8tzBhkI7TPiwAvfgCks1aCHn4qGdnD1Z0wlvVkvXbXZ3CaHavuU-BDJlNQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0528.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iznhmcVZOb-WI113TVHVGkZaO939VpuSZ0rAMw6ZIAgE5tJ9RL_St39kqZDnMfb_j4d5QT9tLVYsgZUXk8tzBhkI7TPiwAvfgCks1aCHn4qGdnD1Z0wlvVkvXbXZ3CaHavuU-BDJlNQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0528.jpg" width="426" /></a></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU0qL6rP7HGx9HkZtJail910liXefrNgic_IKpP5-3DS11Wns7223RLxdrBogQ1SjCluBogsgPEjdtF71qn7bY1QWXzRz7PdCvOrK1thS0X3QLVORBGPf1vBPKVmhgZF09K0yF42pWM0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU0qL6rP7HGx9HkZtJail910liXefrNgic_IKpP5-3DS11Wns7223RLxdrBogQ1SjCluBogsgPEjdtF71qn7bY1QWXzRz7PdCvOrK1thS0X3QLVORBGPf1vBPKVmhgZF09K0yF42pWM0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0520.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLK_fe0aAMBU1T8TLiDyV8xERtsR52j_97oDgL_lZTcm_RLluVv6K5qUqrq9pSkqwHaQxbH2L18Ckx-QM_4-FEGxKsevMRHUhznsZtohQVEdQf8a8js5fvyj0GP2o8PQ9LqnJBlVc4c0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLK_fe0aAMBU1T8TLiDyV8xERtsR52j_97oDgL_lZTcm_RLluVv6K5qUqrq9pSkqwHaQxbH2L18Ckx-QM_4-FEGxKsevMRHUhznsZtohQVEdQf8a8js5fvyj0GP2o8PQ9LqnJBlVc4c0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0513.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjHPXZyqdbH6tE3U5dJLvYvWx0AQ6YvJLzq4FooHBXddtX2POGbZnWjAV_pDYNNA4LLjWkKncPdEK1tccOUQZOVz2tHzwXAvaMkUgkIHkd6FelsOAwtxssCb4QG6HfFJjc_LIDHZkyXI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjHPXZyqdbH6tE3U5dJLvYvWx0AQ6YvJLzq4FooHBXddtX2POGbZnWjAV_pDYNNA4LLjWkKncPdEK1tccOUQZOVz2tHzwXAvaMkUgkIHkd6FelsOAwtxssCb4QG6HfFJjc_LIDHZkyXI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0504.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoEG51Qwe_Hu1dJsusQJqtAg5Bbz8Y4BBOnOLft2CM8YvftnoFsTH5BPaLsoRUtWTJFuQ70feOWo-0m_P31v8kUwHNSlyx6s28QiikSVjMy3JhyphenhyphenBLSWc7v-wyAc_RFhWaswhwNG1tiP4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0499.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoEG51Qwe_Hu1dJsusQJqtAg5Bbz8Y4BBOnOLft2CM8YvftnoFsTH5BPaLsoRUtWTJFuQ70feOWo-0m_P31v8kUwHNSlyx6s28QiikSVjMy3JhyphenhyphenBLSWc7v-wyAc_RFhWaswhwNG1tiP4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0499.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EM5Ha1NtB07x1Ldl-8SK2oLTzXaq1eJXXCyEXNMTY29Yky9zkDtafU135kJZvx1bKpcDBK6eVE5uscwCEeEcRbZW4pfhybNaHZpkKmsl2jP2hl3RwEQHe_Bj_hXUYpkO8KWC1jjVzjA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0493.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EM5Ha1NtB07x1Ldl-8SK2oLTzXaq1eJXXCyEXNMTY29Yky9zkDtafU135kJZvx1bKpcDBK6eVE5uscwCEeEcRbZW4pfhybNaHZpkKmsl2jP2hl3RwEQHe_Bj_hXUYpkO8KWC1jjVzjA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0493.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6cfW8h22eu-JcyL4vgaRwh6t88QIG-Mg_Ys8WWV6hSw1y_wQMoVShuaGmYIW8dUa6yi4JirvzhJq714WtY41klyx_uGDLbyb_yj6G2vfFFGro0Rkj4vwItb5L0u5zWhNSVhdBsjnW6s/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0491.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6cfW8h22eu-JcyL4vgaRwh6t88QIG-Mg_Ys8WWV6hSw1y_wQMoVShuaGmYIW8dUa6yi4JirvzhJq714WtY41klyx_uGDLbyb_yj6G2vfFFGro0Rkj4vwItb5L0u5zWhNSVhdBsjnW6s/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0491.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rhyugMx3LUcAkGS6RJY0uopZaj-WZezvcug4tdIfdskZS4d_nTR0y0udPJTUGCMfsfUy5CL1hW-lGqS6chxGZX74LNT-cBCsvfdSa2HY8nyMZuoItjclzU97pqrTXGWEzpxbyR6J4f4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0484.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rhyugMx3LUcAkGS6RJY0uopZaj-WZezvcug4tdIfdskZS4d_nTR0y0udPJTUGCMfsfUy5CL1hW-lGqS6chxGZX74LNT-cBCsvfdSa2HY8nyMZuoItjclzU97pqrTXGWEzpxbyR6J4f4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0484.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTePc8C92CWpA4u-FGX68NZEnYjRrP1euukhH67ZwahPuomzD91lchtcwYblWABSmebbASOOvHVEREZCFg9dOFdgPDnvdLFOJpXMCGbZ0gCzv-oVBxWZXAV2BF8MmNZRlxH0-Axaxrtg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0483.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTePc8C92CWpA4u-FGX68NZEnYjRrP1euukhH67ZwahPuomzD91lchtcwYblWABSmebbASOOvHVEREZCFg9dOFdgPDnvdLFOJpXMCGbZ0gCzv-oVBxWZXAV2BF8MmNZRlxH0-Axaxrtg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0483.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABdUzbMQAukF0lCgkVhkD1_efSsxsBB3OrV3gdeImc1p_4dF3mhF2s5pkYG3jO7CpC1WfNT7iXmEET7wGN4y_5-EevAi22JuYFCmPXhhOP0BF5eSlFOUTnkh2MJ4Xh0ayvPfNnqFcWag/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0473.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABdUzbMQAukF0lCgkVhkD1_efSsxsBB3OrV3gdeImc1p_4dF3mhF2s5pkYG3jO7CpC1WfNT7iXmEET7wGN4y_5-EevAi22JuYFCmPXhhOP0BF5eSlFOUTnkh2MJ4Xh0ayvPfNnqFcWag/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0473.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-htAu7Z1Dy6lXPX4kky6N0EkU3OL9DstNNMoHHdaX-IzqSWD_i3wxIscRUkI050Lm4Tx-RVTVQWwfC05uAB4zclgIjAfQ_oisuLJW-OQe3WXPir1nDDpZwqh64BBv2FU6h582J_DOgP0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0465.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-htAu7Z1Dy6lXPX4kky6N0EkU3OL9DstNNMoHHdaX-IzqSWD_i3wxIscRUkI050Lm4Tx-RVTVQWwfC05uAB4zclgIjAfQ_oisuLJW-OQe3WXPir1nDDpZwqh64BBv2FU6h582J_DOgP0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0465.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Speaking of your inability to give up ;), while you may be reticent in public settings you are anything but at home. You still like to push your sister's buttons, knowing just what words or actions will cut the deepest. Your dad always jokes that if we walk in a room and someone is crying and you are smiling, we can be sure exactly what happened. And I'm sharing this with you not to say "oh look at how mean you were..." but to remind you of what I always do in these moments: knowing what drives other people's feelings in any given moment is a gift, and you must learn to use it for good. I see you making strides in this direction, so we will just keep reminding you in these moments ;) What a gift to be able to intuit the emotions of others. You're going to do incredible things with this. When you were two I was once sick and laying on the couch. You went and got your blankey, gave it to me, and then stood next to me and held my hand for 20 minutes. This is the same gift that gets you in trouble with your sisters because you know just how to manipulate their emotions, but I know that as you grow and we push you and the more you lean in to Jesus and His ways, that you will come back to that little two year old hand in mine, using your feeling heart in ways to serve and love others. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhun-akT9YemgHSdyX1c3En0hKEz_cx5T1pi3E8KgXS5qqW-1AQg9AT-FG0pkqYELEDmVGCejNiCWwCm8SyNFHOpkrIwWjHYRjefjR7wzqDy-0n1P0MjchyVmoq2ZyM2g-fSh_e2hG_Rc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0462.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhun-akT9YemgHSdyX1c3En0hKEz_cx5T1pi3E8KgXS5qqW-1AQg9AT-FG0pkqYELEDmVGCejNiCWwCm8SyNFHOpkrIwWjHYRjefjR7wzqDy-0n1P0MjchyVmoq2ZyM2g-fSh_e2hG_Rc/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0462.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CoXwuQZUKjaCGWsl2H09NCk58PAQnaLIGs1BoTuGzXaGym-yWErI5e5IYjBggRjeA4QC55Ywke0If7zAM3xNBMyBkXam7mkgtDTkIE6jQ9-y-eAySf9LG3BE4tf1VTRWv9tudtO6CK0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CoXwuQZUKjaCGWsl2H09NCk58PAQnaLIGs1BoTuGzXaGym-yWErI5e5IYjBggRjeA4QC55Ywke0If7zAM3xNBMyBkXam7mkgtDTkIE6jQ9-y-eAySf9LG3BE4tf1VTRWv9tudtO6CK0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0453.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwhfcIU4tzPbGZqVs5ObJObRmJBg5b50XqX5W64GMgFb-EWh_eh-IWRDpIZMKjELJ_PkJABynDiBO0enusoHghesyvx1nPAmma9YMiqY4elH54gfvYtjA4txlLf96B6uqMMwLDHqCZWw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwhfcIU4tzPbGZqVs5ObJObRmJBg5b50XqX5W64GMgFb-EWh_eh-IWRDpIZMKjELJ_PkJABynDiBO0enusoHghesyvx1nPAmma9YMiqY4elH54gfvYtjA4txlLf96B6uqMMwLDHqCZWw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0428.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzJnbpbsCH3-10dnvIDrgAvZZGQBWquBRQwOdbAKI5PWnEfYeSqk55ZJjtr1MYCWLcY7aNsAm16lv2SlVKMIkobOjE2yMm8k6Dfctjz9I0l5LJ-NrSTMcMhOOjNZ6eg8uexNf-bXg7Gk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzJnbpbsCH3-10dnvIDrgAvZZGQBWquBRQwOdbAKI5PWnEfYeSqk55ZJjtr1MYCWLcY7aNsAm16lv2SlVKMIkobOjE2yMm8k6Dfctjz9I0l5LJ-NrSTMcMhOOjNZ6eg8uexNf-bXg7Gk/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0419.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJb4WrRwpOgg6M5aOR-7CvhM0PFmNtqDR5-44dgN7aB5BvL7w10JsswYaTWN16TMWJ6tnc3W_bsEMblPhbgBLdObpJoYP1QCYtc2C7E3_EtCLomlil7lDeOxA5fFcfLITt6uuXzmOqGIY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJb4WrRwpOgg6M5aOR-7CvhM0PFmNtqDR5-44dgN7aB5BvL7w10JsswYaTWN16TMWJ6tnc3W_bsEMblPhbgBLdObpJoYP1QCYtc2C7E3_EtCLomlil7lDeOxA5fFcfLITt6uuXzmOqGIY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0413.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_51w4YKRwyKVZbT8irxB9LNTmj4bKmO3YzPn_iAGI06TCu9desUdaM4e_5W5N6cSsfAV0cTRPehkjlS9ur7uYTU0Ral1ENsyk2uvTgDpVIG4OygwBwXfVPUd2_90D8wPFuoGxmMjigik/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_51w4YKRwyKVZbT8irxB9LNTmj4bKmO3YzPn_iAGI06TCu9desUdaM4e_5W5N6cSsfAV0cTRPehkjlS9ur7uYTU0Ral1ENsyk2uvTgDpVIG4OygwBwXfVPUd2_90D8wPFuoGxmMjigik/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0407.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1CFr4j2m9AeFVrbIMGwX8T-YNNNkghltwI-AbEwfsmZpTrrf1NRfHbQc-EzG6xMPrsOlxREr_ydaatayL_NUkiHZsFLQyguRUk8QymHUluhxpX9d6PAX2Fw3WvU9ougaOgzoNJlE5ns/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1CFr4j2m9AeFVrbIMGwX8T-YNNNkghltwI-AbEwfsmZpTrrf1NRfHbQc-EzG6xMPrsOlxREr_ydaatayL_NUkiHZsFLQyguRUk8QymHUluhxpX9d6PAX2Fw3WvU9ougaOgzoNJlE5ns/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0400.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-4SHD5ZyWxkP9NLt1prnccrIr_spR72baCr01P4HA2GSY8U-VbjhY345hBwdDM41trlgcjhHIM-QDhmeuCoSx4qK2TCxGvLaHvvYqXBdsbLbo7DvrZn0O3-_LTQJ_3oA4g6Htj7l-8E/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0389.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-4SHD5ZyWxkP9NLt1prnccrIr_spR72baCr01P4HA2GSY8U-VbjhY345hBwdDM41trlgcjhHIM-QDhmeuCoSx4qK2TCxGvLaHvvYqXBdsbLbo7DvrZn0O3-_LTQJ_3oA4g6Htj7l-8E/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0389.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgFCPU6-deiwOwFiY0sDwleyZRupMHGtGD7vOKmNNm4oWMENjj-idRQRnNYsr4H8uBiqvyeelx_5KY4QkeqJ0cXT2RMKsAzCPilFNeJj-a4fM-slurmwXybRvrHxWFuDieXeIFtK8UNg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0371.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgFCPU6-deiwOwFiY0sDwleyZRupMHGtGD7vOKmNNm4oWMENjj-idRQRnNYsr4H8uBiqvyeelx_5KY4QkeqJ0cXT2RMKsAzCPilFNeJj-a4fM-slurmwXybRvrHxWFuDieXeIFtK8UNg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0371.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXgxVKkMDRv_la-t5rYrqUL2UG1AdKTYbqH_RxqH37LEOIlNT1b3PmDDWlaj6BdF5cUCAH7Qh6hyphenhyphenwucZSpaTmNPh_rfVKGkhyphenhyphen34dFQMmZJx7uO4X4R6aRDYKyi77ga28mBKJT8b2yDVs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0364.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXgxVKkMDRv_la-t5rYrqUL2UG1AdKTYbqH_RxqH37LEOIlNT1b3PmDDWlaj6BdF5cUCAH7Qh6hyphenhyphenwucZSpaTmNPh_rfVKGkhyphenhyphen34dFQMmZJx7uO4X4R6aRDYKyi77ga28mBKJT8b2yDVs/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0364.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLfomzEbeX9_y2WVSgGn0diaHff6r5-H8IqMfXoHwM6VOiqVVNiRCfe-tjTDlgBWPQr1GHWPNvnRlZyteJ2ucqkbktNOz-btpbjMkSNcVgd-I38MfCXuLFWfWxDxHIUDpLd0mdYORDq8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0361.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLfomzEbeX9_y2WVSgGn0diaHff6r5-H8IqMfXoHwM6VOiqVVNiRCfe-tjTDlgBWPQr1GHWPNvnRlZyteJ2ucqkbktNOz-btpbjMkSNcVgd-I38MfCXuLFWfWxDxHIUDpLd0mdYORDq8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0361.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p>You still love pretty things and notice beauty easily. Which is why it was no surprise when, for your birthday present, you told us you wanted to get your ears pierced! It was a memory I will never forget-- holding your hand in that seat in the mall, you squeezing my fingers as you looked in the mirror. You were scared but not scared enough to say no. The end goal was what you wanted and you were going to tough it out no matter what. What a champ. You've always been a very tough kid, so we know if you cry when you're hurt then something is very wrong! So it was no surprise that you gritted your teeth and took the piercings like a champ. And you love them now. I'm sure throughout the years you will always want to accessorize to match whatever outfit you are wearing, and you make sure I do the same right now. Last October you came home with a little ziplock baggie on which you had written, "I love you mom." Inside were some "jangely" Chrsitmas earrings for me that you had purchased with "money" you'd earned in class. You-- the girl with the iron-will that I used to battle all day to simply put on a pair of pants. The girl that I sued to put on the dryer for timeouts because you wouldn't sit for me anywhere else. The girl that I had to "cage" in at bed time. THAT girl-- you-- stood outside of herself and chose to use her earnings for someone else... and you chose me of all people. I feel like you and I have a special connection because of our time in the trenches of your toddlerhood together, and this gift showed me that I think you feel it too. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gq4whyphenhypheng0Ih575DiNt-v7gQasNSFENuDQ6HB6BEJuukOAUJPLCjv9MRzECokgtkd90TcZj1DqSudSIpnBQFhMlepWXxyaV_ThjLOCq7yMgm7b_0VuU6JX_hDL-Low0ywqXz-JsImDb9E/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gq4whyphenhypheng0Ih575DiNt-v7gQasNSFENuDQ6HB6BEJuukOAUJPLCjv9MRzECokgtkd90TcZj1DqSudSIpnBQFhMlepWXxyaV_ThjLOCq7yMgm7b_0VuU6JX_hDL-Low0ywqXz-JsImDb9E/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0357.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1NwVXBCcO2NfZKVVUoltac4aS3o8AfDvYf-IL1vFSXZXOuYZ07onILh73iCEkqj6kpO8PfhPXrp-ZqvzSlle5mQIlxVmKdk1jgDEkwLSb5X54fL6tPx3Mbi4Th3keZQgcDPx0XZMrfk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1NwVXBCcO2NfZKVVUoltac4aS3o8AfDvYf-IL1vFSXZXOuYZ07onILh73iCEkqj6kpO8PfhPXrp-ZqvzSlle5mQIlxVmKdk1jgDEkwLSb5X54fL6tPx3Mbi4Th3keZQgcDPx0XZMrfk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0351.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNo-rVMGWYee4W9zxqZo4OPyO3uUEcO0Io8UZWBNVwsgXsFk3dbRbedz2UQOqVyVJWCE6MLahWkAODS2AhiFywKJ3zR7t6MmaMAGb35Qlf3b92HqXgxOobsVPs9jZ8gCiR8oUtthy9LA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0348.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNo-rVMGWYee4W9zxqZo4OPyO3uUEcO0Io8UZWBNVwsgXsFk3dbRbedz2UQOqVyVJWCE6MLahWkAODS2AhiFywKJ3zR7t6MmaMAGb35Qlf3b92HqXgxOobsVPs9jZ8gCiR8oUtthy9LA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0348.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0VvUFtVOaNt8_nbtmk4m7njhlvVvbeZsdgbWbcnbmZy4ucmaPiYohlN115CWi4drk8gYTTWGdfLyMLezFz0tUYD8CwxXTe0U75t3PppFqq67Oy8ZJWIfpd3bmUbOHPv1_JQwPtdMIY4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0VvUFtVOaNt8_nbtmk4m7njhlvVvbeZsdgbWbcnbmZy4ucmaPiYohlN115CWi4drk8gYTTWGdfLyMLezFz0tUYD8CwxXTe0U75t3PppFqq67Oy8ZJWIfpd3bmUbOHPv1_JQwPtdMIY4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0342.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6UbTpTfwtWi46Cbz75zJnKM00JM1EFTY6RSkkh6AyDrpTgdAVKopB_DidTBT_S83NKbPrg6gdmXAXrGa1ZM-1Grw1pY4EKM0Is1YcH6YJBJEzQpD22Fzqo717X6a8Jmj72xgkt7eST8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6UbTpTfwtWi46Cbz75zJnKM00JM1EFTY6RSkkh6AyDrpTgdAVKopB_DidTBT_S83NKbPrg6gdmXAXrGa1ZM-1Grw1pY4EKM0Is1YcH6YJBJEzQpD22Fzqo717X6a8Jmj72xgkt7eST8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0338.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-06_SqSusjnsyqoxvd7lxP0tOCJLLbPkBKS-AeCNH7LhTYdYZcMOOC2VPSza6Zl0C39QZOQyQjR2FRBzaEpR3E_xtDK5tBS3GDWc28hKx3euQTh9p1UvC65TFGLnilbfr1ed1tWiDXs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-06_SqSusjnsyqoxvd7lxP0tOCJLLbPkBKS-AeCNH7LhTYdYZcMOOC2VPSza6Zl0C39QZOQyQjR2FRBzaEpR3E_xtDK5tBS3GDWc28hKx3euQTh9p1UvC65TFGLnilbfr1ed1tWiDXs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0336.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ztz-N-n-G9mFpCXc_p61zw0MKZxn39xTvawzElt5QNm6uUqwRJ0aJq7gThs4FfNnOupwMlPioTOtwyJz_Pi4EvduHzOBFCSHnzTXt_9VXFCgG9iguNGIleQw-ffzpKOnwYtV-tN6pCE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ztz-N-n-G9mFpCXc_p61zw0MKZxn39xTvawzElt5QNm6uUqwRJ0aJq7gThs4FfNnOupwMlPioTOtwyJz_Pi4EvduHzOBFCSHnzTXt_9VXFCgG9iguNGIleQw-ffzpKOnwYtV-tN6pCE/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0335.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtXOC-H2I-4QcDsFvschedlZjEo5hkFG0KApLYxWg11SgNKWjkGXF8Q9m7LqkJyH_O2Ln3ThloCRDNVfxtvbwmjjDwS98WSKwAwE4egwMRkz8XhthpsDM65SguvceCzmt4tlaxMeqjKw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0331.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtXOC-H2I-4QcDsFvschedlZjEo5hkFG0KApLYxWg11SgNKWjkGXF8Q9m7LqkJyH_O2Ln3ThloCRDNVfxtvbwmjjDwS98WSKwAwE4egwMRkz8XhthpsDM65SguvceCzmt4tlaxMeqjKw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0331.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eUtMnPmR5ifqiE3bK9_mCQdjTm3GduxwhfWmH8mz7S-PGOhRnOj_9dHi92QceArfVtjgG1gAiGGVlBJS-kirtoh301ZS2dT4N_QPJHXVgF4y03o6cbfXs0Hdny9CEcas_urqZ4U1mng/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eUtMnPmR5ifqiE3bK9_mCQdjTm3GduxwhfWmH8mz7S-PGOhRnOj_9dHi92QceArfVtjgG1gAiGGVlBJS-kirtoh301ZS2dT4N_QPJHXVgF4y03o6cbfXs0Hdny9CEcas_urqZ4U1mng/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0326.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VH_dPN1BqddkNi8I3e0GX2onXwvUUhUGJNazdKExjB3RzFTxa6acMOvZ0UO3KYNFwq1IPDJqcCr7ad61-EX7LFckVlggLm5ewpXOKqKf3_WnflEN61oU7HBKYYWeUyHCHr-BzElxEUQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VH_dPN1BqddkNi8I3e0GX2onXwvUUhUGJNazdKExjB3RzFTxa6acMOvZ0UO3KYNFwq1IPDJqcCr7ad61-EX7LFckVlggLm5ewpXOKqKf3_WnflEN61oU7HBKYYWeUyHCHr-BzElxEUQ/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0323.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsnVbDHmFtRr24FCJuCWblsCtsfJ437mCh1Et0dK1ikKQMpqS2SyT9br_oJDET1wWRjYQS_T81XLu-rTK-AgOcYeECLsbWDRKcSvaooG1XsAtOj3aaiABoUYRAU_3vrjRGAH3tQ5ZeHY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsnVbDHmFtRr24FCJuCWblsCtsfJ437mCh1Et0dK1ikKQMpqS2SyT9br_oJDET1wWRjYQS_T81XLu-rTK-AgOcYeECLsbWDRKcSvaooG1XsAtOj3aaiABoUYRAU_3vrjRGAH3tQ5ZeHY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0320.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-jELJ2PIhdFQffaK0w6r6NgvO20fRJrIFYaeFCrlHe4TlM6fZlZ-PgsPlsPVzehNLXnhMBSlctVIMo39A0IsZkCVgMZP8Do3wsAC-8rXteSJHm-V1Mq8_6Yn8_mBI4ebvVdWff3EyHQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-jELJ2PIhdFQffaK0w6r6NgvO20fRJrIFYaeFCrlHe4TlM6fZlZ-PgsPlsPVzehNLXnhMBSlctVIMo39A0IsZkCVgMZP8Do3wsAC-8rXteSJHm-V1Mq8_6Yn8_mBI4ebvVdWff3EyHQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0317.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fV2e2bUAmxdlvlmdZ_PUfiViqwJmMhTTrTrrJwjHNfaXEBMjdiY3k19iTGIz7hAIvdb6gmG2s6CHRmdqBtonwm5KalTaXCfBOHhpq-5cYJHCKYR1O7bOk-L-7T4lMYL0287O1LzTRHw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fV2e2bUAmxdlvlmdZ_PUfiViqwJmMhTTrTrrJwjHNfaXEBMjdiY3k19iTGIz7hAIvdb6gmG2s6CHRmdqBtonwm5KalTaXCfBOHhpq-5cYJHCKYR1O7bOk-L-7T4lMYL0287O1LzTRHw/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0315.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">I really love this age that you are. You are learning so much, and teach us things all the time. Plus, you can play "big people" games, ride your bike, read books, and take a shower by yourself. It's fun to get to this point! And yet you also don't know ALL the words for things, yet you know enough to just keep talking. A couple examples: We were watching the cows in the pasture out back and you said, "You know the puffy cow with the big gutters?" O But one of my favorites may have been when we were watching the new, live-action Cinderella. She comes walking up the stairs to the palace in her new gown, and I thought you were going to make a comment about how beautiful she looked, but instead you were apparently taking in her very prominent chest and said, "Why are her bumps showing?" Oh Becks, it's never dull with you around. </p><p style="text-align: left;">You learned how to ride a bike this year, read chapter books, and cut veggies. You lost your first tooth, went on your first field trip, and performed in your first school music program [and loved it!]. You do cartwheels anywhere with a big enough patch of open area. You love dried mangoes and pickles hard edge on a slice of deli ham. You still love to snuggle in a welcoming lap and love to be a little mom to Sloan. </p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1xEPm1eVAhSsziBetq4S2fVYJDwtIOPedJKhgmbs6c7kKeeQNRuXJ0fRszKhBgjQLKUaD3uvS5KJ_TqLECxaIgipfAMcc6_b0NOh0jL7huwFSXDsv4DlUc2ACndsUcZa97z7ohCeii0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1xEPm1eVAhSsziBetq4S2fVYJDwtIOPedJKhgmbs6c7kKeeQNRuXJ0fRszKhBgjQLKUaD3uvS5KJ_TqLECxaIgipfAMcc6_b0NOh0jL7huwFSXDsv4DlUc2ACndsUcZa97z7ohCeii0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0311.jpg" width="426" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQkGVcovPKfU1b2T2HC_xFIBUTLmCiWbUYfYWmH86IsWdcK6_Wz9V3Ph4xbiI4xTBZxCZsIllb6qcE8wDmDkxITqzQdiVfn-NgCcACDRzY3Od8VCKK3AjtstgMH_xPhJPuWF9hsCmpp4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0306.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQkGVcovPKfU1b2T2HC_xFIBUTLmCiWbUYfYWmH86IsWdcK6_Wz9V3Ph4xbiI4xTBZxCZsIllb6qcE8wDmDkxITqzQdiVfn-NgCcACDRzY3Od8VCKK3AjtstgMH_xPhJPuWF9hsCmpp4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0306.jpg" width="426" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjollIZH0dOBU4rIeapcsg6PawBFnTTooInciwk_LvOOs8k22dwFIf5lMtrsAwiBn9O9l7Gyxhr0o996FoXJ6MarDwZC_U9tVDIzESvmnIEWGHfZbPikEzIMDfm4fzWy9EG6X00ZzHDp_I/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0290.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjollIZH0dOBU4rIeapcsg6PawBFnTTooInciwk_LvOOs8k22dwFIf5lMtrsAwiBn9O9l7Gyxhr0o996FoXJ6MarDwZC_U9tVDIzESvmnIEWGHfZbPikEzIMDfm4fzWy9EG6X00ZzHDp_I/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0290.jpg" width="426" /></a></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvDeBPStcF98NJSP1sptQEHnGK6Kcl0nul1wCesazfL7gWPvcGg4UdyJeTfCzPECv9ZKYU1VqxrAzRuPgBDBTKnZFXUcfbxdpkju9i3gTJvbf-xdRjPu8jOy9mbWaOuCdDfaloblf0L4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0287.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvDeBPStcF98NJSP1sptQEHnGK6Kcl0nul1wCesazfL7gWPvcGg4UdyJeTfCzPECv9ZKYU1VqxrAzRuPgBDBTKnZFXUcfbxdpkju9i3gTJvbf-xdRjPu8jOy9mbWaOuCdDfaloblf0L4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0287.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ImAmuPdL8iUqyUmuIEeZeDUgiXgzr2HY0E4P6_nE5iw09iKQe2XjxtyMVmL_xbl2bheRQKokOdvaLfCsbIUoIr15HsC9HXAQ1e9rqCxnvP0a7i9qedG9fGd_lwWa7lEv-2SntadRS5g/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0286.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ImAmuPdL8iUqyUmuIEeZeDUgiXgzr2HY0E4P6_nE5iw09iKQe2XjxtyMVmL_xbl2bheRQKokOdvaLfCsbIUoIr15HsC9HXAQ1e9rqCxnvP0a7i9qedG9fGd_lwWa7lEv-2SntadRS5g/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0286.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91booOsBsypaFyPF5whGeLfYcevo55Fv_vATnft9-8MiJN_AlRAyMeOS0n9IYc0Ha0p357dJuQy0yGbzGrZrxyYQbjW2LnIZQk-ai5mEbmLqRJw5OgySRPUinHESeZecxMjg1MKPMgbA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0279.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91booOsBsypaFyPF5whGeLfYcevo55Fv_vATnft9-8MiJN_AlRAyMeOS0n9IYc0Ha0p357dJuQy0yGbzGrZrxyYQbjW2LnIZQk-ai5mEbmLqRJw5OgySRPUinHESeZecxMjg1MKPMgbA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0279.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0zmHXIjzE5DrbfRv5LuIkthQ-frYzV6l-YnyuDK0Yc9OUmSlkEIwlwsjTPE0uYBd8k6zcO2urgFrl6hfe2VnUc53tiQUCTISRKmtISyuPEmpHuaP7zXvaTvirhwpQtYJl8SMbFS__lY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0276.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0zmHXIjzE5DrbfRv5LuIkthQ-frYzV6l-YnyuDK0Yc9OUmSlkEIwlwsjTPE0uYBd8k6zcO2urgFrl6hfe2VnUc53tiQUCTISRKmtISyuPEmpHuaP7zXvaTvirhwpQtYJl8SMbFS__lY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0276.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7H6GFHCzvP7mGnbjmQ4se8EtnsrwoiI11jyCMoVOi5UXayH42gCk-P6Lmf97hAf4PbXz3_UCdzeutg1HJoMZK2MqePjF_-bElc1QRTY9tpuSEdoOo29CBvfMXJv6DJZX2umgCQBsLig/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0273.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7H6GFHCzvP7mGnbjmQ4se8EtnsrwoiI11jyCMoVOi5UXayH42gCk-P6Lmf97hAf4PbXz3_UCdzeutg1HJoMZK2MqePjF_-bElc1QRTY9tpuSEdoOo29CBvfMXJv6DJZX2umgCQBsLig/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0273.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPZWxQrzrh_L53FQ-6huXFCORFBgnL8E4iSbCU0PEOVZsva_FLwmm0A2OeB52T2aUotBJfwLFbWh_izV9A3QBT77qNZI8XD4tIshvPbR49wY_shuzac6cpMA_cNEp07han7wkcZatvXI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0271.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPZWxQrzrh_L53FQ-6huXFCORFBgnL8E4iSbCU0PEOVZsva_FLwmm0A2OeB52T2aUotBJfwLFbWh_izV9A3QBT77qNZI8XD4tIshvPbR49wY_shuzac6cpMA_cNEp07han7wkcZatvXI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0271.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEwOkSSeHKXTcZvJyeIdhOyBrivODGJlm8vk8U6hqSfg86yGaJ0EdlqDqDRfgIHNOFcg_VwAbnyi7pwmPfVUxZoCQMbSDcUtfJc8v66QG_c88ccZMgF3Z-36LrOjYzPkD6eXowPAz8No/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0270.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEwOkSSeHKXTcZvJyeIdhOyBrivODGJlm8vk8U6hqSfg86yGaJ0EdlqDqDRfgIHNOFcg_VwAbnyi7pwmPfVUxZoCQMbSDcUtfJc8v66QG_c88ccZMgF3Z-36LrOjYzPkD6eXowPAz8No/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0270.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic81Uncz7F1kiMDlIJmWmT2VPDuVqdSxNGxnOifNZA9D0o7eF2W9NPSMq_l95nWwoiMh3Wq9-T0RaQCZNChfceHFw3WcnOTwu4LhECtjszr63CJI_NnyR0eTqjr6Pntw0UyuWBYY2LATw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0267.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic81Uncz7F1kiMDlIJmWmT2VPDuVqdSxNGxnOifNZA9D0o7eF2W9NPSMq_l95nWwoiMh3Wq9-T0RaQCZNChfceHFw3WcnOTwu4LhECtjszr63CJI_NnyR0eTqjr6Pntw0UyuWBYY2LATw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0267.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIRa2XLC5H7RQ4mkZiM7iuuOjRg0zAH13XzkORkzRQtkaVIXQbWsmWlbSpN3alOY2c-SfwaowIynIUXNpHvws56I6GLYGyUf80ZALNvUd2lwJ8-q_4gE9Q5UMI1kgfk2mLR6k5IJiyNI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0262.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIRa2XLC5H7RQ4mkZiM7iuuOjRg0zAH13XzkORkzRQtkaVIXQbWsmWlbSpN3alOY2c-SfwaowIynIUXNpHvws56I6GLYGyUf80ZALNvUd2lwJ8-q_4gE9Q5UMI1kgfk2mLR6k5IJiyNI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0262.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">You have a very tender heart, that hurts when others are hurting. Your spirit is wide open to adventure and challenges. When I think of you the picture that comes to mind is you, hair blowing and barefoot, running through an open field with arms outstretched to the horizon. You like to sit in a quiet corner with a book, you like to giggle at recess with a friend, you like to sleep in a bed next to your sisters, and you like to scale mountains. Meaning, there is no neat little box you fit in, Becks, and that is a fun thing to parent. We continue to pray and trust you to Jesus, knowing He will be the only one to lead you well. With His Spirit inside you and His purposes before you, you are going to do some amazing things for His Kingdom, no doubt. And we can't wait to see what those will be. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo60b36PoeMbFiMSy0BcnOqj4vD1Vp0H_ljb_OHKo3yjIeJ9Do4XSwzyWYYDDJJvj9HvBO5ijrOL2WM310gJlAMYaa_GX-rf6cD-krWif8EuVT671vt_9oao0BxhTdGBwQtmpC499n8Y/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0260.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo60b36PoeMbFiMSy0BcnOqj4vD1Vp0H_ljb_OHKo3yjIeJ9Do4XSwzyWYYDDJJvj9HvBO5ijrOL2WM310gJlAMYaa_GX-rf6cD-krWif8EuVT671vt_9oao0BxhTdGBwQtmpC499n8Y/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0260.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08VFdR6gsZJAxPqhaY4NCYgzxkCotzYOxv7_Pace9raL5U_v7Lb-jgv2AZu_mayyVDMhOC7z35TlnBveri7qyhKTzaU55Io3LmFt_it6isxkS_hVEN3SLgpNGNlh6wEmORGgPObEw_bE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08VFdR6gsZJAxPqhaY4NCYgzxkCotzYOxv7_Pace9raL5U_v7Lb-jgv2AZu_mayyVDMhOC7z35TlnBveri7qyhKTzaU55Io3LmFt_it6isxkS_hVEN3SLgpNGNlh6wEmORGgPObEw_bE/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0258.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCadbVjfGjHDsjxYC59_Mc9H7V2IHJEnmKIcsvwdeQCM7bjR3hFAcdilZaOfBtzStvxMqA-eRI4EJCrK87KF4kampCHAi6HhesXZ0ZQBHJV5Mz2F5X5HrF_S6pp0DPaoypq_iRbB3_xs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCadbVjfGjHDsjxYC59_Mc9H7V2IHJEnmKIcsvwdeQCM7bjR3hFAcdilZaOfBtzStvxMqA-eRI4EJCrK87KF4kampCHAi6HhesXZ0ZQBHJV5Mz2F5X5HrF_S6pp0DPaoypq_iRbB3_xs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0257.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxaLUBSLZrpMT4JgRRL693XkLjeSY1PFFjnjn1Zx22AzubKo1G-1uR_6RB4IYFpxj-XBojEudL2Tzkl0Vp2vG2e0m3iM4CPDZFW9NBhqQUwS9hMhFrdZghEkDhFbohLsd86PW9N1qS1A/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxaLUBSLZrpMT4JgRRL693XkLjeSY1PFFjnjn1Zx22AzubKo1G-1uR_6RB4IYFpxj-XBojEudL2Tzkl0Vp2vG2e0m3iM4CPDZFW9NBhqQUwS9hMhFrdZghEkDhFbohLsd86PW9N1qS1A/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0254.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9lpA1mK4eXKvgzkpXgCO41ztsnLi1geF8jW4wUhBI-E2uGNlGgiP9HCVVLuBW-iH_0EJR5KFgYJto-C79io7GOydLcaSsNpFlEr0xjBIrCNsMYS30sqpF-0jL60Jy4wip1jI6gZGgnY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9lpA1mK4eXKvgzkpXgCO41ztsnLi1geF8jW4wUhBI-E2uGNlGgiP9HCVVLuBW-iH_0EJR5KFgYJto-C79io7GOydLcaSsNpFlEr0xjBIrCNsMYS30sqpF-0jL60Jy4wip1jI6gZGgnY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0251.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWODo_GloZcuUYsa3OotDvqdV2teGeQLvoKPUlTXYWyk_tID_K_WtDNqrE9gC_pyxlAOGbiAi-V_qs5Y3IiWivmUzsvs3zLQBJKmfaIMccIRpduYyOjSDKfh9DNMkpyhEKXmqvA9DQhsE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWODo_GloZcuUYsa3OotDvqdV2teGeQLvoKPUlTXYWyk_tID_K_WtDNqrE9gC_pyxlAOGbiAi-V_qs5Y3IiWivmUzsvs3zLQBJKmfaIMccIRpduYyOjSDKfh9DNMkpyhEKXmqvA9DQhsE/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-0248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdkID86uPVsrxT4ydvVIEuEU_MovfVYL4_e6_SLiCMzXeCjn28oB7p557JeH39t6Z5n_1VrTi-yA17ZsYuJfu-TIvWD3kBBluVjUIjJQ8yL5iq3iPw8GnKG7OAaWDdRRctGqelziVk60/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-0245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdkID86uPVsrxT4ydvVIEuEU_MovfVYL4_e6_SLiCMzXeCjn28oB7p557JeH39t6Z5n_1VrTi-yA17ZsYuJfu-TIvWD3kBBluVjUIjJQ8yL5iq3iPw8GnKG7OAaWDdRRctGqelziVk60/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-0245.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">And as always: Your dad and I hope you always understand the <i>why </i>behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see what it was Grace that held us together; that you see what it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </p><p>Happy seventh birthday, Becks Lynae! There is nothing you could ever do to make us stop loving you.</p><div><br /></div></div><br /><p></p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-57170149433889472242021-04-21T16:40:00.004-04:002021-04-21T16:40:31.578-04:00Nan is FIVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtxLzP4akhYZ-zaqhGo-bevVKDws9k4JJ2bn3gZo_lv0kj7eKtAZD-CzHoTZ4y10r8GruynFNIZv1Ofy1DThEJSJS7zVDa9Mft6qQoiZCIsYk8u-6gxkoO5kWrOQet22zwEMNcDIrLII/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtxLzP4akhYZ-zaqhGo-bevVKDws9k4JJ2bn3gZo_lv0kj7eKtAZD-CzHoTZ4y10r8GruynFNIZv1Ofy1DThEJSJS7zVDa9Mft6qQoiZCIsYk8u-6gxkoO5kWrOQet22zwEMNcDIrLII/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECNHLP5wSvJXsX6mzUQnW2C1IFqren1dLRmEdtxjWLLpcW_M9F-AqYXv0paTUelKJP6vjIP5gb3d8AIzrUEj0lhHEhPPBHJipTAC7PRHosEM_ZTNk40ycTRWjMTPMY1PyWXA5dEHFlJk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECNHLP5wSvJXsX6mzUQnW2C1IFqren1dLRmEdtxjWLLpcW_M9F-AqYXv0paTUelKJP6vjIP5gb3d8AIzrUEj0lhHEhPPBHJipTAC7PRHosEM_ZTNk40ycTRWjMTPMY1PyWXA5dEHFlJk/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2279.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZRLnLNTZR75_v3gLuJ4wwQ0GaB8eEC4l819-rE9fiqBtr1LuAzu_WVZQAqjyQnBSiRLS6LmO5U6WuAyly7qD2ukU4T-l8XaOH78EQuafT033AwozeMbG5OuBbPBKzXgm6C6kPN20g8o/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZRLnLNTZR75_v3gLuJ4wwQ0GaB8eEC4l819-rE9fiqBtr1LuAzu_WVZQAqjyQnBSiRLS6LmO5U6WuAyly7qD2ukU4T-l8XaOH78EQuafT033AwozeMbG5OuBbPBKzXgm6C6kPN20g8o/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2206.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2bP0A9UnClNue-8pX4wDxHOJBwTqfqQmVm26p0PFFeLagvaiBE5ggh_JMuHaBflWfHu9oAdG5ua-48ptoDSdk9Wqmpxy0KCc9YZN42rn-gwBicE2vDiAAa_rddsIWtwzZ3tJAwQVXf8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2bP0A9UnClNue-8pX4wDxHOJBwTqfqQmVm26p0PFFeLagvaiBE5ggh_JMuHaBflWfHu9oAdG5ua-48ptoDSdk9Wqmpxy0KCc9YZN42rn-gwBicE2vDiAAa_rddsIWtwzZ3tJAwQVXf8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2150.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMtNvIcz6vnT5_BIa4PtxgkpHoSe-jNWJIhuZcH2RGm3KWBckx9Mhoe73-HNnrHm_pCqNxEaRXBg8iN8CVfWz1up-fyN7SEyTv2Kji4pdTrMyPN1VVTq5HIvmpKwyJ2pRLSx2v_2j2iI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMtNvIcz6vnT5_BIa4PtxgkpHoSe-jNWJIhuZcH2RGm3KWBckx9Mhoe73-HNnrHm_pCqNxEaRXBg8iN8CVfWz1up-fyN7SEyTv2Kji4pdTrMyPN1VVTq5HIvmpKwyJ2pRLSx2v_2j2iI/w427-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2298.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ErG6SvM3tnOFuP_hEncqS5sS14NqM41t90r9l6KfoCmuXnnZ2TZxUv1r7P7fmeOmFI9BzbYnNDa5bf7FcCWByYQAwqemfwfQHMNDjuKohcpFkT2r4L04y8U53doedhXJXQJHrl48iTk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ErG6SvM3tnOFuP_hEncqS5sS14NqM41t90r9l6KfoCmuXnnZ2TZxUv1r7P7fmeOmFI9BzbYnNDa5bf7FcCWByYQAwqemfwfQHMNDjuKohcpFkT2r4L04y8U53doedhXJXQJHrl48iTk/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2180.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pHeb9CHChMXA4CSfN4ImwgO3ImQP_ieq_xmWO60rpeM2yrYSiAfeegUvzbExVnL1jEv7njb8I6gWqR_8PQUgyaqeqqxEk-1HdcCTdAIi3YqPipNeMVC5tEb8ERsRAE9r6fhrA0GF7gs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pHeb9CHChMXA4CSfN4ImwgO3ImQP_ieq_xmWO60rpeM2yrYSiAfeegUvzbExVnL1jEv7njb8I6gWqR_8PQUgyaqeqqxEk-1HdcCTdAIi3YqPipNeMVC5tEb8ERsRAE9r6fhrA0GF7gs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2232.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghK9RmksGTZzoy1tMu1OmJ1K7nGPzXXsiP1J4CgJhbXe_QIdhN6Q7nSIsezNB5fQjt45Jv-OzqYohzzlvgN7eAX6d47cyW7DteClaElC-yZAGBsm28bFJujqplFNv1lYVqTvxeYaMz2Ow/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghK9RmksGTZzoy1tMu1OmJ1K7nGPzXXsiP1J4CgJhbXe_QIdhN6Q7nSIsezNB5fQjt45Jv-OzqYohzzlvgN7eAX6d47cyW7DteClaElC-yZAGBsm28bFJujqplFNv1lYVqTvxeYaMz2Ow/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2262.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfu-AL6G_fq5HHXdQddeKTxNj_03iPmreHbw0MlN6kBvqOs1jv5TKOUVBCNS19-8V5q-_p7XPRBIUiNiBp4eXaDFVG3BcPECdQQFto9Xkox2jj-YowzJn4lbAbkxSMWAxiIXwTstEEeVw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfu-AL6G_fq5HHXdQddeKTxNj_03iPmreHbw0MlN6kBvqOs1jv5TKOUVBCNS19-8V5q-_p7XPRBIUiNiBp4eXaDFVG3BcPECdQQFto9Xkox2jj-YowzJn4lbAbkxSMWAxiIXwTstEEeVw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2365.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcatDHAIHLhdtjy4Zk01mNIRzhC8QU-Td9pUVAI5cRFo2i7Kp6iuzhsmvj8j24cUR9P6XXGgszN1zRuXkEiE5DY0VrkAplIm1zgdnZde9dxBRejzu79atQGoNEQaZQxOeFOIFse2f8JGs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcatDHAIHLhdtjy4Zk01mNIRzhC8QU-Td9pUVAI5cRFo2i7Kp6iuzhsmvj8j24cUR9P6XXGgszN1zRuXkEiE5DY0VrkAplIm1zgdnZde9dxBRejzu79atQGoNEQaZQxOeFOIFse2f8JGs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2326.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Nan Louise,</span></div><p>Another birthday is here and you are a WHOLE hand full of fingers. And Nan, you are nothing if not WHOLEY yourself, at all times. This year was another year of reminding us that your presence is always felt. When Blythe saw your birthday pictures she said, "Man! She has a lot of emotions!" And that is the perfect way to describe you :) </p><p>Your fourth year of life started in a strange way-- at home, isolated, celebrating small as the coronavirus swept the country. But you didn't miss a beat. You relished the time home with your sisters and just kept right on truckin'. You'd have questions about it all from time to time, but mostly, you just trusted that you were safe here with your family. And that is how you have usually been about stuff-- giving yourself freely into what is right in front of you. So if what was right in front of you had to just be time at home with your family, you embraced it. You also loved the extra time it meant with our neighbors, latching on to them and coercing them to play limitless games of hide-and-go-seek or crack the egg on the trampoline. You had those teenagers pushing you on the swing and giving you rides in the golf cart, and while it's to their credit because they are great kids, it also says something about your tenacity in relationships.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPAVniipcG8wXAmosz5llxXlBpGCRDPgdodcFibS4c0rwY7wrVzZ4bs9RPLZeIcJ-dICZmOzbHT4iXP3mZZEPtjwotNSJ8lCdsyJYifz8D4uYuSi_hsAFQK9xzOSiNadoshEjzBz_zVo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPAVniipcG8wXAmosz5llxXlBpGCRDPgdodcFibS4c0rwY7wrVzZ4bs9RPLZeIcJ-dICZmOzbHT4iXP3mZZEPtjwotNSJ8lCdsyJYifz8D4uYuSi_hsAFQK9xzOSiNadoshEjzBz_zVo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2149.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4m7cnxr_ZalRGrGHIJMG2coOCEq5bqcdD3OiyeFI5KAG4HEtSajSH7G7vJD8wlAHijTXGmFX_BjBVnYQ3PY3E1OMk63Osew5_fAKlmyUI1URldsT49XhgnmHTcs9a4Cv7xghuaUVV5U/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4m7cnxr_ZalRGrGHIJMG2coOCEq5bqcdD3OiyeFI5KAG4HEtSajSH7G7vJD8wlAHijTXGmFX_BjBVnYQ3PY3E1OMk63Osew5_fAKlmyUI1URldsT49XhgnmHTcs9a4Cv7xghuaUVV5U/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2145.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OTFuW1pAgLOdROCt79xxzaZuQ8rBPi9zkLlEJNLxzEKRvkbi0ud-eKGxbaQGuJfScBMrCw330dlugz9Wu37nca-CV351ok4JLXRX5IIjOq-gJTl2ufzGuBrt9-DgcV_2kiUnojp2rXg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OTFuW1pAgLOdROCt79xxzaZuQ8rBPi9zkLlEJNLxzEKRvkbi0ud-eKGxbaQGuJfScBMrCw330dlugz9Wu37nca-CV351ok4JLXRX5IIjOq-gJTl2ufzGuBrt9-DgcV_2kiUnojp2rXg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2146.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGFVXvK8NSXwNnprPyhvBmzkXGUcAQIySRA2lw5Bbv9IYEx2ZMXC86RhuYPcF7CZansswN3bLnsNziiGMBDQGSvndNqtByPvX0optUL5w2NSYtvQhglvXKOPJ8fGo4rYnRiPCNF3zP4c/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGFVXvK8NSXwNnprPyhvBmzkXGUcAQIySRA2lw5Bbv9IYEx2ZMXC86RhuYPcF7CZansswN3bLnsNziiGMBDQGSvndNqtByPvX0optUL5w2NSYtvQhglvXKOPJ8fGo4rYnRiPCNF3zP4c/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2154.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQvAuI3Kox9LjdmiXLKu-fFXVqsZoioe_ed6HTRubZ5nBA1a7GKNBTVbFkRI_Z4YJZRCjiAUiOChulZi89eQq95qMMoYekDnl3GjPL7Su1BqFXBFDNOLto5WIVHEGDbIm67wPnU_c7RQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQvAuI3Kox9LjdmiXLKu-fFXVqsZoioe_ed6HTRubZ5nBA1a7GKNBTVbFkRI_Z4YJZRCjiAUiOChulZi89eQq95qMMoYekDnl3GjPL7Su1BqFXBFDNOLto5WIVHEGDbIm67wPnU_c7RQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2157.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqvzQzS6I-LO3qo2wBZu41DQCSJfPCLilbBJLnse9OxOgsImYpmUdaa3qCLhykmz8iILtwwKpAtDtWKIF0s-X_r5iLcrCZ7sviS7c2banXItpsK4vo7qYI0bge2m9Ggucin_2iNlVeUI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqvzQzS6I-LO3qo2wBZu41DQCSJfPCLilbBJLnse9OxOgsImYpmUdaa3qCLhykmz8iILtwwKpAtDtWKIF0s-X_r5iLcrCZ7sviS7c2banXItpsK4vo7qYI0bge2m9Ggucin_2iNlVeUI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2158.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p>Tenacious. That's a good word for you. I just looked up the definition and yes, it definitely describes you at this age: <i>persistent determination; tending to keep a firm hold of something; not readily relinquishing a position, principle, or course of action; determined. not easily dispelled. </i>Whew, does that describe you, Nanny Lou! Underneath this definition someone online asked, "Is tenacious good or bad?" And I get that questions-- tenacity could lead to ostracizing people, only focusing on your position or what you are fighting for. But you tend to someone bring other people into your tenaciousness, wrapping us into what you are holding onto in a way that brings us into the thing with you. I pray that this is always the case-- that you bring people into your passions in a way that is passionate, but doesn't forget the relationships in front of you. And I pray that what you are passionate about is the Kingdom of God. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">This tenacious spirit in you, mixed with the fact you are still in need of a lot of help, can be exhausting as a parent, though. There are many times I am completely spent when it is time to tuck you into bed at night. Your emotions are big, too, and so I will have spent all day riding the wave of your highs and lows, never quite knowing what's around the bend. I think being willing to express your emotions is a good thing, though. And express you do! Like I said last year, you can still go from laughing to crying to somewhere in between. Many time a day you have to push your glasses up on your head and wipe at your face because you have "cries" in your glasses. </p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5y7RC-fqKJZFXY9nXbDIGdqVUE90lYsEcWia3EoTakfFd0UHDCXHIyUf966x5JNeyzaDUSF11kiGdxQBAzG9mE21sfMDFbL5Vhpx4b62xEx2F8gvbd8cOUwaU3WFjPatvxMFpk3J5aVg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5y7RC-fqKJZFXY9nXbDIGdqVUE90lYsEcWia3EoTakfFd0UHDCXHIyUf966x5JNeyzaDUSF11kiGdxQBAzG9mE21sfMDFbL5Vhpx4b62xEx2F8gvbd8cOUwaU3WFjPatvxMFpk3J5aVg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2162.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA9AsYdZqwPeCWl0QmaggAL75YrCQ732gW7jTscAmFDSvV1Gdi0chFxzw4Onwvmu6PVCKVDVMzxYAh_n40jgkeNmf4qPDsSwaZJd6mNfYsX71RtEYfNYbYkJgyzTQpVlHkoEgmoRYuA0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA9AsYdZqwPeCWl0QmaggAL75YrCQ732gW7jTscAmFDSvV1Gdi0chFxzw4Onwvmu6PVCKVDVMzxYAh_n40jgkeNmf4qPDsSwaZJd6mNfYsX71RtEYfNYbYkJgyzTQpVlHkoEgmoRYuA0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2163.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3BN5qHVE1k1_ljyoACOX_BdTLbq0Xwlw1cjVztCC4RLKtkPyu4XdwQx6zTn-T7mdTcgh1pL007Bo70mKFVHYpGR6SA8XrjsQ9fbikGt9zrEDGC5dEQe6Swr-bLKdCa1K6P1yeW-2zbM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3BN5qHVE1k1_ljyoACOX_BdTLbq0Xwlw1cjVztCC4RLKtkPyu4XdwQx6zTn-T7mdTcgh1pL007Bo70mKFVHYpGR6SA8XrjsQ9fbikGt9zrEDGC5dEQe6Swr-bLKdCa1K6P1yeW-2zbM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2164.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqujn01x-tkeTeydDf3ceoaFcmkfbMUL5LdhtUy3nrZI3ALFc64Gmt_EQ2qpyCCzQ3NMzmRFFRIxvkLL7lhjwGLd2XF67-6LVm9vKPpTKykqojZBiKwqFQUkclmqXr6GvubauDk-EPU_c/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqujn01x-tkeTeydDf3ceoaFcmkfbMUL5LdhtUy3nrZI3ALFc64Gmt_EQ2qpyCCzQ3NMzmRFFRIxvkLL7lhjwGLd2XF67-6LVm9vKPpTKykqojZBiKwqFQUkclmqXr6GvubauDk-EPU_c/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2165.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5EbUz-rjotTfrcu9piog-vZxoKE78Hr_IGEwGmExXkNtvjKvQYubVvbbK8M0HQDVtLjDxBJGILG3yWT3ZoWwboAWQDv-kmn3gFpRnc5EUTx19gzn_EjiX4LKqopwPQPB3Q-3YVF5IIY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5EbUz-rjotTfrcu9piog-vZxoKE78Hr_IGEwGmExXkNtvjKvQYubVvbbK8M0HQDVtLjDxBJGILG3yWT3ZoWwboAWQDv-kmn3gFpRnc5EUTx19gzn_EjiX4LKqopwPQPB3Q-3YVF5IIY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2168.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAFHJOZTRpgypr9-jD9ryce7XaKeGSs-jkVvsyrSCgH-TJRYGwXimEr0A1TF_SVIR4AKDj9NivisREq9mm-2S5USoX8szZXlcAUxwuz44Zx7UKbrhd6nMJKo-kkQVi02p9St-xXKjCp4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAFHJOZTRpgypr9-jD9ryce7XaKeGSs-jkVvsyrSCgH-TJRYGwXimEr0A1TF_SVIR4AKDj9NivisREq9mm-2S5USoX8szZXlcAUxwuz44Zx7UKbrhd6nMJKo-kkQVi02p9St-xXKjCp4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2169.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t0AgTa0uL2vXvdeibJ60-mK2skHKoc-HPJvSn8I77pAosjowMqOEUtFo2ZBIH49VW_SpcyzMAGGXIaTHID2-b0pu6z9J680mpLhrbRl5W095BGQks_Hk4KIJLHzWV6gAOPM9WiS2EkI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t0AgTa0uL2vXvdeibJ60-mK2skHKoc-HPJvSn8I77pAosjowMqOEUtFo2ZBIH49VW_SpcyzMAGGXIaTHID2-b0pu6z9J680mpLhrbRl5W095BGQks_Hk4KIJLHzWV6gAOPM9WiS2EkI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2173.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXr5IAolNOnz5alQmAtIMMmtJdYsbKVBmFT6osP0H7bMaSvpsFvT46etr_XJxRweN2xYmvTSgTO67ZjRp_SVtn1fh-FKx6LQeL9RXuPtxrj7nUKJkWD51m614Kiq0_sW_x48of5bk0au4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXr5IAolNOnz5alQmAtIMMmtJdYsbKVBmFT6osP0H7bMaSvpsFvT46etr_XJxRweN2xYmvTSgTO67ZjRp_SVtn1fh-FKx6LQeL9RXuPtxrj7nUKJkWD51m614Kiq0_sW_x48of5bk0au4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2176.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaY4apiFofmVNTCZBIPXtQpg0lSsxMKsCdaDiCaZiKF-G47r-bHTa0E0bNCTdAjul5IYG6d12zZZfb2l26yDByaDW2EXtuizq_VQdC4h9lHOUKiSiHg43M9XF0mbvmnf0z_P_bKZoVks/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaY4apiFofmVNTCZBIPXtQpg0lSsxMKsCdaDiCaZiKF-G47r-bHTa0E0bNCTdAjul5IYG6d12zZZfb2l26yDByaDW2EXtuizq_VQdC4h9lHOUKiSiHg43M9XF0mbvmnf0z_P_bKZoVks/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2178.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk38XhI14oe83hqnFyxiNwjY6S1-Rv2i5PTUkQLF26X8T2-An24ux0wJ46zAfllGZC91rjF06D4OObAKr6jaZMkfS_6fKYdc2WeV_ubV4jaCnXLcBDAzfinxxIeZezoYhTOOUzuDAy7E/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk38XhI14oe83hqnFyxiNwjY6S1-Rv2i5PTUkQLF26X8T2-An24ux0wJ46zAfllGZC91rjF06D4OObAKr6jaZMkfS_6fKYdc2WeV_ubV4jaCnXLcBDAzfinxxIeZezoYhTOOUzuDAy7E/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2183.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczVz4t5LBzaR774VKgnlWTSRKZUJUOXhSzxPHSoEl5571VaXN85mcyQy2FpG9pPkOTbf6KPPwupCrNsucWkpA4C_6SyG0kNa1zuGcGNB0CsrwUY2fNER5-VCJ4hxn5GflEE3_Zr45L9I/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczVz4t5LBzaR774VKgnlWTSRKZUJUOXhSzxPHSoEl5571VaXN85mcyQy2FpG9pPkOTbf6KPPwupCrNsucWkpA4C_6SyG0kNa1zuGcGNB0CsrwUY2fNER5-VCJ4hxn5GflEE3_Zr45L9I/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2187.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzW_gA4CBEZzV8EQ7FgcVEDjmwFlEHHSP4HsL6cKegUqyxhiImqNApLtnooB7c_FBRN94jJ8CsaP3Ap_f4CkoxGP4OIDvKmcYj1TDorpSlHa74BY05H9HEzehUXBNwha-621LRDH9tkY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzW_gA4CBEZzV8EQ7FgcVEDjmwFlEHHSP4HsL6cKegUqyxhiImqNApLtnooB7c_FBRN94jJ8CsaP3Ap_f4CkoxGP4OIDvKmcYj1TDorpSlHa74BY05H9HEzehUXBNwha-621LRDH9tkY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2192.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p>One scary thing that happened this year was shortly after you had turned four. I was sitting on the porch and you were playing in the hammocks with your sisters. I heard you crying which, due to how intensely you feel everything, didn't make me worry too much right away. I thought maybe one of your sisters had hurt your feelings or you were frustrated because you couldn't get into the hammock or some combination of all of the above. But as I reached you I realized something was wrong-- you had fallen out of the hammock mouth-first into the stool you had moved over to help you get in and out. At first I thought you had bit your tongue or cheek, but upon further inspection I saw your teeth totally pushed back! I called our dentist right away and, since he is not a pediatric dentist, he referred us to another office. It was the SECOND DAY that dentist offices were open again after the covid shut down, and I was so grateful. We made an appointment that afternoon and then made the decision to totally extract the two affected teeth. You took it like a champ, didn't even cry when they pulled them, and only cried when we got to the car and you saw the blood on the gauze in your mouth. You won't have teeth for years, but we've all gotten used to your toothless grin! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUBeXnyfTBACzRvmUnFA4BIsXiuuCLgF2KWcOsiAjeMPcM8asH6fJHk_FRuvAqGEX5N7z97k58yEPo0KaLKkRxiXpgckjnKUaXAE1Ip-Js_XKYa5SjUCmDaE7MqHjlsNmPTKvdHrSuE8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUBeXnyfTBACzRvmUnFA4BIsXiuuCLgF2KWcOsiAjeMPcM8asH6fJHk_FRuvAqGEX5N7z97k58yEPo0KaLKkRxiXpgckjnKUaXAE1Ip-Js_XKYa5SjUCmDaE7MqHjlsNmPTKvdHrSuE8/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2195.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OglsHWr14xBLjzrzAJ0bpIKwiSnUMFLyXCBEpaDouYA1HZMuxujXhsospWqDue_hzw40F63b1U4jxTlxEuRs8e6Y_ICPDM7SoRRWBWqHXMGjhbMd5WvbZuG8x-S5_Hzumx79BPead1Y/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OglsHWr14xBLjzrzAJ0bpIKwiSnUMFLyXCBEpaDouYA1HZMuxujXhsospWqDue_hzw40F63b1U4jxTlxEuRs8e6Y_ICPDM7SoRRWBWqHXMGjhbMd5WvbZuG8x-S5_Hzumx79BPead1Y/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2194.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsSIEF0QosU5inxKLNSy23wryYReHaVqSGm4hqBQm7XZt8E8NYjMkyLwj6gILRvUzEL62pNq2pDHkjc_WKpATRXatcJdT3iPd1BuKEbwtwgF-w3-UYogkxaj2wuKlULEFMoSS9ARMd2A/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsSIEF0QosU5inxKLNSy23wryYReHaVqSGm4hqBQm7XZt8E8NYjMkyLwj6gILRvUzEL62pNq2pDHkjc_WKpATRXatcJdT3iPd1BuKEbwtwgF-w3-UYogkxaj2wuKlULEFMoSS9ARMd2A/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2196.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlqz8LXPfDfmiUu2H2yV7iFewxYjuprNQ522Rc9ltSAN9pMeGhNCT2rXtO7tzawbzuS6d5x8GNhsNHOWOZngmuETH3FXGIExMCgm0TIyKh0NsT6tBlYUpSRK1JFgNFyRZOlyzZy8Qcs4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlqz8LXPfDfmiUu2H2yV7iFewxYjuprNQ522Rc9ltSAN9pMeGhNCT2rXtO7tzawbzuS6d5x8GNhsNHOWOZngmuETH3FXGIExMCgm0TIyKh0NsT6tBlYUpSRK1JFgNFyRZOlyzZy8Qcs4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2199.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZSSyvQu0Qp82fpUN7-THHURyclhFo-1Lfsl4y57FzwTBXqT9DxFcNb8R2MRDWqGXhiyd8yUDS1IryR_ytLULnGK6RevO8hL1c6_uTEiWZWvNuXSvn-rugVE8H2G1TSQ1aVFwS6BvakA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZSSyvQu0Qp82fpUN7-THHURyclhFo-1Lfsl4y57FzwTBXqT9DxFcNb8R2MRDWqGXhiyd8yUDS1IryR_ytLULnGK6RevO8hL1c6_uTEiWZWvNuXSvn-rugVE8H2G1TSQ1aVFwS6BvakA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2201.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-GvyqrJkRuhQMtZ_DUpxv-Kd-1yS_1aXKqjBIxAGxdohFWoXJGW0oufz-q5wyFqkVj6eLxogaBcefkm653hK68hKGTIyRaYkaDJU_JcDfg65847Yw3L110xj7H3482eYlp5xM7cL7mg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-GvyqrJkRuhQMtZ_DUpxv-Kd-1yS_1aXKqjBIxAGxdohFWoXJGW0oufz-q5wyFqkVj6eLxogaBcefkm653hK68hKGTIyRaYkaDJU_JcDfg65847Yw3L110xj7H3482eYlp5xM7cL7mg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2202.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYN6CZoZFcB9eov8wcAEpD1QzEnDNL8FcdZ83iT9Xp4G47_SPBWykaLVRjINa-1PdiizsKICcfCNUg20bjT_3pGJ01-l-nq6Jtx37zOVTZDIUWXFl1en7Wwv0hGPFVgosZw7_42honao/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYN6CZoZFcB9eov8wcAEpD1QzEnDNL8FcdZ83iT9Xp4G47_SPBWykaLVRjINa-1PdiizsKICcfCNUg20bjT_3pGJ01-l-nq6Jtx37zOVTZDIUWXFl1en7Wwv0hGPFVgosZw7_42honao/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gTBa8uZjMVOd3dbJ-nfwfcD2Xn1hy4mQciyV-9hzo492lXE8BOTay3VNt1FrKWnq02TC25ZcoBFoQC6ekog92TM4PXTfFhSp3t6EUXFlExBf91jpElAd6hCJ126uOLAH6j60TC2F46M/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gTBa8uZjMVOd3dbJ-nfwfcD2Xn1hy4mQciyV-9hzo492lXE8BOTay3VNt1FrKWnq02TC25ZcoBFoQC6ekog92TM4PXTfFhSp3t6EUXFlExBf91jpElAd6hCJ126uOLAH6j60TC2F46M/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJDJT2raHPDdPkgF274drcfHG0qggN3yv7LRtc6KHEpn3aUHMcK6ZQCzQjAW5LS11b66irW1K9OQoBddKbzOqzhtK3PPamAwkCZTfZdELSKh86voAvnbaI3iYw-iQBF8bzhFxiWW2ykQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJDJT2raHPDdPkgF274drcfHG0qggN3yv7LRtc6KHEpn3aUHMcK6ZQCzQjAW5LS11b66irW1K9OQoBddKbzOqzhtK3PPamAwkCZTfZdELSKh86voAvnbaI3iYw-iQBF8bzhFxiWW2ykQ/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mr10m1g_sRp69_T-D3Ea_nAfbKZuNTrLbS4peM0kBFoDN1kggygqLE1PCPLLSd4G4Xz3Q1KF6PF6CsVb50MRiy5jmKmnQnAgJjVnmtjebbNMyyx5qSeo7KLFeRJz91sB8WPDH53foPc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mr10m1g_sRp69_T-D3Ea_nAfbKZuNTrLbS4peM0kBFoDN1kggygqLE1PCPLLSd4G4Xz3Q1KF6PF6CsVb50MRiy5jmKmnQnAgJjVnmtjebbNMyyx5qSeo7KLFeRJz91sB8WPDH53foPc/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2208.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfpa21PeXm2nfee4IebXKzen5luXFNbGvxxU6twaNePMogyw6AJxE1pZECxmYawYcLUg-Z9UNx9suPFZkIjMUw7HamFW7mZu-sEtj_YMcz804cXxY6SjS6ijqPDeT4-2aoxhSNass2Uc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfpa21PeXm2nfee4IebXKzen5luXFNbGvxxU6twaNePMogyw6AJxE1pZECxmYawYcLUg-Z9UNx9suPFZkIjMUw7HamFW7mZu-sEtj_YMcz804cXxY6SjS6ijqPDeT4-2aoxhSNass2Uc/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2210.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGUvqAttAjdF5dUG6oPd-p-UlSdQnGTdn8Ilr5A1XiCGXD9rr1K_Ze-I4ilLANjkhSNuXgfhoPJ_4xp81dhyphenhyphenbyE3gwVWJS_QZz9qpD3vfN9Y5UtwSaTh5KHotXVVqaXaJhVJub1nRQlo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGUvqAttAjdF5dUG6oPd-p-UlSdQnGTdn8Ilr5A1XiCGXD9rr1K_Ze-I4ilLANjkhSNuXgfhoPJ_4xp81dhyphenhyphenbyE3gwVWJS_QZz9qpD3vfN9Y5UtwSaTh5KHotXVVqaXaJhVJub1nRQlo/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2212.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVoX-BEgH-1t-abDGN0vWw7-73XTgoh1KYqkRJDLKcH2WZCQTc305uxjN-6TrHPYb_qnJXQiBtiuYLHJQP_Fq4ubEpHQYQ7Kl2od-LePK2Rm0nQOsdw8gT8bp6aOC1jc44AldHfdzjXU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVoX-BEgH-1t-abDGN0vWw7-73XTgoh1KYqkRJDLKcH2WZCQTc305uxjN-6TrHPYb_qnJXQiBtiuYLHJQP_Fq4ubEpHQYQ7Kl2od-LePK2Rm0nQOsdw8gT8bp6aOC1jc44AldHfdzjXU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2213.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p>One thing that never ceases to make us laugh right now is how you get so many opposite things just not quite right. For example, you'll say, "I'm REALLY hot! I'm FREEZING hot!" You ask us to "buckle you up" when you mean unbuckle. You get frustrated when you can't get your shirt "outside in!" I could write for days on the funny things you say, but some of my favorites this year have included: "Baby Sloan! You got snort on me!" or "What if a horse could bite you in a language?" At least once a week you tell me something is "all junked up." You call syrup "syrlup", the bank safe is the "bank saver", wrinkles are "crinkles". Once I asked why you were so cute, thinking it was a rhetorical question, but I should have known there are no such things with you. You responded: "Because I have puffy cheeks and straight eye balls and not crinkles!" One day we were coloring and you said, "Mom, why is my name 'Weeze'?" I told you it was "LOUISE, after Nini." As if you were hearing it correctly for the first time in your life, you said, "Ohhh. LA-weeze. Oh good." Christmas night I asked if you had a good day, and you said "No. It was SO much work to unwrap everything. My hands were doing so much work." You've never been afraid to tell it like it is. I asked you what you wanted for your birthday and you said, "I want to be a mom so I could charge everybody." [Be in charge]. You told me the park has swings for 4 year old and 5 year olds and 6 years olds..."but not for dad-year-olds and mom-year-olds." Oh Nan. You never cease to make us laugh AND get your point across. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEFBOwpQIDq7KRjQ2R68N22KJj4CUGRIhJsDj9xSpiRwSq4mhF6Sh_8391tga88h2ItagrEHc0T95WdRoS010b0RLxczdH64EzC6ShcKuEiHfIC8AcY2Wn3GCik0ZapsYWO-gTJgCWZc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEFBOwpQIDq7KRjQ2R68N22KJj4CUGRIhJsDj9xSpiRwSq4mhF6Sh_8391tga88h2ItagrEHc0T95WdRoS010b0RLxczdH64EzC6ShcKuEiHfIC8AcY2Wn3GCik0ZapsYWO-gTJgCWZc/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2218.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJshD8D-IwHV7jTS3YS0ECvB151p1JyspX5z1L9y0fkY8eYNWcAvhHlbJjwX1qt1GsCUYcJUf8UzMBAGeNi_BqDCN0e8XHYOIzhE9KOh9OdSx4zA_EqHcNvFUmAgG4UwD0Jw2iGMFnXA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJshD8D-IwHV7jTS3YS0ECvB151p1JyspX5z1L9y0fkY8eYNWcAvhHlbJjwX1qt1GsCUYcJUf8UzMBAGeNi_BqDCN0e8XHYOIzhE9KOh9OdSx4zA_EqHcNvFUmAgG4UwD0Jw2iGMFnXA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2220.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsSVPmao86Lz54FM0CrtKPYN2HFM_JNQvk8A-j0hQZXUXKO0qs13xbhKPMcDietj0y_wpn202tR49tHku1c8vit4BvmpkBFSt0fdO3goj6ennt37mVJmGAzQ_ncZ7ZVhhBa_3WWoHHe8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsSVPmao86Lz54FM0CrtKPYN2HFM_JNQvk8A-j0hQZXUXKO0qs13xbhKPMcDietj0y_wpn202tR49tHku1c8vit4BvmpkBFSt0fdO3goj6ennt37mVJmGAzQ_ncZ7ZVhhBa_3WWoHHe8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2225.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yKLQCV7l7j6WzU2Hg162H76YB5VFkUTGVGL4XdaO0RYWW2Its2ffNwSsUsxJTqKGC9S1wWTuZFqOPmmiT5ecV7foNA74GiSYTo7AoiGdeIT9yGmlZAm3Xx9pQDdycTtkB1N4MvhPUXQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yKLQCV7l7j6WzU2Hg162H76YB5VFkUTGVGL4XdaO0RYWW2Its2ffNwSsUsxJTqKGC9S1wWTuZFqOPmmiT5ecV7foNA74GiSYTo7AoiGdeIT9yGmlZAm3Xx9pQDdycTtkB1N4MvhPUXQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2230.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrELEcalq4LEF_Kzrvk9R2T6jPGa9wbaT7BYLymW2rEJRq3q00QNkwGY7Z7FNqH8YGbhTaARmFJ_hDCdn67PmsbcykFQBcMiFeB4YLZhmxqLd2JPbVzCBgB_WEqy2io_peBI5A8I1XdA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrELEcalq4LEF_Kzrvk9R2T6jPGa9wbaT7BYLymW2rEJRq3q00QNkwGY7Z7FNqH8YGbhTaARmFJ_hDCdn67PmsbcykFQBcMiFeB4YLZhmxqLd2JPbVzCBgB_WEqy2io_peBI5A8I1XdA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2238.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJklK5jiequejMW1csBUIf7quP7dFSBgyhnoRDl-6tIf1W-t8xQcgDLqNPq6qAoa-dAM-4kn5DRgnsfOwujHwKwTbrGFo7e2B6zyqAHJAz4oP-V9_q2YqXQGfxcClZp2sqMa0JOODQBB0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJklK5jiequejMW1csBUIf7quP7dFSBgyhnoRDl-6tIf1W-t8xQcgDLqNPq6qAoa-dAM-4kn5DRgnsfOwujHwKwTbrGFo7e2B6zyqAHJAz4oP-V9_q2YqXQGfxcClZp2sqMa0JOODQBB0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2243.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfXyk-NEYHdFar1t9admyuoVucIh34yBAkgG8hyBSU6WLWhjc7GsAc5fZ9HwJf-DhqE48LX7q_1Hxg0G5CNq_zSZVs77_VLKf6b19fiolB7A20UneJ2sRPO-qhhP5F8tQoFtpeugxOoM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfXyk-NEYHdFar1t9admyuoVucIh34yBAkgG8hyBSU6WLWhjc7GsAc5fZ9HwJf-DhqE48LX7q_1Hxg0G5CNq_zSZVs77_VLKf6b19fiolB7A20UneJ2sRPO-qhhP5F8tQoFtpeugxOoM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2245.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlz0rNxBqYejqKT0D0iwZkJD6zDIk2M4z-uOHtbVQIyDxLpuB5A-pL8bjnIqAF-cQcEOU958MqqsMzZ9XZ5b1HhhRoVnrfd7Tv_rQmVQBWjINsNRCKoD1grYt5p8S_qLfAjXFsj89eEo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlz0rNxBqYejqKT0D0iwZkJD6zDIk2M4z-uOHtbVQIyDxLpuB5A-pL8bjnIqAF-cQcEOU958MqqsMzZ9XZ5b1HhhRoVnrfd7Tv_rQmVQBWjINsNRCKoD1grYt5p8S_qLfAjXFsj89eEo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2254.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLX-6YwiqhcYUJ6aAZB2HV8lqfG05umqiiE8p8V5EoIKeYksnX5WEApH8NdvYZRAq270DUjCiZ5NRyClT4UwJteHAfYcc67RSthj2UZwmZilqltPCLN4psLKmmCqnDJZ27hdttEFhYNU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLX-6YwiqhcYUJ6aAZB2HV8lqfG05umqiiE8p8V5EoIKeYksnX5WEApH8NdvYZRAq270DUjCiZ5NRyClT4UwJteHAfYcc67RSthj2UZwmZilqltPCLN4psLKmmCqnDJZ27hdttEFhYNU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2256.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXA1_EyrJpNN9F4et0N680yywzu26_ViGqCS52BpdvHFm1IAUsjRwAhByBoD33Ygr2jyJCMUr_jDiDpj5CUSF7W8LZHsgYPWrgju2T3XETsFFrpKmHbCY-2shy4OUaDQ-FzXsfYcR7V4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXA1_EyrJpNN9F4et0N680yywzu26_ViGqCS52BpdvHFm1IAUsjRwAhByBoD33Ygr2jyJCMUr_jDiDpj5CUSF7W8LZHsgYPWrgju2T3XETsFFrpKmHbCY-2shy4OUaDQ-FzXsfYcR7V4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2257.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bYUWMrZwCTv54iMOSLobigN9rIZ9Xnt7CB8wWCGCkv-ofOq9h6Q_WSVrs6qyIR10rbP77TSDp6EwtgBUAgSnxXh35k9ij7BVA32SsGjyTDW8Qiz6p1O17Kxz7eVGINvLqjGHKHlD8K8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bYUWMrZwCTv54iMOSLobigN9rIZ9Xnt7CB8wWCGCkv-ofOq9h6Q_WSVrs6qyIR10rbP77TSDp6EwtgBUAgSnxXh35k9ij7BVA32SsGjyTDW8Qiz6p1O17Kxz7eVGINvLqjGHKHlD8K8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2258.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">We have sporadically done preschool. I won't lie-- I have been way less organized or intentional about it than in years past, but it worked for us. We did stuff when we could, you baked with me, we counted and read a lot, and you can identify your numbers and letters and you're ready for kindergarten so I think it all worked out :). I think that overtime I have just realized more and more that you're home for such a short amount of time, that tromping through mud puddles with your brother is more important at age 4 than me trying to teach you how to graph colored fruit loops. But you do love any time we do something even sort of school adjacent, and don't even get me started about how much you love your nature days with Papa. He is always so good about having it planned, and now even includes a little "homework" for you-- a coloring sheet of an animal he has drawn with a few questions for you to answer [i.e. what color are bison when they are born? etc]. But let's be honest, of all of your sisters you are the least interested in the education and are just in it for the time with Papa and Casey's slushies. Which is okay in my book! You are very excited about starting Kindergarten next year though, and asked within moments of waking up on your birthday if you got to go to school that day since you were now five. We have been prepping you for calling Stacy "Mrs. Blythe" while you're at school, and you've vacillated between "I think I'll just call her Stacy" and questioning why it's "Mrs. BLYTHE" and not "Mrs. NAN... Why is she named after Blythe?" I guess all of that is still a little confusing to a five year old. </p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicpyJsTnuYt9KYR-C-URhLOubS3PsUth3l9B6lSwsWa_EHGEXHAkJZidwnIjk_TiUzI1_jey2_pqZRcvKJZUBwjQC9YvV12tFGiDkILJsWm5mO_dniyksmObbpLAbxXhXNUh1Mr7EGdA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicpyJsTnuYt9KYR-C-URhLOubS3PsUth3l9B6lSwsWa_EHGEXHAkJZidwnIjk_TiUzI1_jey2_pqZRcvKJZUBwjQC9YvV12tFGiDkILJsWm5mO_dniyksmObbpLAbxXhXNUh1Mr7EGdA/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2276.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETwuVf1dsJYFlwpR_Kn_M29AGWHMrSiPOfsWatpFfX0p3GUPtxSIrSDUe324ibtcUI9VLCHpaoIP0jPVe9w55yLWKH9TVIYUB4fvdmQIpjphJ24qoUW3tAABogo6k8XMzM7Q9pW8JXsI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETwuVf1dsJYFlwpR_Kn_M29AGWHMrSiPOfsWatpFfX0p3GUPtxSIrSDUe324ibtcUI9VLCHpaoIP0jPVe9w55yLWKH9TVIYUB4fvdmQIpjphJ24qoUW3tAABogo6k8XMzM7Q9pW8JXsI/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2278.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2Wdu5vHCvjWRhDl5Nfn6MdeQO3Ln1MkNiigB9cxjVSVZR344SyDlJ_Er41ZIhxWcyP1G4kuH_YJJ2doxhyWmO8eRrsuHsu_q6dQjewhgXFqKKYkSwbYGAMhh32aXk4FvdO2FwMCo-z4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2Wdu5vHCvjWRhDl5Nfn6MdeQO3Ln1MkNiigB9cxjVSVZR344SyDlJ_Er41ZIhxWcyP1G4kuH_YJJ2doxhyWmO8eRrsuHsu_q6dQjewhgXFqKKYkSwbYGAMhh32aXk4FvdO2FwMCo-z4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2282.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKw29qMA3fpXJNiItDKKry_52uxC4o4aeSZFcUP0L4swskMXpvwawkw0JvXIVHNo6Mm7_gVQTHvOnaDk5htcb_p2sipbcHATxkHV0YdtnTx1zNwayTZM0F0BYDZDIeTPcE8ABhY2PkvA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKw29qMA3fpXJNiItDKKry_52uxC4o4aeSZFcUP0L4swskMXpvwawkw0JvXIVHNo6Mm7_gVQTHvOnaDk5htcb_p2sipbcHATxkHV0YdtnTx1zNwayTZM0F0BYDZDIeTPcE8ABhY2PkvA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2283.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2p8fj2xjUqKv3vUlJOqMSIfc8I2wlNEOqLA5lDBbn186vlRh2bsG1QF1GofzC46-3Z9iCU1cDT7OJ_cS0lp4D26TezUR3g1GOtBjDr4iCQIKCPu4S4EOsPHr7H0b_EJ53KuICwpniiPo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2p8fj2xjUqKv3vUlJOqMSIfc8I2wlNEOqLA5lDBbn186vlRh2bsG1QF1GofzC46-3Z9iCU1cDT7OJ_cS0lp4D26TezUR3g1GOtBjDr4iCQIKCPu4S4EOsPHr7H0b_EJ53KuICwpniiPo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2285.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVP0LtvDk_V__WKIbs4YzIoOa8-sLMrb6bzMhmHToJ8DeGhZIueFrsjSLh30xJE5GgzQuizp4l6D8SlyCrg53LuUkhaTfizY2ybRlV5EKklkAG8NUPipNfx-bLB5aPfOTXO6CTHE5Qh8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVP0LtvDk_V__WKIbs4YzIoOa8-sLMrb6bzMhmHToJ8DeGhZIueFrsjSLh30xJE5GgzQuizp4l6D8SlyCrg53LuUkhaTfizY2ybRlV5EKklkAG8NUPipNfx-bLB5aPfOTXO6CTHE5Qh8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2286.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdigScAqsX57qto8LXaKTCmduNugMn4c5A5piOd8Ggq1fVJj1DBevNH0Pp6RrXf9_ZVCHk3tU04kLnkpri-5HcrA7fErcqjr8nGLHOx18FvUSGsTbIPBa953V28Kk6ddwrCSmchXh-AY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdigScAqsX57qto8LXaKTCmduNugMn4c5A5piOd8Ggq1fVJj1DBevNH0Pp6RrXf9_ZVCHk3tU04kLnkpri-5HcrA7fErcqjr8nGLHOx18FvUSGsTbIPBa953V28Kk6ddwrCSmchXh-AY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2291.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGtKGy0dGYuHgxCrK4U3BdL7absr4HhERvHoZRVvgzaUjuHKsSZrj0dG7ZqNNJmmO2xs3qcAELFVg-iKQRoFIX__7HcbTAr1ldkaVmUDMMkoufrV7xSflD-11XHbtii-FQaQS2vnJtms/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGtKGy0dGYuHgxCrK4U3BdL7absr4HhERvHoZRVvgzaUjuHKsSZrj0dG7ZqNNJmmO2xs3qcAELFVg-iKQRoFIX__7HcbTAr1ldkaVmUDMMkoufrV7xSflD-11XHbtii-FQaQS2vnJtms/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2292.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>One big thing happened in the last several months and that is that Becks got to move into your room with you. Except for a few months when Sloan was first born, you haven't shared a room with anyone. You don't remember sharing with both your sisters when we were at the old house, and you always have felt slightly left out that Blythe and Becks have been able to share a room-- so we decided it was a good time. You and Becks had been bickering a lot, and instead of giving you more space we decided forcing you together would be the best way to resolve that ;). You were thrilled out of your mind, and while it has taken some adjusting for you to just stop talking and go to sleep with someone else in the room, you are soaking up having Becks with you. After only a few months we are seeing your relationship grow, as well. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Nan, you still have a great fire in you. Your dad and I feel like it is constantly our job to make sure it doesn't burn outside its boundaries. You feel FIRST and process second, which is not how I operate so it has been a learning curve for me to parent you through that. But ultimately you have a wide open heart for life and the people in your life. You live with your arms wide open to whatever may be happening, and this is a gift. You've asked me a lot lately about how God can be inside of us, and I can tell you're trying to process and figure out these bigger truths about this great God we love. I pray your curiosity and questions lead further and further into His heart and His great love for you. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoQ5yx4X7Rmj8LoB-tt2R2zMbe7o0LN3oFWJ_UMEpB5pKV33ufzpIPBqQGBL7d3ofiOUXx0z82SRyJNdeg2lYGen119n8vu_9fQ5F2gYT0kOdTSXWLT4pRRHAQPBgBcXmMapqBmUQ7LY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoQ5yx4X7Rmj8LoB-tt2R2zMbe7o0LN3oFWJ_UMEpB5pKV33ufzpIPBqQGBL7d3ofiOUXx0z82SRyJNdeg2lYGen119n8vu_9fQ5F2gYT0kOdTSXWLT4pRRHAQPBgBcXmMapqBmUQ7LY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2293.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTktdOMENr8pea_Ph-qUgZBC1OdzvjxQZ81NuwNaKlp-OfUfQh7cKdnnD1kaXqS5iBYH0r8c8WcHIhiFqqjllsN_HJVbAP2fG_sBphLk4EcG7uTcD-0mSmdnYPo6R5nKYKq3dJuSmKtjo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTktdOMENr8pea_Ph-qUgZBC1OdzvjxQZ81NuwNaKlp-OfUfQh7cKdnnD1kaXqS5iBYH0r8c8WcHIhiFqqjllsN_HJVbAP2fG_sBphLk4EcG7uTcD-0mSmdnYPo6R5nKYKq3dJuSmKtjo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2297.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxfMGxjL-UXeUFJOJ6ep4GcXD3scKJBk2pueurlDaRHmKKuPOZ2pa64rXBgxow6UPTWPXzZG3snzPsiqWetLpVNpMwdxX3Spz6YH9u7nfGmnRHOnt4L_Qgb8zwEaUdh7NFEiI83rj-7g/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2298-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxfMGxjL-UXeUFJOJ6ep4GcXD3scKJBk2pueurlDaRHmKKuPOZ2pa64rXBgxow6UPTWPXzZG3snzPsiqWetLpVNpMwdxX3Spz6YH9u7nfGmnRHOnt4L_Qgb8zwEaUdh7NFEiI83rj-7g/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2298-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUax_14F5p9RTf1omjd28r9Vr98jEyvqcUNjq8n629eUB-d1CsZt5OApvdEdMgn0q30BNbxnObjE9OEESWIZPh7sAccyezH5O7oEy_d74NJFElyOyV38w-9EYpbOc7E_h9UmW79c4Sufc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUax_14F5p9RTf1omjd28r9Vr98jEyvqcUNjq8n629eUB-d1CsZt5OApvdEdMgn0q30BNbxnObjE9OEESWIZPh7sAccyezH5O7oEy_d74NJFElyOyV38w-9EYpbOc7E_h9UmW79c4Sufc/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2299.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZW4ybOd1NAN3Q6pDg28r6Pa9N3aU0zQzbGUA4Z9lG52eDxd-jS7beaZ7S6mDL3MIV8rTm_T-xeKWoLjvN6IUfNLHXLJgNMV7MuUEq5b0q3N0cvSrVcf9VLcY07dIBkhRTwJYzBPCdTA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZW4ybOd1NAN3Q6pDg28r6Pa9N3aU0zQzbGUA4Z9lG52eDxd-jS7beaZ7S6mDL3MIV8rTm_T-xeKWoLjvN6IUfNLHXLJgNMV7MuUEq5b0q3N0cvSrVcf9VLcY07dIBkhRTwJYzBPCdTA/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2300.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoSNVB_UkLUs7zHXlHbdmbIzZSerGRQaWubQ31cRLh_jVEMwKHOGrBbT3R-lccUL97JUbT3f5vF6-gtw6Sy9sGoxTdQXcbhx3XQ_j5YxeJYhsxy7hbUjBwrGTEwbmuAkFTiXcWVm086A/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoSNVB_UkLUs7zHXlHbdmbIzZSerGRQaWubQ31cRLh_jVEMwKHOGrBbT3R-lccUL97JUbT3f5vF6-gtw6Sy9sGoxTdQXcbhx3XQ_j5YxeJYhsxy7hbUjBwrGTEwbmuAkFTiXcWVm086A/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2303.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zkqOR1jgzdQX-aoTAtcjPKT2ccxH1F-gx6h_VDWjQ1Sx9ay-7Er_5IAizxaS7qRQBFiAlY6-3O0DwSP9ZHX6jye-A_yaD7If9UXZLLtfobkScCI-pHXoFXU6O1PMzQPHa_aANHN-qNY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zkqOR1jgzdQX-aoTAtcjPKT2ccxH1F-gx6h_VDWjQ1Sx9ay-7Er_5IAizxaS7qRQBFiAlY6-3O0DwSP9ZHX6jye-A_yaD7If9UXZLLtfobkScCI-pHXoFXU6O1PMzQPHa_aANHN-qNY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2310.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtAFX4emk6qBp7_Hc1MDbmD7f_YMYVMM06oi2ZFIXWZ_i2t2z-KQULPXKde5XnqQUjp1oFF3BvzQVrax379V1W4cRmZcZnzPmuQfI72xWmUrw6mqR8DTIjQOX0TsCgxtmy6sGNrDZFo8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtAFX4emk6qBp7_Hc1MDbmD7f_YMYVMM06oi2ZFIXWZ_i2t2z-KQULPXKde5XnqQUjp1oFF3BvzQVrax379V1W4cRmZcZnzPmuQfI72xWmUrw6mqR8DTIjQOX0TsCgxtmy6sGNrDZFo8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2313.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEix0uPvstsNozeryvgBAm6uC-YTr_W5QiIHskYPHZU5rFxXczJnLtRgqVQ4FdU7jZBGrbbQ4JMbnDQ0cIIr8YdPao8qXQfLabM92GhMQdLrQXYKHczFKqjUQlvfr5xs8tnJ26NER4VM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEix0uPvstsNozeryvgBAm6uC-YTr_W5QiIHskYPHZU5rFxXczJnLtRgqVQ4FdU7jZBGrbbQ4JMbnDQ0cIIr8YdPao8qXQfLabM92GhMQdLrQXYKHczFKqjUQlvfr5xs8tnJ26NER4VM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2316.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx7hLthyNfCl8xK28Zm11uDPeJTKIiuLTBeEIApVErJ1vbrrZO0inuTNaRtFBjre4D7YvFd9usbCRJuB-i6oLjGrYZ5uMNpd0oHz2v79dvWFh9q0-63NSXdyTHTDWFr_fnp6q1cI4g2A/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx7hLthyNfCl8xK28Zm11uDPeJTKIiuLTBeEIApVErJ1vbrrZO0inuTNaRtFBjre4D7YvFd9usbCRJuB-i6oLjGrYZ5uMNpd0oHz2v79dvWFh9q0-63NSXdyTHTDWFr_fnp6q1cI4g2A/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2321.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>You love your siblings, and movie night, and working puzzles with Dianna, and reading books, and drawing. You love baking with Nana and having PopPop push you on the swing. You love any project Nini creates for you and being outside, chasing our neighbors' cats. You still nap a few days a week--hard-- and still run into walls and doors from time to time because you're going a direction before you think to look! You love snacks and noodles, horses and unicorns. There is something unique about you, Nan; something untethered inside you that others can feel. We pray that you don't lose this spirit, but that you would also one day soon invite THE Spirit to live inside you as well, to love you and guide you and grab the reigns inside of you. Not to harness you or bridle you, but teach you how to harness and bridle the wild inside for His good and His glory. When I look on a field and see what wildflowers can do when we let them grow and spread, it is an awe-inspiring sight to behold. And that is what the Spirit in your can do with your wild-- He can help it grow and spread into a beautiful display of vibrancy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-2QQmHpxtX9-q1CEoRJhXO6yn9K3bNmH3-O0eurG0N3GpXY85iIBhsMUTZyoVxG-e8_4oK2K58p6_2gDWbBL0T9oLQFRAv9J7q1PmR9LmeWoW26FDH0eoWraI0wt4E0XUXA9jJTPgeg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-2QQmHpxtX9-q1CEoRJhXO6yn9K3bNmH3-O0eurG0N3GpXY85iIBhsMUTZyoVxG-e8_4oK2K58p6_2gDWbBL0T9oLQFRAv9J7q1PmR9LmeWoW26FDH0eoWraI0wt4E0XUXA9jJTPgeg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2327.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW3ebRRWEPzzeYq8O7YnKyi4GanjuXNZCTYFyGcItFLjFeh8x65aLknKyFlW1pEF-DCbc7zN9tD4wUmxIlDBRRjUhp-KkgsKjwCuSlqHUAR4uqYVL7L5ii9BNo7vEdX-zXHnBWRoaKUQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW3ebRRWEPzzeYq8O7YnKyi4GanjuXNZCTYFyGcItFLjFeh8x65aLknKyFlW1pEF-DCbc7zN9tD4wUmxIlDBRRjUhp-KkgsKjwCuSlqHUAR4uqYVL7L5ii9BNo7vEdX-zXHnBWRoaKUQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2331.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLaPwKvmapdLtrF6tiDzzJWwwh1K28v4tFUvsn_W1XDa4L7Hjbw7tjJdQi4myujuxUgblffwUNa9CjkRoC_TTyZAb5tACyHD_L9elkblukB9-yPeMLI_jGkYGvZWlMWQaSOC_hCHQOFY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLaPwKvmapdLtrF6tiDzzJWwwh1K28v4tFUvsn_W1XDa4L7Hjbw7tjJdQi4myujuxUgblffwUNa9CjkRoC_TTyZAb5tACyHD_L9elkblukB9-yPeMLI_jGkYGvZWlMWQaSOC_hCHQOFY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2333.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHXpR3JGDnssWHIli_YXxNvJJKTukQXKaERP2I-3XtWTFjZvcetTHFbdfaGtzIgTJnZo4idfoyURx0mQVHiN2ayjfO8LPCIFcLb9uQryy_TdrekHzMKlAsksbwep9BYOr5jAgwYRx6LE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHXpR3JGDnssWHIli_YXxNvJJKTukQXKaERP2I-3XtWTFjZvcetTHFbdfaGtzIgTJnZo4idfoyURx0mQVHiN2ayjfO8LPCIFcLb9uQryy_TdrekHzMKlAsksbwep9BYOr5jAgwYRx6LE/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2335.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmBIbpI6EKH0oFH5ogGFbvDBtFy18-P3af-BJgudX7QZZKDiOu2d0gXAlCBmos6T7P6nmcNSbHv2NScDB65UJfJFXI2ao5IWk8YsREGk6tf0AUZCU3Pl5oIuwBr18Ku8raDmbQzpPKBQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmBIbpI6EKH0oFH5ogGFbvDBtFy18-P3af-BJgudX7QZZKDiOu2d0gXAlCBmos6T7P6nmcNSbHv2NScDB65UJfJFXI2ao5IWk8YsREGk6tf0AUZCU3Pl5oIuwBr18Ku8raDmbQzpPKBQ/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2336.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPB1WSGdNzXF6YM0n_RG45N5MUz7UG-uFVBfxMSd3raKTxC33sYHBVJKxivsjEoQm6ErDzJeNC_EClwuHUwSXWLon3GCe33InMnfCWU-O0CTmqBCnrTvgWXtXp8xUkZd3X55R2zrryC90/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPB1WSGdNzXF6YM0n_RG45N5MUz7UG-uFVBfxMSd3raKTxC33sYHBVJKxivsjEoQm6ErDzJeNC_EClwuHUwSXWLon3GCe33InMnfCWU-O0CTmqBCnrTvgWXtXp8xUkZd3X55R2zrryC90/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2342.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIB5O0TP3GL0DMCpe26JEEuJ_kTlOLwi-HCQ4y5pr9fkmzQQJX2kYaqrarIJmTe6Uvp3dtPGzcA9mxetZ-fjveskgdDMZctvJ5NLBLE3mssO3Vsuwb5oBqaYpetrzi9zHoAMx5wAWz6A/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIB5O0TP3GL0DMCpe26JEEuJ_kTlOLwi-HCQ4y5pr9fkmzQQJX2kYaqrarIJmTe6Uvp3dtPGzcA9mxetZ-fjveskgdDMZctvJ5NLBLE3mssO3Vsuwb5oBqaYpetrzi9zHoAMx5wAWz6A/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2344.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDD5tmvBafESFi-2EzdDJR49n3AXGCZ9-OSboe7AbwBs-Rnbw9lAYKLPiDngzkpi1AY5LHrGPNsRpbsJrnYQL39RDDTE1o3U0K7AEQ11GlxvvoXGQn1Kv9tvUqj6RM-Dv0rrYqQGcEg4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDD5tmvBafESFi-2EzdDJR49n3AXGCZ9-OSboe7AbwBs-Rnbw9lAYKLPiDngzkpi1AY5LHrGPNsRpbsJrnYQL39RDDTE1o3U0K7AEQ11GlxvvoXGQn1Kv9tvUqj6RM-Dv0rrYqQGcEg4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2349.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtADhrPUqIxoTscTJ_tVN7RejSWd7FjiP8actAs8z2Ppg2Iu1nSjj1J6y5l-fE7YkUz9mZyGyYR-XB_hoSMduQxvUz8nsI6vCfm-QaqWJ-c4PaCCkM69Zj8LzYtdH0PHNlK9Ejgz5Mpds/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtADhrPUqIxoTscTJ_tVN7RejSWd7FjiP8actAs8z2Ppg2Iu1nSjj1J6y5l-fE7YkUz9mZyGyYR-XB_hoSMduQxvUz8nsI6vCfm-QaqWJ-c4PaCCkM69Zj8LzYtdH0PHNlK9Ejgz5Mpds/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2351.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinf4XNFqTgYmQJYIw86QTYQa90AXPvqCSkOKtPbofO4tFHooi6f1Ai-od5Bxeiu0k7aDXgAulkXD1QI3v-pDfPrVPAEaFjDS48bnbjUPJCdmDtpvvK6B6H-oKP4edTHzaKSg7pFLQuKM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinf4XNFqTgYmQJYIw86QTYQa90AXPvqCSkOKtPbofO4tFHooi6f1Ai-od5Bxeiu0k7aDXgAulkXD1QI3v-pDfPrVPAEaFjDS48bnbjUPJCdmDtpvvK6B6H-oKP4edTHzaKSg7pFLQuKM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2359.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVM4m1iOgfW2i7n1ClCsQnbqwpLo8SkvhICtW1u2-3fvrZ6Kh2v0LUDLXKaxL2zbVlyfm-UffXRTXk5BpBDrqOfyLwwvSVAKGYlDpPYY6irntchB8xPN7PABP_X4ox2KfMcvyrlMKjGzM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVM4m1iOgfW2i7n1ClCsQnbqwpLo8SkvhICtW1u2-3fvrZ6Kh2v0LUDLXKaxL2zbVlyfm-UffXRTXk5BpBDrqOfyLwwvSVAKGYlDpPYY6irntchB8xPN7PABP_X4ox2KfMcvyrlMKjGzM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2361.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7yofnfhzAEZIBE2rET2T5G4lFLQYRRaddbMN08CCr3rNEhjjpj2xqU_eVmcIxRyaIt9qOP1r9gitgk4PbVuZO042AyrE-BfZV1wLQsirTUpvDEV_QLiTyNulOmKsMdelnBDlsc8wWnA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7yofnfhzAEZIBE2rET2T5G4lFLQYRRaddbMN08CCr3rNEhjjpj2xqU_eVmcIxRyaIt9qOP1r9gitgk4PbVuZO042AyrE-BfZV1wLQsirTUpvDEV_QLiTyNulOmKsMdelnBDlsc8wWnA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2363.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkHlWPb1audQa8yQPl7Cx3a447FiSEmOrCfiIQFncSkwDmc07Mrbvv0vBYTZPsYB_cEl7p-MWhQRlmx2YHPpMZG-AvgzFck6Ac3JDZSXOBCQwRMLBKZBA9YBn9P4RZUVvKEGCMP1V3oc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkHlWPb1audQa8yQPl7Cx3a447FiSEmOrCfiIQFncSkwDmc07Mrbvv0vBYTZPsYB_cEl7p-MWhQRlmx2YHPpMZG-AvgzFck6Ac3JDZSXOBCQwRMLBKZBA9YBn9P4RZUVvKEGCMP1V3oc/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2364.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As I have ended all birthday letters, I want to end this one to you, sweet Nanny Lou: We hope you understand the why behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">We love you, Nan Louise. There is nothing you could ever do that would make us stop loving you.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;">Happy fifth birthday!</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK30PhFHOVj6ovBYuurf9Yze7XeK9uRpSXuXBd75oSrj-NX8c3WU8rZSF_4sybQAHIF4Xa3FkKgAgrPlIOwX1u6X7zsjMjdejRZiieYOHvtEYIE3KLEQlv1hAjfJIQ0_j2DNf-YTGpN8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK30PhFHOVj6ovBYuurf9Yze7XeK9uRpSXuXBd75oSrj-NX8c3WU8rZSF_4sybQAHIF4Xa3FkKgAgrPlIOwX1u6X7zsjMjdejRZiieYOHvtEYIE3KLEQlv1hAjfJIQ0_j2DNf-YTGpN8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2366.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEPS9Gh9mNg6rGcnx2N7RHY88gDXc1e1TOrK3alkeUKw6PMoJFdcmsVMVrvSp9ZMAF2BzD1Ln5fLbV4S7us0onU1jcfmYAl71jnYZbkt17MXJ3tnK8D6JHm6ll1C59hW3m5SLs48ZrzY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEPS9Gh9mNg6rGcnx2N7RHY88gDXc1e1TOrK3alkeUKw6PMoJFdcmsVMVrvSp9ZMAF2BzD1Ln5fLbV4S7us0onU1jcfmYAl71jnYZbkt17MXJ3tnK8D6JHm6ll1C59hW3m5SLs48ZrzY/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2374.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRXB5_whulwqiIUv_3N4D-Ohh4wOb2Za7btX6l5FjW__g_dyhamtT4nDBtTkKC9DAHlzlTqdxR7hG8gfrAsK5K3HDatZB_m0ZfARQnU3J5Xj-CG-LzqkCLn04z3OfxT3G8ZnjGenRHxA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRXB5_whulwqiIUv_3N4D-Ohh4wOb2Za7btX6l5FjW__g_dyhamtT4nDBtTkKC9DAHlzlTqdxR7hG8gfrAsK5K3HDatZB_m0ZfARQnU3J5Xj-CG-LzqkCLn04z3OfxT3G8ZnjGenRHxA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2379.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-34490360175732217122021-04-07T14:04:00.006-04:002021-04-07T16:16:30.569-04:00Nine<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qtHErv7hSXIMarMGLT0QtyJGWVypoBYoyn-v86YJvm4wIXr2aFvRKPk_SRztoiYa02_2Pb2M9plF60Yv9XRPNQuG9j0dLqGvcFOlrJD3Agw4M-qigbswbGroh0ULhTUKYRIfk8wKu8k/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qtHErv7hSXIMarMGLT0QtyJGWVypoBYoyn-v86YJvm4wIXr2aFvRKPk_SRztoiYa02_2Pb2M9plF60Yv9XRPNQuG9j0dLqGvcFOlrJD3Agw4M-qigbswbGroh0ULhTUKYRIfk8wKu8k/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1817.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3lDmG2yZOxZb3yxLVaOut0JWIOY6JvdAPvtn_IE48WCLpFNbhOzjb98bYsdJ0039k-1aZsec4H3JwBzyNzHba1m55erXEmxnnpiVWhjXre8wevbXV1P7VYGU6YCpylb2M1N8ENkN6pc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3lDmG2yZOxZb3yxLVaOut0JWIOY6JvdAPvtn_IE48WCLpFNbhOzjb98bYsdJ0039k-1aZsec4H3JwBzyNzHba1m55erXEmxnnpiVWhjXre8wevbXV1P7VYGU6YCpylb2M1N8ENkN6pc/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1841.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTwrBhD0yXEXFT2TIVyaSTd2au7GCv-8g58Bnu8YZRygEB5fh21DQGjodxNXNVsKu43JqifMRVgCD7i1JNKtNF8cAnvxNA8Gw371TZQRRk-RIKNnKsL2gUKhNTRctES4KRFjaQrSG7sk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTwrBhD0yXEXFT2TIVyaSTd2au7GCv-8g58Bnu8YZRygEB5fh21DQGjodxNXNVsKu43JqifMRVgCD7i1JNKtNF8cAnvxNA8Gw371TZQRRk-RIKNnKsL2gUKhNTRctES4KRFjaQrSG7sk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1945.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sH1m2qXyK_XgEqR7GowqzxwwhdxBiq9LLZRq52mdy94S_kP4bSEtie6zJTAWnLZGbhzZEt2Ii8xqaiElyDkGk_dUxC8bPnm2z4FYYmmr1Q7M-7K0imPJkLObW5LPoHS_dlDNO3tF5Zg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1994.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sH1m2qXyK_XgEqR7GowqzxwwhdxBiq9LLZRq52mdy94S_kP4bSEtie6zJTAWnLZGbhzZEt2Ii8xqaiElyDkGk_dUxC8bPnm2z4FYYmmr1Q7M-7K0imPJkLObW5LPoHS_dlDNO3tF5Zg/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1994.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO91Fye7oMLsaPPjyXlXDEpXVpeKilqs4yk55sG4aRN0ckAXhxZv541X6IfVhOB1S0lEMXII5GQyY1U2uJZIr2GNiQBxMbHvI2mIlCUYPx83BcK5JY9gvQVYWkPt6INCpxctiYDCRNFc0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO91Fye7oMLsaPPjyXlXDEpXVpeKilqs4yk55sG4aRN0ckAXhxZv541X6IfVhOB1S0lEMXII5GQyY1U2uJZIr2GNiQBxMbHvI2mIlCUYPx83BcK5JY9gvQVYWkPt6INCpxctiYDCRNFc0/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1800.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mxlf2QCWZXBqfeAlXnhAM3xUGBrADFO9d-IfsLb49sUuwAucDCfyciIgj83Bin32EQugQSLSUnBQHfx1yvhNZugZD-qKMqfwA3QaHuakrHdJ_57jBGFUjObsxZsiCn8q_rAw8W5ImZY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2072.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mxlf2QCWZXBqfeAlXnhAM3xUGBrADFO9d-IfsLb49sUuwAucDCfyciIgj83Bin32EQugQSLSUnBQHfx1yvhNZugZD-qKMqfwA3QaHuakrHdJ_57jBGFUjObsxZsiCn8q_rAw8W5ImZY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2072.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE5hYHtaLlah7bUjDtjmP8V_Rhn5Twri3FXzv46LyLAJ8OzAGrVj5d0qQy8WFhIRPSWqvlk1z-293aOY0rQi9J8oK4J4VRBwF_QSfqGRSqnXeMGeyQ08QHqELKksgyGiBoXD_zIJVJTQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE5hYHtaLlah7bUjDtjmP8V_Rhn5Twri3FXzv46LyLAJ8OzAGrVj5d0qQy8WFhIRPSWqvlk1z-293aOY0rQi9J8oK4J4VRBwF_QSfqGRSqnXeMGeyQ08QHqELKksgyGiBoXD_zIJVJTQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2060.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs28hc8LVzk1PZGVafuMj4LVIaFZcHTa4DeSIuqlUa4AOoTuSCuID0B6UN23lglI3xhiczzEw_WbuALfIzruvsFKLL8JuOoLsWvOGe3X77n6cwCKbDPuHNE6RcK-gC7BUqKokNofytonk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs28hc8LVzk1PZGVafuMj4LVIaFZcHTa4DeSIuqlUa4AOoTuSCuID0B6UN23lglI3xhiczzEw_WbuALfIzruvsFKLL8JuOoLsWvOGe3X77n6cwCKbDPuHNE6RcK-gC7BUqKokNofytonk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1908.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9txjVf-pa0YOUUQRrwNS4xCi8F4qlvR6SaVFskuKuU4LesuneWdIsu7QwQGUkSieGRojcG5GvvxKfKaFI6D_ztUSOxMNUhbatqj3kqf9_CtG74_99t6iAq0FMwt-vTSbmCYlJ_oDRvF8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9txjVf-pa0YOUUQRrwNS4xCi8F4qlvR6SaVFskuKuU4LesuneWdIsu7QwQGUkSieGRojcG5GvvxKfKaFI6D_ztUSOxMNUhbatqj3kqf9_CtG74_99t6iAq0FMwt-vTSbmCYlJ_oDRvF8/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>To my dear, sweet Blythe Kathleen,</p><p>I'm always at a loss for where to begin these little letters to you. I'm at a loss because you are the first of all the birthdays in our house, kicking off another season of everyone turning a year older. I'm also at a loss because every year I am stunned by how much older you are, and how much I continue to enjoy your presence at every age. And I'm at a loss because you have 948 different interests and loves and passions and things you enjoy and it's hard to even know where to begin! </p><p>It's hard to to start a letter this year, I suppose, without talking about what you experienced and how you handled the past. Days before your birthday last year, Covid shut down our country. It shut down your school, your church...pretty much everything. If you look back at your letter last year I only mentioned it briefly [and I referred to it as the only name we called it then "the coronavirus"], because we all naively thought/hoped it would just be for a little while. We thought surely that, even if we missed things throughout the summer, that this school year-- your 3rd grade year-- would be "normal." We were wrong. Luckily, unlike a lot of kids, you were able to attend school in person all year, with a lot of modifications. You took it all in stride. You were so excited to just BE there, with your friends. The first day of school you came home and were literally doing cartwheels while your mouth never stopped moving telling me about your day. You were buzzing with energy and excitement to be back with your people after 5 months. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEmIKxfW8xq2gcyY5VAZRHR2UbghYJt2nbNc-X0QTJcn3gYDf0usvv7KqGRUKdLZOSlvtFwv6VrYTnvWTTlVkMmgcSN5zf79FiROhtL1Ab4g09ZDHHViG4iYFOYvHXTDGaNR5-ro0hT0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1782.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEmIKxfW8xq2gcyY5VAZRHR2UbghYJt2nbNc-X0QTJcn3gYDf0usvv7KqGRUKdLZOSlvtFwv6VrYTnvWTTlVkMmgcSN5zf79FiROhtL1Ab4g09ZDHHViG4iYFOYvHXTDGaNR5-ro0hT0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1782.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dCAIt6DW3pYGA3u-7YgytFQWek_7gC1euXVI7S0KMHb6_gmESpoiO-n4epxZCvhki0S73kBXAIdvT-dKrtXFaf5yX6bu3Co9NC_mknfz2NoGppgcHCgnATehhz8BdYMACN8HtB2Nhyphenhypheno/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1792.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dCAIt6DW3pYGA3u-7YgytFQWek_7gC1euXVI7S0KMHb6_gmESpoiO-n4epxZCvhki0S73kBXAIdvT-dKrtXFaf5yX6bu3Co9NC_mknfz2NoGppgcHCgnATehhz8BdYMACN8HtB2Nhyphenhypheno/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1792.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoteguCfSzJi2mp5f5wX7QbtNWI17KYBzRIly6dOb9V6-cqhAirkV8lC3Q8U6Vd46-mvG-ljW6q62beyNobsg2ZF5Im3rXS3ZeDv4ovpyyVEmUAcCWKawRZ9xAMl1nDcqQnejQoqS974/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1799.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoteguCfSzJi2mp5f5wX7QbtNWI17KYBzRIly6dOb9V6-cqhAirkV8lC3Q8U6Vd46-mvG-ljW6q62beyNobsg2ZF5Im3rXS3ZeDv4ovpyyVEmUAcCWKawRZ9xAMl1nDcqQnejQoqS974/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1799.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GyiU9H5PY_4n5wnK3fEBuDDLySASAT-JNROrBmUNSgZZJXWi5H7eAT9j5K2jihRD8-4CNCYIcC_Sv8eU30uloHGZ0fC12HiXh4CYlMmK3mfPu2AQomMtyUPxSOKqYrZ1ILZyLzvJBYo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GyiU9H5PY_4n5wnK3fEBuDDLySASAT-JNROrBmUNSgZZJXWi5H7eAT9j5K2jihRD8-4CNCYIcC_Sv8eU30uloHGZ0fC12HiXh4CYlMmK3mfPu2AQomMtyUPxSOKqYrZ1ILZyLzvJBYo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1804.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDv2B3N6wKpqblPzKG7q0zze4LDgCe5kPWg1ELbiUGjPrPykqdCLXBF-nIStqobi2GPM7Muombb8__ejpriHx0wRRCsOer4FzXBKhgvy96JCOl80Bwu1kprv8PHqR7RVDu0glaAR6SENs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDv2B3N6wKpqblPzKG7q0zze4LDgCe5kPWg1ELbiUGjPrPykqdCLXBF-nIStqobi2GPM7Muombb8__ejpriHx0wRRCsOer4FzXBKhgvy96JCOl80Bwu1kprv8PHqR7RVDu0glaAR6SENs/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1808.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEH2RErV4Chn1Wf3cLPF8kxEkf9FSqB5dTy2UQPufxro1fbwgty-Nus3__Jly9ho2CfGO09gPm9ypuO-ZF1XouUK7MK92c8ggkY-lgbutH-DnHHpYQDFnPoZZignrBzRGDfgZ0omd_8c/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEH2RErV4Chn1Wf3cLPF8kxEkf9FSqB5dTy2UQPufxro1fbwgty-Nus3__Jly9ho2CfGO09gPm9ypuO-ZF1XouUK7MK92c8ggkY-lgbutH-DnHHpYQDFnPoZZignrBzRGDfgZ0omd_8c/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1809.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_MHlBx-RBVti3oYJinErFwJF0pmaG6PbemUE_lipDjlRhm0l6bQfZWB3-2un4KqDRl23agmKYk3Jv3h0vh6MOCE1LbweWsL2Gt0gyhDncOG-RcXu7uvOBGA9LrLKtA3zSVnv0i1ZexU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_MHlBx-RBVti3oYJinErFwJF0pmaG6PbemUE_lipDjlRhm0l6bQfZWB3-2un4KqDRl23agmKYk3Jv3h0vh6MOCE1LbweWsL2Gt0gyhDncOG-RcXu7uvOBGA9LrLKtA3zSVnv0i1ZexU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1811.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyapvoJYh7qoQYDNheDcfG6If3-A98xqnjXHqKCbi93TJTF2eUJqYEbblBQYEuZ02VVY2do4nOxP348YhMdgvpFcQXtfQeuuRPvvNsB6ysZmBOzd79f4KGGZmCxmK9bbYrJTMvokK7S78/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyapvoJYh7qoQYDNheDcfG6If3-A98xqnjXHqKCbi93TJTF2eUJqYEbblBQYEuZ02VVY2do4nOxP348YhMdgvpFcQXtfQeuuRPvvNsB6ysZmBOzd79f4KGGZmCxmK9bbYrJTMvokK7S78/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1812.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANIB6XUiwJS_dPLjIHOYHSvO7_nwIxGDNg9Yefhk-EC-e_AdD_E8E626iKfjyfPZcFwDVKMt_ybi8GCmw9Xjo8re9IBiGG1vKnpbHl5nDn6Pq0UqpPVrrQdj14LMVWV_hNTvjSjhe3l4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANIB6XUiwJS_dPLjIHOYHSvO7_nwIxGDNg9Yefhk-EC-e_AdD_E8E626iKfjyfPZcFwDVKMt_ybi8GCmw9Xjo8re9IBiGG1vKnpbHl5nDn6Pq0UqpPVrrQdj14LMVWV_hNTvjSjhe3l4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1814.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM07yw5g81X19M0w2bBSPi7zMjFEYxYgq5VNoh9YnjmIsZ38C1sBaCOL94dxsr-7YqnPh3xKF6n4MVa8NPhu4OASQSoZRZOE2Jhb5GLP_kZ2yw3NAo1WxkxGGjid3Q9oXvgOvkJMU38rA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM07yw5g81X19M0w2bBSPi7zMjFEYxYgq5VNoh9YnjmIsZ38C1sBaCOL94dxsr-7YqnPh3xKF6n4MVa8NPhu4OASQSoZRZOE2Jhb5GLP_kZ2yw3NAo1WxkxGGjid3Q9oXvgOvkJMU38rA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1815.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ5onLnwty1-f1kM-nyEVlMaWLt3usPevOAdlTkV1dNYx1UGhcOGLrWAuuYANV9mkJoa382fph-VuvL4Ya175J6cy5dlTccOrh4nV8ju6hwLwJU-5yAnyyW6Z_tuq1Z08TZP1jRkDNsk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1816.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ5onLnwty1-f1kM-nyEVlMaWLt3usPevOAdlTkV1dNYx1UGhcOGLrWAuuYANV9mkJoa382fph-VuvL4Ya175J6cy5dlTccOrh4nV8ju6hwLwJU-5yAnyyW6Z_tuq1Z08TZP1jRkDNsk/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1816.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">You have shared lately that it's been hard, expressing your dislike for wearing masks and not getting to have as much access to things and people in the building. You have a little prayer journal and one day you wrote to God, telling him these discomforts of yours, but on the same page you prayed for a friend of yours that doesn't know Jesus. And that's the best way I can describe how you've handled this: you've acknowledged it's no fun and not what you choose, but have had an eye to more important things than the fact that wearing a mask is uncomfortable. We could all learn from you: keep our eyes on the Kingdom, the rest is details. </p><p style="text-align: left;">In the midst of the shutdown we got to do a lot as just our family of six, and it was truly a beautiful time despite the circumstances that forced it. We snuck in so many days to the river, trails, and lakes around us. Watching you in nature, bare feet running through sand and mud, water dripping from your fingers, is always fun for me. In our current read aloud there was a line that struck me last night: "Children and nature are very close together, and often nature's silence can do more to heal angry, unhappy children than any human words can." And while I would rarely, if ever, describe you as angry or unhappy, I would say that I can see nature's silence working in you to heal things when you are out in it. You've been this way since you were quite small. I think there is something about being in creation that taps into your creative nature, connects you to the Creator, in a way that soothes and excites you all at once. </p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSb2M1XYGm1Wnyr1D54vXDpKYIxUsg4b69_QEVRaHj_CEzIl-YFBphpZu8bCGCOEdTT6SjjiR3YN3T_dSMk7VhV8ecnGt-jB808it0YAOIExNJmRzqeWTNDoerwV9vNisLMwSc6ejwog/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSb2M1XYGm1Wnyr1D54vXDpKYIxUsg4b69_QEVRaHj_CEzIl-YFBphpZu8bCGCOEdTT6SjjiR3YN3T_dSMk7VhV8ecnGt-jB808it0YAOIExNJmRzqeWTNDoerwV9vNisLMwSc6ejwog/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1818.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3lb1LR88HPK_7bHI-MNmWSvXX1dX4njCaa7kLsxvAhxe29c1HS36BsJttK7WvsfFgKtwnB3tLzc5eryIiG8nnB_IY5D0LEZHRiVgehrJcsDfPkPoq8714L2dN-byqJtfQzY4pu0DFZQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3lb1LR88HPK_7bHI-MNmWSvXX1dX4njCaa7kLsxvAhxe29c1HS36BsJttK7WvsfFgKtwnB3tLzc5eryIiG8nnB_IY5D0LEZHRiVgehrJcsDfPkPoq8714L2dN-byqJtfQzY4pu0DFZQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1819.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4voEG4V-TFRtqP-FmQt1_mzt1PCDd5j8jaf3xQLSvvXAvX9HkWhURDrskCYXQGoJYw0fPnolRzfgLKesBX4ZbaV0SO-WDq2R2VhFyyQ39YrnqgXyPFWo90Mop_oIM4JqOIIAROjg_Ss/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4voEG4V-TFRtqP-FmQt1_mzt1PCDd5j8jaf3xQLSvvXAvX9HkWhURDrskCYXQGoJYw0fPnolRzfgLKesBX4ZbaV0SO-WDq2R2VhFyyQ39YrnqgXyPFWo90Mop_oIM4JqOIIAROjg_Ss/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1820.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsw_glJwzOejGqm5uNni-6_wlmXd_YxUsVV8EaUMpP5DT2Z1xUk5vN8pCkSea1ey5JQ_FjI4V4lUneiIYXNur9ckiXlk3RBkePVP6N36ifUGlbuubbyD-47pd_sX9WexZdQyD74xAvM4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsw_glJwzOejGqm5uNni-6_wlmXd_YxUsVV8EaUMpP5DT2Z1xUk5vN8pCkSea1ey5JQ_FjI4V4lUneiIYXNur9ckiXlk3RBkePVP6N36ifUGlbuubbyD-47pd_sX9WexZdQyD74xAvM4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1824.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVS_hytYLxhdRCI1quBP53uUxYXYF3CYLT5iOqLHvrf6M2akMmuOzM9eeWgimoWsQq46uqJFmrk7NIRqUVX8S4aHcxcxeNzQWAuzAdaTBZrvNtCaf7OIPjcSshaxkzi18tJhLx-pZ0Jw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVS_hytYLxhdRCI1quBP53uUxYXYF3CYLT5iOqLHvrf6M2akMmuOzM9eeWgimoWsQq46uqJFmrk7NIRqUVX8S4aHcxcxeNzQWAuzAdaTBZrvNtCaf7OIPjcSshaxkzi18tJhLx-pZ0Jw/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1837.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPp-J3BtXRPZ_ZGyxtTRkTfLNTKIHJ9X5p80WJA17FT9aFmrt4oSaeAfzi9QpRidBi28L_2NpnjjWSe2gi4WPXHARcFCzl_mnUT0R1RHdFnrlwHyC01IlKWLdSkM60Zchn6FpP3TZ4IM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPp-J3BtXRPZ_ZGyxtTRkTfLNTKIHJ9X5p80WJA17FT9aFmrt4oSaeAfzi9QpRidBi28L_2NpnjjWSe2gi4WPXHARcFCzl_mnUT0R1RHdFnrlwHyC01IlKWLdSkM60Zchn6FpP3TZ4IM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1840.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVF4lHogJ1pM9xQUaxar7IjGkU6h6lZ7At_aarBWZMJwm9b-FN67Sw_7MOWnP1khSXE7mbhJpcBng73heEYhBivxhH1pzMRM7zvOxdM6HcKGfUXXJuU9vd5XIYrka8XS6U19bPTIh00s/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1848.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVF4lHogJ1pM9xQUaxar7IjGkU6h6lZ7At_aarBWZMJwm9b-FN67Sw_7MOWnP1khSXE7mbhJpcBng73heEYhBivxhH1pzMRM7zvOxdM6HcKGfUXXJuU9vd5XIYrka8XS6U19bPTIh00s/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1848.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ClCFbVvqdnLWaiMOnL_uRBItde8BltFpJjp9I5e0hwAVWo0w57iWiQ59jKkSxkGQgcj0YUWpxz1gG17gZlAjkhOGWpC9a9EA71Q4hkex_BXehDjchyroxaDBJFb0Stt5kWP3FsiLkzk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ClCFbVvqdnLWaiMOnL_uRBItde8BltFpJjp9I5e0hwAVWo0w57iWiQ59jKkSxkGQgcj0YUWpxz1gG17gZlAjkhOGWpC9a9EA71Q4hkex_BXehDjchyroxaDBJFb0Stt5kWP3FsiLkzk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1850.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi858dypVd6bIZi9ynQdpf0QnMJ7xioe0PNXLONXkoSpktf_ku6E0KxS3L2aot-ZRVcsBovZeYX1jz_NdQcguZFA1jKzqO2G9w22k7Lj5I0xcaU7xkCHNMM8uE02Zd8f2PDB_BnUO-StBE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1852.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi858dypVd6bIZi9ynQdpf0QnMJ7xioe0PNXLONXkoSpktf_ku6E0KxS3L2aot-ZRVcsBovZeYX1jz_NdQcguZFA1jKzqO2G9w22k7Lj5I0xcaU7xkCHNMM8uE02Zd8f2PDB_BnUO-StBE/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1852.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_RgFC__jgRXJrE4yyraZRtowRZ6CdeWAo01-1AaEWKbQiy1MTU6nOU4nxsLeYya0WDIlQz3EmZhWFHSyT4IDPiM0XsArIlt8DcpyDGmrYVtvjAJFDzhewFLylIsasCHLGxZsM8W0PFo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_RgFC__jgRXJrE4yyraZRtowRZ6CdeWAo01-1AaEWKbQiy1MTU6nOU4nxsLeYya0WDIlQz3EmZhWFHSyT4IDPiM0XsArIlt8DcpyDGmrYVtvjAJFDzhewFLylIsasCHLGxZsM8W0PFo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1857.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZP_LvrMJxQ5RmQuTEM2y3sciwWj4guYLJ-hktS71BC5tfSYyis8gXWazPZT_EK8VwzhveGRMygBZdgpOJrlSyt3evu_-zvHHCpFz5a1-zu7knBLO4VRv2RUuumNHVKVOGztpnRDvh18/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1863.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZP_LvrMJxQ5RmQuTEM2y3sciwWj4guYLJ-hktS71BC5tfSYyis8gXWazPZT_EK8VwzhveGRMygBZdgpOJrlSyt3evu_-zvHHCpFz5a1-zu7knBLO4VRv2RUuumNHVKVOGztpnRDvh18/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1863.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>This year your hobbies have included but are not limited to: knitting, reading, riding bikes, reading, piano [you've got a knack for it!], reading, legos, reading, drawing, reading, macramé, reading, math, reading, talking, reading, writing stories [you keep a notebook in your sock drawer for when inspiration strikes!], and reading. Just this morning you brought a new book upstairs with you when you were getting ready for school and I knew you had a pretty good chunk of your old one left when you went to bed last night. I asked if you had used your book light and read after we had put you to bed last night. You didn't respond but gave me a look that said, "I think you know the answer but how could I help myself? I know I wasn't supposed to but what would you have done?" I could say nothing to that look. I had stayed up reading until midnight myself. </p><p>You also love archery and spend lots of time just shooting and retrieving arrows in our backyard. You are really hoping to go bow hunting "for real" soon with Papa. You also love shooting baskets with your dad. His friend, who is a middle school basketball coach, was over the other day and when he saw you shoot he said, "Her form is perfect! I have 13 year olds that can't figure that out!" You don't care if you miss-- you care if you've followed the form your dad has taught you. You get to move up to the 11 and under league for softball this summer, and watching you be a teammate and learn more skills is always fun. You also picked up golfing this past summer during the shut down. Our neighbor gave you some clubs and your dad took you and he couldn't help but take a video and show it to all his friends. I know nothing about golf, but apparently your form is perfect for it too. This is another testament to how you operate: you are so incredibly coachable, soaking in information and disciplined enough to make yourself do it correctly. Regardless of athletic ability, this skill will take you so far in life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_jgCVUZ-NxfRJOYVpNauXqU24Knqvs0FMS7HYTc7x-Rjdli7xTFVz5rEeNtQzf3DumcW7KCORfajTRG8aSq0xWeqBmobklSquEgECnmaWXp88l4SUSKBd3k5eW7qIcdR-hp2NabQIP4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1869.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_jgCVUZ-NxfRJOYVpNauXqU24Knqvs0FMS7HYTc7x-Rjdli7xTFVz5rEeNtQzf3DumcW7KCORfajTRG8aSq0xWeqBmobklSquEgECnmaWXp88l4SUSKBd3k5eW7qIcdR-hp2NabQIP4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1869.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqTAvHPlNCgIhhUXTjjhKVWXycly1eOAG1ORB8IR_ll4wrVjgs-p99-PC94uHaiysTIKeAHZ4UYYm14tqKX4gBpeWCY0c84aELuOtrQY6nyWzAKYksIVoZGhg13OK-nz0toI5n4FcD3g/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1876.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqTAvHPlNCgIhhUXTjjhKVWXycly1eOAG1ORB8IR_ll4wrVjgs-p99-PC94uHaiysTIKeAHZ4UYYm14tqKX4gBpeWCY0c84aELuOtrQY6nyWzAKYksIVoZGhg13OK-nz0toI5n4FcD3g/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1876.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxHRtgegk9Zb_KQ-Pd_Cb6MaQGp_QYXVRnrtIsDVZvae4EvGu24c24wFbTIlak9uY4Dzrhx5NeX34HHSVm4adhVl5OcQRQPmbC9I08mEcn4lJ05Ebf1GMSrqFtdvLV3V9bOqE8DpcwFo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1882.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxHRtgegk9Zb_KQ-Pd_Cb6MaQGp_QYXVRnrtIsDVZvae4EvGu24c24wFbTIlak9uY4Dzrhx5NeX34HHSVm4adhVl5OcQRQPmbC9I08mEcn4lJ05Ebf1GMSrqFtdvLV3V9bOqE8DpcwFo/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1882.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPauhc_6Twd6kuAW65IvjqJSsGcMvAxr62jnC_jfhOBEJolfv8cbIX_rjwMFnlTxzvwxfnbNAJ_uY-LrOvaJcjXU6-G90IVRt9_dNqTT5gwvauM0lP6AI-IsQ8fj9wlMW4hsd5dhtJan0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1896.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPauhc_6Twd6kuAW65IvjqJSsGcMvAxr62jnC_jfhOBEJolfv8cbIX_rjwMFnlTxzvwxfnbNAJ_uY-LrOvaJcjXU6-G90IVRt9_dNqTT5gwvauM0lP6AI-IsQ8fj9wlMW4hsd5dhtJan0/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1896.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJBcO2C6Ers2ix-KHNyLV6NmW5hzKLln4J12pHKJIb0t8OCyT4ebkqdqeyoZIdCgPoe6WrvWWggZDGD9Ce7z8ixHOwwgWRV8evoTGr66sqZgfP6i3geW4_nNgI_-mmyx8lXd_Rl3jfHc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1899.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJBcO2C6Ers2ix-KHNyLV6NmW5hzKLln4J12pHKJIb0t8OCyT4ebkqdqeyoZIdCgPoe6WrvWWggZDGD9Ce7z8ixHOwwgWRV8evoTGr66sqZgfP6i3geW4_nNgI_-mmyx8lXd_Rl3jfHc/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1899.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDT6UvonsKgFV6GYSNWYGD_BNsX9jU4i5a_vQNFKJlfhxsrCQUY2JW22VpEMRMLK8h-Bx7bprHvYI8SRSHWzQvxlHCYdfCz7DkvrFopFeks4dVNp0Wd23S2qZC44OQZ1TgBsjsjjT7C4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDT6UvonsKgFV6GYSNWYGD_BNsX9jU4i5a_vQNFKJlfhxsrCQUY2JW22VpEMRMLK8h-Bx7bprHvYI8SRSHWzQvxlHCYdfCz7DkvrFopFeks4dVNp0Wd23S2qZC44OQZ1TgBsjsjjT7C4/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1904.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XUawjjvCnyLIPQEf9f7Ao2htfGYW82ADurNB0Ca1OCj_XbjuvMPKqCDUuw0eyKgqZo_yquLwd_4vOrAnxEPQqYV4MaccSMMhhIcXYUu72EeQm4ZeQIK7wlz_LxVyZGC36X7uT1sSInU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XUawjjvCnyLIPQEf9f7Ao2htfGYW82ADurNB0Ca1OCj_XbjuvMPKqCDUuw0eyKgqZo_yquLwd_4vOrAnxEPQqYV4MaccSMMhhIcXYUu72EeQm4ZeQIK7wlz_LxVyZGC36X7uT1sSInU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1916.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOMn3Gqm3oZBGHYBqBfEf-E0pXM382GJCpUxvRX9aVNP6kwTjUR0qj4MV2vJSpXRLayGvdw8LXlHtqZ4jmlSxMCACFpj_UMQ978iBgKRw9fMW7lRtgyKsk4k3iSeYKGQF53uUXq0vALA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOMn3Gqm3oZBGHYBqBfEf-E0pXM382GJCpUxvRX9aVNP6kwTjUR0qj4MV2vJSpXRLayGvdw8LXlHtqZ4jmlSxMCACFpj_UMQ978iBgKRw9fMW7lRtgyKsk4k3iSeYKGQF53uUXq0vALA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1917.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiwg2hU9L-eR1t2PJdIIqjzeZPabNp1LLp09XuBrnrtr-KxSLwqJgVjtHsH8fmn0NHDZvC2ZxGAHQsungjF_XXNdUt8YzN5EY674vdgbSuRLnbyR6guppiqIYuzdpKHqRnMoJncILFho/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiwg2hU9L-eR1t2PJdIIqjzeZPabNp1LLp09XuBrnrtr-KxSLwqJgVjtHsH8fmn0NHDZvC2ZxGAHQsungjF_XXNdUt8YzN5EY674vdgbSuRLnbyR6guppiqIYuzdpKHqRnMoJncILFho/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1923.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-lntehjtp8pu9_DJU2nqjBSEnCUSRKbn0RcCn2QblmDLjYB9eonIUcirh4U0GSIRMSdZVjvumee2Xeu4Qo2b7Rt2V1XG9IKbMeRC4NAE-mfb8GqUUts535aHdP71iLwISNhPoAm9CWI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1937.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-lntehjtp8pu9_DJU2nqjBSEnCUSRKbn0RcCn2QblmDLjYB9eonIUcirh4U0GSIRMSdZVjvumee2Xeu4Qo2b7Rt2V1XG9IKbMeRC4NAE-mfb8GqUUts535aHdP71iLwISNhPoAm9CWI/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1937.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfnXgu9isuOO4bGLYXa7c3yS4Ks9RA-KjxxgcMs1EgrpVawDBbeliVvrUq37ZTycktxkWW94NICHABbkNbTXcIPvBJ6ZEKIyNxjUGsO_9jNuggFmKd5Dh3_HqKCKyNNFClplhqAiW7rs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1941.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfnXgu9isuOO4bGLYXa7c3yS4Ks9RA-KjxxgcMs1EgrpVawDBbeliVvrUq37ZTycktxkWW94NICHABbkNbTXcIPvBJ6ZEKIyNxjUGsO_9jNuggFmKd5Dh3_HqKCKyNNFClplhqAiW7rs/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1941.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPLFW2fNLKlR0b33wlMftQt6Ul6ONnyFMHtKUF1yP8X1mW7U01bzFa_kVIIv9d-PTdDsHOODb9oo0PTYOZ7wWiMFaevJsUSJYZVM4pHv0IhzRZ4BoKpUJQ0FMppO1SKc1Uw-GFoKd-4M/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPLFW2fNLKlR0b33wlMftQt6Ul6ONnyFMHtKUF1yP8X1mW7U01bzFa_kVIIv9d-PTdDsHOODb9oo0PTYOZ7wWiMFaevJsUSJYZVM4pHv0IhzRZ4BoKpUJQ0FMppO1SKc1Uw-GFoKd-4M/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1942.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJRCazh_IBtMjleZHtGiy-mLsNN95Pk812LTE_m6P31bdzuzboRa4uctN-z-d-kDrBYMa7OpZCZiPOVWhxIfGhbI9KW-ASyFcS-_hWc_wZvFmsMefCB4JE8h7AzDqAdXqmNF0OQglJbk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJRCazh_IBtMjleZHtGiy-mLsNN95Pk812LTE_m6P31bdzuzboRa4uctN-z-d-kDrBYMa7OpZCZiPOVWhxIfGhbI9KW-ASyFcS-_hWc_wZvFmsMefCB4JE8h7AzDqAdXqmNF0OQglJbk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1946.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMssGGspMwrnSoQPUGdKp121PzEUCFNJ0QHIVVhVc66GHDmipDk5WC-bxP3dRzaxnnRyQKOMBsaX9Nl-H4JrBNWsqdjEwfMykwGC2NQCwJDgAuULZbrRaJu5cFOzR2_gsrov8wXqJ5d5A/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMssGGspMwrnSoQPUGdKp121PzEUCFNJ0QHIVVhVc66GHDmipDk5WC-bxP3dRzaxnnRyQKOMBsaX9Nl-H4JrBNWsqdjEwfMykwGC2NQCwJDgAuULZbrRaJu5cFOzR2_gsrov8wXqJ5d5A/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1954.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Speaking of being a sponge and soaking in what you learn, you've apparently learned a lot from your dad, the banker. Last summer you and your sisters desperately wanted to have a lemonade stand. You wanted to raise money to 1)ride horses in Colorado and 2) buy a dog [if your mom let you]. Your entrepreneurship skills kicked in and you made signs and helped bag treats and we figured out a way to make pre-packaged goodies and drinks as Covid-friendly as possible. We set up the stand on a beautiful day and your first enthusiastic customer arrived. Thankfully it was Coach Blythe, because when he handed you his money you held it up to the sun to verify it was not a counterfeit! We laughed, and I told you not to do that with any other customers, and you said, "Why not? What if someone gives us a fake one like dad showed me?" </p><p style="text-align: left;">Afterwards your dad and I decided we would try a puppy. You were over.the.moon excited. We picked up Margo, a black and white border collie, in July. You were wonderful with her. You were determined to be helpful and do your part and you carried her in and out to go to the bathroom [she took a few days to learn the stairs]. After two weeks though, we knew as a family it wasn't going to work. I was still too nervous around her, you were heading to school soon, and for our busy family she just wasn't going to work out. We found some friends that would take her in, and then we had to tell you guys. You took it all in stride, like you always do, understanding and acknowledging my limitations with dogs. But the day we were going to deliver her to her new family you asked if you could be with her by yourself a little bit. I watched from the kitchen window and for about 15-20 minutes you sat next to her, petting her and sobbing. Then you stood up, wiped your eyes, and came back inside. That night when we dropped her off you shed no more tears, and you have not cried about her again. It was devastating to watch you so sad in that moment, and I'll never forget it, but I also saw something else that day as I watched through the window: I saw a girl who knows how to process her emotions. A girl who knows there is a time to weep and a time to laugh [like it says in Ecclesiastes]. I saw a girl who lets herself feel what she needs to feel so she can move to the next thing. And Blythe, that is important and it is something that a lot of people struggle to know how to do. And here you were, saying goodbye to Margo and letting yourself weep so that you could gather yourself later and do the hard thing. It was astonishing. </p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUDnwgB3JRh50-k7m3_9tq1ah2rOZSrC9SAGdtYd8lnSrmg2oga2eTYb2XIRWlh3VqnPObgl4zWqZXSDFRVzHDo2VCnGHl8M1zFDXUXv6x8hJW95GE6SzrjXPuRVag5qySPyUbHtsIqo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUDnwgB3JRh50-k7m3_9tq1ah2rOZSrC9SAGdtYd8lnSrmg2oga2eTYb2XIRWlh3VqnPObgl4zWqZXSDFRVzHDo2VCnGHl8M1zFDXUXv6x8hJW95GE6SzrjXPuRVag5qySPyUbHtsIqo/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1956.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7WxGuOepW6QD6CbSsiwNxJ690aPbeOe1DdGhS535zEZWfyaNw9AxTr14Ez51EBM0wvzJGjVD_j47S-peTXnCjP8mwHZAk2R1f9kWGXwh-pz2AFQt32ptrvUwJAwLn8bfVPfEdMtOaxs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1961.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7WxGuOepW6QD6CbSsiwNxJ690aPbeOe1DdGhS535zEZWfyaNw9AxTr14Ez51EBM0wvzJGjVD_j47S-peTXnCjP8mwHZAk2R1f9kWGXwh-pz2AFQt32ptrvUwJAwLn8bfVPfEdMtOaxs/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1961.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wEnGNho0agDqjl9n-skx8LlaFml4JwwT4PJX8111Uz9mooxZj6Igc-X2yeWHrQM8cC_1tF_E-_u79G8I2r5S7bjcY1WUqZw6fm9TZ8OyDzm2uVriE4F2XPMykxGGoE5XD3r06_qQQAQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1974.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wEnGNho0agDqjl9n-skx8LlaFml4JwwT4PJX8111Uz9mooxZj6Igc-X2yeWHrQM8cC_1tF_E-_u79G8I2r5S7bjcY1WUqZw6fm9TZ8OyDzm2uVriE4F2XPMykxGGoE5XD3r06_qQQAQ/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1974.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTU5Z6uUMqwmxouuwl5EIiLDcdkn6Rxb_2BflLFbY1C6slLnj5I2XHI0_77mcbPGbUi1haVx589NduehU26-DMh3gLCj3oZ61RgIMAIzOIcm7xdM3IGmrRlQlnp-ZUOAZW0iWdUqFdCjY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTU5Z6uUMqwmxouuwl5EIiLDcdkn6Rxb_2BflLFbY1C6slLnj5I2XHI0_77mcbPGbUi1haVx589NduehU26-DMh3gLCj3oZ61RgIMAIzOIcm7xdM3IGmrRlQlnp-ZUOAZW0iWdUqFdCjY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1991.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh5nFLiKYEO3M8QbFdQperXKE4DDq51hGvso23fU77-cUHuw2AMJHOJy_8Q8YfgBroSKtUwmvTXGmYW6KpCef_3Gs4_MuZUaX4hBKv6ycY5Legxr4X0xaPPhe3PRiUqMVEhV2U9roBvY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1992.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh5nFLiKYEO3M8QbFdQperXKE4DDq51hGvso23fU77-cUHuw2AMJHOJy_8Q8YfgBroSKtUwmvTXGmYW6KpCef_3Gs4_MuZUaX4hBKv6ycY5Legxr4X0xaPPhe3PRiUqMVEhV2U9roBvY/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1992.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DCCi8YfUP9ct5dDxqGP-FHWB0BHje_3myiuYYHVcoCUQwkl6RXUcO2l4LlGC3YG7jUtv-ZgyIXmfzrHzarDcKu1Fr3zqYT8iwQnK_8YA71nt1zuYHb6zmV3CR-awihPeq2v7XTX7pwk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1995.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DCCi8YfUP9ct5dDxqGP-FHWB0BHje_3myiuYYHVcoCUQwkl6RXUcO2l4LlGC3YG7jUtv-ZgyIXmfzrHzarDcKu1Fr3zqYT8iwQnK_8YA71nt1zuYHb6zmV3CR-awihPeq2v7XTX7pwk/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-1995.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxK9cdUjSVN8t3zW2jSJmcMwEcFva7675NizdnQNhCBAF6DVfXbelNaN26t5C4LP4JCyC3ITussi8zP18tSJjNydQUQx-EIAsAfVHgVPiQkcqbujgvCMCn-owajAwIhahP5cUKAqaW24/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxK9cdUjSVN8t3zW2jSJmcMwEcFva7675NizdnQNhCBAF6DVfXbelNaN26t5C4LP4JCyC3ITussi8zP18tSJjNydQUQx-EIAsAfVHgVPiQkcqbujgvCMCn-owajAwIhahP5cUKAqaW24/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF_Oc9LrZ8LYDEcpSX4p5P93aO3vuXeYzDDn9ETQ6_S_9pL07UEUb3VlrHQBlVmLjNTCs0ErU5jVUq_-Wr5E-THfyH5zEZLCKSiQanYe4ChEvNeHCyz0hALdO9stkxuihlvJDNrmtAv8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSF_Oc9LrZ8LYDEcpSX4p5P93aO3vuXeYzDDn9ETQ6_S_9pL07UEUb3VlrHQBlVmLjNTCs0ErU5jVUq_-Wr5E-THfyH5zEZLCKSiQanYe4ChEvNeHCyz0hALdO9stkxuihlvJDNrmtAv8/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>We took another family vacation to Colorado [I guess at this point you could say they are annual], and we rode horses. Your horses name was "Duchess" and our guide told us that he has come to the YMCA and ridden Duchess when he was 8 years old too. And he told us that that is when he decided he wanted to come back and work as a horse hand when he was old enough. You asked how old you had to be--18. You said ten years seems like a really long time but that you think you'll go back and do that job too. I wouldn't put it past you. Another fun thing you got to do this year was be a flower girl in Torri's wedding. You and Torri have always had such a special friendship, and watching you walk down the aisle, with her last name as your first, was a special moment. You also got to spend a couple months with your overseas cousins, Caroline, Ellie, Wes, and Lydia. You played endlessly, building forts and creating classrooms and reenacting books. </p><p>Oh Blythe. I could share a million different things about the million different pieces of your heart that we love. You love your little bible study you have with a group of girls at church. You are such a great big sister to your brother and will do just about anything for him. Becks and Nan love to play with you because you know how to make anything a game. You don't care if your clothes match, you don't like brushing your hair, and all your teeth are falling out. Your feet have grown FIVE shoe sizes since your last birthday and your legs are getting longer and longer. You still laugh so hard you have to run to the bathroom! And your dad is still the one that can get you laughing the hardest. You still love all things Little House on the Prairie, and even got to visit Laura Ingalls Wilder's homestead and do a wax-museum project on her this year in school. And while you love to read you still love to play-- you told me once that you didn't want to have any more birthdays because you didn't want to be too old to play with your toys. I think you're beginning to see some of your friends around you leaving Barbies and make believe behind, but I assured you can play for the rest of your life if you have the right attitude about it! I often catch you lounging in the hammock with your best friends [your sisters], and you ask for snacks all the live long day. You are funny and smart, beautiful and witty. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwY3FQyGBCXLSMebeUMsNfjtxJrj6hyqTkv3kHi0MuyG8xQ3LHhGYlOXRciQv04ebuAHCtUNkuc9zjEYVqCS63FP0CTU158iaCp2Zy93vOcsWX7n-1HGdkIb_ZlXVYZH_niwKWCuHzb4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwY3FQyGBCXLSMebeUMsNfjtxJrj6hyqTkv3kHi0MuyG8xQ3LHhGYlOXRciQv04ebuAHCtUNkuc9zjEYVqCS63FP0CTU158iaCp2Zy93vOcsWX7n-1HGdkIb_ZlXVYZH_niwKWCuHzb4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2012.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRS7Im3pHVc77aRhUYLUcnjeEZxAynsOn1_FrZWnP0Fyv9cVl8-XkKj_7meCbVVJSyoDF2uTUg8wfaIeI1qjWYJPSDI4pmIqb-jwKt1Tjx8ngbFVVn_ecC3E-GTpjikc01XxCdF9xdgM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRS7Im3pHVc77aRhUYLUcnjeEZxAynsOn1_FrZWnP0Fyv9cVl8-XkKj_7meCbVVJSyoDF2uTUg8wfaIeI1qjWYJPSDI4pmIqb-jwKt1Tjx8ngbFVVn_ecC3E-GTpjikc01XxCdF9xdgM/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmMkUBUlJGLDPp497rvPVvN6pryKif7lKkA4XHEnlbTwZniW5X57uvOc4zq7AkKKYt2_gm_FEmd90iW6dqgOhUTfxDEz8qgn13OMxRKOCl8vQ8CIxJ7MYJhiXgTyri_0JKt0O0nraWWE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmMkUBUlJGLDPp497rvPVvN6pryKif7lKkA4XHEnlbTwZniW5X57uvOc4zq7AkKKYt2_gm_FEmd90iW6dqgOhUTfxDEz8qgn13OMxRKOCl8vQ8CIxJ7MYJhiXgTyri_0JKt0O0nraWWE/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ESc5O6BKIk60hhrGWJAK7_gKONjKnsrix9mIr-MyA5j19-VYenfTS-WuR1n6FliLhoObXc2sdtOUxqUp4t__VDY0jhXTRAgoJLYPZxZo7_g8ioxwabBj6EVxtjPKj5Bse_FOR4sOnAk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ESc5O6BKIk60hhrGWJAK7_gKONjKnsrix9mIr-MyA5j19-VYenfTS-WuR1n6FliLhoObXc2sdtOUxqUp4t__VDY0jhXTRAgoJLYPZxZo7_g8ioxwabBj6EVxtjPKj5Bse_FOR4sOnAk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYez9AP5nf2RcAx-Isr9DDjmBH92xtaPRAu3JnTOTmdVVTwpTCRzfCtN5XdcnsDktyWZlIAmRvzIY3ULSigGRatA_YMyAR6Pz2fbS-YkrkH5CX-teS01QKYJ2z9pGX7o3mkZupQtIAKN8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYez9AP5nf2RcAx-Isr9DDjmBH92xtaPRAu3JnTOTmdVVTwpTCRzfCtN5XdcnsDktyWZlIAmRvzIY3ULSigGRatA_YMyAR6Pz2fbS-YkrkH5CX-teS01QKYJ2z9pGX7o3mkZupQtIAKN8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2023.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6rz2JLfeTS3e3bXDJ-h0Dr641-z6S_c4VGj854xojiwN8AJBdhFVo8sez24X8ebhAYSsl8-Vg-ClrnJVoCP8Op1wCjxUoCDsbeSjCZY8divHjS-lyoDCN8nyrWKHLUHnUvhKXPA0JY8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6rz2JLfeTS3e3bXDJ-h0Dr641-z6S_c4VGj854xojiwN8AJBdhFVo8sez24X8ebhAYSsl8-Vg-ClrnJVoCP8Op1wCjxUoCDsbeSjCZY8divHjS-lyoDCN8nyrWKHLUHnUvhKXPA0JY8/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2027.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3Odc2bKWTmwQnLXK3Os4AsucUxF_KQvQKEa7E1OsLt0Ncte15hEUl_V-5vnqJ0cAEStTjg7-wmd_wRsUud-NzNeMQwxU0ZMXH-cFjfaPW6c0Pfn9XBuOMeYP2H7dQbpSRPG9RIPMbe4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3Odc2bKWTmwQnLXK3Os4AsucUxF_KQvQKEa7E1OsLt0Ncte15hEUl_V-5vnqJ0cAEStTjg7-wmd_wRsUud-NzNeMQwxU0ZMXH-cFjfaPW6c0Pfn9XBuOMeYP2H7dQbpSRPG9RIPMbe4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2030.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeiacyr04EYjeNflSaYAhfqL-pRGpukOQ_hdfckYLrSBnEb3swZUC_twuZeFHcO3Zi3SdV128ysFzaSecbcrQFmrsS03jsJCuJ_x1wH_mPhh73HzUrsH3YRlleqfAbNge1DXtB0dJs8o/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeiacyr04EYjeNflSaYAhfqL-pRGpukOQ_hdfckYLrSBnEb3swZUC_twuZeFHcO3Zi3SdV128ysFzaSecbcrQFmrsS03jsJCuJ_x1wH_mPhh73HzUrsH3YRlleqfAbNge1DXtB0dJs8o/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jjksPit9pZdu-iB6kh72cnYjOW3VgUUVcMoArpIVhhyLQYr4BdL8M7V2iDAIMcoTTyjhrzwvDgaivO1cidhXgbSAurOGfjAVd7K-XSNXCq-kruDPucAuiet1gpzsQIVQt8nGtIU8FOU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jjksPit9pZdu-iB6kh72cnYjOW3VgUUVcMoArpIVhhyLQYr4BdL8M7V2iDAIMcoTTyjhrzwvDgaivO1cidhXgbSAurOGfjAVd7K-XSNXCq-kruDPucAuiet1gpzsQIVQt8nGtIU8FOU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2053.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm0OF_kxIBZXApxZnDj66Z62tREle5mSthJbQK6m3kysEUCGwp9mBjFD64dZWmluIVjI9omAW2KLTG7aGmkFVGb6kTN4BUwhDp_0eerNKd0eIgt3m0M8NvlF47eoaR7XdU7LOx74F5bU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm0OF_kxIBZXApxZnDj66Z62tREle5mSthJbQK6m3kysEUCGwp9mBjFD64dZWmluIVjI9omAW2KLTG7aGmkFVGb6kTN4BUwhDp_0eerNKd0eIgt3m0M8NvlF47eoaR7XdU7LOx74F5bU/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2055.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrrNzmmAES0d6OTE0MQkF4o2ueNOjagn5W_fA2obRLpu1WsC1YkU1yvuFUP1lDYNPtJGERmmrYmavImyUnuV7iD4Yf1HxMnEhe_sF_LsJcDCJofL1FC64XpM2XxX6jgG3KuucvAHGiT4/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrrNzmmAES0d6OTE0MQkF4o2ueNOjagn5W_fA2obRLpu1WsC1YkU1yvuFUP1lDYNPtJGERmmrYmavImyUnuV7iD4Yf1HxMnEhe_sF_LsJcDCJofL1FC64XpM2XxX6jgG3KuucvAHGiT4/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2062.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">This year at Christmas you wanted to HAND MAKE something for everyone. On Christmas Eve you were panicking, and spent most of the day finishing up things. You crocheted a scarf and coasters, made a bird out of leaves of sticks, wrote notes and made a car for Sloan out of popsicle sticks. You have a knack for really <i>seeing </i>other people, knowing what they like and need and you care for others well. I see this in your friendships as well-- one of your friends wrote you a song for your birthday this year, and while that says a lot about her and how awesome she is, it says a lot about you, as well: most people don't love others well enough to have songs written for them :) </p><p style="text-align: left;">Our oldest daughter, you have been a gift to us as we figure out this parenting thing. We mess up a lot, but you are always there to just keep loving us and filling our home with joy. Your confidence is contagious, your willingness to try new things is catching, and your fun spirit is infectious. We pray continually for you to keep looking to Jesus as your guide, trusting the Spirit He has placed in you when you put your hope in Him. Keep reading your bible-- it contains the Truth, will Light your path all of your days, and will show you who God is so you can become more and more like Him. And like I have said in all my letters to you: we hope you understand the why behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNv8a1_3W2dytPABBwzZo9FmltUVqqA_SWJNqsMdgR0CtbQ2r5yg3n0HSV94r8tUXS0tH51G3jbvA5tyc-beCLq7jI2y54dQS8BHvaghwF12sodEsKT0L-XWHNfnZ6q_ztquoGT85k3c/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNv8a1_3W2dytPABBwzZo9FmltUVqqA_SWJNqsMdgR0CtbQ2r5yg3n0HSV94r8tUXS0tH51G3jbvA5tyc-beCLq7jI2y54dQS8BHvaghwF12sodEsKT0L-XWHNfnZ6q_ztquoGT85k3c/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2071.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTal_zPBgwfelKr1aq_p1T8GWsY14P9Pn8dxgF3_bboBwhKh485sC8rxsAjfYZ-3mjGfldZ6NbNOIIj7HFygE0-DiJ4PiiaHJ418CR6Sq3QzyG-Z3TMjuHV2dS43AwZbxHJDSEz_nOovM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTal_zPBgwfelKr1aq_p1T8GWsY14P9Pn8dxgF3_bboBwhKh485sC8rxsAjfYZ-3mjGfldZ6NbNOIIj7HFygE0-DiJ4PiiaHJ418CR6Sq3QzyG-Z3TMjuHV2dS43AwZbxHJDSEz_nOovM/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2073.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlbRNGSfGrjeFGmOhNvx3XRkm-k1TeXt1Om0ebNiQskxA-O8ANBTDSsFn4AmZgUUCRUJ3PZLx7c7e0-9A7jukhfrviAoJjqL0KZ7Qk6XaC3wbrelzn9UNhckmBfYWolvugsq47VFPZEg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2078.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlbRNGSfGrjeFGmOhNvx3XRkm-k1TeXt1Om0ebNiQskxA-O8ANBTDSsFn4AmZgUUCRUJ3PZLx7c7e0-9A7jukhfrviAoJjqL0KZ7Qk6XaC3wbrelzn9UNhckmBfYWolvugsq47VFPZEg/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2078.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkenX4Njzza_iPA_V1N49tGTudrevyxSEVmqkD2PAGdmf-275Fvj607uO-t2NS82i_npu_Ak8x-gkxxGjgUudwDUEHKgMH7vY5TFUpcFSaMV894aE6YEr4fme-Tu9FWFbpFA50vl_jnSA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkenX4Njzza_iPA_V1N49tGTudrevyxSEVmqkD2PAGdmf-275Fvj607uO-t2NS82i_npu_Ak8x-gkxxGjgUudwDUEHKgMH7vY5TFUpcFSaMV894aE6YEr4fme-Tu9FWFbpFA50vl_jnSA/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2080.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50qVcnIInG9IOFMqt-fT1c0kD3niO6DhTiz2hsf1PhXxUD1LvaAZSh3ku_iZUnVyE0fhHfL936xuXk1_arjtEr2yNhAxEs5kTwRX4ITU3Bu2VGCMk2gukGsQiddt5X8lV7SsG9119uw0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50qVcnIInG9IOFMqt-fT1c0kD3niO6DhTiz2hsf1PhXxUD1LvaAZSh3ku_iZUnVyE0fhHfL936xuXk1_arjtEr2yNhAxEs5kTwRX4ITU3Bu2VGCMk2gukGsQiddt5X8lV7SsG9119uw0/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2082.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcDy8yUqzqZPUZnqtCToKRdP1E-W_I5Ua8N1lZF8cihtB0yBfXANBYf2BGgpnuUMaqhejUD3I0C-d-sLST7-JjIjaGY6AozlS1_0rv0jUzgAJarAM_XPPcqO-yN7aOEfir4mLxKgFeuA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2088.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcDy8yUqzqZPUZnqtCToKRdP1E-W_I5Ua8N1lZF8cihtB0yBfXANBYf2BGgpnuUMaqhejUD3I0C-d-sLST7-JjIjaGY6AozlS1_0rv0jUzgAJarAM_XPPcqO-yN7aOEfir4mLxKgFeuA/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2088.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKTGa9LYa9R72Ojo0Sj_G7AHf2jSFmccU7ae9OgRfCCEwycUSXY_Kb35VSBYjT5Cef_FPwR1jrJPy4I15pMl9AgC6MQoiWZaWx0fmaJoOGD_dKFYrY_jyNKdeBQJWBm6i9NmxPJivCFk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKTGa9LYa9R72Ojo0Sj_G7AHf2jSFmccU7ae9OgRfCCEwycUSXY_Kb35VSBYjT5Cef_FPwR1jrJPy4I15pMl9AgC6MQoiWZaWx0fmaJoOGD_dKFYrY_jyNKdeBQJWBm6i9NmxPJivCFk/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2096.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZsf7ZFuiI5NCz-zDvHsmbLKth5U5Mza7irU-E33f96GQmgjGflH50fmvOltL2zHEaNpWqtdx7x_NxZD0rLG9X4e9gFW9RRr9zYjumKIpcDi9x0SU1SRNTLJSNkPgKmh01cpevuHQcNg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZsf7ZFuiI5NCz-zDvHsmbLKth5U5Mza7irU-E33f96GQmgjGflH50fmvOltL2zHEaNpWqtdx7x_NxZD0rLG9X4e9gFW9RRr9zYjumKIpcDi9x0SU1SRNTLJSNkPgKmh01cpevuHQcNg/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-2105.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_BVm7o2nQnYqzGKg77jTawqIEhPD9z8UllqxUpUTQSKSekZeVx6yPR_JzaI_OLprv3LdI2ClE7Mn5e9O3kaWR8jVs5Ggg5n_SbLDO1SMPWWW4z-AaoufKK0HRvxfKvL8tGm7pfpNT0k/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-2109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_BVm7o2nQnYqzGKg77jTawqIEhPD9z8UllqxUpUTQSKSekZeVx6yPR_JzaI_OLprv3LdI2ClE7Mn5e9O3kaWR8jVs5Ggg5n_SbLDO1SMPWWW4z-AaoufKK0HRvxfKvL8tGm7pfpNT0k/w426-h640/KIrwinPhotography-2109.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>Blythe Kathleen, happy NINTH birthday! There is nothing you will ever do to that will make us stop loving you! </p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-9443687424486232732020-12-17T23:15:00.005-05:002020-12-17T23:21:45.941-05:00Christmas Card 2020 <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwN7Ma41hsmBsr5_-zHjNiZhQkjnHt0DI3MPBWk7YKcWDmo27cXB_UU7V0WitAh3Cc-6BdYoKE7-8lMynifvgVy5kSUJzK7HMZIZKok_yJsLKQtixYnzeeNiGP7xOP4Gphff4c-vTPaY/s813/xmascard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwN7Ma41hsmBsr5_-zHjNiZhQkjnHt0DI3MPBWk7YKcWDmo27cXB_UU7V0WitAh3Cc-6BdYoKE7-8lMynifvgVy5kSUJzK7HMZIZKok_yJsLKQtixYnzeeNiGP7xOP4Gphff4c-vTPaY/s16000/xmascard.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I think this is about the TENTH year I have done our Christmas-card-on-the-blog thing... so maybe I should just admit that this is how it is and you probably won't get one ever in the mail from us. ;) But alas, here we are, on the 'ole blog, reflecting on the crazy year that was 2020. </p><p>Here are a few brief updates on the kids for you, because let's be honest, that's the whole reason you are here. I couldn't believe I only had ONE family photo of all 6 of us from this year that we took at Torri's wedding [Torri got married! Brent sang! The girls were giggling messes of flower girls down the aisle! I got to be a bridesmaid! It was a wonderful highlight of the year for all of us], but I couldn't use it on the card because it was vertical and Sloan was crying and I was doing a mouth half open laugh/smile thing and two girls were looking elsewhere. Brent, of course, looked fabulous. But I figured you didn't even care if there was a picture of Brent and I on the card, for crying out loud! </p><p>Where was I?! Oh yes, the kids... the reason you are all here: </p><p><b>Sloan Lee</b> started the year with a bang, falling down a flight of stairs. I was <i>right there </i>and couldn't quite get to him-- one of those slow motion situations where you're just grasping at air. He ended up in a cast for a few weeks and it slowed him down ZERO PERCENT. He figured out how to walk and dance in the thing, but we were all happy when he got to have it removed. He was running again in no time. Which is pretty much how he spent the rest of the year: <i>running. </i>He is non stop, drools like crazy, out eats nearly everyone, and now only weighs three pounds less than Nan. He loves cars, snacks, and being outside. He also really enjoys sitting and looking at books. His hair is the most beautiful red and inspires the most frequently asked question: "Where's the red hair from?" [Answer: it runs amuck amongst our relatives]. He is talking all the time now [quite loudly, which is expected in a family our size-- the fourth kid has to get his two cents in one way or another!] <b>We call him our little joy machine and that is exactly what he is: all slobber and joy, joy, joy. </b></p><p><b>Nan Louise</b> is still one in a million. My dad just recently found an old Christmas letter he sent when I was a child, and at the end of the paragraph about me he wrote, "Although she isn't as involved in activities as Kali is, just being Kels is a full time job!" And so God gave me Nan, because just being Nan is a full time job [and consequently, being her mother ;)]. Last year I wrote about how FULL life is with her, and that is still the case-- she is full of noise and action and questions and hugs and energy and tumbles and just does not stop being full capacity Nan. This year she has worked very hard on her letters, loves to draw, loves her Nature Day adventures, and loves having books read to her. She still naps [HARD] a few times a week, and really needs those to power her through her days [and her mother is grateful for the short bursts of quiet as well ;) ]. She has really been so patient with Sloan and has taught him how to play with her well. Her big adventure this year included falling out of hammock directly onto her mouth, resulting in two front teeth being pulled. It was <i>the very week </i>dentist offices opened back up, so we were very grateful she chose to be clumsy after the shut down. <b>Nan makes our lives full, full, full. </b></p><p><b>Becks Lynae</b> is now in the first grade, which seems just about impossible, but I've resigned myself to the fact that it's true because she is starting to read, read, read. Any time I talk to anyone who sees her at school, they all have said the same thing this year: "She has really grown so much!" And it's true. She's becoming more confident and more willing to step out of her comfort zone. She has some truly great friends who are outgoing and have been brave for her and are showing her the way forward in that as well. In her <i>natural habitat of</i> our home, however, she is as feisty and funny and silly as ever. She picks the most fights of any of our kids, but there is a reason for that: she can read people incredibly well. I recently had a conversation about this with her and I told her that being able to know how people are feeling is such a special gift that God gave her...but that she needs to stop using it to push her sisters' buttons! She gets complimented on her beautiful blue eyes all the time, and she still hops up on our hips and lets us hold her. We don't know how much longer that will last, so we are soaking it in. She is very affectionate and I know I can always count on her for a good, long hug when I need it. She loves to bake, loves to get dirty in the mud, and is my most adventurous girl. In Colorado this year the others called it a day and Becks continued to hike with me. I wasn't sure how far the hike was, but she hung with me when it ended up being over FIVE miles up and down the mountain. <b>Becks is the little engine that could. </b></p><p><b>Blythe Kathleen</b>, the girl of more hobbies than you could imagine, is in the third grade and loving it. She loves to learn, devours books, keeps a notebook at home to "write chapter books in", has picked up knitting, learned how to ride a 5 speed bike around town by herself [ahh!], still enjoys piano lessons, and can be trusted to take care of Sloan when I need to get something done. She could probably hop in the car and go to the store for me if I needed her to, but I won't push it ;). At the beginning of the year she was baptized, which was an incredible day of celebration for all of us. She is now in a sweet little bible study with some other girls at church, and asks me some very thoughtful questions when reading her own Bible. Watching her grow in her love and understanding of the Lord has been one of this year's greatest joys for us as her parents. This year before her birthday she said, "I don't really want to get older because I don't want to stop playing with my toys." I assured her, 8 is still plenty young to play with toys and I let her in on a secret that I still played with my Barbies until Junior High. I know kids grow up "faster" these days, but I'm praying her sense of creativity and wonder and her thirst for fun never leave her. This advent she has been working on about 20 different hand made presents for people in her life... I'm not sure she'll finish a single one as I watch her bounce from one to the next to the next: and that sums up Blythe perfectly:<b> thinking of others, creating like a mad woman, distracted easily! </b></p><p><b>Brent and I </b>are still doing well. He's still working compliance at the bank and enjoys running and biking and working out. He wasn't able to do many races this year, and was pretty disappointed when a big triathalon got canceled, but he found other ways to stay active. He completed some pretty big landscaping projects this spring for us, and powered through when his wife pushed him into a huge kitchen remodel ;) . He still loves discipling and growing with men from our church, and his big endeavor this year has been to pursue Enneagram Coaching. He is hopeful and prayerful for ways he will get to use this to help others. He remains steadfast and kind, the most attentive and loving dad, a fun and reliable partner to do this life with. My photography business really took off this year and I was able to shoot several weddings on top of the many family sessions I enjoy doing. It was an incredible blessing and reignited a joy for photography for me and I look forward to next year [and rolling out an official photography website soon!]. When I wasn't busy with photos I was, of course, tending to our kids and keeping the household running. I feel so fortunate that this is the work I get to do: caring for the daily needs of my family. It is holy and good, even when monotonous and seen by so few. Brent and I really believe in just faithfully showing up to wherever God has put us, and loving and serving right there, and 2020 reminded us again that there is a lot to love and serve and show up to even when we don't leave our four walls. </p><p>I guess I didn't mention much about living through a global pandemic. I figure we can read about that anywhere. Sure, it changed things. We missed out on a lot. "Canceled" became a too permanent word in our vocabulary. But I learned a lot about hope. I learned a lot about peace. And I learned a lot about how I can <i>feel </i>those things here, on this messed up and hurting earth, because my hope and my peace are not <i>found </i>here. </p><p>I was actually thinking about this year-- how we've learned the art of embracing shifting plans and loss and imperfection. And I looked at our Christmas tree: It's a mess. the ornaments are far from evenly spaced, color coordinating, or perfect. I don't even have a tree skirt, and the blanket that I haphazardly threw around the bottom is to cover up the board books that are propped under the tree stand to keep it from leaning too far. Need <i>Brown Bear, Brown Bear? </i>You can get that back at the end of December. Our advent candles lean precariously, our nativity's sheep has a broken leg and a missing angel, and the Christmas church decoration has been used as a prison for dolls. When I hung the stockings I thought again of the year I didn't get to hang one after our miscarriage. </p><p>It's kind of a picture of this year, isn't it? So much imperfection. So much mess. So much leaning. So much loss. But looking at my leaning Christmas tree I am thinking: This is exactly how I want to celebrate Christmas; this is how I want to move through Advent. Because surrounded by all this imperfection I can remember why my Savior had to come-- why that baby in swaddling cloths was so imperative to the hope I now have. Without that sweet babe that would become the sacrificial lamb? The mess, the imperfections, the leaning, the loss-- that's all it is. It REMAINS messy, imperfect, leaning, and lost. But with Christ? Immanuel? It BECOMES clean, perfect, straight, and found. And more miraculously is that you and I can become those things through Him as well. Without him we remain; with Him we <i>become. </i></p><p>And that's what I always want to turn my heart towards during Advent, pandemic or no pandemic: I want to see the reason I needed a Savior-- I want to peer into the manger and see my salvation from and through all this, and I want to realize in my waiting He has been here all along. Immanuel. God with us. And while we wait for the second coming-- when He comes less meekly and more triumphantly [Oh Lord, hast the day!]-- I get to rejoice in the finality of becoming like Him. I will be <i>found </i>in the most final way. So may we embrace our need this year. May we see our sin for what it is. Because only then will we be fully prepared to celebrate His coming back them... and His coming back again. </p><p>In the kids' little advent book one of the prayers said: "<i>Thank you for bringing good things out of things that looked dead..." </i>And as we head into the week of Christmas in the year of a pandemic and a lot of other turmoil, if things seem darker than you'd like or more barren than you'd hope, will you h o l d o n with me? </p><p><b>His light is coming.</b></p><p><i><b>A weary world rejoices! </b></i></p><p>And even though we haven't got to see you much this year, we love you all! </p><p>Merry Christmas from the Irwins</p><p> Post Script:</p><p>OH! And how could I forget! We got a puppy. If you look at the pictures at the top of this letter and the lack of the mention of said puppy, you may be able to deduce that a puppy in a house with four kids and a mother who has a lifelong fear of dogs did not stick. But I would be remiss to mention it and also want to add that Margo is quite happy and thriving in her new home :) </p><p><br /></p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-30031963283971830392020-08-24T03:00:00.003-04:002020-08-24T08:47:23.447-04:00Sloan is TWO<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45TENrkOR3sJrJGqTLOqNkOEUfihrrZB4__2bJbceZ6sHH6g9B78mxfITsBn5UV6X3Q6OxQNa2nfKKWz_htt3YpW7XAedVtowRmoHPxGYCEeZ-7HuGMIm_C3_qrmdPc44p7FJ9rkLsr0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45TENrkOR3sJrJGqTLOqNkOEUfihrrZB4__2bJbceZ6sHH6g9B78mxfITsBn5UV6X3Q6OxQNa2nfKKWz_htt3YpW7XAedVtowRmoHPxGYCEeZ-7HuGMIm_C3_qrmdPc44p7FJ9rkLsr0/w533-h800/KIrwinPhotography-1140.jpg" width="533" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kz__4CwOauBWIWyMtQMgeKh1BSEa_hUWk-qBTVNhDJAykRelwrKh92z37X1WMZrGJKQnXnpb15fw2XK5lIuj5euyzGdSUgBgqZ1zXd0nCKGgBFqW73ilLxixFug-KZ9hOvG8dLXC8NA/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1231.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="640" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_W4_B5B_DandcZ1scXWLHRvEkyEbIJDxDQLYZ-5PLY8x9jzP4hAK0_SjeTHRtQJhW5px9Y0pqlyF184Azgsg_a9hnhQw2zkh2aEmVXMKbMqGpcoDnqbqOIEz1HQSvX1PMOt7Zc8aJ5Q/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_W4_B5B_DandcZ1scXWLHRvEkyEbIJDxDQLYZ-5PLY8x9jzP4hAK0_SjeTHRtQJhW5px9Y0pqlyF184Azgsg_a9hnhQw2zkh2aEmVXMKbMqGpcoDnqbqOIEz1HQSvX1PMOt7Zc8aJ5Q/w640-h426/KIrwinPhotography-1028.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIugkCHhhTyj8JKwrkB6knpXbMjYOZUWNkWnmePRIJ4GNjemKX7daRwirrRuoRteFWq1VpVUDygqvEPiy1kb7dlAOeSLyZYerIv5Ao9CvtnkoOTKNAeETJsijtUkQPtVGUpOv9bZ6mv4g/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIugkCHhhTyj8JKwrkB6knpXbMjYOZUWNkWnmePRIJ4GNjemKX7daRwirrRuoRteFWq1VpVUDygqvEPiy1kb7dlAOeSLyZYerIv5Ao9CvtnkoOTKNAeETJsijtUkQPtVGUpOv9bZ6mv4g/w533-h800/KIrwinPhotography-1019.jpg" width="533" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Dear Sloan Lee,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Here we are at your SECOND birthday, and it is no secret, two is one of my very favorite ages. There are days I am still in shock that you're a boy. When they laid you on my chest two years ago the first thing I asked was, "And it's for sure a boy?!" I couldn't wrap my mind around you then, and there are days now I'm still trying to figure out how you made your way into our family of girls. However, it's very apparent you were supposed to be the caboose to our family train, and there is not a day that goes by we are not grateful for you. </p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l2exMCG081WGGCNuVEVcTYwwNVp8aqwi-t87cNWZvj12PlcMvS5L50W-vyk99u97DIXOnc6jovtq3brfxK_U1s6BQzuPJqcmfSnkB7dwqvzhPGGhIuNy2L8KFe3F0OQVjBhyIhl-yCI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l2exMCG081WGGCNuVEVcTYwwNVp8aqwi-t87cNWZvj12PlcMvS5L50W-vyk99u97DIXOnc6jovtq3brfxK_U1s6BQzuPJqcmfSnkB7dwqvzhPGGhIuNy2L8KFe3F0OQVjBhyIhl-yCI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGVuF4TQ6BXXwD09wWRCTbkakxY6YWHObfRrtkdYJF-KTSypCDmBilRe5bacvr_8SSClmMa-rOxpWGoIsxZWnML13xZL5WWcfs6sK2Vk0fUyIUWc06YDL0uehcY8WAxX0i0KFtAiZoMg/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGVuF4TQ6BXXwD09wWRCTbkakxY6YWHObfRrtkdYJF-KTSypCDmBilRe5bacvr_8SSClmMa-rOxpWGoIsxZWnML13xZL5WWcfs6sK2Vk0fUyIUWc06YDL0uehcY8WAxX0i0KFtAiZoMg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBbMPOmAeJEFJjQaHI5M9ygNWaXWa7pedha6J1XcieaquZMgdiOXHuoynM6dT3JrLLJVzMaNJcF55PitK9Jj_0V9dCjMxD8gJJgAS5vWZXaX1uUoY66txJpfFBHANYgzHIRMoZlJvyVM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBbMPOmAeJEFJjQaHI5M9ygNWaXWa7pedha6J1XcieaquZMgdiOXHuoynM6dT3JrLLJVzMaNJcF55PitK9Jj_0V9dCjMxD8gJJgAS5vWZXaX1uUoY66txJpfFBHANYgzHIRMoZlJvyVM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kPsTgOMJI-vrGllf3Vbr_HgNIupICJoFelIHeWSk7VLPcANvsOVyFD4bAxC4qodSVYBJhpf0vQ3l4v37JXRoC6XifmKoAThnJPsncovdphYdmlc_weWFJOmvOV6BeQXhbNm4nSrbgqE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kPsTgOMJI-vrGllf3Vbr_HgNIupICJoFelIHeWSk7VLPcANvsOVyFD4bAxC4qodSVYBJhpf0vQ3l4v37JXRoC6XifmKoAThnJPsncovdphYdmlc_weWFJOmvOV6BeQXhbNm4nSrbgqE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1029.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEYFnDifpcq_ngmf-zA5Vg6eFBoGJi6MuV9RN9LF9scqP8RBc3RRsflETQZJybs-YVoRnd7SX08LIfbesyC9Vo1xX0r13z4ZHwB1I0icToSDABcIjnyXiiZJazRnqFDrwbGAXxbAvLOY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEYFnDifpcq_ngmf-zA5Vg6eFBoGJi6MuV9RN9LF9scqP8RBc3RRsflETQZJybs-YVoRnd7SX08LIfbesyC9Vo1xX0r13z4ZHwB1I0icToSDABcIjnyXiiZJazRnqFDrwbGAXxbAvLOY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1030.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGAjAKkVm0T1sAf1a3ZudbkMq_PDPsMGUeiRuswNhwGQTltEVhMqdaLdwxwlceXJoo0K64NmkqVgrPkvVtFQqin7PRV2qNhKe3p23ZZylgje9fH669yMQJfS_TcW36mwk6n_vbx4PTW8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGAjAKkVm0T1sAf1a3ZudbkMq_PDPsMGUeiRuswNhwGQTltEVhMqdaLdwxwlceXJoo0K64NmkqVgrPkvVtFQqin7PRV2qNhKe3p23ZZylgje9fH669yMQJfS_TcW36mwk6n_vbx4PTW8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1033.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99fUoCqOXzvYIBWIbF3E6oLDp7IQsY2DU_rehBrP-_FteArsNdMvD0oeBluTMvDHKm20I_jCfNinp1x-wj88mFjRjhuEsFof7Zi0Tp5waz2shTywmCwFlg11Nv0BeF5ocFBDHNbDGKHo/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99fUoCqOXzvYIBWIbF3E6oLDp7IQsY2DU_rehBrP-_FteArsNdMvD0oeBluTMvDHKm20I_jCfNinp1x-wj88mFjRjhuEsFof7Zi0Tp5waz2shTywmCwFlg11Nv0BeF5ocFBDHNbDGKHo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1037.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4dk65Jx032M8TLOgXKdn2SsIzYyiV2n5rTVTT1eYAU0idarCzUHDtlfHg2voUuJ2mTza73LwvYLxeJGMZ8XD9G2ID5TQIgK59tLety7DqAs-IefImYTwxCfvE8eWi6cVl3fBbfNueoM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4dk65Jx032M8TLOgXKdn2SsIzYyiV2n5rTVTT1eYAU0idarCzUHDtlfHg2voUuJ2mTza73LwvYLxeJGMZ8XD9G2ID5TQIgK59tLety7DqAs-IefImYTwxCfvE8eWi6cVl3fBbfNueoM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1039.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vc7j5AhZKIoUNbyWbxxKNJhdr_ynLWBzoZYOjJRPWuLdqrwbDgSyXWw6bl2WyYVUAbBFs-G7Jk4mW4tZdmCJJs63dKRdoS7IYPm3b7fUZHwHiebfsdhEhUaKirsg3GH9KC_KfIYxXe0/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vc7j5AhZKIoUNbyWbxxKNJhdr_ynLWBzoZYOjJRPWuLdqrwbDgSyXWw6bl2WyYVUAbBFs-G7Jk4mW4tZdmCJJs63dKRdoS7IYPm3b7fUZHwHiebfsdhEhUaKirsg3GH9KC_KfIYxXe0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1042.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdwvh-GcQIMEo9UMUlk9zlkpXAhxpF905_SCKBgV1nBguqVNPTWko_ZdbhLKgymlFC7PnnlF8QtaC9JF2xqiyuacFZ800aED9kcaZTMfg9WOlPYyDhlCqDaY4qM6nPkFQ9aTKRtMUdMU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdwvh-GcQIMEo9UMUlk9zlkpXAhxpF905_SCKBgV1nBguqVNPTWko_ZdbhLKgymlFC7PnnlF8QtaC9JF2xqiyuacFZ800aED9kcaZTMfg9WOlPYyDhlCqDaY4qM6nPkFQ9aTKRtMUdMU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1044.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KWIeivbXQGYxdk38u7mzkc9TaiUH8BaVmG7z8I_JWzaT35aVZE39wAUTiW-LcnGdhkUPArilF_QzgpBHV04e3Vcp1CU8sjzAGkrfO1eujtnswpSTpTuA5cLxGC6KvKAIjXdxyEoWz1I/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KWIeivbXQGYxdk38u7mzkc9TaiUH8BaVmG7z8I_JWzaT35aVZE39wAUTiW-LcnGdhkUPArilF_QzgpBHV04e3Vcp1CU8sjzAGkrfO1eujtnswpSTpTuA5cLxGC6KvKAIjXdxyEoWz1I/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1049.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg7dkn2BbqTJFvVowkQKaGeFzpFbglD2DRCZJnS9U2F3SdZsGWWp7gw_wnY7BmuoVLzcIRM12_u2vAsRg78tZksExAlQr615ETrWNMSjN7zyFjsKPayzJ2FwQy9f9S1g2DdNHlHF7q2k/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg7dkn2BbqTJFvVowkQKaGeFzpFbglD2DRCZJnS9U2F3SdZsGWWp7gw_wnY7BmuoVLzcIRM12_u2vAsRg78tZksExAlQr615ETrWNMSjN7zyFjsKPayzJ2FwQy9f9S1g2DdNHlHF7q2k/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1053.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIRdTD19z2rycdZ8_KrbCsnMchHYDGp5Mt8N8IFjMg-jnTeTOvQ24IhT2vn_-e7PkcSD8aOleGsFCXAHMotsqCUNmOKbucEIrygQatXQM7aeoDb3MHgvNOJk5H9wU7b3Mbgj7dmcYcsw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIRdTD19z2rycdZ8_KrbCsnMchHYDGp5Mt8N8IFjMg-jnTeTOvQ24IhT2vn_-e7PkcSD8aOleGsFCXAHMotsqCUNmOKbucEIrygQatXQM7aeoDb3MHgvNOJk5H9wU7b3Mbgj7dmcYcsw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1056.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Cars. Cars. And cars. These are your interests. And food. And sleep. You make sounds for every single thing-- you've perfected all vehicle sounds [My favorite of which is "hont hont" for "honk honk"]. You [STILL!] drool nonstop. If there is food around, you want it. And you love your blankie and paci and as soon as we give them to you you snuggle right in for bed. You are a great sleeper and still go to bed around seven most nights and stay content in your bed until around eight in the morning [thank you!]. You also love your afternoon nap, and I realized recently that normally at this time we have to interrupt the sleep habits of our two year old to transition them to a big bed to make room for another baby in the crib. But not this time! You're so content in your crib, and there is no reason to kick you out, that I think we will let it ride for awhile. </p><p>When you were born I think we had about four toy cars in our house. That has changed and now I find them everywhere and step on them when I'm making supper. You say, "weeee ooo weee oooo" for any emergency vehicle, constantly survey the sky for airplanes, and love when Richard comes to hay the field behind our house in his tractor. However, you have a tender spirit, it seems, and find a lot of loud noises "too scawey". You love to be read to, and a favorite of yours is "Time for Bed" where you find the "little tiny moon" on every page. You love to point out the "little tiny moon" any time you see it in the sky too. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblea1ye5jgczCl8RQY7u87TD0Ndjzrj886ARBuBIrvzooC4du23fdkCCKqC9njtbT04evlxHLk9452fZFMoOu90_Pzon2tvb1afTMSy__a9XcHbyiL2QX2Pl3zsNb2gZPr6fppx2mDoU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1072.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblea1ye5jgczCl8RQY7u87TD0Ndjzrj886ARBuBIrvzooC4du23fdkCCKqC9njtbT04evlxHLk9452fZFMoOu90_Pzon2tvb1afTMSy__a9XcHbyiL2QX2Pl3zsNb2gZPr6fppx2mDoU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1072.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIhCGwx73ITDk5RneoiwJF_pjuFzto0AqKzK2YPT7-YB886-mTE1_uETGdr63HRXL8SnmAr_TAFYeYgdXzQq-zGIph9LDi7z2GxGpyv07520jQGjG_KkjF4mfYGF0MeucSLacMGK-RnQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1095.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIhCGwx73ITDk5RneoiwJF_pjuFzto0AqKzK2YPT7-YB886-mTE1_uETGdr63HRXL8SnmAr_TAFYeYgdXzQq-zGIph9LDi7z2GxGpyv07520jQGjG_KkjF4mfYGF0MeucSLacMGK-RnQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1095.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3W0aZC2wlgCeCNpOtlbiNpBpNED1CnSEkwPy6_IBYFa_W5ERSPL2Y5YPi3D0mZG4j2i3Ej6N1ReRt-QpyJasMAGeDtJ2ZrinMCJLdz020ZWGBMjC0VogKsnymFNNoYYP8NXUkJXeSt6k/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3W0aZC2wlgCeCNpOtlbiNpBpNED1CnSEkwPy6_IBYFa_W5ERSPL2Y5YPi3D0mZG4j2i3Ej6N1ReRt-QpyJasMAGeDtJ2ZrinMCJLdz020ZWGBMjC0VogKsnymFNNoYYP8NXUkJXeSt6k/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1096.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx0G0z1tMT3CaRXJS8ttw3ANsVz374bTdYJRDt_k4mXRivO2JoFFj3OQav9zaf5QRIEJ4ZjTO8KZUyd0Gf472hfUILw9DJ8PSrosqGdqGCLJgMNpFAm70AMTTrP_bB_Hc8CO4ByWOEs8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx0G0z1tMT3CaRXJS8ttw3ANsVz374bTdYJRDt_k4mXRivO2JoFFj3OQav9zaf5QRIEJ4ZjTO8KZUyd0Gf472hfUILw9DJ8PSrosqGdqGCLJgMNpFAm70AMTTrP_bB_Hc8CO4ByWOEs8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1106.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN9ftQavnPqfxFte_bKVVF4s19ed1hXfwP2eKS6CNhHnl0XMWJA7oKe_Khv3bUdCv-Z_TRmKsjGGYRkPoLjY8YleD73VC5pvSbGE70dNVkZtpNjX-eWlNWu3vmp1xZhBI2bugr_iILdM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN9ftQavnPqfxFte_bKVVF4s19ed1hXfwP2eKS6CNhHnl0XMWJA7oKe_Khv3bUdCv-Z_TRmKsjGGYRkPoLjY8YleD73VC5pvSbGE70dNVkZtpNjX-eWlNWu3vmp1xZhBI2bugr_iILdM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1118.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l3Ka8TZvYTfQ426D9_UFNTjMMKq9LyUJhR-cCn6dc-cHrkNI269bB53NOXZQpEXCCbYmDpafQdRNM9EQ-xq85Zwhd_j_sjgCi-4Fau-l6jwS-dSkYs_JKDhMst_t6MyQ457jCqwHiTA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l3Ka8TZvYTfQ426D9_UFNTjMMKq9LyUJhR-cCn6dc-cHrkNI269bB53NOXZQpEXCCbYmDpafQdRNM9EQ-xq85Zwhd_j_sjgCi-4Fau-l6jwS-dSkYs_JKDhMst_t6MyQ457jCqwHiTA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1122.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG4inwF34Z18wg9Fl7TzA2wkmOg0q5TfPYxu8IQ5mtC4vxPmGE8tK7Pqx1sYTS5YPqVlgfKilHcYtQeyE2WlwDVPx5aBuRc5edpsGwq32hvIxqu1nArkxMhSJlhxVYlahMJZsVoCDUnI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG4inwF34Z18wg9Fl7TzA2wkmOg0q5TfPYxu8IQ5mtC4vxPmGE8tK7Pqx1sYTS5YPqVlgfKilHcYtQeyE2WlwDVPx5aBuRc5edpsGwq32hvIxqu1nArkxMhSJlhxVYlahMJZsVoCDUnI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1126.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sNBWl2tlJBopVi39Io1465VWxx8i-olyAQUSTARNCtwoOvS_7iuuAABTpe_JfdiLfYxXNClwUoSrlE2UEa3nd-ePu0AxTJhyWe88WPbIZzREYiuFxn0n6yi4LbV77dfyh5tTPGHGe04/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sNBWl2tlJBopVi39Io1465VWxx8i-olyAQUSTARNCtwoOvS_7iuuAABTpe_JfdiLfYxXNClwUoSrlE2UEa3nd-ePu0AxTJhyWe88WPbIZzREYiuFxn0n6yi4LbV77dfyh5tTPGHGe04/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1142.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xbkt1j1yUxZrn7nMdOMmMSCEZ4qudSeQSyPDwKfGQclAkq-X9JUREs29f5YQkU5_K5Y0zDvlmlidwujm2yy0j10oBcFgpSaDf8GV4MMlofRlSB2NtkI8Q0X38RsY7vMvEb3q9IN1NWA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1164.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xbkt1j1yUxZrn7nMdOMmMSCEZ4qudSeQSyPDwKfGQclAkq-X9JUREs29f5YQkU5_K5Y0zDvlmlidwujm2yy0j10oBcFgpSaDf8GV4MMlofRlSB2NtkI8Q0X38RsY7vMvEb3q9IN1NWA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1164.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHHDI45dvMyYKCWJ-hQ_MorXNm1WfTjSYVnZwD8UGazb3_Wv3XE5cUFnIt_5Jruf4LxMpMjF4Up-ysWzydkTwJTg5nLQIEC7ZmroCeS8rXRuROPJArXL7Yq2UH4JFLj7PuYs2Gs0on1c/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1178.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHHDI45dvMyYKCWJ-hQ_MorXNm1WfTjSYVnZwD8UGazb3_Wv3XE5cUFnIt_5Jruf4LxMpMjF4Up-ysWzydkTwJTg5nLQIEC7ZmroCeS8rXRuROPJArXL7Yq2UH4JFLj7PuYs2Gs0on1c/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1178.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98amGcGbPhs0da0LXICAFmivm22BxWWtIiNB-JJBd6OKQFPT6GJ-zHd9D2sshO0IfJaHU8UC6ZIjE-_IzsClv-ocAS1GbMxilqrSpw7yIh-ad4hJKDAGMuYtxztbNCSmJ8Pt_aGntcAw/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1182.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98amGcGbPhs0da0LXICAFmivm22BxWWtIiNB-JJBd6OKQFPT6GJ-zHd9D2sshO0IfJaHU8UC6ZIjE-_IzsClv-ocAS1GbMxilqrSpw7yIh-ad4hJKDAGMuYtxztbNCSmJ8Pt_aGntcAw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1182.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkN-j_35sF48poX4qmhJM74uZ5wL3X3vWu9qMWYnqnDKq8TRYfzO1cBgK52i6jRiGr1A4fMbFcHkjwsIQ6J389r-pizCNIoquImtDFHXVhGj3L3cRoKcH56_7UKC5chOU_AbnUoAK9hU/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkN-j_35sF48poX4qmhJM74uZ5wL3X3vWu9qMWYnqnDKq8TRYfzO1cBgK52i6jRiGr1A4fMbFcHkjwsIQ6J389r-pizCNIoquImtDFHXVhGj3L3cRoKcH56_7UKC5chOU_AbnUoAK9hU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1186.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>You go non-stop, and when Daddy gets home you immediately start saying, "I'mmmmm....I'mmmmm... I'mmmm...." and wait for him to finish "....gonna get you!" And then you try to taunt him by saying, "Can't catch me!" But you're so excited it comes out as mere syllables of sound as you peel out around the corner, running away from Daddy in your favorite "get you game." I feel so fortunate to get to be home with you all day and watch you grow and learn. </p><p>You are not the easiest to understand, but you make sure you get your point across. We call you are little JOY MACHINE, because from the moment you wake up you you are bursting with life and we can't help but be happier when you're around. You keep me on my toes, though, for sure. Whether you're pulling things out of the pantry or running around the neighborhood because you've snuck out the back door which you can open on your own, or you've climbed up on something, it's easy to lose track of you! You've given us a few scary moments when we couldn't find you for a bit, but you're usually not too far away, just playing happily with something when we're frantically searching for you. When you make "muscles" it looks like you are about to explode, you're entire body constricting and your face getting red. And that's you Sloan-- all in, about to explode. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0cfRq9N-AsTwsdM1-mpB9qcMOGhmwQSszg0Wnc2GnlUVtUIZ0uqyyUyLsoBZc7LHCUjGxvEoEsqn0tCvubpMm4FEtvGQ4GqJRGITY0_hWmZpk9fS1a1e9f3_FZsrM2ojMrKYriTJihI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1190.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0cfRq9N-AsTwsdM1-mpB9qcMOGhmwQSszg0Wnc2GnlUVtUIZ0uqyyUyLsoBZc7LHCUjGxvEoEsqn0tCvubpMm4FEtvGQ4GqJRGITY0_hWmZpk9fS1a1e9f3_FZsrM2ojMrKYriTJihI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1190.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHptJZW9vpWQIa9qkkKzSlEgFVmBUKWksMYV60Ku8IBiTgo2bhlr1Zf8JSLLuGnlq6DXzPg4Ik5mIq3-mYnrLvwOn1B-2MCgVt22XCUwEUnxgtzhBo8S82Bn3jaagYpRMOvqkbMjkgrk/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1192.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHptJZW9vpWQIa9qkkKzSlEgFVmBUKWksMYV60Ku8IBiTgo2bhlr1Zf8JSLLuGnlq6DXzPg4Ik5mIq3-mYnrLvwOn1B-2MCgVt22XCUwEUnxgtzhBo8S82Bn3jaagYpRMOvqkbMjkgrk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1192.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHplrkaXL0bjMUs7ekpwpkMxPWyYrY4bbPKjoU1iFj5fJgQ-LbUXeiSJFvYcrNNaI1tlLwTJo_CLw4E8iokiXznN7cdeDHYucdbbBAvL75mt9KhOWEY6sU1xkkd3PkSga7c9Hdr1KM1jA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1195.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHplrkaXL0bjMUs7ekpwpkMxPWyYrY4bbPKjoU1iFj5fJgQ-LbUXeiSJFvYcrNNaI1tlLwTJo_CLw4E8iokiXznN7cdeDHYucdbbBAvL75mt9KhOWEY6sU1xkkd3PkSga7c9Hdr1KM1jA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1195.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL01nI_tMXhBJdhcl-D0iZKY4EJZRkhNQ-YmOmIw0t9VRE80iXZHN1gILbOhMANZtBKmUKI36s9DFXMOlCtb8dbVMFzKn-grdAPMBEObCiYr1xQE0YLUx3M-LnQrKDDSTGuBtB5f6hQM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1196.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL01nI_tMXhBJdhcl-D0iZKY4EJZRkhNQ-YmOmIw0t9VRE80iXZHN1gILbOhMANZtBKmUKI36s9DFXMOlCtb8dbVMFzKn-grdAPMBEObCiYr1xQE0YLUx3M-LnQrKDDSTGuBtB5f6hQM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1196.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7ZgXXv80ddcbRlU0RKhA483co5G2P0RoBwO_iNnc-c-CIEHexwTbRKlSFrzVk5tEtZKaakifvK1HvNDy0LHeUONZo-cHBD3CpBGiljPplBQlp2zlBfhF-FcW_0NmQ5rvTTXOTjaswjc/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7ZgXXv80ddcbRlU0RKhA483co5G2P0RoBwO_iNnc-c-CIEHexwTbRKlSFrzVk5tEtZKaakifvK1HvNDy0LHeUONZo-cHBD3CpBGiljPplBQlp2zlBfhF-FcW_0NmQ5rvTTXOTjaswjc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1200.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8lQ1HjcPKTbdRIhXDYYdNpthBOBFyjA8uE7YMgmEHXTKG7mMyi2mKf7Zg-tLc1ZnIQaOOXaMZrNMr_HiiVxzeNBhLxpDuURt1RpAJDcjMBDD1h0GGbcMMUeUea09ca0rAYaIN_P1dDQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8lQ1HjcPKTbdRIhXDYYdNpthBOBFyjA8uE7YMgmEHXTKG7mMyi2mKf7Zg-tLc1ZnIQaOOXaMZrNMr_HiiVxzeNBhLxpDuURt1RpAJDcjMBDD1h0GGbcMMUeUea09ca0rAYaIN_P1dDQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1201.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M-7B4o6a5muIbUJ_atpe-XTxGArXrHfoVnxTRqPLn8NQgv9yXSgMY7optHltuqOdpQXbUTxgKzqitgKgZfU2Dn3Qnk0Mp8HIp2fWypZqggZMS9VmRfF9ukpS-gvoYJIpzp35MGf5ZJE/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M-7B4o6a5muIbUJ_atpe-XTxGArXrHfoVnxTRqPLn8NQgv9yXSgMY7optHltuqOdpQXbUTxgKzqitgKgZfU2Dn3Qnk0Mp8HIp2fWypZqggZMS9VmRfF9ukpS-gvoYJIpzp35MGf5ZJE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1205.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlcVQamP7s-OfHI_oXf-N7mnB5Ma94xaYfsiS1q6aPdECFepVbvpTsRHLs_NXjg8GUKFm3lzg5rI8yroK0obFo2hSVpg6ODPftENn3qURD9DWKCUYqQn_eTR57roGAhiXhQgMp0Xz5t8/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlcVQamP7s-OfHI_oXf-N7mnB5Ma94xaYfsiS1q6aPdECFepVbvpTsRHLs_NXjg8GUKFm3lzg5rI8yroK0obFo2hSVpg6ODPftENn3qURD9DWKCUYqQn_eTR57roGAhiXhQgMp0Xz5t8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1210.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm7PJ8ZDD6OD_Vpnh565FXc3zUH0LAtr5xRBNTPTVVm1LCBCfSr5lcWJrzALuRgIfg_BBGYyYSg5s8wkMQHwlgDjqClZggL9VsbXrAuI7VBQsPz9mO_xPTqYJWl12lenW3ezWwH01B_E/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm7PJ8ZDD6OD_Vpnh565FXc3zUH0LAtr5xRBNTPTVVm1LCBCfSr5lcWJrzALuRgIfg_BBGYyYSg5s8wkMQHwlgDjqClZggL9VsbXrAuI7VBQsPz9mO_xPTqYJWl12lenW3ezWwH01B_E/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1222.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxEt92AM6pbBkbicTV-qiCp_fwfK2UhQ_m0lDb5c4erG4k7QU5FKyRYRO-aTK31WWnBkNhUBzpoqULrS8w82Du9dM_dfIxHA3hngelf7cMy7d-mN2tams9QBz8Q0EPm6dxWwezsBBuUQ/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxEt92AM6pbBkbicTV-qiCp_fwfK2UhQ_m0lDb5c4erG4k7QU5FKyRYRO-aTK31WWnBkNhUBzpoqULrS8w82Du9dM_dfIxHA3hngelf7cMy7d-mN2tams9QBz8Q0EPm6dxWwezsBBuUQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1223.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54lQtfpRjknYy3ENr7PlPksCtz9DDijctwelukL0l4WsroTcOwJ7y_nd3AoMQxUpqV7l1lUaOsE5kKoFTvlrSuPxzALYvzazmvw8AiYu0rrk9Z0OkJOTT0pwUbhU55_eUfYXRDKGaV7A/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54lQtfpRjknYy3ENr7PlPksCtz9DDijctwelukL0l4WsroTcOwJ7y_nd3AoMQxUpqV7l1lUaOsE5kKoFTvlrSuPxzALYvzazmvw8AiYu0rrk9Z0OkJOTT0pwUbhU55_eUfYXRDKGaV7A/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1226.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Your sisters ADORE you. There are times you have to push them away because they are covering you in kisses. But affection and help and love is never far from you. Often I find you on one of their laps listening to a book. There are times though that they insist I keep you upstairs or inside or in your room or in a specific location because they have built something and they just know you will destroy it. One time Blythe said, "I kind of miss when Sloan just laid on the floor because then he didn't mess up all our stuff." You're learning though and even know, at two, I see you beginning to have a great imagination and joining in play with the girls in fun ways. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Our most frequently asked questions of you are as follows: Where does he get his red hair?! Is it different having a boy? Is he built differently than your girls? Where does he get his red hair?! And... Where does he get his red hair?! To answer: you have lots of red headed aunts and uncles and a grandma that had red hair. Yes. And decidedly so-- the girls were all petite and you are not. </p></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosB-b6uf2RgcH3WVocsmueml3CPx4PlUEtQjjSW36rpdm4XrbUwHfStJfgTT1wE37ohExM2_KXotlzSlPbh5JtC4rbpTFucFMiHnbof2bsDBQ2QzRzhN-DPtgB7gz52dxWAvLfxg3hco/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosB-b6uf2RgcH3WVocsmueml3CPx4PlUEtQjjSW36rpdm4XrbUwHfStJfgTT1wE37ohExM2_KXotlzSlPbh5JtC4rbpTFucFMiHnbof2bsDBQ2QzRzhN-DPtgB7gz52dxWAvLfxg3hco/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJJP5zgcp_xcsc87rdSv1ymb5nmgwOvwv0To3zjbJzSVzVNBWKe9dZa2AeVvuE8TRmroa7gUOc5GIiVNz1zzjvaIEdV4ojJrRjKI80Qpsvbz6PsiU-BXBerkd5Uya5cOIPAzJYmRd124/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJJP5zgcp_xcsc87rdSv1ymb5nmgwOvwv0To3zjbJzSVzVNBWKe9dZa2AeVvuE8TRmroa7gUOc5GIiVNz1zzjvaIEdV4ojJrRjKI80Qpsvbz6PsiU-BXBerkd5Uya5cOIPAzJYmRd124/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1255.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhk7n0TQrMjqVRiQ1xulCXCbX_Irz0_GQGGCpHzZ3xbMsEpn4KnwDvcdf-mihLeX1V0ma207mgKgBBh_oAfHAleYEDmgKyL5lY8DbLR3tTJALHf-3AETECvgjmrmHU3CA2LxAnN79ohA/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhk7n0TQrMjqVRiQ1xulCXCbX_Irz0_GQGGCpHzZ3xbMsEpn4KnwDvcdf-mihLeX1V0ma207mgKgBBh_oAfHAleYEDmgKyL5lY8DbLR3tTJALHf-3AETECvgjmrmHU3CA2LxAnN79ohA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1264.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyVniIJsR0s0MNwrSzn-ZurUrVTQLY_jnGIuBZ-e59kBMyM51SR7O1tuQb0c7fNxHLgBE9W1MXv3auI0kAnyMUGj2ZyjfgRsIODNwlXFDVafQ_tgUSiip3UNID7zdK43YJpfzjcqAjxI/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1279.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyVniIJsR0s0MNwrSzn-ZurUrVTQLY_jnGIuBZ-e59kBMyM51SR7O1tuQb0c7fNxHLgBE9W1MXv3auI0kAnyMUGj2ZyjfgRsIODNwlXFDVafQ_tgUSiip3UNID7zdK43YJpfzjcqAjxI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1279.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOG9p-vrJm8-P7jmR3I9uWWSq8u51sRGeMhOr0uEGCwhVvbumB-G8fHgoN7Rv4_U6sUJDHXDy84NhLaamojeQLqVpMJ9IqNmIJibxtGvfBZ68HGIRxz0YfV2sI8bKzby7tcLbXE9TxQY/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1295.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOG9p-vrJm8-P7jmR3I9uWWSq8u51sRGeMhOr0uEGCwhVvbumB-G8fHgoN7Rv4_U6sUJDHXDy84NhLaamojeQLqVpMJ9IqNmIJibxtGvfBZ68HGIRxz0YfV2sI8bKzby7tcLbXE9TxQY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1295.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRZECiV1PXBl6e07KYL5YF-_cFe3twFk5qZJceAw9vn9idpb88e-383r4WteR9-QMsoa1E-imtKaK_cqxzrZVgT8mzJzd0VO6IKKEVsAEUjrg4XpUZ4vlu1taxfveZYZrndkphdD9d0Q/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1296.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRZECiV1PXBl6e07KYL5YF-_cFe3twFk5qZJceAw9vn9idpb88e-383r4WteR9-QMsoa1E-imtKaK_cqxzrZVgT8mzJzd0VO6IKKEVsAEUjrg4XpUZ4vlu1taxfveZYZrndkphdD9d0Q/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1296.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p></p><p>Many times in the morning while I'm reading my bible you find me. Inevitably you drive your cars across the pages of scripture, and eventually I welcome you to "pat the bible" as I have done with all your sisters. You put your cars aside and we pat the bible and we say, "God's word is true." And I pray, Sloan, that through the years you will learn the beauty of that seemingly simple statement; that you will learn that God's words are true forever and always, for you and for everyone. And I pray that those words in scripture will change you and mark you and move you to action. </p><p>Looking at pictures of you now-- stout, strong, and heftier than any of your sisters were at this age-- I know your dimpled hands and pudgy cheeks are going to change over the course of this year. I know when we hit three next August you will be decidedly less <i>baby </i>and more <i>little boy. </i>And while I do mourn the passage of this stage-- the end of an era with toddlers-- it is a joy to watch you grow. While I will be sad when you no longer fit on my hip so easily [though it's getting more difficult now], know that it is a joy to simply be near you. We love you so much, Sloan. And the toddler years are sometimes etched with lots of discipline and lots of boundaries. But know this: When we have to sit you in time out for throwing a fit, know we are trying to teach you that immediate gratification and always being told "yes" are not as valuable as patience and learning the art of dying to self. When we force you to say "thank you" over and over and over again, or make you "ask nicely" instead of whining before you get something, know that we are trying to teach you that the people in your life are important, and that being kind shows them you value them. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_AeLeBCpnTPatyvGEu_zv2-RFaqJSOkpNbLEgoKMcQowp4S3weCIx6osyTHoey7lp5gia8ws2bMx6130G4hTtJUgb9nVXKIVrv9jpNt3IVBvDXbxlLsikor74P0_rjfJErsibQSeaUs/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_AeLeBCpnTPatyvGEu_zv2-RFaqJSOkpNbLEgoKMcQowp4S3weCIx6osyTHoey7lp5gia8ws2bMx6130G4hTtJUgb9nVXKIVrv9jpNt3IVBvDXbxlLsikor74P0_rjfJErsibQSeaUs/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1308.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0As6XZ9cDWJBBbgHFl8SlFTzLJMobNVF9n1Jh6ab8VzJEjs3FnNucErFRR3doXrg9cjBtRnfy_OSvgj5SLz_IwTnsfe1ASRf17RCWO_MG0ApfBV85PvdfdLo_gdcVCApSx1DiWK2vzCM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0As6XZ9cDWJBBbgHFl8SlFTzLJMobNVF9n1Jh6ab8VzJEjs3FnNucErFRR3doXrg9cjBtRnfy_OSvgj5SLz_IwTnsfe1ASRf17RCWO_MG0ApfBV85PvdfdLo_gdcVCApSx1DiWK2vzCM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1314.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dVf1fv5S_4p7PaZfDinjooWjQb6WGEvodJ5QDozqZDnTzc88ihhXmXtJ5ZuW39BgtVkVWunO9Px8qEvTi0nxSXHpFCoZVhve9voH3_HYuvofUebPJpW7O3JUvfCHtJtq6qYQYddloeM/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dVf1fv5S_4p7PaZfDinjooWjQb6WGEvodJ5QDozqZDnTzc88ihhXmXtJ5ZuW39BgtVkVWunO9Px8qEvTi0nxSXHpFCoZVhve9voH3_HYuvofUebPJpW7O3JUvfCHtJtq6qYQYddloeM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1322.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxaGm4tOM_Qn89RnYwb5eZjBqbEIoczZkVlGBSGDbZIMJXR9pNYYEV9MElJjodV26IOiCurY_E4grxz2eZQ3YWxHBBjiMiPNyj1qbMc3s6vVnN0aNrJm_10xNOqyrgzjXzbb1xQq9V50/s2048/KIrwinPhotography-1338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxaGm4tOM_Qn89RnYwb5eZjBqbEIoczZkVlGBSGDbZIMJXR9pNYYEV9MElJjodV26IOiCurY_E4grxz2eZQ3YWxHBBjiMiPNyj1qbMc3s6vVnN0aNrJm_10xNOqyrgzjXzbb1xQq9V50/s640/KIrwinPhotography-1338.jpg" /></a></div> <p></p><p>But ultimately: Your dad and I hope you always understand the <i>why</i> behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together: that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </p><p>Happy second birthday, Sloan Lee! There is nothing you could ever do to make us stop loving you. </p>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-70833221389920512502020-05-02T01:20:00.001-04:002020-05-02T01:20:11.672-04:00SIX [Becks] <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6XUNYjUs0bxNseYRxtjmvYmin7HCC3_BqtshWxiGCHyOd-uTQxzN9RvlW04taVHDfufo9I2MLBsJDEYFlp6Brp6NRGw6hJ8VHQlONl8bzoKIy0y1Y7q1rlyHVLDkqtzthnAkiDgz2Sw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6XUNYjUs0bxNseYRxtjmvYmin7HCC3_BqtshWxiGCHyOd-uTQxzN9RvlW04taVHDfufo9I2MLBsJDEYFlp6Brp6NRGw6hJ8VHQlONl8bzoKIy0y1Y7q1rlyHVLDkqtzthnAkiDgz2Sw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9326.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM81GFMVzszDR12_zDb9ToIbX91NgL-vGsRB9hw1-MCsoRseTD31ZI2gMZWgn78EKn6MlFuMwjrhSfm-fb0_X8PpIQsX8sZLNDn9O-L9EXlPdsKGgXrU8ivkM_aAj-RHMRIi-7UHuTng/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM81GFMVzszDR12_zDb9ToIbX91NgL-vGsRB9hw1-MCsoRseTD31ZI2gMZWgn78EKn6MlFuMwjrhSfm-fb0_X8PpIQsX8sZLNDn9O-L9EXlPdsKGgXrU8ivkM_aAj-RHMRIi-7UHuTng/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9198.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixYwJePbH2Fw-GPhnz7mE1xd_g9BcXBF3Zx6I091Xd0QsWIZz5FtNtYIikzofNimTZnKmq9A_9qExkpJ_K9t6HP9PMMsCxq7AkNj30ZdQA8rcMlsW2s_PzP3oNiR4XM75FjQAJwHO30E/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixYwJePbH2Fw-GPhnz7mE1xd_g9BcXBF3Zx6I091Xd0QsWIZz5FtNtYIikzofNimTZnKmq9A_9qExkpJ_K9t6HP9PMMsCxq7AkNj30ZdQA8rcMlsW2s_PzP3oNiR4XM75FjQAJwHO30E/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9089.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWEdxIG3quCpKiR4oiM929nExW-Jt7wBlSsXKD9fvQ7lC6zR49ggu7k16HYf88eXYQwgvnT1WEd2fHs17pnYAgMDC3yj2RyQtgDV_eFuNpCBf8FaEetGYMSiEI9wB_dFM7x5km57hzjw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWEdxIG3quCpKiR4oiM929nExW-Jt7wBlSsXKD9fvQ7lC6zR49ggu7k16HYf88eXYQwgvnT1WEd2fHs17pnYAgMDC3yj2RyQtgDV_eFuNpCBf8FaEetGYMSiEI9wB_dFM7x5km57hzjw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9284.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnJEQsVCfAjb1loD1_1nmZCpwWxvUOx1ghFbe8RZWd4jpXDQRYMFZfCU1inU4_Y34fNiGQRZjjKQ8-6f_AkT2WD8wpvH1-rtgNVq0_z5lrbB9sK0KLtQxHPGll8GaljEk1ptptip-SuI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnJEQsVCfAjb1loD1_1nmZCpwWxvUOx1ghFbe8RZWd4jpXDQRYMFZfCU1inU4_Y34fNiGQRZjjKQ8-6f_AkT2WD8wpvH1-rtgNVq0_z5lrbB9sK0KLtQxHPGll8GaljEk1ptptip-SuI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMMajVSBizS6Gb30dk77ntwrYOTK5uBu5xxoK_XxOAILlhABhPXypgoW5YrHtSKWSWVCrSL2NGa4uF3p6Hy5hJx0lLoQFejAAjbyXQkys9NgyjsPSYlmiUSKIKfJKafmq6L9hkZ6uNwM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMMajVSBizS6Gb30dk77ntwrYOTK5uBu5xxoK_XxOAILlhABhPXypgoW5YrHtSKWSWVCrSL2NGa4uF3p6Hy5hJx0lLoQFejAAjbyXQkys9NgyjsPSYlmiUSKIKfJKafmq6L9hkZ6uNwM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9053.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Becks Lynae,<br />
<br />
I sat down to write this letter, and started by re-reading the letter I wrote you last year. And it seems impossible that I've had a whole year with you as a five year old. I have a huge knot in my throat after reading that letter, because not only <i>has </i>it been a year, but it has been a wonderful year at that. The year you were born I feel like I barely knew what I was getting myself into still with being a mother. And now that you're [already!] six, I for sure know that every day I do not know what I am getting myself into as a mother, but I also know every day you will show up and love me, and that is a deep and true gift.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGptYxtmgMeXVbevVeRbeUpFQiJAbU3n28ft3EZ-uiRt9zTD4ubKxdZzeBmXCW3_q4sPwtJbRvVgesO7IJ9x3LLd48JV2RS8hc6qIqlUjmC4KoMLxXtLLzZ_gKUG0aVMN1WXKJZv9AQM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGptYxtmgMeXVbevVeRbeUpFQiJAbU3n28ft3EZ-uiRt9zTD4ubKxdZzeBmXCW3_q4sPwtJbRvVgesO7IJ9x3LLd48JV2RS8hc6qIqlUjmC4KoMLxXtLLzZ_gKUG0aVMN1WXKJZv9AQM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9054.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1_KLPBhCq3ZKZYI0jDpCFgB20Lf7FL5gLRDAfu1ugyIEESjDePUb0q0Kxb0HnbXZ7fM9C98urjX1ghpOB6QBV3y9c0b7rrJc_eSxuFQJJxIS1okZ_kQ1_lpi11blVkebx2QWF0fHQTU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1_KLPBhCq3ZKZYI0jDpCFgB20Lf7FL5gLRDAfu1ugyIEESjDePUb0q0Kxb0HnbXZ7fM9C98urjX1ghpOB6QBV3y9c0b7rrJc_eSxuFQJJxIS1okZ_kQ1_lpi11blVkebx2QWF0fHQTU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9056.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibayxAi7tpDwXAWbo-3UJC4HVIGtLoWNyL66NukO-UO3v-gQcSr9xr7HTVl1gt6FsqBleIxvY57OabFEnK1CN7RLlj9efuMX7LMqogGYOMJ0K-4QCZ_scO-0YN3OHlxpUBlEMjidkSJNI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibayxAi7tpDwXAWbo-3UJC4HVIGtLoWNyL66NukO-UO3v-gQcSr9xr7HTVl1gt6FsqBleIxvY57OabFEnK1CN7RLlj9efuMX7LMqogGYOMJ0K-4QCZ_scO-0YN3OHlxpUBlEMjidkSJNI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9058.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWg3qrKkvG7NKMI-61oiHD0_AU2JikXBKF2KYuA4J34nSM87n3fYTGYnhonwO0zwVjdJyto7899d3dSHYR3bzUw9PiRAeYpA_zkkF4WI1Prduok4rp1ZaUOr5GWvPghoHpyNTkgR_Vs4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWg3qrKkvG7NKMI-61oiHD0_AU2JikXBKF2KYuA4J34nSM87n3fYTGYnhonwO0zwVjdJyto7899d3dSHYR3bzUw9PiRAeYpA_zkkF4WI1Prduok4rp1ZaUOr5GWvPghoHpyNTkgR_Vs4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9063.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4LNlsgAKg7Z3pldAo06OPR4F0zciWzLKUWo8Lvj894o7Lz3rQ1beWVy1lffW4y0w0U4CVAGZBTRhXkXAS3lzz1MElCYDEg9RCmVRXQpanT6zF_VGLLICIh7hEKorlS4buKILo3dJzus/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4LNlsgAKg7Z3pldAo06OPR4F0zciWzLKUWo8Lvj894o7Lz3rQ1beWVy1lffW4y0w0U4CVAGZBTRhXkXAS3lzz1MElCYDEg9RCmVRXQpanT6zF_VGLLICIh7hEKorlS4buKILo3dJzus/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9066.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShR9ZjLp9UKOX-OJmyMavIFhVmyX3aLOqp8MS7zZWAPEOgAHMysCcVpI1dg_iA628skwyskTf6dAl56HmAgE4VmFKV5XDM1KEq_iske5_9jpWXZ8XT_xNzIhENdnaK7IF0x09rC39sbk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShR9ZjLp9UKOX-OJmyMavIFhVmyX3aLOqp8MS7zZWAPEOgAHMysCcVpI1dg_iA628skwyskTf6dAl56HmAgE4VmFKV5XDM1KEq_iske5_9jpWXZ8XT_xNzIhENdnaK7IF0x09rC39sbk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9067.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygNJg5dOlxTssG1Z2ma_0I_Xi12jz4FN15SmL6hBKvqigAps-yyIc_5qB0-JnyKxKQFI4SSKcefT-hgzTZxbL1K-NARwVDFsf9LTmtA2he_M-O6906uIj9Eosl651eVqbkyFaBzPhY58/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygNJg5dOlxTssG1Z2ma_0I_Xi12jz4FN15SmL6hBKvqigAps-yyIc_5qB0-JnyKxKQFI4SSKcefT-hgzTZxbL1K-NARwVDFsf9LTmtA2he_M-O6906uIj9Eosl651eVqbkyFaBzPhY58/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9069.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eyw8V_5xnxS0GNTIWnTXbUDgiQvquONkfZY8Gd9oJPXlgGEqu5T88Tu9KZ1GuVE55JMHwHyoXoDt3E0hSoFivFWvl-SmR1kDjFNjhLtRchRjjeKepyBfFimb3f1iAwFEXLynK-qjCJc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eyw8V_5xnxS0GNTIWnTXbUDgiQvquONkfZY8Gd9oJPXlgGEqu5T88Tu9KZ1GuVE55JMHwHyoXoDt3E0hSoFivFWvl-SmR1kDjFNjhLtRchRjjeKepyBfFimb3f1iAwFEXLynK-qjCJc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9073.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYuyoD36Ui2RXFMsr5zlHpbLlv5i9WXoDazMjATMugr4dLOrp2uuQ4ol1w59XskCIEzn0a-4_-Pask35hZEfph5g1Yhoy0hzl_xYIvW4kyYUeuh9wRzeDbxpY48TsllojKInjbqxDLSU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYuyoD36Ui2RXFMsr5zlHpbLlv5i9WXoDazMjATMugr4dLOrp2uuQ4ol1w59XskCIEzn0a-4_-Pask35hZEfph5g1Yhoy0hzl_xYIvW4kyYUeuh9wRzeDbxpY48TsllojKInjbqxDLSU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9074.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
You continued to grow so much this year, Becks. You started Kindergarten in the fall and you COULD NOT have been more excited about it. On your first day you just took Blythe's hand and walked right into the building. You are very reserved at school, but you make friends easily and whomever you decide is a friend is lucky indeed because you are loyal and kind. You loved PE this year, you adore your teacher, and one of the sweetest things to me is how you would pick Blythe any time you earned a special lunch partner to sit with. When you were awarded leader of the month the hardest part for you was having to walk in front of the whole elementary to go receive it, but your teacher is wonderful and knew you would need a little extra hand to hold to have the courage. But all year long I saw your courage grow, and by this spring you were so excited about your music program. This shocked me because you normally do not like performing in front of others, so we were all looking forward to it.<br />
<br />
And then the Coronavirus hit the United States, and school was cancelled for the rest of the year. You took it pretty in stride. You've really missed your friends and your teacher, but all in all you've handled the change really well. However, when the day of your music program arrived [you knew, because we had always said it was the day after my birthday], you burst into tears and we had to sit and just snuggle for a bit and cry. And that was okay too. There have been things that have been sad to let go, like t-ball and music programs and finishing Kindergarten in a normal way, but it has also been a blessing to see you have so much time to play and play and play. I like to think that you'll look back on this time when we were "sheltering in place" at home and remember it fondly. I think you'll remember all the time with your siblings, lots of hikes and trips to the river, and playing hide and seek with the neighbor kids. I think you'll remember having church in the driveway and sending Marco Polos to your teacher and just slower days and dirt under your fingernails.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiTdaic-v3mR6umDfRb4Cv5E9G2XtYNpGCv2mR9HEJo5zmcO_cNL24H1wImP3FdzTnGoJvcp3hBJr46lVbE57u45h52-Xb2lkyGBQR_20_Zee9yexoX2MjdLZIna8CWqmsnTj4Z3leR0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiTdaic-v3mR6umDfRb4Cv5E9G2XtYNpGCv2mR9HEJo5zmcO_cNL24H1wImP3FdzTnGoJvcp3hBJr46lVbE57u45h52-Xb2lkyGBQR_20_Zee9yexoX2MjdLZIna8CWqmsnTj4Z3leR0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9081.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmcHJPXlxj_dHpLobX8tlexg2frMUzg6JCc2d7bQvw_DAke8d9CG7lyswsaDEGT_4ajZNRyxWDzXrWs2VtuK-fIg2OSG9ublj0tc5W7GRpoqB5bnw3GRfpHMMV84ILdHFirV389csvM4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmcHJPXlxj_dHpLobX8tlexg2frMUzg6JCc2d7bQvw_DAke8d9CG7lyswsaDEGT_4ajZNRyxWDzXrWs2VtuK-fIg2OSG9ublj0tc5W7GRpoqB5bnw3GRfpHMMV84ILdHFirV389csvM4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9083.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPS3kRI8UHcyxqCpahyphenhyphenpdPVD2mUKT4B94zqwo1FnbZrR0Rc2ylMUndBXqWiL740l8-D2KHjHlR_gubVgsR4tGpKebJH6BTouc_SZxNZPd7n1gxgsTf5eECxLftagGSMDL1dkerUbs03o/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPS3kRI8UHcyxqCpahyphenhyphenpdPVD2mUKT4B94zqwo1FnbZrR0Rc2ylMUndBXqWiL740l8-D2KHjHlR_gubVgsR4tGpKebJH6BTouc_SZxNZPd7n1gxgsTf5eECxLftagGSMDL1dkerUbs03o/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9084.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GCJzPgqRQ3VdAy2FR4GoUXTrgMn4kfYMlpSDOal6c7rWqpWao0340dv_1LIN7gQRpLV5mKScwygGtkQ8rOKxfO4UDp4n4KrxtD_n0lon83EZWZiS_3A9oJK0NXrupgXfBBt-x9NZ5hM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GCJzPgqRQ3VdAy2FR4GoUXTrgMn4kfYMlpSDOal6c7rWqpWao0340dv_1LIN7gQRpLV5mKScwygGtkQ8rOKxfO4UDp4n4KrxtD_n0lon83EZWZiS_3A9oJK0NXrupgXfBBt-x9NZ5hM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9085.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5zJipX-Wt3XD_jyQzb3wcP5EI_dt-X01l2sZ3DBtAJqC72VHMPdqDNE5gWgMQHDzQCoSYaVI31rD3vuLrGD8lnU02KkeXLAFQW4rQDtCEE4sWl2QRkmWETH0wmetWDjLHli7Bscjc94/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5zJipX-Wt3XD_jyQzb3wcP5EI_dt-X01l2sZ3DBtAJqC72VHMPdqDNE5gWgMQHDzQCoSYaVI31rD3vuLrGD8lnU02KkeXLAFQW4rQDtCEE4sWl2QRkmWETH0wmetWDjLHli7Bscjc94/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9090.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPlVphtSnGtnnuopVl4fNBj9l7SuthGAZRqypPnQAKRDY5jr2JOTC_7lwdCtcUfdQ2l0tiOZ8qq3STa8ebFU_SnIDCd3dGWGF0UMYnTFbBMD5YZ64cYtEoGrNCa3aHTvsMjMsGcsLZ1U/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPlVphtSnGtnnuopVl4fNBj9l7SuthGAZRqypPnQAKRDY5jr2JOTC_7lwdCtcUfdQ2l0tiOZ8qq3STa8ebFU_SnIDCd3dGWGF0UMYnTFbBMD5YZ64cYtEoGrNCa3aHTvsMjMsGcsLZ1U/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9092.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkgFqvGeWkjO5dzChvg-dGwkRxXb-hT6aOxg0AsGZ3NfArHKvDl6_iVkfAd7zHlrsKLKa2dN627-_lhd2lh55Z4VFN_voL9XLbG8HMlTKWNjNor12_DXx6ICyPxdolP8v6eVUunG95qA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkgFqvGeWkjO5dzChvg-dGwkRxXb-hT6aOxg0AsGZ3NfArHKvDl6_iVkfAd7zHlrsKLKa2dN627-_lhd2lh55Z4VFN_voL9XLbG8HMlTKWNjNor12_DXx6ICyPxdolP8v6eVUunG95qA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9093.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQo3gaCp7f-0WCVqNgOUjwWllW-4DGByZlzscpk02ssHYLv1TdFHPYYtuy-Ydgl2sP3X1Egg-q9BnrZvDsTRsHYKH5fUNJZTR6Uhf_RO4UtKppVsXdzi9nCsJdS8HDIYI15b4wGaeXJY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQo3gaCp7f-0WCVqNgOUjwWllW-4DGByZlzscpk02ssHYLv1TdFHPYYtuy-Ydgl2sP3X1Egg-q9BnrZvDsTRsHYKH5fUNJZTR6Uhf_RO4UtKppVsXdzi9nCsJdS8HDIYI15b4wGaeXJY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9094.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnudLy5E-iZM-DiQV54lzCQYUDpwNPxyZG_p9g9mmK8mLBNqt6WJleGvK2N_ypv1UHIWS13gK-4BYuoO0Aqhdyvdi2hxHfhaSmkuCCwmMoGe3vnV2CiN66fa7ipU9VHhPomLxQXL0S_o/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnudLy5E-iZM-DiQV54lzCQYUDpwNPxyZG_p9g9mmK8mLBNqt6WJleGvK2N_ypv1UHIWS13gK-4BYuoO0Aqhdyvdi2hxHfhaSmkuCCwmMoGe3vnV2CiN66fa7ipU9VHhPomLxQXL0S_o/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9095.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTuADftHjxmnRIJHz1R10ZCFaLEEyg4Myj_xg0i9frJstgwJvaqJT8Xm115Oo3T-VNPDI6AbEx95ATQ4lQgidSuLUD0nyStpPec3J6ghVbEoDcdsDDgzw4O66W9zkmIhm0fpcwF21jzs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTuADftHjxmnRIJHz1R10ZCFaLEEyg4Myj_xg0i9frJstgwJvaqJT8Xm115Oo3T-VNPDI6AbEx95ATQ4lQgidSuLUD0nyStpPec3J6ghVbEoDcdsDDgzw4O66W9zkmIhm0fpcwF21jzs/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9098.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoO71xZy0Row76u2rEFiew74T3GMNYaJJ0szBCCB8Alv0mHEENV1TConmA-oUFeuyiRFHPGm9S3MIu4Yp21CxU2Q-YR3nLpIhtarXBMSfE4lFOYrgkDlkSnhHmR5idyqr75MtDojfegAk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoO71xZy0Row76u2rEFiew74T3GMNYaJJ0szBCCB8Alv0mHEENV1TConmA-oUFeuyiRFHPGm9S3MIu4Yp21CxU2Q-YR3nLpIhtarXBMSfE4lFOYrgkDlkSnhHmR5idyqr75MtDojfegAk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9101.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoJ07WPQDGt2QsCPjljR6efNrAb8HvRwQoW9IJoDzllrYGTBB9-4CcHQdtG5irFHeZPsxZdu4WJ-mTwdBzEIvL-3uQGytYAmz-VUmjnHNoRlRz3LgKaUegi3Td3THrdIZ-GhWQ87EsNw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoJ07WPQDGt2QsCPjljR6efNrAb8HvRwQoW9IJoDzllrYGTBB9-4CcHQdtG5irFHeZPsxZdu4WJ-mTwdBzEIvL-3uQGytYAmz-VUmjnHNoRlRz3LgKaUegi3Td3THrdIZ-GhWQ87EsNw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9108.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMOelEh0BebesJlWnlSn7U63cJhLeEk-XSYhREX7XhvD4bXTcD2jABMAQ-Pv9MFLl9ea3TzU0RwkTxhm-aN3-0Mtam5Kt6yGArT8PxVtTQXPNk3ktuchIRUXi5XZPY7jtugsjczfCs24/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMOelEh0BebesJlWnlSn7U63cJhLeEk-XSYhREX7XhvD4bXTcD2jABMAQ-Pv9MFLl9ea3TzU0RwkTxhm-aN3-0Mtam5Kt6yGArT8PxVtTQXPNk3ktuchIRUXi5XZPY7jtugsjczfCs24/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9109.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
All of you like to be outside, but you are the most adventurous. When we go to the creek you immediately take your boots off and are knee deep in mud. You're not afraid to pick up worms and prefer to walk barefoot. You have this spirit inside you that is just full-to-bursting, and I think sometimes the parts of you that you hold back when in new situations and around a lot of people, you let loose of when you are outside exploring. This year I had a hard time thinking of something to get you for your birthday, and you were no help at all because all you kept saying you wanted was "a dog and a horse." You got to ride horses for the first time this year when we were in Colorado over the summer. I didn't know if you'd get nervous once you actually got on the large animal, but you've lived it so many times in your imagination every day that you were completely comfortable up on that big horse for the entire two hour ride. Seeing your little body moving in tune with that horse through the mountains was one of the highlights for me this year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Vh-zWj0yiu8t4vM6H4LAN6AhI8Z4ROQ0Vgdw8b1AGqmfC2NiWRTECyo1CS4AXY_VFCULYxDrgx2_DRc2csrooZZBltQm9wYNHB8mGvEkFXKjBDRwz8zQYDPtvpWpJ9MOwUDqS_FMPTo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Vh-zWj0yiu8t4vM6H4LAN6AhI8Z4ROQ0Vgdw8b1AGqmfC2NiWRTECyo1CS4AXY_VFCULYxDrgx2_DRc2csrooZZBltQm9wYNHB8mGvEkFXKjBDRwz8zQYDPtvpWpJ9MOwUDqS_FMPTo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxj60zmEUO2ZPWWTcDB92kbDhM_-aHsc0QOSwCGiy5zEmlQ80tFxZ3AM8abCdp6ZsrxQSxQdY5SXBwsnFmjYcplnFxvx4no5i2hvF8qj0rwIsawNIiShBxuABwM_E_23T66s6Q4uYCME/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxj60zmEUO2ZPWWTcDB92kbDhM_-aHsc0QOSwCGiy5zEmlQ80tFxZ3AM8abCdp6ZsrxQSxQdY5SXBwsnFmjYcplnFxvx4no5i2hvF8qj0rwIsawNIiShBxuABwM_E_23T66s6Q4uYCME/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9117.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMW8jFKxBVqYn2X0W9wh08Zd4WxnMV6oEFaGBCGrdpjrjd_mH8byflX_mTQymuRllt-PhR4mF51WHpkgiUU9ayBlH2UnmRAex8vIaxMWG4qR6Etkvx8Z3o8GZe3XfKlGdrWi6eBxwiAU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMW8jFKxBVqYn2X0W9wh08Zd4WxnMV6oEFaGBCGrdpjrjd_mH8byflX_mTQymuRllt-PhR4mF51WHpkgiUU9ayBlH2UnmRAex8vIaxMWG4qR6Etkvx8Z3o8GZe3XfKlGdrWi6eBxwiAU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9124.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMErsuDxcKXZUnbqRKMn8S0o08gqGIc_bFjLnWUKkkljc7imI_M0jIHNH9ouIdeH7JgEzbdL6d231NWFIyqdaHinctcunkS6EUshYUub_yqgYiGMxj05LBbgO9xtq0ASV5N7vK_Iw9nrg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMErsuDxcKXZUnbqRKMn8S0o08gqGIc_bFjLnWUKkkljc7imI_M0jIHNH9ouIdeH7JgEzbdL6d231NWFIyqdaHinctcunkS6EUshYUub_yqgYiGMxj05LBbgO9xtq0ASV5N7vK_Iw9nrg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9134.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdhV5pqp8Lqx8OiDEODruYBdOP3ShPhGGT7MU3LxRhmxPO__8UrEuFcSFD-sfimzpZ3OUpdobq1SdQqrKDXpjjqMKm_YEHYJMWC2ZtnrGPcDD9rnHcS9OUyPzYK1ywfc1DMh-5Tc96hw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdhV5pqp8Lqx8OiDEODruYBdOP3ShPhGGT7MU3LxRhmxPO__8UrEuFcSFD-sfimzpZ3OUpdobq1SdQqrKDXpjjqMKm_YEHYJMWC2ZtnrGPcDD9rnHcS9OUyPzYK1ywfc1DMh-5Tc96hw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9136.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQR8eWjHOeTG4JLYacWR2uCn0R7xlZzQJm7ANzJUrf72ojsrLE35ysjVg3w1tUTuwApJOg4aVKRysfjDn9Q8jI1iEBHuEuu1Q7gixgU1vraDf_QpSCOaKkiPupj8jciXaoYN5xRMrEig/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQR8eWjHOeTG4JLYacWR2uCn0R7xlZzQJm7ANzJUrf72ojsrLE35ysjVg3w1tUTuwApJOg4aVKRysfjDn9Q8jI1iEBHuEuu1Q7gixgU1vraDf_QpSCOaKkiPupj8jciXaoYN5xRMrEig/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9137.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiJLKC-dK0UMIQEeoU2Pkq1BY_b3krNji0bbrMYN6vK1HZbYL-_3gjCblQtsGKvfeS4aRfWCW47oG9fHLz3gm8ED_DOkL48jJdh7fAe29IQdZYCzvag0NjVq_xDUegJgcPlz2IBWpfr8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiJLKC-dK0UMIQEeoU2Pkq1BY_b3krNji0bbrMYN6vK1HZbYL-_3gjCblQtsGKvfeS4aRfWCW47oG9fHLz3gm8ED_DOkL48jJdh7fAe29IQdZYCzvag0NjVq_xDUegJgcPlz2IBWpfr8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9144.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg3CJOjWzgUY8cldj3ZaFVCAKq83qFvANfU0MOpyftD7PijlzLEf9o3mtPkIpiCX3vJM4DZV2kKKDxPb9iv3GJerLRgrvl5vSkbuXWR85-T-1QOgivEnQxOh7vP281rmOdMIC195Lk4c/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg3CJOjWzgUY8cldj3ZaFVCAKq83qFvANfU0MOpyftD7PijlzLEf9o3mtPkIpiCX3vJM4DZV2kKKDxPb9iv3GJerLRgrvl5vSkbuXWR85-T-1QOgivEnQxOh7vP281rmOdMIC195Lk4c/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9147.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnJEQsVCfAjb1loD1_1nmZCpwWxvUOx1ghFbe8RZWd4jpXDQRYMFZfCU1inU4_Y34fNiGQRZjjKQ8-6f_AkT2WD8wpvH1-rtgNVq0_z5lrbB9sK0KLtQxHPGll8GaljEk1ptptip-SuI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnJEQsVCfAjb1loD1_1nmZCpwWxvUOx1ghFbe8RZWd4jpXDQRYMFZfCU1inU4_Y34fNiGQRZjjKQ8-6f_AkT2WD8wpvH1-rtgNVq0_z5lrbB9sK0KLtQxHPGll8GaljEk1ptptip-SuI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YRiv8TO0Gpfla-dq8TpPt4inUfNusVDMUF15-i1AzvRwp_Ew7O2S5py0Q6r-1OP4vjoVftQhWMkgiVs3Pb7Jr8C5Fz8tHClfwKRD8X3oGJm1oqnK0oRSd_YgmRioWQR8HK1F8S7Iomc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YRiv8TO0Gpfla-dq8TpPt4inUfNusVDMUF15-i1AzvRwp_Ew7O2S5py0Q6r-1OP4vjoVftQhWMkgiVs3Pb7Jr8C5Fz8tHClfwKRD8X3oGJm1oqnK0oRSd_YgmRioWQR8HK1F8S7Iomc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9155.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrIaE6XFTOjaDev9vdtc8Vl6UGA6a_iPd-pIhYNUXeg-hll8xQKUPtigPJEjqkYK6Ej6ILmvbZLc9zXmb6UbR0akZ7bp6GhkSoqX9i6jfihBqyMsLMrJ0BBjJuMn_f5ozx3XK3BOIwW0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrIaE6XFTOjaDev9vdtc8Vl6UGA6a_iPd-pIhYNUXeg-hll8xQKUPtigPJEjqkYK6Ej6ILmvbZLc9zXmb6UbR0akZ7bp6GhkSoqX9i6jfihBqyMsLMrJ0BBjJuMn_f5ozx3XK3BOIwW0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9158.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYdwrUxDHmZ9GYIoAhLj5T93duii3myLseeBPaaCc1ebZNgqD3b4OOrWHvntxemKy4LFQzGYAGXIY4GBCgGj-AG3U5EpZj7LOr2ySKVGKy_or8foDC0Us06lo-YgByE87lpLeUKk9gw4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYdwrUxDHmZ9GYIoAhLj5T93duii3myLseeBPaaCc1ebZNgqD3b4OOrWHvntxemKy4LFQzGYAGXIY4GBCgGj-AG3U5EpZj7LOr2ySKVGKy_or8foDC0Us06lo-YgByE87lpLeUKk9gw4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9163.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
Last fall I was packing away clothes and switching them out for the seasons and passing on what Nan had outgrown. And then I came across this little purple dress and, Becks, it brought me back to summer with you as a two year old. You were stubborn and tiny and you would throw and all out fit when that dress was dirty and I wouldn't let you wear it. It was the <i>only </i>thing you wanted to wear. Every. Single. Day. was a battle. That is when I had to put you on the dryer for time out, which has now become a funny story we tell. But man, girl. That purple dress and the summer of you at age two. I decided to keep it. I folded it up and stuck it in a box and decided I wanted to remember your tiny clenched fists. I wanted to remember being your brick wall, fighting the battle of consistency and outlasting your stubbornness during the day only to fall into bed exhausted at night.<br />
<br />
When I folded that dress away I sat and thought about you, sitting in a plastic chair in a kindergarten room, wearing whatever I had laid out for you the night before. There is something about you that is woven into me now-- there is some bond you and I have, like the link that weaves together soldiers after their battles. But that dress is more than a reminder of the stubborn two year old you were: it is evidence to me of your growth, and of the tenacious, caring six year old you are today. I hope you never lose the fire that made you clench those impossible small hands of yours into fists-- but I do pray that that fire will burn in you not for your own gain, but for others. I pray that it will be an ignition that carries you deep into discipleship and deep into your passions. I already see you learning how to ride your big feelings like you rode that horse this summer-- you're learning how to control the reigns. And it has been a beautiful thing to see unfold.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxClxeKU3UF0XumzHVtWIZgXWMKskbuw3cTclf-5IvZdGDYTvL4_iMdKcWP_AtVwIFMRhNEyCdGYoXTPaSILyALXgYv8iZv3JjChVLw15PonF5JKKcJFHZtny4aK54ZII1yAtML9E1OY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxClxeKU3UF0XumzHVtWIZgXWMKskbuw3cTclf-5IvZdGDYTvL4_iMdKcWP_AtVwIFMRhNEyCdGYoXTPaSILyALXgYv8iZv3JjChVLw15PonF5JKKcJFHZtny4aK54ZII1yAtML9E1OY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9164.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEWRVtVslazT2f53NS7zxPH6kvZqC0v9CMtUDBWV8g9G1odgpuWsfjVtv8pFsi126C6eADZVKB8hJAtJmsz7vFLgT6lEEIW5hz5sS5O2Z_SzDjlrzxYESGDuEUIGVZLF-GPgCZOiVqgQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEWRVtVslazT2f53NS7zxPH6kvZqC0v9CMtUDBWV8g9G1odgpuWsfjVtv8pFsi126C6eADZVKB8hJAtJmsz7vFLgT6lEEIW5hz5sS5O2Z_SzDjlrzxYESGDuEUIGVZLF-GPgCZOiVqgQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9167.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDwIGKN-lWh7Drmm2fr509AVLnTB0xAJnBs7nV1ODahk8a1L0J9dCFuk-shIGOsn2T2IeNGsPfRB7_K66BDOE-FtGjmyXci0CC0mV0qs15SZuGVc_aQ-O5tlwFcLDIgaDwgOBdzXN0kQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDwIGKN-lWh7Drmm2fr509AVLnTB0xAJnBs7nV1ODahk8a1L0J9dCFuk-shIGOsn2T2IeNGsPfRB7_K66BDOE-FtGjmyXci0CC0mV0qs15SZuGVc_aQ-O5tlwFcLDIgaDwgOBdzXN0kQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9179.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLxcD4X-BA7WJv2n0oOiB2yJYgchGYuaBDjsD9dSGX8vTskw4JAgPVhiWhmQ0tP2vfpQ0kAl0YrOkT9PcAOvwbMbl98ZJDC_K9_qpeOjRuLn-rZUtTtEmlu-X7RBTbY7jmTgDMPyC4no/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLxcD4X-BA7WJv2n0oOiB2yJYgchGYuaBDjsD9dSGX8vTskw4JAgPVhiWhmQ0tP2vfpQ0kAl0YrOkT9PcAOvwbMbl98ZJDC_K9_qpeOjRuLn-rZUtTtEmlu-X7RBTbY7jmTgDMPyC4no/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9183.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpGU7GyWmf_ITyz8v3hcc29bRIsnAA-H7mYXWqjGhTm3Z1ze4x2Dphlldje3C4F3RK3lT5UsGvu29B8KUHDm2Mb7yUCcUB1opGuVjR4u8-nz_m0UFcc8sppjnditG41mYDZntZdkD5B4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpGU7GyWmf_ITyz8v3hcc29bRIsnAA-H7mYXWqjGhTm3Z1ze4x2Dphlldje3C4F3RK3lT5UsGvu29B8KUHDm2Mb7yUCcUB1opGuVjR4u8-nz_m0UFcc8sppjnditG41mYDZntZdkD5B4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9196.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RRcDvqxieoernGrRARZ7xjZsI1kJYQ5tFqsF2UwU42rjTPv0DTfPK7zwkxFENeXqwe394dt_LZpoFvlxPKa1Xvhiamg4EzaoHvnuWj2ack6ZX2lqUMFE5lBqwdjlPkirHWkgh23qZng/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RRcDvqxieoernGrRARZ7xjZsI1kJYQ5tFqsF2UwU42rjTPv0DTfPK7zwkxFENeXqwe394dt_LZpoFvlxPKa1Xvhiamg4EzaoHvnuWj2ack6ZX2lqUMFE5lBqwdjlPkirHWkgh23qZng/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9206.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5ErESmgevo5_dFUeVbMTdExhTB9vV6r8ZM7GsNnmh_1a8ZkW0b19mK_XP37yS_rUl9zG594wHjLs1coc2BLti23GQY1faX_ikAS9oIsxFv-ruTnOVXRzexOCFA2GyMXh5C_jrDhLm9U/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5ErESmgevo5_dFUeVbMTdExhTB9vV6r8ZM7GsNnmh_1a8ZkW0b19mK_XP37yS_rUl9zG594wHjLs1coc2BLti23GQY1faX_ikAS9oIsxFv-ruTnOVXRzexOCFA2GyMXh5C_jrDhLm9U/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9207.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vqP1E_vmdRveuTLekWGEOX4qnzmMUUWwVtXHAAZeH47mFpEm7NoeeuoEAXY59diMFoaK2anGy9rIZYO1rDyLcrfKZWQS7cElQwIOX0fDuZZTJ4JlU8DfgAO4wS4G2cbefy1l3_1MlS8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vqP1E_vmdRveuTLekWGEOX4qnzmMUUWwVtXHAAZeH47mFpEm7NoeeuoEAXY59diMFoaK2anGy9rIZYO1rDyLcrfKZWQS7cElQwIOX0fDuZZTJ4JlU8DfgAO4wS4G2cbefy1l3_1MlS8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9217.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHrkZ5uhAz1qO3oCLjUw8rO3buTTGpQUcGcgguT-RoQUd1N_OXK6eqxziK6-qBEcfQ918OkSseJYmWRp0Wo7JMCzPk8MyIIVtIUwuNSSbxkVOuOst4qIrwhfhLVylbi7tPL2wSs6gFfM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHrkZ5uhAz1qO3oCLjUw8rO3buTTGpQUcGcgguT-RoQUd1N_OXK6eqxziK6-qBEcfQ918OkSseJYmWRp0Wo7JMCzPk8MyIIVtIUwuNSSbxkVOuOst4qIrwhfhLVylbi7tPL2wSs6gFfM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9221.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnLY1exo_CGziCq8hivwrsQNsPSHSJgKaLHIRD0oFx-6m1FXRA1rZeWKvnvHfLG__7x8RdQEEJfvEQQFkhjN2dKUrivS9NdLahYh5PNGqpI46kqhmGiuP08oviRiwSa8vrDweZM7o4ls/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnLY1exo_CGziCq8hivwrsQNsPSHSJgKaLHIRD0oFx-6m1FXRA1rZeWKvnvHfLG__7x8RdQEEJfvEQQFkhjN2dKUrivS9NdLahYh5PNGqpI46kqhmGiuP08oviRiwSa8vrDweZM7o4ls/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9222.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PzS4tF2iUYP2-j4GkqXoTheuHoHThXQsSu3pZc2zHra8sF9fqUGd4Rlw09qzClQLUHwCUuLWYfuyEMpUyNXDvaAZySqg32WVGdSUQU47Prrgwk7Cised8O4W8isBMCyVTqnByPz7wk4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PzS4tF2iUYP2-j4GkqXoTheuHoHThXQsSu3pZc2zHra8sF9fqUGd4Rlw09qzClQLUHwCUuLWYfuyEMpUyNXDvaAZySqg32WVGdSUQU47Prrgwk7Cised8O4W8isBMCyVTqnByPz7wk4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCJec0JxD3c1l0TyMHXt39YKRt_BeCV_d-XDIpCh6vTjkc7Ca-q4McI89dwQu_OpZlTBTBZuOJsFV9-XYrZa4zsOwGIjYfst6xVygUQcFV8r4rhYQwJeBFVma9cSvcgjCdqnVIYloJiQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCJec0JxD3c1l0TyMHXt39YKRt_BeCV_d-XDIpCh6vTjkc7Ca-q4McI89dwQu_OpZlTBTBZuOJsFV9-XYrZa4zsOwGIjYfst6xVygUQcFV8r4rhYQwJeBFVma9cSvcgjCdqnVIYloJiQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9229.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
You love pretty things and notice when people are dressed nicely. For my birthday you wrote me a card that said "your face is cute." When we went on a hike recently and packed a picnic, you wanted to bring along a coaster for your water bottle. When Sloan had to get a cast earlier this year you were just at his beck and call the entire month and could hardly bare the thought that he may be in pain. You got to see your first movie in the movie theater this summer [Toy Story 4], and like during most movies you ended up in our laps with tears in your eyes, not during scary scenes but during emotional ones. You walked barefoot all the way home from school one day because your shoes would have given you blisters. The next day I made you wear your shoes and you threw a fit the entire way home. You're all in. Or you're all out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_ahsEvHkTfOs8533J-CEQw6N70w5MGkpmlOaOwHGUN4ye6R1QzSDyTtel6Wg6S7ictXkv4IPtrqlJ4HS-XGkAiUt_W0qcnRB4Nv6nWrm4LuLwp0PkuvWSOxJkUaiw-XhDiERF0wI1BE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_ahsEvHkTfOs8533J-CEQw6N70w5MGkpmlOaOwHGUN4ye6R1QzSDyTtel6Wg6S7ictXkv4IPtrqlJ4HS-XGkAiUt_W0qcnRB4Nv6nWrm4LuLwp0PkuvWSOxJkUaiw-XhDiERF0wI1BE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9235.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65DFgSzVnPOKVIKiwiG1VLC5Kdo0W7kah9LLohPyI9kCKYWI1BmxKiapacIGgOQjgjaxBnz5yT1ewqkd40_qR6MFB__X700-NCip1RkrtvjvWBTWzy3AbpZ_JAnC03MqFF3D7VKEc3J8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65DFgSzVnPOKVIKiwiG1VLC5Kdo0W7kah9LLohPyI9kCKYWI1BmxKiapacIGgOQjgjaxBnz5yT1ewqkd40_qR6MFB__X700-NCip1RkrtvjvWBTWzy3AbpZ_JAnC03MqFF3D7VKEc3J8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9246.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfW1QEMC5A6LRRZk3fc4zrfaQIIcI4GIdL-gy4cOSTViljOLrSwpYf6QA2rm8fh_i5vLkpAmx0An8EdxzCQMsaVBKbSwgKlnoZ-nfiMm3zqLNn61HregSeJUAxnKTZY8_JL1P-PEWFXo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfW1QEMC5A6LRRZk3fc4zrfaQIIcI4GIdL-gy4cOSTViljOLrSwpYf6QA2rm8fh_i5vLkpAmx0An8EdxzCQMsaVBKbSwgKlnoZ-nfiMm3zqLNn61HregSeJUAxnKTZY8_JL1P-PEWFXo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_gjrot_cG5zdtsfOYHgHvI4ABOGNNnPnCfqO2sl4RwSMV3o_5DwwJq-KA3cOF_ef-_rCuOp1e-swcxGL3T83SblMywuTwfqc8LMXjbyM_JRByC18PJSMkzAcOBN9_hyphenhyphen4GGxlMq-C9HM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_gjrot_cG5zdtsfOYHgHvI4ABOGNNnPnCfqO2sl4RwSMV3o_5DwwJq-KA3cOF_ef-_rCuOp1e-swcxGL3T83SblMywuTwfqc8LMXjbyM_JRByC18PJSMkzAcOBN9_hyphenhyphen4GGxlMq-C9HM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9257.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgCnxG_GG3hrO1eB6TBBfjnTghk59y1I7memUgfas6g9D5cnAHO8PqkJhsZ_Lr9oXQgRD1J8pl77ElLpkV6Gjlni2daT63o8aLGt66ZiGTDXWKyXKTueSUlU2sJiPNiD0UaRLCOjdfAo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgCnxG_GG3hrO1eB6TBBfjnTghk59y1I7memUgfas6g9D5cnAHO8PqkJhsZ_Lr9oXQgRD1J8pl77ElLpkV6Gjlni2daT63o8aLGt66ZiGTDXWKyXKTueSUlU2sJiPNiD0UaRLCOjdfAo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9258.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM8o79O8IWw-QMTqWz5a90Tdx6XeQWkL5wLI751JD25eO5YQpkAFo3JbuvGLSjGaEa-0JE0QXbCBWAe9Fk9RYaIq-61M8AKz1WkIJ9IKs-umjWnGCTaI07-z1mSxgLEW9DuTqTTA5VFc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM8o79O8IWw-QMTqWz5a90Tdx6XeQWkL5wLI751JD25eO5YQpkAFo3JbuvGLSjGaEa-0JE0QXbCBWAe9Fk9RYaIq-61M8AKz1WkIJ9IKs-umjWnGCTaI07-z1mSxgLEW9DuTqTTA5VFc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9261.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2A9lV-3cEUhlSu1E594MFuQKwP0q1huFA8Lm9XYfY-nMztKDH1SOU77iKskn1ZkO28WDLp_3WeaFvYu0-dgy9Q8BNLxEMTld-857dPV7O4XSokx8YhZhgUmU7n8vufYwoNlzjfFhbOd4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2A9lV-3cEUhlSu1E594MFuQKwP0q1huFA8Lm9XYfY-nMztKDH1SOU77iKskn1ZkO28WDLp_3WeaFvYu0-dgy9Q8BNLxEMTld-857dPV7O4XSokx8YhZhgUmU7n8vufYwoNlzjfFhbOd4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9266.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPQao_F7GKWAB8yuHvY_2of0Yj0EYhaV6o69879YdsFeT_TPBl8d7SWoFp-HDGLddOnnIuEik83wx0ZUG61Mk4c_pfXi5uaY90BcCWx_chdzvfUNAh-A4FvyDhQqdEyUwpmqi-RrdrwQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPQao_F7GKWAB8yuHvY_2of0Yj0EYhaV6o69879YdsFeT_TPBl8d7SWoFp-HDGLddOnnIuEik83wx0ZUG61Mk4c_pfXi5uaY90BcCWx_chdzvfUNAh-A4FvyDhQqdEyUwpmqi-RrdrwQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9272.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3oXGE4eFtOoc1XYlqQ6wEm69dKrZdbU7N3cbAGWcSL247Gwf7AUfUQQNJLkR3WFPAdufkGCfPbUcuUwBMHB-t4Qn2Me6SFnv74PBPCeHDuIjehbXBV3znh8UHSClZ2_tz6Oi4SxESVE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3oXGE4eFtOoc1XYlqQ6wEm69dKrZdbU7N3cbAGWcSL247Gwf7AUfUQQNJLkR3WFPAdufkGCfPbUcuUwBMHB-t4Qn2Me6SFnv74PBPCeHDuIjehbXBV3znh8UHSClZ2_tz6Oi4SxESVE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9274.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5qO9aIdnrYdAZc4YTZEnYqy2EfJ_x-L7jZvnkomRArybQtd8RSIDRZkbZArzDk7imibBtuRscgjbXE5jGB8_NRuoRpj-XWh_cBM_lf5lFLvOBqH05JqP6ne-kOhXjBPiQ3eIbmF52ZE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5qO9aIdnrYdAZc4YTZEnYqy2EfJ_x-L7jZvnkomRArybQtd8RSIDRZkbZArzDk7imibBtuRscgjbXE5jGB8_NRuoRpj-XWh_cBM_lf5lFLvOBqH05JqP6ne-kOhXjBPiQ3eIbmF52ZE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9277.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkppr5TxB0G1-VUXP4wswWglJHOxsfkQ6PfZtCm-psh1N8b06iAFIBIJcCx2eS8SjcubjFUzSrtTX4o3lZExHN868nrbktdt7mgeFWXRdyECq54coiE6bz0efjxThf-Ap8b6wPXiCbe4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkppr5TxB0G1-VUXP4wswWglJHOxsfkQ6PfZtCm-psh1N8b06iAFIBIJcCx2eS8SjcubjFUzSrtTX4o3lZExHN868nrbktdt7mgeFWXRdyECq54coiE6bz0efjxThf-Ap8b6wPXiCbe4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
You prefer to sleep with Blythe in her bed. You love every kind of dip available when eating. You're strong and fast and you love to help out when your dad or I are doing a project. You say things like, "My nose is rusty." When Blythe came running to me to tattle and say you had hit her as hard as you could, you were running close behind and said, "No! I didn't hit her AS HARD as I could." You still know how to push your sisters' buttons better than anyone, but you also make them laugh more than anyone else. You almost always wear your hair in a ponytail, but you also love getting "ready" and having me fix your hair. Your big hopes for this summer are to ride your bike and learn how to swim, and I know you can do it! You love to play games [especially card games], and you beat everyone at Memory. When I think of the word "spunk", I think of you, which is funny because outside the walls of our home I doubt that many would assign that adjective to you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvxbrL_fLjK7Q_yTFzAp-YoRzRZrmcrxQsdF2R0ZLjGMCieqpUo076S4KYewDEb5cCR1pspgeGKaooSQfZMC31boEmuQbd9lwBeSsRxdVp-QG_qW3tXw8G1b4-qHKGCUK-D_tjy0rT3k/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvxbrL_fLjK7Q_yTFzAp-YoRzRZrmcrxQsdF2R0ZLjGMCieqpUo076S4KYewDEb5cCR1pspgeGKaooSQfZMC31boEmuQbd9lwBeSsRxdVp-QG_qW3tXw8G1b4-qHKGCUK-D_tjy0rT3k/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9283.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeVs1Co3txPYo-lHbg72DeaQwRxuNvcMwnXi8qTOycz64hWV6XGlRTaZeqM6mrX9GjpBffRcjHGciH4j_XsPkfMz3dFvUMi_hX_n6JXgusWUfRKjHQ1MgtEccgn5DyYqHI_hZLXkQpIQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeVs1Co3txPYo-lHbg72DeaQwRxuNvcMwnXi8qTOycz64hWV6XGlRTaZeqM6mrX9GjpBffRcjHGciH4j_XsPkfMz3dFvUMi_hX_n6JXgusWUfRKjHQ1MgtEccgn5DyYqHI_hZLXkQpIQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9284.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D_c4OVMtqQLMFc8jTI5KTtI_gu8fCuwFxgKdOb-33lug8Ky2fsUdtu47Cxk8PPjKfCadtx4WfeHPdN9UQG4fzcr3jA1k_A1UJVulGIlvwZMSn321NvpLy5FxxBq8FN3b5uYXxtOU6V4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D_c4OVMtqQLMFc8jTI5KTtI_gu8fCuwFxgKdOb-33lug8Ky2fsUdtu47Cxk8PPjKfCadtx4WfeHPdN9UQG4fzcr3jA1k_A1UJVulGIlvwZMSn321NvpLy5FxxBq8FN3b5uYXxtOU6V4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9297.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjzyRqM5BEb6oa49DhxjQqsWQWndSj_Vx5M7ewmMTuuLINJn20wKcXOzqL4MC5sDydFLXXhmQ3OykIJ7O6g19SONUETVl5Vo5wIt3jD4bRq_1eri658ekMVLoWFU4rSGJBmzTnjJqVQM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjzyRqM5BEb6oa49DhxjQqsWQWndSj_Vx5M7ewmMTuuLINJn20wKcXOzqL4MC5sDydFLXXhmQ3OykIJ7O6g19SONUETVl5Vo5wIt3jD4bRq_1eri658ekMVLoWFU4rSGJBmzTnjJqVQM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9304.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMNlBmwtiDXQxEb8olBn1p4tKrMgeBYEBa3_k6aFR19o6MuwssEa6EQb_k10z60btgdEaHal2G3NbSw46sdOflcHReJG7NbgexGzT5R_ly3Y4wi7f4Epy7eBpHk8-HO2fSAFW3h5RgDE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMNlBmwtiDXQxEb8olBn1p4tKrMgeBYEBa3_k6aFR19o6MuwssEa6EQb_k10z60btgdEaHal2G3NbSw46sdOflcHReJG7NbgexGzT5R_ly3Y4wi7f4Epy7eBpHk8-HO2fSAFW3h5RgDE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9305.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN4Sm12zaffozhFgTDsgqYEm0qIbw3OLS0MrGBC9WLMzEOy2bjBrxbg3Rg-z93XuKKpHknOSsCG81cqBjdeSnnz-7iof1IKP7x7XSksS67v2tYhJjfG9XhRZHSIT-MApBVUMe0u-lJRI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN4Sm12zaffozhFgTDsgqYEm0qIbw3OLS0MrGBC9WLMzEOy2bjBrxbg3Rg-z93XuKKpHknOSsCG81cqBjdeSnnz-7iof1IKP7x7XSksS67v2tYhJjfG9XhRZHSIT-MApBVUMe0u-lJRI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9307.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxkaY_oCeodOgjrNNVLMegspKBHc-AOtChr144uYfuR1QrSlyH86M-VHfDsdpefjIqrN0bfReW1QhpT40HklLUN3KAtkqcbc6kf3WFhZV8Qfkm5ACpwVVtfB500ATGBVQ5RGtyFvc0Ms/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxkaY_oCeodOgjrNNVLMegspKBHc-AOtChr144uYfuR1QrSlyH86M-VHfDsdpefjIqrN0bfReW1QhpT40HklLUN3KAtkqcbc6kf3WFhZV8Qfkm5ACpwVVtfB500ATGBVQ5RGtyFvc0Ms/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9312.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS879Sl1781oXWzLGjU6rKVjyhSzgce_yJTEtY_HbEc9K4UYc_nVjeTg18u3uDMJskreYIN9daDWCzJVa7BG_tENkU00hhtt785iywf58C4aNXDeJDPqXCIVJ-IgBMiSm5TkGkynrooOo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS879Sl1781oXWzLGjU6rKVjyhSzgce_yJTEtY_HbEc9K4UYc_nVjeTg18u3uDMJskreYIN9daDWCzJVa7BG_tENkU00hhtt785iywf58C4aNXDeJDPqXCIVJ-IgBMiSm5TkGkynrooOo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9313.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You are our early riser, and you are definitely a morning person. Your dad's favorite thing in the morning are your hugs and just how fresh you are each morning. You have always been so full of life. You were our smallest baby but our loudest crier. Our smallest toddler but our fieriest fighter. And here you are, our six year old, and you're still bursting at the seams with all the good stuff. I pray a lot that you will know the Lord and follow Him, because you do love to follow. This isn't a bad trait-- we need people that know how to follow well and it is the ultimate call of the Christian-- but I pray you have the discernment to know how and whom to follow well. Your heart may be tender, but I pray it always remains a little wild, too. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9Oh6bjsW8x3Q2xBAd43cEOk1Sll_slSqlt0ztRy-xJeP0HkQ2frrIZZDPyBMLirJkUHhljtBWp6DWa3UeIwaE2C-dubR7W0EAn4vhEUh4EWANIgaRXtw1tKa-ICpqzga9FLQkaFfMx8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9Oh6bjsW8x3Q2xBAd43cEOk1Sll_slSqlt0ztRy-xJeP0HkQ2frrIZZDPyBMLirJkUHhljtBWp6DWa3UeIwaE2C-dubR7W0EAn4vhEUh4EWANIgaRXtw1tKa-ICpqzga9FLQkaFfMx8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9317.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcvoYcNKC3orDfLwBR-kjUf1nxw1VBi89bQ_FecQSMttvHS6ysQOKfoPorLK7_3KxDqy1Cqagakcnh50Gkquvc9csr_orLBpNVduOULO8uQTA3sa0YTusdZXW5YvX_mjZQygXKdZy9yo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcvoYcNKC3orDfLwBR-kjUf1nxw1VBi89bQ_FecQSMttvHS6ysQOKfoPorLK7_3KxDqy1Cqagakcnh50Gkquvc9csr_orLBpNVduOULO8uQTA3sa0YTusdZXW5YvX_mjZQygXKdZy9yo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9324.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fgb9GOsT-8GeUUsiEgZs_JBewF4NrhEjB9zNfa-zDkzMk36eCGfTKI-Ek7MBJNz_fFNcU_0IlJeqkWyNQZHW4PvvkAUzCSfIHJ-4uC9cYSZz_9AN6J3vF0wU4RcnqDEqA462q4LV_ho/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fgb9GOsT-8GeUUsiEgZs_JBewF4NrhEjB9zNfa-zDkzMk36eCGfTKI-Ek7MBJNz_fFNcU_0IlJeqkWyNQZHW4PvvkAUzCSfIHJ-4uC9cYSZz_9AN6J3vF0wU4RcnqDEqA462q4LV_ho/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9327.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOvwBO4d8RDt-dtZbGlugSdA8oFJXL8qIz7z4Hoy5MeMtnG68SkZ3Vzx5zg1UhyphenhyphenfjqTS9jMqtJJW8X9m5QWVaJqNkw85n9nEMzgYCByD5GpXwpyWUxyGBMq31901Gf0U3JnSis5iJSPU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOvwBO4d8RDt-dtZbGlugSdA8oFJXL8qIz7z4Hoy5MeMtnG68SkZ3Vzx5zg1UhyphenhyphenfjqTS9jMqtJJW8X9m5QWVaJqNkw85n9nEMzgYCByD5GpXwpyWUxyGBMq31901Gf0U3JnSis5iJSPU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9334.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1fR7aFD_6bi8-A4929_SNIvvtyp6iCYPM2EELN7cjQgzigYC2vXsc-41sEJKyFgRxcvJtVWTAc3Wzsd0VuTghWJjy76FRU9rt8QSrpaajqzhY7gB8Jz6fnLg-f7oNxSyRTffuEPJMUQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1fR7aFD_6bi8-A4929_SNIvvtyp6iCYPM2EELN7cjQgzigYC2vXsc-41sEJKyFgRxcvJtVWTAc3Wzsd0VuTghWJjy76FRU9rt8QSrpaajqzhY7gB8Jz6fnLg-f7oNxSyRTffuEPJMUQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9335.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Nx7zNM7tpClmZYNDurDMN5Vqoz1Ay4LUAU7eFgaOE6PoYUfrPXFbAVaeW7VsI9bvitBTc3UaYNrQW0uu4Sd6Y8JIK_FUZtimOISSYhMwjejbgTPPw_pBXb9qX5LbXfVBUTlF8N0Oqh0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Nx7zNM7tpClmZYNDurDMN5Vqoz1Ay4LUAU7eFgaOE6PoYUfrPXFbAVaeW7VsI9bvitBTc3UaYNrQW0uu4Sd6Y8JIK_FUZtimOISSYhMwjejbgTPPw_pBXb9qX5LbXfVBUTlF8N0Oqh0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.4067px;">And as I always do, I will end this SIX year old letter with this: Your dad and I hope you always understand the </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">why </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Happy sixth birthday, Becks Lynae! There is nothing you could ever do to make us stop loving you. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXAODsF7tJTyXohw7dLRBF8M7ESPODVuip2rSTCBWKUbDjYhXFqgIzofzIzWMt48E5mkfucxvUfcFD_JHehU3OHVLkKzJ9nT4Zu7kogkKG5XCl_1Vta1YfE6o63yUK4_EaHMBMFNYvQ0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXAODsF7tJTyXohw7dLRBF8M7ESPODVuip2rSTCBWKUbDjYhXFqgIzofzIzWMt48E5mkfucxvUfcFD_JHehU3OHVLkKzJ9nT4Zu7kogkKG5XCl_1Vta1YfE6o63yUK4_EaHMBMFNYvQ0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9340.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf6CMp1BvgSPuFKKh6QjmztPkDS8sJx5AnTohHgfBjow69aDhZjVTvFkN97LAr7D3tkDWhhbJ32KWsGHVzJ04ou-hQRNT-IGWE2UrTKWprJHaOli7qbA0JbVpz5IMND57R0QYpq5Fo1U/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf6CMp1BvgSPuFKKh6QjmztPkDS8sJx5AnTohHgfBjow69aDhZjVTvFkN97LAr7D3tkDWhhbJ32KWsGHVzJ04ou-hQRNT-IGWE2UrTKWprJHaOli7qbA0JbVpz5IMND57R0QYpq5Fo1U/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9353.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRlJohnHJpiBVLuulAYrLybJ0xJdhb-wasIJW8jAeBZt0puj68pOuaxtYO5IxGoqBA7tUC72qFh6WV1I31Zz7LXgEbAC-xWaLdFHDpBIkqkePFGsukmrVKmE-KPWW6S1TbALOrari0Zo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-9361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRlJohnHJpiBVLuulAYrLybJ0xJdhb-wasIJW8jAeBZt0puj68pOuaxtYO5IxGoqBA7tUC72qFh6WV1I31Zz7LXgEbAC-xWaLdFHDpBIkqkePFGsukmrVKmE-KPWW6S1TbALOrari0Zo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-9361.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-22988352326122140482020-04-07T23:23:00.002-04:002020-04-07T23:23:19.465-04:00Nan is FOUR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJw8UjrnNakHW1RL_1Jpr847u8p-CXHEOYs0dO9XIai_3ulJ5Wd2Ks1gNgahiKOqLkp845djLZnN0OSbD4lxSEYAWIH3lUEGslf5tHqrR-BJP6CpoviyMrEdrp4m_fMErqyujXOK0lhw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJw8UjrnNakHW1RL_1Jpr847u8p-CXHEOYs0dO9XIai_3ulJ5Wd2Ks1gNgahiKOqLkp845djLZnN0OSbD4lxSEYAWIH3lUEGslf5tHqrR-BJP6CpoviyMrEdrp4m_fMErqyujXOK0lhw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8306.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbOHFV7YmqWQHXg0r2w__osGcAXk1MhstI4zkVZ7t9mA5sHq0sScx1nk9NHNqN7DRVD0VfaPMaq_xm-9Kt1PnMTcCbXVCYoJLyTBHQyo4SPEwo7WVMYdng_ni0i0zKfBRGfxpBpY3wlo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbOHFV7YmqWQHXg0r2w__osGcAXk1MhstI4zkVZ7t9mA5sHq0sScx1nk9NHNqN7DRVD0VfaPMaq_xm-9Kt1PnMTcCbXVCYoJLyTBHQyo4SPEwo7WVMYdng_ni0i0zKfBRGfxpBpY3wlo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8087.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefPFgbKeAyijjgjE4aJZiSZB6iKRGpwNqhVovIxMjXQ7DNLDN0irFbNdm2EvNqJbaLdA1N1Y5PERUhM1_BI4zafoZ1o9HSE4vUmrZ1CXhv_j4U-9jFKox5ce8Y0sgJVg6D4w93b70pFw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefPFgbKeAyijjgjE4aJZiSZB6iKRGpwNqhVovIxMjXQ7DNLDN0irFbNdm2EvNqJbaLdA1N1Y5PERUhM1_BI4zafoZ1o9HSE4vUmrZ1CXhv_j4U-9jFKox5ce8Y0sgJVg6D4w93b70pFw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8412.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJMqOVgoX5M8MHCAi1XmplrZxffjCthaJxVvb7G4LjFvzRqKoh6avlbyFBILVW3Dx97hvnWNTegDIVQtx5hZArAxhmYxTF77gmISCSVvL-ShXpMKvl38PEzwK_iVynNaUpDKoxS3ojIg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJMqOVgoX5M8MHCAi1XmplrZxffjCthaJxVvb7G4LjFvzRqKoh6avlbyFBILVW3Dx97hvnWNTegDIVQtx5hZArAxhmYxTF77gmISCSVvL-ShXpMKvl38PEzwK_iVynNaUpDKoxS3ojIg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8215.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVdZHmhyM5TIKVmDQ9USdFlVNfCh_PVwIUGyiQ4IAaxwkt11dnvLQFLDlQA7bdyTxBAipnWX3nbCEoaG38Zt2JF-DFPFXPNF5P4b5xO-VWu2MxeJpsoaKcT9wqU6ugr5kBXnO0-_pLOY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVdZHmhyM5TIKVmDQ9USdFlVNfCh_PVwIUGyiQ4IAaxwkt11dnvLQFLDlQA7bdyTxBAipnWX3nbCEoaG38Zt2JF-DFPFXPNF5P4b5xO-VWu2MxeJpsoaKcT9wqU6ugr5kBXnO0-_pLOY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8407.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUjlLz6-ryCfe69Ywu_Xtp-VMLV8mLpAEO9E78IOEJqZ2uVEGqB3l0ZMWRZwi4K9ls9adZczSPH_TPOfkeZulY-oZ06t-5-OmPKwF8_JXnGIclCz6hPiuZeT5zrWOr_bHjODk4zt4WH8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUjlLz6-ryCfe69Ywu_Xtp-VMLV8mLpAEO9E78IOEJqZ2uVEGqB3l0ZMWRZwi4K9ls9adZczSPH_TPOfkeZulY-oZ06t-5-OmPKwF8_JXnGIclCz6hPiuZeT5zrWOr_bHjODk4zt4WH8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8235.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSk_8cZZnxr1gWiO6pcJa583WG3NhuHqgzH3ptUBFH6UAflPeJYyp_jGBaBNf9wcu-9gqE4WB6b3J9GQNmIjS3erhzKfHFVtZH7NBptc2569NGu6V0vX7ufPraMSAGIZSK-75o0NOa6I/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSk_8cZZnxr1gWiO6pcJa583WG3NhuHqgzH3ptUBFH6UAflPeJYyp_jGBaBNf9wcu-9gqE4WB6b3J9GQNmIjS3erhzKfHFVtZH7NBptc2569NGu6V0vX7ufPraMSAGIZSK-75o0NOa6I/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8293.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Nan Louise,<br />
<br />
I have sat watching this cursor blink on the computer screen for awhile now. As it blinks I'm thinking about this year with you-- this life with you-- and you seem too big a personality to really capture in words and this year with you has seemed too fast. Our days together are very not big, and often slow, but you radiate from the center of them like a comet blazing through the sky. Four years ago when they laid you on my chest you were the most boisterous of any of your siblings in that moment. You not only emptied your bladder on me, but you squirmed and pushed and hollered and squeaked out different sounds. I should have known then that you would be full of life in every waking moment.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCo03IfgiUpwibacM3Fc9g5ZGbvPCjg3Jj5Qu6RMRFAiCdts72z3R_UDJtj652VayIcIXac1fbIrPgWhNA69_vNtVqigej5NVDWOTIrkO8RLHjNtf9KSl2ppXkCjzgcA65-4ImqV1luYQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCo03IfgiUpwibacM3Fc9g5ZGbvPCjg3Jj5Qu6RMRFAiCdts72z3R_UDJtj652VayIcIXac1fbIrPgWhNA69_vNtVqigej5NVDWOTIrkO8RLHjNtf9KSl2ppXkCjzgcA65-4ImqV1luYQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8092.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFU0dVT55ux2txtPNk7UvsPruQBZTFm2IoS8szhse0d9lYSWwRnyex8KtUCNSeXoCyUznKKtuN8QgWqgvubNdphc0Maq_qv-bRfN_PSYy48LoQUuwEtuTCFgdPQA8OlZUzv2ZQ2UC6FY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFU0dVT55ux2txtPNk7UvsPruQBZTFm2IoS8szhse0d9lYSWwRnyex8KtUCNSeXoCyUznKKtuN8QgWqgvubNdphc0Maq_qv-bRfN_PSYy48LoQUuwEtuTCFgdPQA8OlZUzv2ZQ2UC6FY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8093.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqeR1mE6Z8m9u0okLxrvImmwEgxrM4pVvCtK_FUJBAZLNhonZGjTGac6XCGtC4k03COxvhdsi3cKCwH3_3DFCC5Uyn8wz2OnMBZmYJU2VBzbOea5EYCytRLzjd_v45idNYcymsdusR_4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqeR1mE6Z8m9u0okLxrvImmwEgxrM4pVvCtK_FUJBAZLNhonZGjTGac6XCGtC4k03COxvhdsi3cKCwH3_3DFCC5Uyn8wz2OnMBZmYJU2VBzbOea5EYCytRLzjd_v45idNYcymsdusR_4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8097.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmcp-DyFmHeYWxYeyVl2D-Dv5bDIdp4FBEjEvn62tG_AMuXC-omXvXclMnTn0s5yM8O8c0Y18xc5IcuCIyssy9aXHRhbtPDEBKgejdHrJ0edZ_4OogPfYbR8gH5rkjZJQRAB95mFe-2g/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmcp-DyFmHeYWxYeyVl2D-Dv5bDIdp4FBEjEvn62tG_AMuXC-omXvXclMnTn0s5yM8O8c0Y18xc5IcuCIyssy9aXHRhbtPDEBKgejdHrJ0edZ_4OogPfYbR8gH5rkjZJQRAB95mFe-2g/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8113.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyZKI-vTH6qlsuFm9S8EuDPgH89-ssryc4rB5gmiZxCJ335rHxIJ7su-09njAXXaM0ftKKNqtl9QzPZ12zcW8C293qIIKl76q_n8q1_q2k2ErMjQcxNiZnJNyi5O3Ir7aPqRebXui4ks/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyZKI-vTH6qlsuFm9S8EuDPgH89-ssryc4rB5gmiZxCJ335rHxIJ7su-09njAXXaM0ftKKNqtl9QzPZ12zcW8C293qIIKl76q_n8q1_q2k2ErMjQcxNiZnJNyi5O3Ir7aPqRebXui4ks/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8116.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9HrE6gbyaaQTD094n7A76z4fLc8-eZ3kD7m-GsgD7VamILyzDIwHxsXJ_3RF7q5S96zsMxYh8sZ0U5zS2MH2NkCv8P3v2twHMQCzqUNUtC2L_LvkMk8ebvE1Lcd2zbp0OqQu4tKO7Hk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9HrE6gbyaaQTD094n7A76z4fLc8-eZ3kD7m-GsgD7VamILyzDIwHxsXJ_3RF7q5S96zsMxYh8sZ0U5zS2MH2NkCv8P3v2twHMQCzqUNUtC2L_LvkMk8ebvE1Lcd2zbp0OqQu4tKO7Hk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8124.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThiydYOGc_4Z72kwcJ2XqgearCECUPDuUii2WlO2FpZg_U_4rtDirbmMAKdmz9uXLLR9rKaMU21HbXJROHKC1OLuATd5F_BcXK11wGLp1FufI_-SFy5KXETAwlMknS5JaWSVZfJ-_buE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThiydYOGc_4Z72kwcJ2XqgearCECUPDuUii2WlO2FpZg_U_4rtDirbmMAKdmz9uXLLR9rKaMU21HbXJROHKC1OLuATd5F_BcXK11wGLp1FufI_-SFy5KXETAwlMknS5JaWSVZfJ-_buE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8132.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrVWI_L8xjkuOkU9yfkngudZk952LpNNulNB2lahYAziqKMHN4I_50jwhgnXx9XD6SXCpaji2Jt84w-h1UgkJoGsCLl-GSmMQdo1QH6pMDK47zS6lDvKQvzgxdu9ViY0lcG5C3DKVlLI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrVWI_L8xjkuOkU9yfkngudZk952LpNNulNB2lahYAziqKMHN4I_50jwhgnXx9XD6SXCpaji2Jt84w-h1UgkJoGsCLl-GSmMQdo1QH6pMDK47zS6lDvKQvzgxdu9ViY0lcG5C3DKVlLI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8154.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FfQSC02oanzmdLZjwd57mje91YAbAlMyZZXIlxXlEPNmb1z4fHDHvzRrWR8QWsxJEJjwXYOcRBfCRlP1qU5hp4RcKqIjBKCFRha2tZchhOGD9Q6VPdf7OxdwYPzebkCygbr1IHjnJxU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FfQSC02oanzmdLZjwd57mje91YAbAlMyZZXIlxXlEPNmb1z4fHDHvzRrWR8QWsxJEJjwXYOcRBfCRlP1qU5hp4RcKqIjBKCFRha2tZchhOGD9Q6VPdf7OxdwYPzebkCygbr1IHjnJxU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8159.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipECQLUJULI_eDhekECDR1p14pEhhXQoAQbejTKFlbYssSHsX9d86D8XH1ZudO4n9QuOzzxTVYCKXY-fSVmvpNxmlj1NUw_jcdVYzZdXHXq2lYTzvl3o-ouGGf7jrPM0ol9gvBXqqmD0E/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipECQLUJULI_eDhekECDR1p14pEhhXQoAQbejTKFlbYssSHsX9d86D8XH1ZudO4n9QuOzzxTVYCKXY-fSVmvpNxmlj1NUw_jcdVYzZdXHXq2lYTzvl3o-ouGGf7jrPM0ol9gvBXqqmD0E/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8164.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
This year you had to learn what it was like to be the oldest at home. Becks went to kindergarten and during that transition you had a hard time in the quieter house, with just your brother and me. You never really wanted to be by yourself, and engaging you in something to play with so I could make lunch or do some laundry was a tall task. You always ask to "do preschool", and love when we are able to do some activities and learn something. However, you have a very short patience for trying something you aren't great at, and getting you to write a lower case A in your name took lots and lots of attempts. You are very set in your ways-- most kids at age three can be convinced to do something else if it is done enthusiastically and creatively. But not you. You know what you want to do and what you don't want to do and no amount of pomp and circumstance will make you change your mind.<br />
<br />
You never want to be left out of what your big sisters are doing. If you even think there is a possibility they could be laughing at you, you can't stand it. There is a big difference between a new 8 year old [Blythe] and a new 4 year old [you], but you have some great sister, and very rarely get left out of anything. They go out of their way to include you, and while you have a friend in anyone you meet, you really value and love their friendship.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq2xz6-E8255COwKmjGC7D_nzHQEmiNa1hemXbVJHXXgXdkPAETTAvqCV204RYQVyU2UGdJtaWY1npSFREaIsTRBlBdcBjykZiSJew7SxHBS41YTFCddfGMDSIy_ZxwJvMBLcfDVeb8Y/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq2xz6-E8255COwKmjGC7D_nzHQEmiNa1hemXbVJHXXgXdkPAETTAvqCV204RYQVyU2UGdJtaWY1npSFREaIsTRBlBdcBjykZiSJew7SxHBS41YTFCddfGMDSIy_ZxwJvMBLcfDVeb8Y/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8179.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQd4xAEZgeQZOWQqjrmSrzE5kvlA-9yBil5GShzrOTP3HJNthUDtj9PHRTGk-tfqeo1mRennM-7OcV6VJC2Ya02EvNI62jpi8S53v129xXlRkSHhr2o44ysVNSzjMd9OHrhTOto5ebbk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQd4xAEZgeQZOWQqjrmSrzE5kvlA-9yBil5GShzrOTP3HJNthUDtj9PHRTGk-tfqeo1mRennM-7OcV6VJC2Ya02EvNI62jpi8S53v129xXlRkSHhr2o44ysVNSzjMd9OHrhTOto5ebbk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8184.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ9aIKa0wHgN2U2kqf6oYRta_gzYE7nZkzXB0nPjuO_RZYiQP5jK9prWX21uZnsoxEGxhydkcXCRwFUGe58bUwTUQ-yapyUdaiasIYOFQPqFfHhpstYci3F6X2_fswOF48z2C4dkmuec/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ9aIKa0wHgN2U2kqf6oYRta_gzYE7nZkzXB0nPjuO_RZYiQP5jK9prWX21uZnsoxEGxhydkcXCRwFUGe58bUwTUQ-yapyUdaiasIYOFQPqFfHhpstYci3F6X2_fswOF48z2C4dkmuec/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8192.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmGrj_PFp11RUHiGNCDqWdvpAaB2BNWuStDDGKmCAetTe5DmKaj7BQv3ixpUisEet-BqHZEZ8CPcHPOBydlVFvWeK6S5OKRTqzi3JvkbCGrIH8K89HMTbdzWfd-lMTd6gIB-dQYyhd9U/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmGrj_PFp11RUHiGNCDqWdvpAaB2BNWuStDDGKmCAetTe5DmKaj7BQv3ixpUisEet-BqHZEZ8CPcHPOBydlVFvWeK6S5OKRTqzi3JvkbCGrIH8K89HMTbdzWfd-lMTd6gIB-dQYyhd9U/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8195.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdf1Y1PGRfc2_P6z-_sP9SSscE-d3fx53XgX_3DBmksZsskp-vaANncOpevxzZ5TLN6bfVZ76jEvYxABlqSabEzYX7Mg50BJUui7hTEjA-g4NzHxqRkcEtk1IZ8j0Hz1vYvQJaTtSUbU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdf1Y1PGRfc2_P6z-_sP9SSscE-d3fx53XgX_3DBmksZsskp-vaANncOpevxzZ5TLN6bfVZ76jEvYxABlqSabEzYX7Mg50BJUui7hTEjA-g4NzHxqRkcEtk1IZ8j0Hz1vYvQJaTtSUbU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8196.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRZNDdBTVbNf6oHcjO7rVAyZgYLdgngUTUP-y9xxkp735xG2HCtmuXL2tLs_Imp3MgND1S4EFJEqD0eIXmFI5mAQ2gInSlxbC-z791lDA6-bCNW9d9KTXo2XWdOnyFCEl-lkO_luXH4Q/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRZNDdBTVbNf6oHcjO7rVAyZgYLdgngUTUP-y9xxkp735xG2HCtmuXL2tLs_Imp3MgND1S4EFJEqD0eIXmFI5mAQ2gInSlxbC-z791lDA6-bCNW9d9KTXo2XWdOnyFCEl-lkO_luXH4Q/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8208.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNlBEz8S2LrKmNdGKnqgBzhfFH-maGYYhtkxCYEqzhJ73mipGlBfuqTyZwgzX6Zrsgdkg2mOAC9mrlghMUO4uVo76hy1O8MAQwb10bKsxCllSqlHYMJmSUNZtkvww0WkBcktqRsmalts/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNlBEz8S2LrKmNdGKnqgBzhfFH-maGYYhtkxCYEqzhJ73mipGlBfuqTyZwgzX6Zrsgdkg2mOAC9mrlghMUO4uVo76hy1O8MAQwb10bKsxCllSqlHYMJmSUNZtkvww0WkBcktqRsmalts/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8214.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH330UsDjJQ21aWv16uMAHBM5zUh-kfRgf4agcGuNSMO87VnN8foJo3h5fEy6fGd5yEqpleoxugJmNmioqkyP8UVCMPV8grLj0bJGdeJoGOMLSti19LU1f6R16bZEoO5xPx_AVsrHQA7s/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH330UsDjJQ21aWv16uMAHBM5zUh-kfRgf4agcGuNSMO87VnN8foJo3h5fEy6fGd5yEqpleoxugJmNmioqkyP8UVCMPV8grLj0bJGdeJoGOMLSti19LU1f6R16bZEoO5xPx_AVsrHQA7s/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8218.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UEPndXXJMx9UtkUNKunFdKgTWPf2Cgv7x-J816pg8OrmM2b_jdujxGLttJ1l15-doeap6RC3F0lpvUkBAie3UoczJ8nqokfEuVKrcr4iUhv-Oet-HyMDC1QzoW8g2Pa54MRvsTLRLtQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UEPndXXJMx9UtkUNKunFdKgTWPf2Cgv7x-J816pg8OrmM2b_jdujxGLttJ1l15-doeap6RC3F0lpvUkBAie3UoczJ8nqokfEuVKrcr4iUhv-Oet-HyMDC1QzoW8g2Pa54MRvsTLRLtQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8220.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBkwJnuFbNEwAmwn7tbXmZG__90gJLju2U3kR0RMm1a11bgscFdBXJpmuSR3ZekyYfMlzBbt5kkI3yLHFB2Vdy9Ba4F366E_FkBvxvPgMAYXH2LCSDRcrVEJc0cgB1p-Zd2xHS30ggZ8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBkwJnuFbNEwAmwn7tbXmZG__90gJLju2U3kR0RMm1a11bgscFdBXJpmuSR3ZekyYfMlzBbt5kkI3yLHFB2Vdy9Ba4F366E_FkBvxvPgMAYXH2LCSDRcrVEJc0cgB1p-Zd2xHS30ggZ8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8224.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTnr-a9r8o8eZpGYTXU54JITdo3STzkZbsPsGIzQCMGPcKHOJ6Exu989zSJZQG9m2SzwkAxA6UId58cGd-e9HSetNXK6RMENULwUrKttDIIhgkjQEHkjMgfSahm9uqMWb1qjIAP8LCiw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTnr-a9r8o8eZpGYTXU54JITdo3STzkZbsPsGIzQCMGPcKHOJ6Exu989zSJZQG9m2SzwkAxA6UId58cGd-e9HSetNXK6RMENULwUrKttDIIhgkjQEHkjMgfSahm9uqMWb1qjIAP8LCiw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8230.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You are incredibly social though with everyone. Right now is a weird time in our world-- the Coronavirus has required us to shelter in place and everything is shut down. Every "church day" you are sad again that you don't get to go play with your friends [that's your big outing every week since you're usually just home with me... mine too!]. However, the gift that this time has given you is more time with Blythe and Becks, and for that you seem to be just fine with. You also do not discriminate friendships by age. You think you are just as much a best friend with your one year old brother, your 10 year old neighbor, your 60-70 year old grandparents, and our retired neighbors. Just yesterday, from out of no where, you said, "I like to watch the news with Russell" [our neighbor]. But you know what? I think all those people find you equally entertaining.<br />
<br />
Quiet you are not. You are not just physically loud-- running and bumping and falling and tumbling everywhere-- you are also just loud in general. Your voice carries incredibly fall and has only one octave: HIGH! Sometimes at supper time we have to just tell you to stop making noise because you are not even saying words but just making sounds for the joy of hearing your own voice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosy6srp-mpq5j5lNQpgzJbDBDcger9SY9jlCn0KFG48WKeoPnNW81O7GcidNjWu-rHILFLyCC43h7wc2ki1j75jLemV63dqoS0gNOHielfSmX832PtAsXrnPcABU65-GZvDguRMMy0hc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosy6srp-mpq5j5lNQpgzJbDBDcger9SY9jlCn0KFG48WKeoPnNW81O7GcidNjWu-rHILFLyCC43h7wc2ki1j75jLemV63dqoS0gNOHielfSmX832PtAsXrnPcABU65-GZvDguRMMy0hc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8238.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVVyugSXEdbjQAwxAMjLdpIehyphenhyphenWIulcOlQIPbhTk4sbJXbIaazL7B2etdnNxYVn1-VQ_S8qMI6Dc2s8hfY-TfOfWzWs01QbPO1tm1YpT6Mge5HuPeLjWP-oG0YbsvWgbg7IAKLtwzDI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVVyugSXEdbjQAwxAMjLdpIehyphenhyphenWIulcOlQIPbhTk4sbJXbIaazL7B2etdnNxYVn1-VQ_S8qMI6Dc2s8hfY-TfOfWzWs01QbPO1tm1YpT6Mge5HuPeLjWP-oG0YbsvWgbg7IAKLtwzDI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8242.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfsuVxEtKG6sTUGp2MtCscVmTUbV3jeSF8dL5E5Y8ZB0yh-ypGYInzl44jPR3ef1Wo3VFcBqwvNCIvqYmt4TBHQixA_QcLZ5d4IQlubu-YZRp5dDtNC3GqVZ9gBUF8Q14xp0nKogIb2g/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfsuVxEtKG6sTUGp2MtCscVmTUbV3jeSF8dL5E5Y8ZB0yh-ypGYInzl44jPR3ef1Wo3VFcBqwvNCIvqYmt4TBHQixA_QcLZ5d4IQlubu-YZRp5dDtNC3GqVZ9gBUF8Q14xp0nKogIb2g/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8246.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk2RAnMVgdJSFhr91Isg8Hc8cGFGuAbLeKuply7h5qlW0zCNX-hk08PzzBx-IWCZIGIriFuZBD0RAhax6BIAJlhsbWCd04JGzpdgOql5648rHckS2MvoR2j4OOx3s3snlnZRbeWvE-oQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk2RAnMVgdJSFhr91Isg8Hc8cGFGuAbLeKuply7h5qlW0zCNX-hk08PzzBx-IWCZIGIriFuZBD0RAhax6BIAJlhsbWCd04JGzpdgOql5648rHckS2MvoR2j4OOx3s3snlnZRbeWvE-oQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8253.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_p_yp35Bb0LXDbkXN7oW1mfhyEPVDA2_u8dWxcnxU_I3Ge-nBHGw1IFylY2F_kxN8soFXnZ39bAX-EtzVrG0tmjyKSeMbkf3CCBkxxcINJpO_SSTaIx6jJPul3aiQuwAOyd0OPfMOVI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_p_yp35Bb0LXDbkXN7oW1mfhyEPVDA2_u8dWxcnxU_I3Ge-nBHGw1IFylY2F_kxN8soFXnZ39bAX-EtzVrG0tmjyKSeMbkf3CCBkxxcINJpO_SSTaIx6jJPul3aiQuwAOyd0OPfMOVI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8254.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6V4f7egYp9scEYmnfhjr28B3eEGRb4gr-MtYeEAHdNCDnmrt-rjCylCxwCYslAbY_BUF1OQbmKO9BLkETd1ERu2Ti7eUOPNxaJmMYAJMRwhafwe1vH_EOYQFy4vdSsKqXyd_Z3reJfg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6V4f7egYp9scEYmnfhjr28B3eEGRb4gr-MtYeEAHdNCDnmrt-rjCylCxwCYslAbY_BUF1OQbmKO9BLkETd1ERu2Ti7eUOPNxaJmMYAJMRwhafwe1vH_EOYQFy4vdSsKqXyd_Z3reJfg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8259.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2w6hziO5RUbDNczEbkdm9QhWLndOT7rbZP-IoGyLtPYAEIhb09YvNPeRSBJXvK9FaOH_ga4gy0eExDB1iw63WZ8o4aBV1AmmbCo5xBeuGT9P7wDkAAEINIiVyARsWfn1fSliKY0ZRLo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2w6hziO5RUbDNczEbkdm9QhWLndOT7rbZP-IoGyLtPYAEIhb09YvNPeRSBJXvK9FaOH_ga4gy0eExDB1iw63WZ8o4aBV1AmmbCo5xBeuGT9P7wDkAAEINIiVyARsWfn1fSliKY0ZRLo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8269.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYhPNz-xfiVZO_1pyaph1hY4iLTpAPmGScV9sZRr7bV0AJQYaMSiWUFujD8ZaJeNWSqwp-qQOrwXKfARh6I93M-872zMxjDHCDt-iS8oxWVZJvTv3bV3w8n_TeMj8Up9Jp09ZGa3woaQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYhPNz-xfiVZO_1pyaph1hY4iLTpAPmGScV9sZRr7bV0AJQYaMSiWUFujD8ZaJeNWSqwp-qQOrwXKfARh6I93M-872zMxjDHCDt-iS8oxWVZJvTv3bV3w8n_TeMj8Up9Jp09ZGa3woaQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8282.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzLYMPGrt33WsKlHBruIvgjiyZgtskHnG21ojA7gB9lNQ07jlFgIU7S-z8AKo36XCNwnI0NMqtVjIOWr6y3-epCEPIJGquKCN8M1XQ8p0VFRAe0brX-YdAcQI3q8hqAD3ovRg4oS8YJk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzLYMPGrt33WsKlHBruIvgjiyZgtskHnG21ojA7gB9lNQ07jlFgIU7S-z8AKo36XCNwnI0NMqtVjIOWr6y3-epCEPIJGquKCN8M1XQ8p0VFRAe0brX-YdAcQI3q8hqAD3ovRg4oS8YJk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8287.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3AcIzklDHDSquyG14yXiRAHVpBHW-rqfAeP0-ZLJaDMRiG43Mm3YqQb4a4nfbsrpyC994n3dwidiIptrS7WdRG-h4x40X-jW4VzfaYF7hVStD_AYHNtRcLPTeQtJhZJnV_RqeA3bEA4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3AcIzklDHDSquyG14yXiRAHVpBHW-rqfAeP0-ZLJaDMRiG43Mm3YqQb4a4nfbsrpyC994n3dwidiIptrS7WdRG-h4x40X-jW4VzfaYF7hVStD_AYHNtRcLPTeQtJhZJnV_RqeA3bEA4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8291.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Your fuse is short. And what I mean by that is, it is short for every emotion. There is no filter through which you decide if you should be sad or mad or happy or crazy... it just flips in an instant if that emotion or thought crosses your mind. You can go from laughing to crying in two seconds, but you can also go from crying to laughing. We don't feel like we have to tiptoe around your emotions, because we know you'll swing back to crazy joyful before we have time to process why you're crying in the first place. This isn't in an unstable way, either. It's just in such a way that I think all of us should be free to let our emotions express themselves-- we all feel the emotions you show in a day, it's just that the rest of us have learned to mask them. Your mask is off, sweet girl.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69X8-FaAvcCnYwy0HZxqeCmKwkYzZtRi7tE3kmNh6arSSCoAotNBb6XlHhU3h_YYnmxjbpdJEczxh2agKY3BUhVhUdmb-pOXkTgrouKJ26IfY_N-JJc9xC2lXk_KAIPo44l2VgZwP1iM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69X8-FaAvcCnYwy0HZxqeCmKwkYzZtRi7tE3kmNh6arSSCoAotNBb6XlHhU3h_YYnmxjbpdJEczxh2agKY3BUhVhUdmb-pOXkTgrouKJ26IfY_N-JJc9xC2lXk_KAIPo44l2VgZwP1iM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8295.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQm9Nj8KombVCQQ30Ayvr7hl9CGVYMSBCwDS9J6mJYBrvD4EWEc4CI_U0BCTu7DVVY-pDn8qqgnJmSlyp1WwUkPKvK5zmo4vmdYQx58ORvP5FWuHOJc0mf0_DG2B9AuJyyG7x6VzaQMc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQm9Nj8KombVCQQ30Ayvr7hl9CGVYMSBCwDS9J6mJYBrvD4EWEc4CI_U0BCTu7DVVY-pDn8qqgnJmSlyp1WwUkPKvK5zmo4vmdYQx58ORvP5FWuHOJc0mf0_DG2B9AuJyyG7x6VzaQMc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8296.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtNbI5hmVNXGcmBslqJgq_ciXg3s887NTVdwD1u86_hKf2TJabTQgZp55vfNwNQVJTecn_EwJblchOm33osCVKdpqj5Xgpz2FA_HjyerdA4ywDirR4MfSYTVx3iVF8_cU_1Idueem-fE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtNbI5hmVNXGcmBslqJgq_ciXg3s887NTVdwD1u86_hKf2TJabTQgZp55vfNwNQVJTecn_EwJblchOm33osCVKdpqj5Xgpz2FA_HjyerdA4ywDirR4MfSYTVx3iVF8_cU_1Idueem-fE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8304.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEqhdVDr3JjQJKIHZPGlT0JEDKLl7fPi5j69Z75nyrWEapLmTWEePfrMitbNLBAr6Fv4jk6JYFKmvlIkWKXQuQ8yzufy_IdC-BsyNnpZkzx1DnvCldFU3xlRP3a2n4-VAJHmVBYZHDk8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEqhdVDr3JjQJKIHZPGlT0JEDKLl7fPi5j69Z75nyrWEapLmTWEePfrMitbNLBAr6Fv4jk6JYFKmvlIkWKXQuQ8yzufy_IdC-BsyNnpZkzx1DnvCldFU3xlRP3a2n4-VAJHmVBYZHDk8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8305.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jg-UPXYscjvcs8-_qA12yoeHXGsDRM4SuzX2P26bYe1a5jD86SUMtCYpqGR3x734G9NbXMASIqyAMA7G52MXu0fEvaCQQSQnP8nomfGGtgIqNfApB48zwj1HQzfoWZBOnpucbsjZnu8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jg-UPXYscjvcs8-_qA12yoeHXGsDRM4SuzX2P26bYe1a5jD86SUMtCYpqGR3x734G9NbXMASIqyAMA7G52MXu0fEvaCQQSQnP8nomfGGtgIqNfApB48zwj1HQzfoWZBOnpucbsjZnu8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8309.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrPr1w4Eu6c3PHmkxjIs6MGSp-ciWHAA7s1R9jPjg6HXG19x-juC6a4JsuYi5EYRm7HjvTN8BXOZDbRskmaRYrv3PzC5vhjR3D1fEzT6Zd5vcBtJQlE1dck36t2u8am-5Blz8X_KIQq8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrPr1w4Eu6c3PHmkxjIs6MGSp-ciWHAA7s1R9jPjg6HXG19x-juC6a4JsuYi5EYRm7HjvTN8BXOZDbRskmaRYrv3PzC5vhjR3D1fEzT6Zd5vcBtJQlE1dck36t2u8am-5Blz8X_KIQq8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8317.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKorab8qHcjowDE7XWjvzQO5td480alosvghvfGgdSPmyND3thhU9mpW9sruCjHVhyhzTMhgzCvwp0R-GmYQ90o6jy0_rTysFnADRBMcGyfEAMgUbSMO4q3hAzVMxtut7NxLQJYStoHio/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKorab8qHcjowDE7XWjvzQO5td480alosvghvfGgdSPmyND3thhU9mpW9sruCjHVhyhzTMhgzCvwp0R-GmYQ90o6jy0_rTysFnADRBMcGyfEAMgUbSMO4q3hAzVMxtut7NxLQJYStoHio/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8333.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tEWK-ULL-uqbgOs0fssyOk6EemSCPEuo7iToK0S94Jd0c8ettUK1X6LXeBP2__4xTTOg78M2w3__eWhgf3ff07lR2Mq3zjbouV0Las63Cezf2YE3CG0pDSXXJLr8gRF913b6owyz71Q/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tEWK-ULL-uqbgOs0fssyOk6EemSCPEuo7iToK0S94Jd0c8ettUK1X6LXeBP2__4xTTOg78M2w3__eWhgf3ff07lR2Mq3zjbouV0Las63Cezf2YE3CG0pDSXXJLr8gRF913b6owyz71Q/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8342.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3b4EDfJUyOkv1P1sjQoqd5h9AsgHgzoRKY1NcROAY47Bt8shSQSYky7G-G7lPFGLWz_Rnd9vqHVnfHObU-FuywUjICEx_aNsRCpOtk-Neygil1lUKVO1tydIV9aRLcM4lNCJstAbs2_g/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3b4EDfJUyOkv1P1sjQoqd5h9AsgHgzoRKY1NcROAY47Bt8shSQSYky7G-G7lPFGLWz_Rnd9vqHVnfHObU-FuywUjICEx_aNsRCpOtk-Neygil1lUKVO1tydIV9aRLcM4lNCJstAbs2_g/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8344.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMjuIn-Tu9R5aDFkanB9lY5bfgFPJ7mL9zQdKWVqd4sYYYpTxf5gHx4mPtxs-5A7w-zErVhAELdyIVTO_MuvA07jxwo4dwnk1sV5vCQre4obunWiXgarS0f9RFp8vySvpDqoBBxpOQP8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMjuIn-Tu9R5aDFkanB9lY5bfgFPJ7mL9zQdKWVqd4sYYYpTxf5gHx4mPtxs-5A7w-zErVhAELdyIVTO_MuvA07jxwo4dwnk1sV5vCQre4obunWiXgarS0f9RFp8vySvpDqoBBxpOQP8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8345.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF_HUNNM8wvS-_Z6FYMb-bWijI2gIT28IIxp4nL3dFkM6E_0VEeGRmvioSaOIM6jfULKJSgEQnEznfoX6dtaiSpKUUVQM0TgtZEa558VGTsagQ2G5TTNl-xmnoGWnBYiFbJtWmSPxEIk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF_HUNNM8wvS-_Z6FYMb-bWijI2gIT28IIxp4nL3dFkM6E_0VEeGRmvioSaOIM6jfULKJSgEQnEznfoX6dtaiSpKUUVQM0TgtZEa558VGTsagQ2G5TTNl-xmnoGWnBYiFbJtWmSPxEIk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8349.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP50DcgmldPINhr3yb4ppTlf_zzUJ7uLXL0CrvXyzGSzUYpGU5n8tCt39IhfOuhQ_C_85aD23CQYDzdqaX2vvXX9XUehbPzKl9Cqv-dG2ZiPBrPntjN86BTFWoJPMxWt43igfBJEprsXo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP50DcgmldPINhr3yb4ppTlf_zzUJ7uLXL0CrvXyzGSzUYpGU5n8tCt39IhfOuhQ_C_85aD23CQYDzdqaX2vvXX9XUehbPzKl9Cqv-dG2ZiPBrPntjN86BTFWoJPMxWt43igfBJEprsXo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8366.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz24qNxuxExgAJhGSqx1Yi-ZYMfp2f4hgJfIE1oXSCyrERgvnWCmF1_7PzHK_V4ZWNKeUktPs65Hogdduo0tb8T0O9CcfZISfSYPn4dRK9lemiY4JZ0-3MqrwrzMwNfTy-0Hj-TkpsXY0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz24qNxuxExgAJhGSqx1Yi-ZYMfp2f4hgJfIE1oXSCyrERgvnWCmF1_7PzHK_V4ZWNKeUktPs65Hogdduo0tb8T0O9CcfZISfSYPn4dRK9lemiY4JZ0-3MqrwrzMwNfTy-0Hj-TkpsXY0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8368.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
I always try and write down fun things that you say, and I'm glad I did because you make us laugh in the best ways. Here were some of our favorites this year: You always say "sidwards out", "cornbine" [instead of combine], and "for tend" [instead of pretend], and "reesa pieca" [reeses pieces]. You say "who body" instead of just who, and "a little some" instead of a little bit. You call candy canes "candy cans", and you once told your dad you wanted to play "Nazi!" [Yahtzee]. Once when I was putting you to bed you said, "No mom! Stay and talk to me." When I asked you what to talk about you said, "Jesus. Or whatever you want." When cutting strips of paper one day you looked up so proudly and said, "Look! I did it purfully!" At supper we like to play Guess Who or I Spy, and one night you were the spier and after lots and lots of guesses, none of us could get it. We asked you to give us a hint and you said, "It's between one and five!" We all started laughing and you said, very frustrated, "What?! I don't even know what a hint is!"<br />
<br />
You went through a phase where you only wanted me to read you "Are You My Mother?" But every single time I got to the portion about the baby bird running frantically and asking that question-- especially when the Snort picks him up-- you would just burst into sobs. You would rip your glasses off and wipe your tears. I would assure it was going to be okay, every time. And you would start to settle in a bit when the Snort brought baby bird back to the nest, but then when the mom comes back? The reunion was another emotional experience for you and you were back to tears. We would finish the book, I would hug you, and you inevitably would ask me to read it again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiuIA4lzLOTFabhRFcro9mIlRkhWsMbMuZuBnPCyr9vWs6sHZq4RbHBDZ4_k2OP5NzSUTeFb2cLw9v99rQg4pgdLRPgEJOPM_tWhFMguqXdhDsRnS5hdV7GxH_MKHYhopNT29yTYIz8c/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiuIA4lzLOTFabhRFcro9mIlRkhWsMbMuZuBnPCyr9vWs6sHZq4RbHBDZ4_k2OP5NzSUTeFb2cLw9v99rQg4pgdLRPgEJOPM_tWhFMguqXdhDsRnS5hdV7GxH_MKHYhopNT29yTYIz8c/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8378.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt9LxOwDCbPM_6Xl48vhdNTQlLUA_qLcdPlk0nz6AWOCwZT1Kpky627OHaTJYcfnbUMI_LoLsMsOuvo1UvsuxiUBqufKrMSuKLEFgAP67RzyGVrIDpuXXZ0Kh32CxGdOcl1lyj-A6ICo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt9LxOwDCbPM_6Xl48vhdNTQlLUA_qLcdPlk0nz6AWOCwZT1Kpky627OHaTJYcfnbUMI_LoLsMsOuvo1UvsuxiUBqufKrMSuKLEFgAP67RzyGVrIDpuXXZ0Kh32CxGdOcl1lyj-A6ICo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8386.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lIu-UKL8Zgnl8VKpy2-KBSjOPMgp7O-AvSg2nINFBvW_m8KK6kvsOp_Lx6SmkZR6v5_OMcYpsESLsjaB1i0ZoV-F_JaYqGMaEVsaqjQCgOFEvLSltsk9rbLElOKL9iYv521VgICTnt4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lIu-UKL8Zgnl8VKpy2-KBSjOPMgp7O-AvSg2nINFBvW_m8KK6kvsOp_Lx6SmkZR6v5_OMcYpsESLsjaB1i0ZoV-F_JaYqGMaEVsaqjQCgOFEvLSltsk9rbLElOKL9iYv521VgICTnt4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8389.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOBhjxhOF5VLDojuFTaSm1Mgsf6dGvEGnqY3h86ck6ScXloZgWTWUcOXPCQ17fBDEeqL1P1fcc7z-9c8e1W_nPrJOd4KWMiF0rwPQBZ8JtuZAHSUYNTypeiTOefhV-EWsvopBLWkclR8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOBhjxhOF5VLDojuFTaSm1Mgsf6dGvEGnqY3h86ck6ScXloZgWTWUcOXPCQ17fBDEeqL1P1fcc7z-9c8e1W_nPrJOd4KWMiF0rwPQBZ8JtuZAHSUYNTypeiTOefhV-EWsvopBLWkclR8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8393.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4-WfCZKthK4ctjcZH-vQ-A4t-q-uh_5CqJaESCrNW1vuc8d-rUbE4WVL2nG4wmEk72qvlIsjluFYCk0V2-q6sQ_SnEwdYv_9y7g0JR7ry1MD5dMiMkdKDMI80wEM43X_YY5coNcj8DU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4-WfCZKthK4ctjcZH-vQ-A4t-q-uh_5CqJaESCrNW1vuc8d-rUbE4WVL2nG4wmEk72qvlIsjluFYCk0V2-q6sQ_SnEwdYv_9y7g0JR7ry1MD5dMiMkdKDMI80wEM43X_YY5coNcj8DU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8398.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgJWyOYSxb5YAHxFThrlL5uFB4VKzUYRpBm-BJqF2mHLjDCqTnwRuZqYgv7Ir4I-IkvlNP7cfJwArfwNRaEsEDWk3RvfM7P3n2lhvj3RuubRCub7ZZfmaPeT2iXL3QEfZZUw0JIgLLSE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgJWyOYSxb5YAHxFThrlL5uFB4VKzUYRpBm-BJqF2mHLjDCqTnwRuZqYgv7Ir4I-IkvlNP7cfJwArfwNRaEsEDWk3RvfM7P3n2lhvj3RuubRCub7ZZfmaPeT2iXL3QEfZZUw0JIgLLSE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8400.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP95Vuw8Zf-3EkWRSz3OwW8sKEfxaujnAwfFG-O-Wz7XhOmB4-KQl-qTmliglKHjthDlRKBwM2YkbEPuwtKfjvupipl27j4EVdUWZEg9p8cDhYu7QOFHQik-5Y0EDgc0bUMGUGkFe61KU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP95Vuw8Zf-3EkWRSz3OwW8sKEfxaujnAwfFG-O-Wz7XhOmB4-KQl-qTmliglKHjthDlRKBwM2YkbEPuwtKfjvupipl27j4EVdUWZEg9p8cDhYu7QOFHQik-5Y0EDgc0bUMGUGkFe61KU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8405.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwDeX4ZPik1681ljmJzSa4v1bu1lUOdtn7eXq0jwojsGzEMOCUI-rGVRBewIh-x-yqKUYu26gM-KjxE2q-bmTE_XbCTnbguRVVCY3ipbXXJoXMDV4y3lIYGQM_rqzccwyPI8EbFkOi_A/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwDeX4ZPik1681ljmJzSa4v1bu1lUOdtn7eXq0jwojsGzEMOCUI-rGVRBewIh-x-yqKUYu26gM-KjxE2q-bmTE_XbCTnbguRVVCY3ipbXXJoXMDV4y3lIYGQM_rqzccwyPI8EbFkOi_A/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8406.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
Nan, three is just one of the best ages. It is filled with a lot of hard too, but I am really sad to see it coming to an end with you. I know all the other ages with you will be wonderful and jam packed with laughs and hilarity and emotions and triumphs. And I know that somewhere deep inside you at any age will be the little three year old girl we so enjoyed spending our days with this year. One of the traits we have prayed for for you since the beginning was generosity. You don't have a lot of tangible things to be generous at this stage in your life, but you have always been generous <i>with yourself. </i>You give others your FULL self, every time. And that is a gift. I think it is something we see Jesus doing in the Gospels, as well. He always gave whoever was in front of him his total attention and his full person. I love that you have taught me this about our Savior already. As wild and crazy as you are, it is evident you are made in his image.<br />
<br />
When we got done taking your pictures the other day you said to me on the way home, "That was just a laughin' time, Mom!" And that's what this whole year with you has been: a laughin' time. I think you have a special kind of fire that burns in you, Nan. I really mean that. It burns hot and free. I pray that it would always keep burning as fiercely, but I also pray that you always let God be in control so that it does not become a wildfire that causes damage. May you let Him stoke its flames, because I believe you will do great things with it and will love others intently and intensely all your days.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgZiuVaMOC0DLyC6BJYCn506w9qjrraWlk1gR4vE7mVrxuGUDAMrl5QS_T7dtwaRUYOoSBCWIcAE72HKwJnHxlM2g2-iaKUg65fva6iBIKRuD59oIzF9zy1hDs3SQixzutVlT8VJubh0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgZiuVaMOC0DLyC6BJYCn506w9qjrraWlk1gR4vE7mVrxuGUDAMrl5QS_T7dtwaRUYOoSBCWIcAE72HKwJnHxlM2g2-iaKUg65fva6iBIKRuD59oIzF9zy1hDs3SQixzutVlT8VJubh0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8414.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNBX2dD7fOpv4a_LXwnLyipZnawyEg9rxc1JYyLzV5435LN7zZ4SPUGxKjnhC8U1e26M4iMnv1rmBAyrxSytB9zkcEbud6O6BAMbX-4YYas5UxD6BF4cTxDQJAS7qg7_F3DyPksskfbY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNBX2dD7fOpv4a_LXwnLyipZnawyEg9rxc1JYyLzV5435LN7zZ4SPUGxKjnhC8U1e26M4iMnv1rmBAyrxSytB9zkcEbud6O6BAMbX-4YYas5UxD6BF4cTxDQJAS7qg7_F3DyPksskfbY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8417.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a-aMRTp6-2zBL4WQySt-mqdoZNcCaO_7fHHkM3gWLgAro8GaGPFQ9PAqaZPrxCkEtSHs_B4E3pw_ls8c6IsnvjRQOrXn3imf_aJLBC7lj9Pio4mbBoOkpv5AYJ6Ijk7lA0fXDh8q2dw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a-aMRTp6-2zBL4WQySt-mqdoZNcCaO_7fHHkM3gWLgAro8GaGPFQ9PAqaZPrxCkEtSHs_B4E3pw_ls8c6IsnvjRQOrXn3imf_aJLBC7lj9Pio4mbBoOkpv5AYJ6Ijk7lA0fXDh8q2dw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8419.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra35TRqehEQfeaxo0IpEK5DE4l6eCVX7heS49Urf0vCGxgsJJzX166OjszKSxnkb062ds9PQ4qCUutEdJW-xwuRFqYXUEHS4I56drzBoWgKZtC5JzcPlM-B5_CJJr5CJUt7lPv271ilA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra35TRqehEQfeaxo0IpEK5DE4l6eCVX7heS49Urf0vCGxgsJJzX166OjszKSxnkb062ds9PQ4qCUutEdJW-xwuRFqYXUEHS4I56drzBoWgKZtC5JzcPlM-B5_CJJr5CJUt7lPv271ilA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8426.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTAgH3Et6GnK1Cx92sUeYALLzXEQwzJ7AaXb6gtvoCeDdx6SBXcrZecQ44BYmh16dXoBoiS4yJAAd9ol_OlyP77YQ87fhVyBOAlYbk5ZJsVPm0RBWJc-jhd1KHeUadzgWEmIFVJQuN3E/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTAgH3Et6GnK1Cx92sUeYALLzXEQwzJ7AaXb6gtvoCeDdx6SBXcrZecQ44BYmh16dXoBoiS4yJAAd9ol_OlyP77YQ87fhVyBOAlYbk5ZJsVPm0RBWJc-jhd1KHeUadzgWEmIFVJQuN3E/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8434.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QAezT8ix4nkmNZkYb6bBdOIYCU53psE_K0LJsjDbML_tDA9btrQSXFbRmpm2VDMLHj6hwiGxRcRJF33rKXHJ_i9_QGCb214AYbStNREIo7HSR4BBD5QoVgkJPfjSyWqw43vK0_m-bZw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QAezT8ix4nkmNZkYb6bBdOIYCU53psE_K0LJsjDbML_tDA9btrQSXFbRmpm2VDMLHj6hwiGxRcRJF33rKXHJ_i9_QGCb214AYbStNREIo7HSR4BBD5QoVgkJPfjSyWqw43vK0_m-bZw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8435.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajWEqOU-Qv2D5etFPBvAVxrSL2Xbrz11-7tcryQzcnxUFCOmBk5EnyY1MQQgfLCPksYeq1G4rTN2fp2m70__DGmLwgKw279G5gRCPdwrcsN624afw1TOd2KselGF-0KGPHlthy7XGUnE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajWEqOU-Qv2D5etFPBvAVxrSL2Xbrz11-7tcryQzcnxUFCOmBk5EnyY1MQQgfLCPksYeq1G4rTN2fp2m70__DGmLwgKw279G5gRCPdwrcsN624afw1TOd2KselGF-0KGPHlthy7XGUnE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8437.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzNxXG_sThxmyxSYY23488dZ10WXU69k_pxnVyui6ZtTH6mMK0avdKRY-VL0_m0BE5EBDlaiwHc8ydiN_XDMWtpcarQg72iD7yAwb7HjApg0vhqO200KrdbAmrkpgcxu52DgWyi9xDc8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzNxXG_sThxmyxSYY23488dZ10WXU69k_pxnVyui6ZtTH6mMK0avdKRY-VL0_m0BE5EBDlaiwHc8ydiN_XDMWtpcarQg72iD7yAwb7HjApg0vhqO200KrdbAmrkpgcxu52DgWyi9xDc8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8452.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">As I have ended all birthday letters, I want to end this one to you, sweet Nanny Lou: We hope you understand the </span><i style="text-align: center;">why </i><span style="text-align: center;">behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all. </span><br />
<br />
We love you, Nan Louise. There is nothing you could ever do that would make us stop loving you.<br />
<br />
Happy fourth birthday!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mAKtYjuexSUDadcZW32EONZ4aghTZt1Etr9E7T5plFEhLJj2aUVLqs82aMcelVJmlE2c2w4OlKfb9GPlmIX1GPPr9IUXupDuFJYlb0Bd_Jx_xQdsuvNUREpKO54eg6v7VImcdZlarvg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mAKtYjuexSUDadcZW32EONZ4aghTZt1Etr9E7T5plFEhLJj2aUVLqs82aMcelVJmlE2c2w4OlKfb9GPlmIX1GPPr9IUXupDuFJYlb0Bd_Jx_xQdsuvNUREpKO54eg6v7VImcdZlarvg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8454.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-I0gbquGtwzcti1ocIABQuiNbZhF0z0yutgJkRaz5L6TVVl7-uPl_IfndMlVfnHrqyHtZeYueK8Kp9RMPo1VyzR0QnaoCkjrr6JYNllFXpelbEsn7dJ3mtjbH3A_a4ELE40vwWiIxIRw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-I0gbquGtwzcti1ocIABQuiNbZhF0z0yutgJkRaz5L6TVVl7-uPl_IfndMlVfnHrqyHtZeYueK8Kp9RMPo1VyzR0QnaoCkjrr6JYNllFXpelbEsn7dJ3mtjbH3A_a4ELE40vwWiIxIRw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8468.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hHyE-OSbTKrHdixNCVzhEoNBeCm08kYncaFKi1nVc7XQ0yj4Vpd9pUObC7SOWW6ksOsOgaC7MUbK5slEukAxYby2tm2g8n49vvZcyxz3OnaF1QFf7aijUB8ro0o0EJ02RiyYPle83Pk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hHyE-OSbTKrHdixNCVzhEoNBeCm08kYncaFKi1nVc7XQ0yj4Vpd9pUObC7SOWW6ksOsOgaC7MUbK5slEukAxYby2tm2g8n49vvZcyxz3OnaF1QFf7aijUB8ro0o0EJ02RiyYPle83Pk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8487.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFnXmh6t7pYzmKIqC-9orNYWLHEmI23bseSCkofDgfuaNh_Y7txE4_LFNBqMuOtFC_FYfFxkkzaNwH8PPUjpSLOuWueKW3gaRRy6Pm6iPwPpTNk-n1qr-T49x_m7QLxKWvKEbsmTrDsU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFnXmh6t7pYzmKIqC-9orNYWLHEmI23bseSCkofDgfuaNh_Y7txE4_LFNBqMuOtFC_FYfFxkkzaNwH8PPUjpSLOuWueKW3gaRRy6Pm6iPwPpTNk-n1qr-T49x_m7QLxKWvKEbsmTrDsU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8492.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrdmO7gkOVitLSfouWefWH-u3PBJgJ6PbvgjEt2nwqHuHGOu4z0_neu7tRQNUDAm3oAw2l7mZ9QV54SkD_nkk-p5T5jY_Z8ReD6Hui1EUEdW7LanleVsAmN0Q2-ULhgi4TC50VulcxCE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-8498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrdmO7gkOVitLSfouWefWH-u3PBJgJ6PbvgjEt2nwqHuHGOu4z0_neu7tRQNUDAm3oAw2l7mZ9QV54SkD_nkk-p5T5jY_Z8ReD6Hui1EUEdW7LanleVsAmN0Q2-ULhgi4TC50VulcxCE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-8498.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-63790821732681364322020-03-22T22:20:00.001-04:002020-03-22T22:20:16.162-04:00EIGHT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlho1cnBPMv5G8EiS-EQokCBR7xNN3K0KbFS4jLxW156s5HMMUcwfqsjfLRGE8AkpIK3VR5mKsXC-blOF_QdV_DLqu8sCXqkBnyb7VQZjCSDa3iHan3reB7WAQE6Y1RQx1E1T7ZELrWU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlho1cnBPMv5G8EiS-EQokCBR7xNN3K0KbFS4jLxW156s5HMMUcwfqsjfLRGE8AkpIK3VR5mKsXC-blOF_QdV_DLqu8sCXqkBnyb7VQZjCSDa3iHan3reB7WAQE6Y1RQx1E1T7ZELrWU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7591.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfqBllcrj_WuHjncV-xOnFtj5VWS56a8m2-DWBy3VN8f0F3qWgpQBBUTTlCPn96jbUlfmMTdp3UMKRI8XgW4_dD3clXgTOsqtPQTSUVIkmjyk-IksWqj3X76QsImiMUxKOxCLPSeilMQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfqBllcrj_WuHjncV-xOnFtj5VWS56a8m2-DWBy3VN8f0F3qWgpQBBUTTlCPn96jbUlfmMTdp3UMKRI8XgW4_dD3clXgTOsqtPQTSUVIkmjyk-IksWqj3X76QsImiMUxKOxCLPSeilMQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7693.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqK1lq18FXI4gaeuVXLwqK6TeO-nPa7VGH7ffeFlTl04bZZonJDyJygXFpwyUWaeyaZGeK0wcZL8I1lL75d6khlIZCd6IL9le0fisOe7_zyAqS1TcsFvxZuj7HUk_SZLmSEcosHd8NmI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqK1lq18FXI4gaeuVXLwqK6TeO-nPa7VGH7ffeFlTl04bZZonJDyJygXFpwyUWaeyaZGeK0wcZL8I1lL75d6khlIZCd6IL9le0fisOe7_zyAqS1TcsFvxZuj7HUk_SZLmSEcosHd8NmI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7438.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4M2WtGqE3iztmZ-G8zeePEpur1PndfZ9M8sU6bz3OW8foJTF4dSV2JSzMZY3JVPnVqS9_EDf0heHlWSawrMzqvNVHboPpwEQaBra2sF4ew7kia60XcvKD667xNCC2WWD06QX-3taKsM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4M2WtGqE3iztmZ-G8zeePEpur1PndfZ9M8sU6bz3OW8foJTF4dSV2JSzMZY3JVPnVqS9_EDf0heHlWSawrMzqvNVHboPpwEQaBra2sF4ew7kia60XcvKD667xNCC2WWD06QX-3taKsM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7607.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUEUS21jV39z1YoKclxmxz12VbCdX9jL8dx0goRe-NfbQxtuaWO5Zg53iylwMWh5EXQMasOGF8C4NKHG2zNPvxAOqPIn81w5D6CaOKmMXzOmkj6AuZ9Jej42i4ynLnJP2LWap1MbUEh8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUEUS21jV39z1YoKclxmxz12VbCdX9jL8dx0goRe-NfbQxtuaWO5Zg53iylwMWh5EXQMasOGF8C4NKHG2zNPvxAOqPIn81w5D6CaOKmMXzOmkj6AuZ9Jej42i4ynLnJP2LWap1MbUEh8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7440.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw87CzPwHLlcimzrliEKcnvucRiX6oYOdAwoN-whOB5OBgbXm16Z8GZr7JRQCpxgBxFOaUpGu4iSRa4PZJxSwu9NCKXKLWr0oAe0p2Vs7x0m7QCPMlwBeSkZROTs0wTlobu0ok54kFVQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw87CzPwHLlcimzrliEKcnvucRiX6oYOdAwoN-whOB5OBgbXm16Z8GZr7JRQCpxgBxFOaUpGu4iSRa4PZJxSwu9NCKXKLWr0oAe0p2Vs7x0m7QCPMlwBeSkZROTs0wTlobu0ok54kFVQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7456.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85Bs45uQ0t_fdld6h14bcjYzqMW-lhFmkQv3ExONFveVzHuLnGQ57U8a_iRw84YsWTXhYzGobaoSryTroxts-cW3oG-dOW5K223hNNm9UBWda75T0O31vfzIcJwepQJ5oE_E3s-r9Qc0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85Bs45uQ0t_fdld6h14bcjYzqMW-lhFmkQv3ExONFveVzHuLnGQ57U8a_iRw84YsWTXhYzGobaoSryTroxts-cW3oG-dOW5K223hNNm9UBWda75T0O31vfzIcJwepQJ5oE_E3s-r9Qc0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7518.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdJrUb1Z_Kjx1Ty471LdAIUOvT64GJ0l-l7r8H4AeO4GNeiO34-1nW0lQXHfA2FRCc7JSvr_8JqmYFVEGw-0vmPhjopb91K7TP9tZhdpfBQmGgE38adFEghQgQwVUQBLza4LKGUR5kv0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdJrUb1Z_Kjx1Ty471LdAIUOvT64GJ0l-l7r8H4AeO4GNeiO34-1nW0lQXHfA2FRCc7JSvr_8JqmYFVEGw-0vmPhjopb91K7TP9tZhdpfBQmGgE38adFEghQgQwVUQBLza4LKGUR5kv0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7542.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_fQ576n8y83-y4_r3RqC6DxuXncYxcsdJmkM0XrwEcVuQKVLLEmm2t6reAFhx4iDVt5NsatMtwrLyFnCV7SWFTJ65LJzlPs0xvOMJi6_c8H0EcfpkNx1U7ynhcUh_Q70graWYzKRYVo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_fQ576n8y83-y4_r3RqC6DxuXncYxcsdJmkM0XrwEcVuQKVLLEmm2t6reAFhx4iDVt5NsatMtwrLyFnCV7SWFTJ65LJzlPs0xvOMJi6_c8H0EcfpkNx1U7ynhcUh_Q70graWYzKRYVo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7624.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAhGL1o0NnWS-pTTIBovt2a6ChTdp69_gr1nmJGwt_s9BbEZOwpm46oUucan8Zkjr-cadd3Kab9ekOhWbc09c-h0u_sxMhrpIbcMwUXaH31BhD0AsExuJc6JsL-9dhV4w3UZT7jZqt8o/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAhGL1o0NnWS-pTTIBovt2a6ChTdp69_gr1nmJGwt_s9BbEZOwpm46oUucan8Zkjr-cadd3Kab9ekOhWbc09c-h0u_sxMhrpIbcMwUXaH31BhD0AsExuJc6JsL-9dhV4w3UZT7jZqt8o/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7723.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
To my dear, sweet Blythe Kathleen,<br />
<br />
When I dreamed of being a mom, I mostly pictured myself rocking babies and changing diapers. When you're 16 years old, you don't necessarily think of raising big kids and teenagers. And here we are, at eight, on the brink of all of that, and I can't believe I never dreamed of it because it is truly wonderful. The number eight still takes me back a little-- it has all gone so incredibly quickly-- but you are growing more and more beautiful [body and soul] every passing day.<br />
<br />
This past year has been a big year for you: you started piano lessons shortly after your last birthday. You have such an ear for music, and your teacher has even been teaching you how to play by ear some as you learn all the other basics, because she said that is either something you have or don't have. It's been fun to watch your love for music grow in this new way, and to have our home filled with the sound of music coming from your hands.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX14DMA7IY3ah27GpK7uZvpCEstTEAwm0rJlDYhkHu_VJRwwrSZo_Y8JAwavieQR6BBqvFx4a8_6H8ctS7HUJ-X0dwDzS-RaNfZneNkKD9QXyDluDbRH1peqqjDnAivjv4zM-9i_myYxw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX14DMA7IY3ah27GpK7uZvpCEstTEAwm0rJlDYhkHu_VJRwwrSZo_Y8JAwavieQR6BBqvFx4a8_6H8ctS7HUJ-X0dwDzS-RaNfZneNkKD9QXyDluDbRH1peqqjDnAivjv4zM-9i_myYxw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7446.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsSfaB9-7thQGJLdCu1eiVU0VlkQDbYqoI7v77ZDbUOSATXFSHtLHZZU_SNxcbJ1NysGgHZ2VoVaKyCuzSWd8kij0EcWO6XAAmvJFJlE6YX9xKN3LigOvgvFCMjX8nyVtnfdyxlgB6Pw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsSfaB9-7thQGJLdCu1eiVU0VlkQDbYqoI7v77ZDbUOSATXFSHtLHZZU_SNxcbJ1NysGgHZ2VoVaKyCuzSWd8kij0EcWO6XAAmvJFJlE6YX9xKN3LigOvgvFCMjX8nyVtnfdyxlgB6Pw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7448.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyaefgqLS34E61_4_3iO_BCFQq3pzLnO_nXqay3Xw7b_dzY-NCrAt5HnghmbfQhC1qyRojRUSc8GdVrhLvo1Fx-7-bC2Nl9pUJmGgSdZWZrFZQ6ONICHadHzY1Dns-AHF_BxAYxa47eA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyaefgqLS34E61_4_3iO_BCFQq3pzLnO_nXqay3Xw7b_dzY-NCrAt5HnghmbfQhC1qyRojRUSc8GdVrhLvo1Fx-7-bC2Nl9pUJmGgSdZWZrFZQ6ONICHadHzY1Dns-AHF_BxAYxa47eA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7450.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zaWDeWxcUSQHIK8WlOMilPC28sGmXgPYlYsP_9CEdb0d1yKvTX3xg_AHMlBmVjCAz2EDgPs2ZWlre6DZnsWAb8rttZONfiHAG7hZHjpB19a37OetvxgiJmEkTP4VRnpdYP_I32kqdqQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zaWDeWxcUSQHIK8WlOMilPC28sGmXgPYlYsP_9CEdb0d1yKvTX3xg_AHMlBmVjCAz2EDgPs2ZWlre6DZnsWAb8rttZONfiHAG7hZHjpB19a37OetvxgiJmEkTP4VRnpdYP_I32kqdqQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzYSrFatPcFIGzM27IQRXCsYy9A5v1zMj6wIJwkur-1qzCTXOFSOXJG6udMN-vStp0isIj_vwlzMwo4l6uaePMfBsBFcQ-NHMfwpi1Qd8M1L1Mpl_1VBJ5Ay87w445iAP4LWVyZwENLs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzYSrFatPcFIGzM27IQRXCsYy9A5v1zMj6wIJwkur-1qzCTXOFSOXJG6udMN-vStp0isIj_vwlzMwo4l6uaePMfBsBFcQ-NHMfwpi1Qd8M1L1Mpl_1VBJ5Ay87w445iAP4LWVyZwENLs/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7455.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6H97CEJHhgdkPmcc2e_9USJjzNeZu_TLHLfE-ccyRM0-KTdDhtfQglqwyK68nW5i529PDmdODwesLyZRnIGfVuD7y-Edl6I__4kzpNzUKA1Am6cC2qPnx3MRg4KP8RjdmnuY1-_8c98/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6H97CEJHhgdkPmcc2e_9USJjzNeZu_TLHLfE-ccyRM0-KTdDhtfQglqwyK68nW5i529PDmdODwesLyZRnIGfVuD7y-Edl6I__4kzpNzUKA1Am6cC2qPnx3MRg4KP8RjdmnuY1-_8c98/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7461.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbDX1pq4J2L86yZxKYkRSJx54PBrM-jhRa28fv8Ynhf1XWQDIYf1UOnLBiWTXwI34n6jgPLIp_6DJwDE16p6x1UvG3CKvDuWfruoziWCfJpqMwEGQitNDHkSQ-W5P9gp-PgdMa1pVYjk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbDX1pq4J2L86yZxKYkRSJx54PBrM-jhRa28fv8Ynhf1XWQDIYf1UOnLBiWTXwI34n6jgPLIp_6DJwDE16p6x1UvG3CKvDuWfruoziWCfJpqMwEGQitNDHkSQ-W5P9gp-PgdMa1pVYjk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7466.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpC2UcOF-S-hcKGYv9lArVaZ1zrtVNuoqTTKD5zWJUXDqHMs1-nz-snGaZW04JSsqONZ1z2vS0Ti-CRanSmS6AG8bTpQfK3IQRGEavMIrdkD0ttffAIEUntOLyCafPv3vD5ikPi483Ljw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpC2UcOF-S-hcKGYv9lArVaZ1zrtVNuoqTTKD5zWJUXDqHMs1-nz-snGaZW04JSsqONZ1z2vS0Ti-CRanSmS6AG8bTpQfK3IQRGEavMIrdkD0ttffAIEUntOLyCafPv3vD5ikPi483Ljw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7478.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7aBEZNsz3YXGUuiM2r_CyYibCWV0r6agPaa58eVFNPWgclUlyOJZQScCXkYRtkKWqea11wc0BgjgkfZYDa6ex-2KjCDTOfBEfoHazJUqPYh47iVoEuPNEYzRYeFjqYjCtzeTKl7omys/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7aBEZNsz3YXGUuiM2r_CyYibCWV0r6agPaa58eVFNPWgclUlyOJZQScCXkYRtkKWqea11wc0BgjgkfZYDa6ex-2KjCDTOfBEfoHazJUqPYh47iVoEuPNEYzRYeFjqYjCtzeTKl7omys/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7481.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Sjd9fl3GpP8xWw_C7HBuRUg6Lluwj8JeUWMRMjiLkkxeJuPnlMU7MDkoLPuFqPP5w9JZ41i9FYxxnRqqedf-ou_048Q7P3l3zLhY9kP5Q-QY0pFesOnyxh75V4dqe5d7kdQ1ElhiAB4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Sjd9fl3GpP8xWw_C7HBuRUg6Lluwj8JeUWMRMjiLkkxeJuPnlMU7MDkoLPuFqPP5w9JZ41i9FYxxnRqqedf-ou_048Q7P3l3zLhY9kP5Q-QY0pFesOnyxh75V4dqe5d7kdQ1ElhiAB4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7484.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6YCGOt_y3D9We2SjuEZwnmAy318r5-iRXlw2nFwBSwbbPIwvuZcZY8ToO6nz2U7KguQmZHLepfLNJ85aPJ5XaoN-l9WtB9cuvPGzWkiQIwE1d38_E7P6Vt37q0KBP-ZlHcH-CFII1PA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6YCGOt_y3D9We2SjuEZwnmAy318r5-iRXlw2nFwBSwbbPIwvuZcZY8ToO6nz2U7KguQmZHLepfLNJ85aPJ5XaoN-l9WtB9cuvPGzWkiQIwE1d38_E7P6Vt37q0KBP-ZlHcH-CFII1PA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7494.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
You also started second grade... and absolutely have had a blast this year with your classmates and your teacher. You've learned so much from continents, to writing paragraphs surrounding a main idea, to now starting <i>multiplication</i>! You eat it ALL up, and you're reading voraciously now. You are still incredibly creative as well, and love all your specials outside of the regular classroom. You also "wrote a chapter book" this year titled, "Believe" about a unicorn and a girl named Jayme. You told me you hope to write more books.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5n5mS3s9gyC04QVmWQrNTgEFgqzV51Jy_rbj3YuXcpid4Jnou4GLUz49xVvkRo0-soHHR2B_c4JU24ejLI0YR9Kci0ceYF7nt0v5F9kR2S7egpGcb4IxLUCasxqBGxJKrgRHqA5cpCo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5n5mS3s9gyC04QVmWQrNTgEFgqzV51Jy_rbj3YuXcpid4Jnou4GLUz49xVvkRo0-soHHR2B_c4JU24ejLI0YR9Kci0ceYF7nt0v5F9kR2S7egpGcb4IxLUCasxqBGxJKrgRHqA5cpCo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7508.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMuPXxJqA0_zIsb8q7l3V4aVMwqbaHVK_1qlL95YGGuRv1WdehrL7-O-XXP_tK7C7eLpBtRjOQpjhHwyMQeotEBAp0weCtghx73UJ27bzdche4Alts56ntX6_QuZBYK1k0DYcXfP58ts/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMuPXxJqA0_zIsb8q7l3V4aVMwqbaHVK_1qlL95YGGuRv1WdehrL7-O-XXP_tK7C7eLpBtRjOQpjhHwyMQeotEBAp0weCtghx73UJ27bzdche4Alts56ntX6_QuZBYK1k0DYcXfP58ts/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7513.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlYFRuKmqep9_D4Iqf75yDNyaOaLvvvrQAJ4M2-i49X5lwc2LetqJrcn4rwUsENAUszk6mlgp770Lqty69SSeOBlfrtWG8YX_VekJmgpkUfbI7Bjk11875Qf_oSJDx9kdp9hzn7AAOxM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlYFRuKmqep9_D4Iqf75yDNyaOaLvvvrQAJ4M2-i49X5lwc2LetqJrcn4rwUsENAUszk6mlgp770Lqty69SSeOBlfrtWG8YX_VekJmgpkUfbI7Bjk11875Qf_oSJDx9kdp9hzn7AAOxM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7522.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTUUxT4wQQDFAoa6nrtutZJO99rFYBjRMut9IU8LLb-Ofzg1nF36SNXt3knmZdq5ncHCGy1jIoB0A9GlkaQQ-Qhu0_0wlOKWqZ0oRbZSxxqheCELa7EghuHHA_NnGOJeruXS1JS7sSz4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTUUxT4wQQDFAoa6nrtutZJO99rFYBjRMut9IU8LLb-Ofzg1nF36SNXt3knmZdq5ncHCGy1jIoB0A9GlkaQQ-Qhu0_0wlOKWqZ0oRbZSxxqheCELa7EghuHHA_NnGOJeruXS1JS7sSz4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7530.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJM8WVXui3iJMFlGfnq8M1KbbFGcyyK5pXLIOZjuyko3l_2cagwxqfAwMp1XCW9AW0rdZhF9OnyuJWfhrtQWy-gHSK0JusyslA7SbdH_amV-eZzWJEjyCqeEU7vZrJzwMG18bR-qsg4w/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJM8WVXui3iJMFlGfnq8M1KbbFGcyyK5pXLIOZjuyko3l_2cagwxqfAwMp1XCW9AW0rdZhF9OnyuJWfhrtQWy-gHSK0JusyslA7SbdH_amV-eZzWJEjyCqeEU7vZrJzwMG18bR-qsg4w/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7537.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE06MeqjYre-8lze3boc7rRIxNsxtIXY9PxN305v0EmMK9FYyh-Kg_Db_XTWkAWF5Ypqoi8oQn6CqgXLP2IxWcCw8LlnPow64bG_POXEMOtV_X6VmtgVRc0j6RDm6Ei41X22V8QziDCHM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE06MeqjYre-8lze3boc7rRIxNsxtIXY9PxN305v0EmMK9FYyh-Kg_Db_XTWkAWF5Ypqoi8oQn6CqgXLP2IxWcCw8LlnPow64bG_POXEMOtV_X6VmtgVRc0j6RDm6Ei41X22V8QziDCHM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7543.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-jyaKkk0aS_6BZlLYIuTw4gej32AqisPszfsmIwZn4e3ddmi49apZmS62kO15TpBHdPPPMY4m0XuswRA6EJOSXrn0IkA4Z-3mwDbWrQX1dLfW-0OXy5m_MTwXuGh6RF0ZmmAoo_OzRg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-jyaKkk0aS_6BZlLYIuTw4gej32AqisPszfsmIwZn4e3ddmi49apZmS62kO15TpBHdPPPMY4m0XuswRA6EJOSXrn0IkA4Z-3mwDbWrQX1dLfW-0OXy5m_MTwXuGh6RF0ZmmAoo_OzRg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7547.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqY7X_aGzIR34AiC45tSY1-06n-3Ht6NOwAR4WlGlkSZNJGxAr0LP3Zvj6LY33Z795LvLIIRWNbddHLJ6MmcoUYvnKBdLnrfdGtbavA72gIi85nRJ1x6F1G_jmOJRgKxH8ChsUnwP2eI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqY7X_aGzIR34AiC45tSY1-06n-3Ht6NOwAR4WlGlkSZNJGxAr0LP3Zvj6LY33Z795LvLIIRWNbddHLJ6MmcoUYvnKBdLnrfdGtbavA72gIi85nRJ1x6F1G_jmOJRgKxH8ChsUnwP2eI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7550.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
Most importantly this year you asked Jesus into your heart and told us you wanted to get baptized. One night, from the back seat of the van, you started telling me about how you had asked Christ into your heart one night while you were laying in bed. You told me you knew you were a sinner-- that your "heart was sick"-- and that you needed a savior because of that. And then you said you wanted to get baptized. We took you out for a special supper to talk about what all that meant and looked like, and we told you that we will be watching for the fruits of the Spirit in your life. When I see you get up to help Sloan so I can keep reading to your sisters, I see the fruit of kindness. When I see you waiting your turn to talk at the dinner table instead of shouting over others, I see the fruit of patience and self-control. When I see you letting your sisters have their first choice in something and you take what is left, I see the fruit of love and peace. And everyday I see the fruit of joy in a million ways in your life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaPdI3TPQylT3FzKeF6ag2btz6wgAb6Ym7ZQAauRwvPxD3AH8fCbPh-BMQYWegbxTG0egG8HmU3SNSbN7se8W-3pvr0rMzXgSAN6RdxpTV8LpGkqHccw2fqMHjGWd1NOLNMNbePMWLt4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaPdI3TPQylT3FzKeF6ag2btz6wgAb6Ym7ZQAauRwvPxD3AH8fCbPh-BMQYWegbxTG0egG8HmU3SNSbN7se8W-3pvr0rMzXgSAN6RdxpTV8LpGkqHccw2fqMHjGWd1NOLNMNbePMWLt4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7582.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU3oSKZc5XQd-J-LquRcAs-fjx8J8euywCzhlC89jQFLqEzCNW3jtZUxITUH9e_RZfy-mTwh7lpFbOxvEuZ9fCeVSk9K44HawIKQlQc3yktL9nhzr0mbUVqDG7w471_DQbgedoyRb68I/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU3oSKZc5XQd-J-LquRcAs-fjx8J8euywCzhlC89jQFLqEzCNW3jtZUxITUH9e_RZfy-mTwh7lpFbOxvEuZ9fCeVSk9K44HawIKQlQc3yktL9nhzr0mbUVqDG7w471_DQbgedoyRb68I/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7583.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyMHL8yZEteiK-149lwTPEVWnODQNC16eGFS-xr0Q4i6qV4oS6cjM1zpFFKHgKDHBStHKpvX7-t0WDQeb3xMwuH0Mwxv5E3YNXKnIPW5TEQJLFbFUa7Isp0DbM2OUpiKdsxwXp840DGk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyMHL8yZEteiK-149lwTPEVWnODQNC16eGFS-xr0Q4i6qV4oS6cjM1zpFFKHgKDHBStHKpvX7-t0WDQeb3xMwuH0Mwxv5E3YNXKnIPW5TEQJLFbFUa7Isp0DbM2OUpiKdsxwXp840DGk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7588.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckQB84nDYBDE9pJfvJmXwzyCI8OYw87WJczPYD3v6nZdsUrZ3hhXDe6oDH74xnfSIbnQ7o4HPJvUPUm8SajhVbUvbtmBUiKcUiFn8fcoSx0XzcuI_TvpUdxrgqoSUk4TSkIf8ojG4Vhw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckQB84nDYBDE9pJfvJmXwzyCI8OYw87WJczPYD3v6nZdsUrZ3hhXDe6oDH74xnfSIbnQ7o4HPJvUPUm8SajhVbUvbtmBUiKcUiFn8fcoSx0XzcuI_TvpUdxrgqoSUk4TSkIf8ojG4Vhw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7592.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mJooc9xsPaHt1wTXtL01ObIhfFjQYVgqwq8aVt08Ag12mVzqe3981tpApCDwqfDTbInsjSp-L9uxD_18Za7iwQJSo_Gw0yP2I7bxycLn2KaqY-SsLa3LAdG5m9ZnMPY-ia3ZyUU3p1k/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mJooc9xsPaHt1wTXtL01ObIhfFjQYVgqwq8aVt08Ag12mVzqe3981tpApCDwqfDTbInsjSp-L9uxD_18Za7iwQJSo_Gw0yP2I7bxycLn2KaqY-SsLa3LAdG5m9ZnMPY-ia3ZyUU3p1k/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7593.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAFqarVWii4m6DbeyrQ29iRhrJ7vuRDzi0Mby9z9ElMxkb2qlyexMxx4RLhzTdpOdnpHVZ4MngZPIi44rsCVsgK_EDtbj2x77xBZgT0ZRXN9Ti7PShvbY6e43SYP-AHwjwObEGznIjuE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAFqarVWii4m6DbeyrQ29iRhrJ7vuRDzi0Mby9z9ElMxkb2qlyexMxx4RLhzTdpOdnpHVZ4MngZPIi44rsCVsgK_EDtbj2x77xBZgT0ZRXN9Ti7PShvbY6e43SYP-AHwjwObEGznIjuE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7597.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKmI4zIbXdIrb05Mo4dj2RVNOIduwrteajBzxMolkNNwXn-5ItAWDzfee_PsXPB2OtK5S6q3YALr1aH7JBnXXbWFUXchQd3qyXWFSZBjohfFHyGM5J1eANaZsCr4bvxt-b23Y8aQ0r2M/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKmI4zIbXdIrb05Mo4dj2RVNOIduwrteajBzxMolkNNwXn-5ItAWDzfee_PsXPB2OtK5S6q3YALr1aH7JBnXXbWFUXchQd3qyXWFSZBjohfFHyGM5J1eANaZsCr4bvxt-b23Y8aQ0r2M/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7606.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrD69NGUD1whWUdR0umFrMS4sVnoRbGk9pW_6QxX7KDkdUuHsp3NKNkv9hIhMhSam2EwGGJKwHI0ZlKY2H3RgKsZqoCFKVYSbS09mVNi3PIAELrzjJc-qAmt1IaGJ5oz3HiAItqteBtLA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrD69NGUD1whWUdR0umFrMS4sVnoRbGk9pW_6QxX7KDkdUuHsp3NKNkv9hIhMhSam2EwGGJKwHI0ZlKY2H3RgKsZqoCFKVYSbS09mVNi3PIAELrzjJc-qAmt1IaGJ5oz3HiAItqteBtLA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7610.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5ZrKQKL47GGMZStqAuJMVBwUbrKhmuh-xDd3dZYagI-e8fhAukqQLTObk83DBSff7G8EzPv8yAbJBPsXtt-bQq7HDALDMR_V-rPQgXG9xM2hVg_sXmS3jdY9p6zyQ3qZ-v3TM8nAYkw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5ZrKQKL47GGMZStqAuJMVBwUbrKhmuh-xDd3dZYagI-e8fhAukqQLTObk83DBSff7G8EzPv8yAbJBPsXtt-bQq7HDALDMR_V-rPQgXG9xM2hVg_sXmS3jdY9p6zyQ3qZ-v3TM8nAYkw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7613.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik09kv9fc_hapTDuDMzsbBIvjcbrYUbVUAVnTLzYsFsAji8p1ggHm0LyA-bhCeUZvQOlo0IKT9EjCLi_WCwoN-k1479vPV_604Bhyqq9A51JKTViDXDrpA9cWjXOVUycYCznyUCWbVdUQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik09kv9fc_hapTDuDMzsbBIvjcbrYUbVUAVnTLzYsFsAji8p1ggHm0LyA-bhCeUZvQOlo0IKT9EjCLi_WCwoN-k1479vPV_604Bhyqq9A51JKTViDXDrpA9cWjXOVUycYCznyUCWbVdUQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7620.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Your dad baptized you, and before he did he shared how 8 years ago we were preparing for your birth and thinking about your name. He shared how we chose your name, Blythe, because it meant "joy" and how we prayed you would bring joy and be joy to others. And he shared how we also chose it because it was the last name of some very special like-family friends of ours. And then he said that that day you were being reborn, into the joy of Christ that you can now bring to others, and that you were also getting a new family now as a believer. I hope you always remember that other birthday, even now as we celebrate this one.<br />
<br />
It made me remember when you were born and they laid you on my chest and it was truly and other-worldly experience. It's a moment when God parted the curtain back a crack and we saw a little of His mysteries and miracles first hand. It's more than I believe we were made to comprehend. I've been studying baptism this year some--what it looks like biblically and why we are called to it and what it does-- and it does do something. No, you don't raise out of the water and see angels around you or feel lighter or brighter, but I think it is like that other moment: I think God parts the curtain back a crack and see a little of His mysteries and miracles first hand. For years I have prayed this very simple prayer over you and your siblings: "God, may you give Blythe ears to hear you, eyes to see you, and a heart that know and follow you." As I helped you change out of wet clothes that Sunday, I thought of that prayer, and I promise you I will continue to pray it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_4_Ar-ou6F8gxk8hEMCb9DGFk97ASmyIvLYdXwZTIX0dtiVX-5DAj3wLnuE-m5ezjS7PHm_3K_mDOu6HqBxHgUeaThTpDdWk8L_EDpWq2Zxioh-zWon5Nr5KNvnM-qeQXz_oktPUnqA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_4_Ar-ou6F8gxk8hEMCb9DGFk97ASmyIvLYdXwZTIX0dtiVX-5DAj3wLnuE-m5ezjS7PHm_3K_mDOu6HqBxHgUeaThTpDdWk8L_EDpWq2Zxioh-zWon5Nr5KNvnM-qeQXz_oktPUnqA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7628.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGC3255-JzmeGpDScqYMXXrvvUH-7nQPGgT1ng7xMEtS9XJSh3fWYxbvvuasr8dUmfZKMe_oxmSZV139bJLQlGz7kj-eXBNkXF51xAnDE7nO2V-zohDP1tu5YyNNd_34TsmpKm5bbz2A/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGC3255-JzmeGpDScqYMXXrvvUH-7nQPGgT1ng7xMEtS9XJSh3fWYxbvvuasr8dUmfZKMe_oxmSZV139bJLQlGz7kj-eXBNkXF51xAnDE7nO2V-zohDP1tu5YyNNd_34TsmpKm5bbz2A/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7636.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvq_bx9bEpBcH1_ya-7n8DIUTjpHI4cCBa-ieTkSjh8C4IYR0qnLYGrqQ4eKFoyNHupSSJril-INyc10nOhIZG3FbhH8EHr8OC-6fDNF5U3hEVnXlJnEfyQ5ARc7v1M_PbxDqEmaY7pY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvq_bx9bEpBcH1_ya-7n8DIUTjpHI4cCBa-ieTkSjh8C4IYR0qnLYGrqQ4eKFoyNHupSSJril-INyc10nOhIZG3FbhH8EHr8OC-6fDNF5U3hEVnXlJnEfyQ5ARc7v1M_PbxDqEmaY7pY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7638.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq5FTL-CN4Owhk11ilpq6dzZ0ND7bAfOJ4KoIahSCCLuTs5-z44FtTvhPM0qR5rcGR-Q-oiSARzyuNjuUL2zp6mC3l16mKPfJiqmKNVlapVd-kCDYAUNNm-c7KMpZ3ye9ekKyEtxdKFc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq5FTL-CN4Owhk11ilpq6dzZ0ND7bAfOJ4KoIahSCCLuTs5-z44FtTvhPM0qR5rcGR-Q-oiSARzyuNjuUL2zp6mC3l16mKPfJiqmKNVlapVd-kCDYAUNNm-c7KMpZ3ye9ekKyEtxdKFc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7652.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7wvSh_L23XXnkPUXyBua6E1T6r3oKFDKy9OS_RC7hYA1eoo7WNRweGBvIidPUUNpOs30VqbTl2jnsqQEaqmzzcwrfSAcK9zso88kLGWh8lDrVzhb7aFS1gxGiR2PYrh_LZAZLjY-qdQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7wvSh_L23XXnkPUXyBua6E1T6r3oKFDKy9OS_RC7hYA1eoo7WNRweGBvIidPUUNpOs30VqbTl2jnsqQEaqmzzcwrfSAcK9zso88kLGWh8lDrVzhb7aFS1gxGiR2PYrh_LZAZLjY-qdQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7654.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhuY__wiFvFjxFnoAzDumt_cK7dOEonIQz_V7B3wcKCAJz7FglvVwIAq-VEQPy98PHDCBzxCO0vgOoWWbdYZItRarn0b68YIUNFXMsAYqm-l199VXJFl92WrATie5u49KbZz2ncWrpiA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhuY__wiFvFjxFnoAzDumt_cK7dOEonIQz_V7B3wcKCAJz7FglvVwIAq-VEQPy98PHDCBzxCO0vgOoWWbdYZItRarn0b68YIUNFXMsAYqm-l199VXJFl92WrATie5u49KbZz2ncWrpiA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7660.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Right now is a really weird time in this world as we are facing the Coronavirus. Your school is shut down right now and you were so sad to miss out on any time with your teacher and friends and learning, but you are really one of the most go-with-the-flow kids I've ever met, and have been a champ about everything. This is the third year in a row something crazy has happened on your birthday at school [by far the craziest though!], and every year I'm impressed at your ability to just be okay with whatever cards you're being dealt. Birthdays are a big deal when you're young, but you somehow realize already that there are people and life being lived beyond your little world, and that's really a profound thing to realize so young.<br />
<br />
I think a really good picture of who you are right now was on Valentine's Day: You wanted to make everyone a perler bead creation. You wrote a little, individual note on each and everyone for your friends, such as "you are funny", "you are smart", or "you are creative." And you told me why you were giving the dog one to so so ["Because he has a dog named___"], and each one you had a story for and knew why you picked it for your classmate. You care and love well and you notice and you listen to others. I learn so much from you, and want to be like that for the people around me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikP-EF66k13dBxztG7_4kCPHwmh5gCdVpO1j6EHH-CrGaZmpEBo1olxgmbBtUF18WzL2fQRRImSNqNMM4BWrgwWSLiLXYu6vCCKAINwv8ev6qokUP_RlqM8_N_cUYinMqoSKsrQlVrtHo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikP-EF66k13dBxztG7_4kCPHwmh5gCdVpO1j6EHH-CrGaZmpEBo1olxgmbBtUF18WzL2fQRRImSNqNMM4BWrgwWSLiLXYu6vCCKAINwv8ev6qokUP_RlqM8_N_cUYinMqoSKsrQlVrtHo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7677.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm0wXok38KU1s9KLMHh7KWev1sTGXnS8E2OLZxokDrgvpc5AzPWwSyhqbEaK7kzkcSQGQUkW3xWSJJIdL_N_I54Z3crCUMyAY3AMrdTGD2vhc_Wmn9Vh7PwaNJO5kdAYrjUGZS8GDeag/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm0wXok38KU1s9KLMHh7KWev1sTGXnS8E2OLZxokDrgvpc5AzPWwSyhqbEaK7kzkcSQGQUkW3xWSJJIdL_N_I54Z3crCUMyAY3AMrdTGD2vhc_Wmn9Vh7PwaNJO5kdAYrjUGZS8GDeag/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7678.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1pG2yW_r1h_rRn9CyH1G0w13x4A0XFXwhuN_t0WtCoaO_4829A73OBVE6WtuYA0TTgYzJNXcaaIb5hOlrA7fZIRlPPvY3_aJeI1eY0AEiKHzusUDA9uk0CsqiO6d78-ZMTSnPLmZazQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1pG2yW_r1h_rRn9CyH1G0w13x4A0XFXwhuN_t0WtCoaO_4829A73OBVE6WtuYA0TTgYzJNXcaaIb5hOlrA7fZIRlPPvY3_aJeI1eY0AEiKHzusUDA9uk0CsqiO6d78-ZMTSnPLmZazQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7683.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gjEOKqv67CUQBSIuDYtgWJ69eW15FkQh89UFbdgwcywJ0GMd_xyX5m16a_cFvSmCmEOm7TjMrRTGBmj0G0Zqg2e-uwIhAa5goPsoEiVYCDPe5roR6WOsp40mS5OCnSTvMhTWu87lGCY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gjEOKqv67CUQBSIuDYtgWJ69eW15FkQh89UFbdgwcywJ0GMd_xyX5m16a_cFvSmCmEOm7TjMrRTGBmj0G0Zqg2e-uwIhAa5goPsoEiVYCDPe5roR6WOsp40mS5OCnSTvMhTWu87lGCY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7686.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrjEl7GMV6AEb57iQ0EhvHHBtO6uqf25IsQlbFUIuQrB1NM8p0rPI4YP1jZAeq6vMOGnMAMJOYk00BN1YKS-2zgkdmTmf3tlDyKpHp59WyrYqUN901TvSWIbOuQPVSu_bHRNA7PamoRY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrjEl7GMV6AEb57iQ0EhvHHBtO6uqf25IsQlbFUIuQrB1NM8p0rPI4YP1jZAeq6vMOGnMAMJOYk00BN1YKS-2zgkdmTmf3tlDyKpHp59WyrYqUN901TvSWIbOuQPVSu_bHRNA7PamoRY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7687.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKI-ulFoDWXvSvC28KhxB63xmb87dNnPcDlMgPFCy7z7W82UurDLiiCiNQoLg9AUJLUKJZyKvCL2CQKNjspYaeA5z4CNwsifW-TSWieeKc5_4Zi1TtU-5EPU3u4CLiw8Du4Nl31LzYhA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKI-ulFoDWXvSvC28KhxB63xmb87dNnPcDlMgPFCy7z7W82UurDLiiCiNQoLg9AUJLUKJZyKvCL2CQKNjspYaeA5z4CNwsifW-TSWieeKc5_4Zi1TtU-5EPU3u4CLiw8Du4Nl31LzYhA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7695.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">You finally lost some teeth this year-- three on the bottom, but still have your front teeth! You love, love, love to ride your bike up and down our street. When you hear interesting facts you latch on to them and remember them [like how many steps are on the Lincoln Memorial and why]. You can make a game out of anything. You love to wear your cowboy boots over most other footwear. You have a sweet tooth that almost matches your dad's [which is saying something!], and you love to come up with new jokes and stories and I will find them written down on pieces of paper all over the house. You are funny and thoughtful, smart and goofy. You still asked for a horse for your birthday, but you want a dog now, also. </span><br />
<br />
Your dad and I are so proud of the girl you are becoming, and we are so excited for your journey with Christ which is now beginning. Right now it is Lent and we keep blowing out a candle each week and talking about how dark the world was the night He died on the cross; how the Light of the world was put out. But Easter always comes and we rejoice in a Savior who overcame death on our behalf. And Blythe, now that you are in Christ our prayer is that you would bring and be that Light to others. The world feels very dark right now, but our Hope is elsewhere, and to get to share my days with a little Light-bearer like you is a gift I do not deserve.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFUdNlGb76vnh9vV3IayPS8XWpVnpl4hlbt0Fh5kabWTooaFciQg9cmEVwmie1WGn5pKQGLQrJnqdPY90dnlT_XJETm8YKDFSCh7hVbIly-CwlHcGeGGzJdwR9dWUHayuKXzzTMpBIoQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFUdNlGb76vnh9vV3IayPS8XWpVnpl4hlbt0Fh5kabWTooaFciQg9cmEVwmie1WGn5pKQGLQrJnqdPY90dnlT_XJETm8YKDFSCh7hVbIly-CwlHcGeGGzJdwR9dWUHayuKXzzTMpBIoQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7701.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBctqTFGjDxng2R7d-h_cz8G1tbJGfxLM0iO5Hy37WZcPqUod9eTKoVpaP5s0YMtHlU_lqwhsyNftofY-CYQd3t-kKvRBwXf9-EP_VXjNjrbw2N261Klc5VqTYk8cPKRSKo-xxHIdReY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBctqTFGjDxng2R7d-h_cz8G1tbJGfxLM0iO5Hy37WZcPqUod9eTKoVpaP5s0YMtHlU_lqwhsyNftofY-CYQd3t-kKvRBwXf9-EP_VXjNjrbw2N261Klc5VqTYk8cPKRSKo-xxHIdReY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7703.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8httcEqQSumZ_EXpXhLEacHtC_ZosTCD8QGe6dzYKF8PKle13un9n42UCQSEbvHn-TV4OMpczlbU39Vp7tgVP6Y9gmMHRqhyikgres-wAPOHBA_sjoiK0yK8CXWz__xQbq60Dpf9eYDo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8httcEqQSumZ_EXpXhLEacHtC_ZosTCD8QGe6dzYKF8PKle13un9n42UCQSEbvHn-TV4OMpczlbU39Vp7tgVP6Y9gmMHRqhyikgres-wAPOHBA_sjoiK0yK8CXWz__xQbq60Dpf9eYDo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7711.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As our oldest, you get to be the first to figure a lot out in our house, and I know it is going to take a lot of growth on our part as your parents. But I hope you know that now, at age 8, and later at age 13, and later yet at age 25, we will always be trying our best to love and raise you. And like I have said in all my letters to you: we hope you understand the why behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that is was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HRr02Wmxv96qP5YfaXK-4q-CIGTtrKlN9p_J_ybDTgEwRWRU4d7CiYAn4VpbOXw-cy_ZdgrUzT1pwuiaDqaugAgW-yD8dGL8mizFbcJSsLF8bvFKefhpiYOlzYoPDd6dF1g-au2OTq0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HRr02Wmxv96qP5YfaXK-4q-CIGTtrKlN9p_J_ybDTgEwRWRU4d7CiYAn4VpbOXw-cy_ZdgrUzT1pwuiaDqaugAgW-yD8dGL8mizFbcJSsLF8bvFKefhpiYOlzYoPDd6dF1g-au2OTq0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7734.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAERxlAE578QBEFi28Og7Hs1zjTNl8fh4tzxbG3MqyiGxDadyPxxFqGo5GZSzbmfexjmYJuLuesXzUtn_SlwHg8u_01fcUf2mOrEnPJbCP-Mfub3gHgY3FJz0ibBmSi4AO6M61-vqobss/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAERxlAE578QBEFi28Og7Hs1zjTNl8fh4tzxbG3MqyiGxDadyPxxFqGo5GZSzbmfexjmYJuLuesXzUtn_SlwHg8u_01fcUf2mOrEnPJbCP-Mfub3gHgY3FJz0ibBmSi4AO6M61-vqobss/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7745.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza5Grahq1GnkW8IRmn9dFryYAAoQi30xixutJJcrM7VZzw4zW_iD_jlUcTsYHTyIKzrNAJhDt9Pyx5LE457Vd5K720PCovg9g9BIC-lJZRh03nCMSocu9yEw6VdpWKc2V2Sx7ZOjGhUw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza5Grahq1GnkW8IRmn9dFryYAAoQi30xixutJJcrM7VZzw4zW_iD_jlUcTsYHTyIKzrNAJhDt9Pyx5LE457Vd5K720PCovg9g9BIC-lJZRh03nCMSocu9yEw6VdpWKc2V2Sx7ZOjGhUw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7750.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
Blythe, you are an absolute joy to be around, and we are so grateful you are ours to love.<br />
<br />
Happy birthday, Blythe Kathleen! There is nothing you will ever do that will make us stop loving you!<br />
<br />kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-81748607555986075752019-12-17T22:32:00.000-05:002019-12-17T22:43:26.740-05:00Christmas Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9m5qSbniYhKh8qR6pOvuOZmc35_u9FEdm31YEjKuOfMfMcC03iDnFhV1Cv9CbBU4fHrHnMU2m6AY7NeeKCBdvl9_n6kn3jjQb-FYKrqUxAPFsiuhk4oKZruFr7lLQxliSrIMXJGsRAo/s1600/IMG_6310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="643" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9m5qSbniYhKh8qR6pOvuOZmc35_u9FEdm31YEjKuOfMfMcC03iDnFhV1Cv9CbBU4fHrHnMU2m6AY7NeeKCBdvl9_n6kn3jjQb-FYKrqUxAPFsiuhk4oKZruFr7lLQxliSrIMXJGsRAo/s640/IMG_6310.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Here we are at the end of 2019. Last night we drove around and looked at Christmas lights, an obligatory tradition that we've grown to love. And I kid you not as we sat crammed in the front seat, windows fogging over and music playing, my eyes began to fill with the most grateful tears-- that these are my people, and that this is the life I have been given. We are not perfect, things are not perfect, and this world is far from perfect, but we get glimpses of heaven that remind us always we have a Savior calling us home, and He likes to give us good gifts.<br />
<br />
A few brief updates for you in this now very annual Christmas-letter-on-the-blog thing that I do:<br />
<br />
Blythe is now 7 and in second grade. Every year we kind of hold our breath, expecting the ball to drop with this one because she's just made things too easy for us, truth be told. And 2019 was not the year the ball dropped. She's still such a fun, joyful, quirky, creative, kind, helpful little human being. She devours books and started taking piano. She <i>hears and feels </i>music in ways I have never been able to. We went to my mom's Christmas cantata and she sat enraptured listening to the community choir. On the way home, eyes wide with wonder, she said, "Mom! They were all singing the same song but everyone was singing it differently...together. It was so beautiful." She has an incredibly large sweet tooth, finally lost two of her actual teeth, and simply adores all her siblings. She and Becks started sleeping tangled up in a twin bed together because they just love being together, and that is in large part because Blythe has always been so patient and gracious with Becks. About a month ago she told us that she had asked Jesus into her heart, because she was a sinner, and then proceeded to tell us that she wants to get baptized. We took her out for a little dinner, just the three of us, to let her know how proud we are of this decision, and what this means for her moving forward. She will get baptized just after the first of the year. Would you all pray for her in this new life in Christ she has found?<br />
<br />
Becks is 5. She started kindergarten, and her teacher told me she knew she was shy. but she did not know she was THAT shy. She's slowly come out of her shell a bit, though, and she's doing well. She has lots of friends and is participating more and more. PE is her favorite. She got to start tball this summer and <i>loved </i>it [she was a helmet with legs, let's be honest! ha!]. She has such a robust imagination and, while she is quiet at school, she is ALL BUT quiet when she is home. She is a ball of energy and emotions--she <i>feels things </i>with her whole body and this tends to explode out of her in rapturous, loud crazy happiness or ferocious, shrieking anger. We never have to wonder what she is thinking, that's for sure. She is profoundly compassionate, and generally wields this as a tool to construct and not a weapon to destroy... generally. ;) When Blythe told us she had prayed and asked Jesus into her heart, Becks piped up and said, "Mom, I've prayed, like, hundreds of times." She never wants to be left out. Also, I must note: this girl LOVES to be barefoot in the mud of a creek bed. This fall I wrote about how I just feel an incredible connection with this little lady, as she and I have been through the trenches together. Having survived her toddler years together, I now really really really enjoy my time with this sweet little lady and miss her while she's at school. .<br />
<br />
Nan is 3. She is <i>full. </i>Full of life, full of noise, full of questions, full of impatience, full of snacks, full of jokes, full of needs, full of frustrations, full of movement, full full full. She wears me out in ways the others have not. At the end of a full day with Nan Louise, I am simply and utterly exhausted. I told Brent the other day that if I didn't know I had been the one to be with her every day, I would have thought she was raised by a pack of wild animals-- our very own Mogley. ;) She is not manipulative or largely disobedient or defiant, she is just....<i>full. </i>She loves to draw, go on nature days, do a little preschool with me here and there, and enjoys being read to. She's currently sitting next to me while I type this and her questions and constant talking are so loud and insistent that I honestly have no idea what this paragraph says. She is a most persistent child. She also feels things <i>deeply. </i>[Can you sense a theme in our largely-female-dominated home?] She has a hard time watching shows, or being read to with much inflection, as she intuits danger or a character's fear or worry. She got glasses in the spring for astigmatism, and they are just the perfect addition to her little face, though she still runs into walls not due to her eyesight but due to her lack of focus and forethought ;). She has formed a fast friendship with one of our retired neighbors and loves her play dates with her. She misses her sisters during the day now, but is forming a neat little relationship with Sloan. She has asked me approximately 4,928 times if she can type the 1 for how old Sloan is, so we're going to move on to his paragraph, as you all pray for my patience in the year ahead with Nan ;)<br />
<br />
Sloan is 1i ["Nan that is the letter i," I said. "But it's okay. We will leave it," she said.] This guy. He is all slobber and deep grunts and giggles and he <i>runs </i>everywhere. He doesn't climb much, thankfully, but he has mastered our stairs. He is so much more physical than the girls ever were at this age, and is still a man of few words. Just <i>today </i>I received my first kiss from him. He's so busy and so NOT snuggly, that I have begged and bribed and smothered him in a million kisses trying to get one in return. But to no avail. Until today. So maybe the tide is turning on his affections ;). He is an utter joy. We're having a hard time disciplining him at the supper table when he throws food or puts his foot up on the table, because as soon as we say anything the girls all start laughing at him. To say he is adored around here is an understatement. He eats more than the others at most meals. He looooooovvvveeesssss to be outside, to throw balls, and to snack all the live long day. He loves cars and books with the little hidden flap things. At the beginning of this year, Sloan had no teeth and wasn't even crawling. It's amazing how quickly they change at this age. We have entered full-on toddler-dom, and I couldn't be happier about.<br />
<br />
Brent is still a compliance officer with a local bank, starting year number ten with them! He is deeply invested in men's discipleship ministries, and just men in general, at our church and it has been exciting to see his passion for that. He competed in several triathlons this spring-fall, two being Olympic size. He would love to complete a half-ironman triathlon in 2020. He is always so generous towards the rest of us in the family with his time, and training time for these long triathlons is no joke! I'm always amazed that he trains almost entirely before the rest of us are out of bed in the morning [which means he has until 7:30/7:45... the rest of us like to sleep ;)]. He's still just one of the best, most steady, gracious humans I know, and I feel so lucky I get to do all this by his side.<br />
<br />
And me? Well, I'm still here. Still predominately spending my days at home with the kids. Packing lunches, applying bandaids, crafting, changing poopy pants, washing clothes, drying clothes, folding clothes, finding socks in ALL the places, and ultimately knowing that all of this small seemingly menial day to day is reaping a harvest of faithfulness if I am just willing to die to myself and keep loving and serving in the ordinary. It's a gift. An exhausting, sometimes mind-numbing, always humbling gift to get to be with these little people and create a safe, welcome place for everyone to call home. I don't know that I've always seen it as holy work, but I do now. I also still love to create things and do photography. I was asked to speak at a few different women's events in the area this year and that was a joy as well. I hope to write a little more in 2020, but please see the above paragraphs regarding the last two children. We will see ;).<br />
<br />
2019 started out a little darker than usual for us. We were two months in to our new home, living in a mess of construction and piles of things with no place to go. We were exhausted from late nights of working on project after project, and the needs of our kids didn't stop just so we could get things done. We had several mishaps, water in the newly finished basement, etc. etc. We were weary, to say the least. But like I said in the last paragraph, it was about the end goal that we kept on moving. During that time I would think back to my senior year of college when I had a little notecard taped on my desk with this simple prayer: "Lord, help me make my home a restful, safe, inviting place for Brent to come home to." I was engaged and preparing to be a wife, and I wanted to pray over the home we would be sharing soon. And now, twelve years later, that notecard is long gone, but that's still a prayer of mine. And so we would put on our work clothes when all we wanted to do was lay on the couch. We worked, not towards a fancy house with all the latest, but towards a restful, safe, inviting place for all six of us to come home and to invite others. And here at the end of 2019? We are feeling those things more-- restful. Safe. At home.<br />
<br />
And this year for Christmas, I want to watch the amazement in Sloan's little eyes as he discovers the beauty and magic of Christmas around him. I want to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" again and again, and drink eggnog until I'm sick to my stomach. I want to snuggle with my husband and be thankful for Christmas number 16 that I get to spend with him. I want to read the Christmas story and <i>feel </i>the words: <i>and she will call him Emmanuel, God WITH US. </i>I want to watch my kids do the actions to "Away in the Manger" over and over and kiss them all under the mistletoe. I want to build another fort and snowman in our front yard then run inside and drink raspberry hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and tuck my toes under Brent's for warmth. I want to tuck our kids in bed and sing to them the song I still have memorized from a children's program at church when I was their age: <i>Christmas isn't Christmas 'til it happens in your heart. Somewhere deep inside you is where Christmas really starts. So give your heart to Jesus, you'll discover when you do, that it's Christmas, really Christmas, for you. </i>I want to eat homemade toffee and caramels and look at all the Christmas lights around town. I want to lounge around with family and not worry about the time. I want to sing over a lit candle on Christmas Eve as I think about the Light that has stepped into darkness.<br />
<br />
And I want you all to have a beautiful Christmas, full of laughter and hugs and blessings. Full of joy, love, and peace.<br />
<br />
Enjoy Christ's birth.<br />
I know it's been said many times many way....<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas to you!<br />
<br />
<b>Kelsey, Brent, Blythe, Becks, Nan, and Sloan</b>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-17228062084642855942019-08-23T23:05:00.000-04:002019-08-23T23:05:05.030-04:00ONE: Sloan Lee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTd2fM8hEmmRpccbKYCRPIJd6O8EJ9U-kJAkVN8isxsZB9K2GnBdgtyfX6xLsCN4Z01XzrLg4ExMiomn3BeXm7p-RzES0GupwJ16DTvdSywvErDWfHEhqGq3Jc5NS9ID_ROAEcyq0MR0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTd2fM8hEmmRpccbKYCRPIJd6O8EJ9U-kJAkVN8isxsZB9K2GnBdgtyfX6xLsCN4Z01XzrLg4ExMiomn3BeXm7p-RzES0GupwJ16DTvdSywvErDWfHEhqGq3Jc5NS9ID_ROAEcyq0MR0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6932.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMcSrXtROu-lfLiJ1NaYRbMnhM7jP0wJ9m4OxUirQLxeHdZF7gVus0DYZgvginJ26jCfZ11NUm6t4FSsBQ-ouEQWQwBL0IB6LQZGTQhiMvhZOVPACQ9T-cLnNCjbce4NtXOFHBIbCHrg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMcSrXtROu-lfLiJ1NaYRbMnhM7jP0wJ9m4OxUirQLxeHdZF7gVus0DYZgvginJ26jCfZ11NUm6t4FSsBQ-ouEQWQwBL0IB6LQZGTQhiMvhZOVPACQ9T-cLnNCjbce4NtXOFHBIbCHrg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6898.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8m6T8qVYUp2qsICo3hlzFpoLCAe0jOeV5hVNgnNPHiYKf-1MkVJigXeDnPcj5KyVddq_fCYO-2jWee8X8HneXOSJ9BnJGN3pzlk65aaZ66aPedyXjqqRAQCnmFCzyxdJXhyoB14kFf0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8m6T8qVYUp2qsICo3hlzFpoLCAe0jOeV5hVNgnNPHiYKf-1MkVJigXeDnPcj5KyVddq_fCYO-2jWee8X8HneXOSJ9BnJGN3pzlk65aaZ66aPedyXjqqRAQCnmFCzyxdJXhyoB14kFf0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6921.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sloan Lee,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You, little man, are one whole entire year old. One year of your grunty laughs, your pudgy hands pawing at everything, your drool everywhere, and your heart-melting smile. One year since they laid you on my chest, we all checked to see if you were really a boy, and I couldn't believe the weight of you. To get to the first birthday always seems like a mind trick to me: on the one hand, it happens in a flash. And yet, on the other hand, it seems to take a very long time to get here. The first year is not an easy one, and yet I can honestly say with you it was the easiest first year we've experienced in this family. Moving into a new house and doing a major renovation was, without a doubt, one of the most stressful things we have ever done. You were only two months old when this happened, and yet you were a light and a joy in the midst of the chaos. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sloan, I think you were the first child I was not just a little bit scared to have. With Blythe I was excited, but it was all so fresh and new and I just didn't know what being a mother meant or what any of it really entailed. With Becks I was nervous about adding to our family-- what would caring for TWO children look like? Could I handle it? My transition to one was so hard, would two break me? And then with Nan I felt like we were really entering the danger zone and possibly biting off more than we could chew. Jumping from two to three was challenging. And then I lost a baby, Sloan. My fourth baby was never born alive on this earth, and so I think by the time I knew of your existence inside of me my heart had been refined by fire. I had learned the opposite of faith isn't unbelief, but it is fear. And so I open my hands and decided to welcome you without fear; to welcome you with a heart full of faith in our very big God who can turn ashes into beauty. And transitioning to a family of six was the easiest transition yet. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAdtWgYpfHglAEchmIOtxaECVtldxcDaZjA-CtrHfM0S-57RDJpIs1SpAIEthMKz_cG47rNkZ9DUU-lLGs6qaoa2F7g5mST1wEGciuZNedNTzZ4mpNXpOPPva4r4cwWkioJF-SyGAxto/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAdtWgYpfHglAEchmIOtxaECVtldxcDaZjA-CtrHfM0S-57RDJpIs1SpAIEthMKz_cG47rNkZ9DUU-lLGs6qaoa2F7g5mST1wEGciuZNedNTzZ4mpNXpOPPva4r4cwWkioJF-SyGAxto/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6885.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52wGP9SeyAZzB_A_jStd6IiqTvH9OTsABeGvEEyyEEEhyphenhyphen6CudiTd-W69Szs45AmA0_IzH1GP99scFPkudlW8h9bRnEb8suJLPvOUacLlDVsA4m1DdiPb9RoucQjzAlQTZqvlFAaAscwc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52wGP9SeyAZzB_A_jStd6IiqTvH9OTsABeGvEEyyEEEhyphenhyphen6CudiTd-W69Szs45AmA0_IzH1GP99scFPkudlW8h9bRnEb8suJLPvOUacLlDVsA4m1DdiPb9RoucQjzAlQTZqvlFAaAscwc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6888.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxsSqBwgt1hcnUodyZDZsJtc8XkD-ij_NLUK8B7-vMRihaofTnUbwzeyE3uJgyf8yjBhpA2_loWnxAMFe_BdG-4faBSD504mgCdjTO4rrbZm0R0u0yhfJ4C9d3go3W4NbFkB6rTDumfw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxsSqBwgt1hcnUodyZDZsJtc8XkD-ij_NLUK8B7-vMRihaofTnUbwzeyE3uJgyf8yjBhpA2_loWnxAMFe_BdG-4faBSD504mgCdjTO4rrbZm0R0u0yhfJ4C9d3go3W4NbFkB6rTDumfw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6895.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlbUzkrBkUKbXQY4zgv5RU91lN4RPg0kTjzDbt4KeosyikvRKqFFxidimDodY6ZbKP2eX6Ui4CLZ69STyS9E9lfSZdHjVIDu4c7n-7AffVn-WPdYajm_v-Su3BEzGdcKKH8KPF-kTibw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlbUzkrBkUKbXQY4zgv5RU91lN4RPg0kTjzDbt4KeosyikvRKqFFxidimDodY6ZbKP2eX6Ui4CLZ69STyS9E9lfSZdHjVIDu4c7n-7AffVn-WPdYajm_v-Su3BEzGdcKKH8KPF-kTibw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6905.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blythe wanted to add the little dinosaur for one picture:) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I think a few things factored into this year for us. First, my faith had grown and I knew God was kind and gracious enough to fill in all of my gaps as a mother. I knew you were fine in <i>His </i>hands, and so mine felt much lighter. Another factor was that I was 32 and no longer 25, like I was when I first became a mom. I was out of my internship years. Which I think, when you're a parent, simply means that you move up only because you've learned you don't know very much and you're in control of very little. You would think this would stress you out more as a parent, but in a weird way it just completely relaxes you and mellows you out. And the final factor, of course, was <i>you. </i>From the get go you were just a pretty awesome guy. Sure, you can be loud, you cry, you poop your pants, etc. But your soul seems steady.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX1f9JIrjeBqxXuk7-LdslCroLeHDBE0yqbgCXc_N5UWorHKR16GCtChEN-Nan5V0FwLwqK3LwQ4oheytUvoW3o3T9f8DIZrP6q07DeQXV6V7bIy35fWQwXAr9elgC0twPEqH7WREbUg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX1f9JIrjeBqxXuk7-LdslCroLeHDBE0yqbgCXc_N5UWorHKR16GCtChEN-Nan5V0FwLwqK3LwQ4oheytUvoW3o3T9f8DIZrP6q07DeQXV6V7bIy35fWQwXAr9elgC0twPEqH7WREbUg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6908.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvSEGpSR0LQKSJcNUh-ixV8dLUzFfGOXBVjEVhPkgX81RMugHqV6X0cXWh3nvco7hLC3tJHCQLerYfpBrt2xYEUNyDA6unAI2vOB9XkRvx9D-vzY_3lE3d4VKn6zS9L8TdcznoVi8fwY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvSEGpSR0LQKSJcNUh-ixV8dLUzFfGOXBVjEVhPkgX81RMugHqV6X0cXWh3nvco7hLC3tJHCQLerYfpBrt2xYEUNyDA6unAI2vOB9XkRvx9D-vzY_3lE3d4VKn6zS9L8TdcznoVi8fwY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6910.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHAGxKTEmNYqWM92ruKyHlNIzxeYs-zhYXzqvCyg_WjiUJLKc0IKTabENJNjjXkLDtiX_StaucgkDVKM1B2Dd6H_u3guSdC2sB0vuwGDs6yqVVAACwtGBehklQH3_5_tBW6zW5g8WHT4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHAGxKTEmNYqWM92ruKyHlNIzxeYs-zhYXzqvCyg_WjiUJLKc0IKTabENJNjjXkLDtiX_StaucgkDVKM1B2Dd6H_u3guSdC2sB0vuwGDs6yqVVAACwtGBehklQH3_5_tBW6zW5g8WHT4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6917.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJEUVSRcuBudMmAYTY2KZddS69bM4W3Tb9dvRChRINcYK-bBWfB_mnIy56DSTMkV8-1f5F2jB9JhHXSR_dkq_a5HdQTVQt0XGZSCDZdlD3mKJ3lG1rE88w8Zbz1lAq_uE8DDORW4vZNg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6918-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJEUVSRcuBudMmAYTY2KZddS69bM4W3Tb9dvRChRINcYK-bBWfB_mnIy56DSTMkV8-1f5F2jB9JhHXSR_dkq_a5HdQTVQt0XGZSCDZdlD3mKJ3lG1rE88w8Zbz1lAq_uE8DDORW4vZNg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6918-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
You don't cuddle and show affection, and yet we can tell you're head over heels for us. Some of your favorite things include eating, eating, and eating. ;) But you also enjoy being outside, your sisters [when they aren't man-handling you], wrestling with your dad, and taking baths. You're favorite word [and probably person] is "Dada! Dada! Dada!" You will eat anything we put in front of you. One thing that was different with you this year than with your sisters was that I didn't nurse you. You were bottle fed from month two on, and you were a champ at it. It was the absolute best decision for us, and I'm so glad we did it. Around ten months I switched you to a sippy cup and whole milk, and within a week you had totally transitioned just fine. You've always taken great naps, and you are <i>ready </i>for bed <i>by </i>seven o'clock. You're still primarily crawling because you are a speed-demon at it, but for the past month you've been taking lots and lots of steps. You'll walk clear across the living room, so I think a full transition to walking is coming up soon. I'm a little sad about it, only because you do the cutest thing when you crawl: you ball your right fist up like an ape and crawl on your knuckles. Just trust me, it's the cutest, and I'll probably make you reenact it when you're 16.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPW93PzG8_aS54TkeXHTulLW-Wq7Zv_IbZx5X91DxpT_miB9wupL5JQ1mM5_Z5pNrU88YOZwWebd947GFlD4cR4lsQ-Px5d6B6DwWfxRl8Llbas9qzU0OpnwDVvZuJ-CdXcoRtg_B6Jw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPW93PzG8_aS54TkeXHTulLW-Wq7Zv_IbZx5X91DxpT_miB9wupL5JQ1mM5_Z5pNrU88YOZwWebd947GFlD4cR4lsQ-Px5d6B6DwWfxRl8Llbas9qzU0OpnwDVvZuJ-CdXcoRtg_B6Jw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6926.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdSdByneONYSkt1A8IDXTv2gTvpx29Hk1orH8ot8SqUIVowPyZs3_W1QZq-AGOfL8M02wByqlNDrWMMSfw3EiKxmJI7tsT08m_ucrav4HnVw7ncYRUVKlLwKiKk4elicphH7OtD_6iRI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdSdByneONYSkt1A8IDXTv2gTvpx29Hk1orH8ot8SqUIVowPyZs3_W1QZq-AGOfL8M02wByqlNDrWMMSfw3EiKxmJI7tsT08m_ucrav4HnVw7ncYRUVKlLwKiKk4elicphH7OtD_6iRI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6928.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXA1ckjPgcgJd6-upFEJq1cTYjG6EXQ1ZKVMMBM9hXGr5CFgmVYKslaIj6aSF9ysldoAo7zCO_h2p6CRmfLZibadeWme9hKoCAbUQXLrHUjC329cQvXGcNfmeFT3AUg1wQMOoKi_mi_zo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXA1ckjPgcgJd6-upFEJq1cTYjG6EXQ1ZKVMMBM9hXGr5CFgmVYKslaIj6aSF9ysldoAo7zCO_h2p6CRmfLZibadeWme9hKoCAbUQXLrHUjC329cQvXGcNfmeFT3AUg1wQMOoKi_mi_zo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6931.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Sloan Lee, we prayed for you from the moment we knew it was you. We prayed you would be filled with courage, and that you would have a gentleness from the Spirit that permeates your life. We prayed that you would have wisdom, knowing the right next thing even in the hard times. And we prayed that you would remain steadfast, committed and devoted to your God and to your future family and friends, the kind of steadfast love that resounds with The Most Steady Love anyone could ever know. And we've continued to pray these traits for you over the past year, and we will continue to as you grow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuZ9Q8hHrGaTR1GEgtErWKRfrmN7T70qdG2ByahczyUzVwjjBKMQ2o0G1P6qpQrWR2M6j2ltf5SPtlUKPxYze3zgmwRJBkpvbRjsmc9CGEIeNURJp46yuLWA68SR-30TTA1YDXiVAdjQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuZ9Q8hHrGaTR1GEgtErWKRfrmN7T70qdG2ByahczyUzVwjjBKMQ2o0G1P6qpQrWR2M6j2ltf5SPtlUKPxYze3zgmwRJBkpvbRjsmc9CGEIeNURJp46yuLWA68SR-30TTA1YDXiVAdjQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6935.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5gsleUjgPsNUbbSYOoxGw0Q24YKjXnDqf7IyFTjtF51GuCE9YVyWravymS57w7D2ZL-JpDhLyovWqOoseRkQLJ9wHR4EF6aZWPDYx8oTr39uFOvPI8zR9sHc2hKiMVbVilXlMp5nNIw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5gsleUjgPsNUbbSYOoxGw0Q24YKjXnDqf7IyFTjtF51GuCE9YVyWravymS57w7D2ZL-JpDhLyovWqOoseRkQLJ9wHR4EF6aZWPDYx8oTr39uFOvPI8zR9sHc2hKiMVbVilXlMp5nNIw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6938.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
One funny thing this year to watch has just been your sheer size. You were our biggest baby by well OVER a pound, and you didn't slow down! Everyone always guesses you are months beyond your actual age. None of your sisters weighed even twenty pounds when they turned a year, and you are pushing thirty. We love it. You're very tall, and very piiiiiinnnnnchable, as your dad would say. You also hold onto us when we are carrying you-- your grip our arm, clench your legs, and you're just very <i>sturdy. </i>We feel like we could let go and you would still be holding us! It's one of your dad's favorite things about you right now, and something he says he wants to always remember is your grip on his arm like that.<br />
<br />
This is our last first birthday to celebrate. And I want to celebrate and enjoy these last firsts with you, and not miss them because I'm already lost in the nostalgia of it all. I can't wait for this year of firsts with you, even if they are our last ones!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GKjsr7mw31Ot5exRSyKvOuHbOUbTA9joCNc1iOAFMqUuPZRjb4DGT_Fam_SHkDVObu_BtQSUNXTZZst2uJWGfpmn-M-tU9FbdcVJFzuZbmTKGzPotvjTDdDXaCdxew5__lmi2w7c4Uw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GKjsr7mw31Ot5exRSyKvOuHbOUbTA9joCNc1iOAFMqUuPZRjb4DGT_Fam_SHkDVObu_BtQSUNXTZZst2uJWGfpmn-M-tU9FbdcVJFzuZbmTKGzPotvjTDdDXaCdxew5__lmi2w7c4Uw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6944.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXSKhDUWwgPr8K_203bzgQo6EZTjZ5GIAqSX5eTIupxV8yjYF9BWm0fG51JEzkiZUVwURsj642BnBOvXFwvYgYXzK4X4IeVSy9fjl2Uc04E-srslQRGzFUaGBGZYMhZOJJ00tb61EExI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXSKhDUWwgPr8K_203bzgQo6EZTjZ5GIAqSX5eTIupxV8yjYF9BWm0fG51JEzkiZUVwURsj642BnBOvXFwvYgYXzK4X4IeVSy9fjl2Uc04E-srslQRGzFUaGBGZYMhZOJJ00tb61EExI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6952.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBrS-KASjMd3OUvAtC-vLVKwz5kF-TFk971ppaVe9rxBjBeMSadz0tJxMIBE8SnsUkRQNjDbIaW1CiW5U2uOnX5mPBBSznTcBWTmcRyk-5bG-QLz_DfEOO_RPbpCMuq1XEAw5-QN1Xjg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBrS-KASjMd3OUvAtC-vLVKwz5kF-TFk971ppaVe9rxBjBeMSadz0tJxMIBE8SnsUkRQNjDbIaW1CiW5U2uOnX5mPBBSznTcBWTmcRyk-5bG-QLz_DfEOO_RPbpCMuq1XEAw5-QN1Xjg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6973.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Sloan, we just love you to pieces. Your auburn hair and your deep brown eyes and lashes have us hooked. It's always funny how quickly a completely new human can just become the norm, but it was almost instant with you buddy-- as soon as we brought you home, it was as if we couldn't remember life before you. Thank you for filling this year with your peels of joy, your raspy and grunty voice, and cheerio trails everywhere. Thank you for teaching me more about the Father's great love for us all. On first birthdays I always have to wonder: what will this little life become? And while I don't know what you will <i>do </i>with your life, I know if you stay as you are now, you will love others fiercely along the way...and I know others won't be able to help but loving you as well. I pray you lead well and love well, and always point beyond yourself to the Gospel.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcExvM82F_epO9QmjdQliL9g7vjop1UVDJ6QpryNc6tSQQDgcSz2rLjqrdrzz8JZGzOjFWw8o8Y5JnTFoZniQi5SqHaCoAmDyUZS_JoBZzwph50frqJo1Xn-LsyrHst280jnypC8JCUoQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcExvM82F_epO9QmjdQliL9g7vjop1UVDJ6QpryNc6tSQQDgcSz2rLjqrdrzz8JZGzOjFWw8o8Y5JnTFoZniQi5SqHaCoAmDyUZS_JoBZzwph50frqJo1Xn-LsyrHst280jnypC8JCUoQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6975.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-xPkJBofzVFe3VQKGmN0Zec0-A4JfaD_Lel3xU0NhVFyAIKbPh79RJlbyVM2Z19pt-2EO-1S-MTIqgQRglXN0IRqZ9GQfCUhWTzcbDaaI_wiOliA9igPLyoPDT-WnjvlVuvlEbd7_s4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-xPkJBofzVFe3VQKGmN0Zec0-A4JfaD_Lel3xU0NhVFyAIKbPh79RJlbyVM2Z19pt-2EO-1S-MTIqgQRglXN0IRqZ9GQfCUhWTzcbDaaI_wiOliA9igPLyoPDT-WnjvlVuvlEbd7_s4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6995.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
And you will find out, I end all birthday letters the same, sweet Sloan: we hope you understand the <i>why </i>behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go our on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all.<br />
<br />
We love you, Sloan Lee. There is nothing you could ever do that would keep us from loving you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4_Xsem720Nulx4ou-ARnj7qmZgvSwVH0RKlnzc31wukmXBmWNdlArd7DlBSJrxXQDVT-V7sh7IFp3DPI5IqfZvqYnc7UfYCTJCtgYDrT2iRDIZRrDxrejV5foTi9WbFHI1fRuk2DCVg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4_Xsem720Nulx4ou-ARnj7qmZgvSwVH0RKlnzc31wukmXBmWNdlArd7DlBSJrxXQDVT-V7sh7IFp3DPI5IqfZvqYnc7UfYCTJCtgYDrT2iRDIZRrDxrejV5foTi9WbFHI1fRuk2DCVg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6998.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSBuPx_HI_EKViajWUM5i5tKEhOV4BRGDtDi93_7RJykthfA4R0KHXunK1EDHJ5RTjzll4eZIx6tzGdrxOHuoed2i1RbcuxVoTkh3IdOjhJYMp4xVMo51fOhhihRHYIFTegsSM73ffyc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSBuPx_HI_EKViajWUM5i5tKEhOV4BRGDtDi93_7RJykthfA4R0KHXunK1EDHJ5RTjzll4eZIx6tzGdrxOHuoed2i1RbcuxVoTkh3IdOjhJYMp4xVMo51fOhhihRHYIFTegsSM73ffyc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQaCOW51HYmHwP5Xj1r9fQaatAKXh9QXL-9GWB4iWwiVsUj4L_flN8cNLzLYQHxTl-Cv9EhrncB_gT2aNS0WB9NY_KpgS97gK7eL4Ej8kkIxCJj4rZ337_XvgKGyBSKBD6cZb6GcthK0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-7012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQaCOW51HYmHwP5Xj1r9fQaatAKXh9QXL-9GWB4iWwiVsUj4L_flN8cNLzLYQHxTl-Cv9EhrncB_gT2aNS0WB9NY_KpgS97gK7eL4Ej8kkIxCJj4rZ337_XvgKGyBSKBD6cZb6GcthK0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-7012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kelseylynae.blogspot.com/2018/09/sloans-story.html">Sloan's birth story</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kelseylynae.blogspot.com/2018/09/behind-name-sloan-lee.html">Story behind the name: SLOAN LEE</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kelseylynae.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-letter-for-my-son.html">First letter I wrote Sloan, at 20 weeks</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kelseylynae.blogspot.com/2018/06/hopes-and-dreams-round-iv-for-our-son.html">Hopes and dreams and another letter</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">All of the girls wore the same outfit for their one year pictures. I knew I wanted to somehow include a piece of it, someway, in Sloan's. So I asked Brent's mom, Joan, if she thought she could make a bow tie for him out of the skirt. And boy did she deliver! I love that it was a part of all of these memories for us: </span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdKTX7iD8wxSz8MmD0-BZNnMNYKzHtdRA-2sCYWk4TL3Oh0Vj76Q9aInw46pdGSaVu-iJdHaTP82J59mI7CN1bgZKi8AGA3fJSwZlNTPlYOYouwb4xrGpukbraZQzDW9CXq5Xyb04LyaS/s1600/18.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #33aaff; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdKTX7iD8wxSz8MmD0-BZNnMNYKzHtdRA-2sCYWk4TL3Oh0Vj76Q9aInw46pdGSaVu-iJdHaTP82J59mI7CN1bgZKi8AGA3fJSwZlNTPlYOYouwb4xrGpukbraZQzDW9CXq5Xyb04LyaS/s640/18.jpeg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.32px;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Blythe at one year<u><br /></u></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7L2dxN-bfcCKCNQha0n8uDQG2lOIXDmCUQ4V-7c1ofXrSLaEkpXFG1_Q_cE2THyyG2RsZLCLthtuKcPQPewumkNCKjgQfIiiTO1jc0jm2B4UM5YfKNX-Y_Jnf2nEj3FmAp115rzChwW0a/s1600/Meagan-White-Photo-Irwin-009.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #999999; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7L2dxN-bfcCKCNQha0n8uDQG2lOIXDmCUQ4V-7c1ofXrSLaEkpXFG1_Q_cE2THyyG2RsZLCLthtuKcPQPewumkNCKjgQfIiiTO1jc0jm2B4UM5YfKNX-Y_Jnf2nEj3FmAp115rzChwW0a/s640/Meagan-White-Photo-Irwin-009.jpeg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.32px;">Becks at one year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbyECRu6zXHBXlKlVuLWw4VUh-4b_vRXt8as3uvK4XDHWGMkWdWg-3LuiBMiNYGiJE2qLK_fiT_gEHV-17ypMNy3dzAf9UTIWyDa-QV15I72NP9brgLVbGCLD5z5y-MOXAZgpSwkpKgbv/s1600/IMG_5803.jpg" style="color: #999999; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbyECRu6zXHBXlKlVuLWw4VUh-4b_vRXt8as3uvK4XDHWGMkWdWg-3LuiBMiNYGiJE2qLK_fiT_gEHV-17ypMNy3dzAf9UTIWyDa-QV15I72NP9brgLVbGCLD5z5y-MOXAZgpSwkpKgbv/s640/IMG_5803.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nan at one year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTd2fM8hEmmRpccbKYCRPIJd6O8EJ9U-kJAkVN8isxsZB9K2GnBdgtyfX6xLsCN4Z01XzrLg4ExMiomn3BeXm7p-RzES0GupwJ16DTvdSywvErDWfHEhqGq3Jc5NS9ID_ROAEcyq0MR0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTd2fM8hEmmRpccbKYCRPIJd6O8EJ9U-kJAkVN8isxsZB9K2GnBdgtyfX6xLsCN4Z01XzrLg4ExMiomn3BeXm7p-RzES0GupwJ16DTvdSywvErDWfHEhqGq3Jc5NS9ID_ROAEcyq0MR0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6932.jpg" width="640" /></a>kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-9556689203741869792019-05-24T14:39:00.002-04:002019-05-24T14:39:45.683-04:00FIVE<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zi3H3mtGx_FDQp8Z2G6oK4r5ZPnSdjmthM2O6OI8WNrXfdePYB5ta9IfIi2ao78l_G07pCXyVRRjzct8n8p__il9KDJWpVBiHlA06AOUXFqXe2jiwW5FVIyuHOw2JYagLD3pA8O9avs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zi3H3mtGx_FDQp8Z2G6oK4r5ZPnSdjmthM2O6OI8WNrXfdePYB5ta9IfIi2ao78l_G07pCXyVRRjzct8n8p__il9KDJWpVBiHlA06AOUXFqXe2jiwW5FVIyuHOw2JYagLD3pA8O9avs/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-41.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEbMJaGlWMVL7mVbtFBkxWAyW9HwCooA_xtdLeGa0NQ8GvtCmw13A6-nGYC3oAJaMuKuiQY9reoRBBrNNp5wDBLZuhv16F0QqJ6z2tnJk6oFLAj49UimStnSiZWHWadD6xyXXHWlNSZ0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEbMJaGlWMVL7mVbtFBkxWAyW9HwCooA_xtdLeGa0NQ8GvtCmw13A6-nGYC3oAJaMuKuiQY9reoRBBrNNp5wDBLZuhv16F0QqJ6z2tnJk6oFLAj49UimStnSiZWHWadD6xyXXHWlNSZ0/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-47.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFwUL5UVF5_UTWyEx0exKgt6Qbbr9fQnqrxoUBDwRPzUCxIpzf7JHDrW9S-xHMvr7pXzVcuHuxz3qvvxS1jUIjhGwi93Me4s0G7EDk_qCeDsdIDY6O8viKiCauhEoP0rr7djYX8kcIoU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-2+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFwUL5UVF5_UTWyEx0exKgt6Qbbr9fQnqrxoUBDwRPzUCxIpzf7JHDrW9S-xHMvr7pXzVcuHuxz3qvvxS1jUIjhGwi93Me4s0G7EDk_qCeDsdIDY6O8viKiCauhEoP0rr7djYX8kcIoU/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-2+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_N7hUe6HDReDdaDLEoChSLCDlGcvtmoSZy3VmEbf1yDAIY2zVaeYtdTu1MlPJAUtYwwyigLKCduF_14tmWGXDyam5Wm5zbWKdXRwT1Kwf780VevvM58QvHSgQQ7QwM0TXJ1kP_prmLs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_N7hUe6HDReDdaDLEoChSLCDlGcvtmoSZy3VmEbf1yDAIY2zVaeYtdTu1MlPJAUtYwwyigLKCduF_14tmWGXDyam5Wm5zbWKdXRwT1Kwf780VevvM58QvHSgQQ7QwM0TXJ1kP_prmLs/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-29.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QP3MByMokDpAEezfY1SlD8Ege_CfKX0uJvUfkd19BHdxEDr_C6IVJFrQ8waIcl0k92QrCxgybuPFZSdLMiHJatN4lVhh4tl2pYVlqcInFSfHQSKpitYf8ZftmLExNncwuzEBAj2t55Y/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QP3MByMokDpAEezfY1SlD8Ege_CfKX0uJvUfkd19BHdxEDr_C6IVJFrQ8waIcl0k92QrCxgybuPFZSdLMiHJatN4lVhh4tl2pYVlqcInFSfHQSKpitYf8ZftmLExNncwuzEBAj2t55Y/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOnTGsT7BAGWgH66CkTww1uVB2n4p2s1tjuy2oGJCp6RnqGkegPezvv8o5eg0qu_MHg6gIvgyig2BEX3BJ1mYAvftGOcxVFuOQ3KbT0KfuwedsULF_lL-kbFQl9rjlKlpXGNnmjskvwo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOnTGsT7BAGWgH66CkTww1uVB2n4p2s1tjuy2oGJCp6RnqGkegPezvv8o5eg0qu_MHg6gIvgyig2BEX3BJ1mYAvftGOcxVFuOQ3KbT0KfuwedsULF_lL-kbFQl9rjlKlpXGNnmjskvwo/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-71.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Becks Lynae,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I remember calling my sister several years ago when her oldest daughter, your cousin Caroline, was turning five. She said she had cried. I mean, sure, it was hard to believe Caroline was turning five, but tears? I thought they were maybe a little unnecessary.<span> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I remember feeling a lot of emotion when Blythe turned five, and now being here with you, my second born, at age five? I think I’m more tearful than before. Because now I understand what I didn’t understand when I made that phone call to my sister all those years ago—five is a precipice. It is the first domino that falls and once they start falling I can’t grab ahold of them quickly enough to make them all stop. It’s an end of so much—your toddler years, your days home with me, simple days, few outside influences, etc. But I have to remember it is also a beginning of so many beautiful things—education and school friends, ball games, a growing mind and deeper conversations. So am I sad you’re turning five? No. My tears are not from sadness, they are from nostalgia—an ache that knows this beautiful little kid season with you is beginning to end. But they are also from excitement knowing you are about to step into so many big and wonderful things, and knowing our relationship will now change and grow and deepen.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8yuk66fGIk5fnhTBt71PVkjGNQ8-uJyidKIbShga5dX5jZ5C_8Anv2tMtJ0GhajcyGfV78TZLq1Urup7WIHRrnDEQXQt2eviJYj6U0bTv8uGV6nwhyg8113xBqeCpoqVfEYb5foxK9M/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8yuk66fGIk5fnhTBt71PVkjGNQ8-uJyidKIbShga5dX5jZ5C_8Anv2tMtJ0GhajcyGfV78TZLq1Urup7WIHRrnDEQXQt2eviJYj6U0bTv8uGV6nwhyg8113xBqeCpoqVfEYb5foxK9M/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmtNviciBZ-l5VrH_wEpfDwc4NsfXwdXWJDb3U5nuu3OGVpyVEUf82ZA4B-YpdJ6WoMZT2Sx_pvA5AZAqGKhCvu2cPzGYbPalqmuNdDBU-tS68gvg0eNgPAO68qO2MMQjtRYExdXlUrs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmtNviciBZ-l5VrH_wEpfDwc4NsfXwdXWJDb3U5nuu3OGVpyVEUf82ZA4B-YpdJ6WoMZT2Sx_pvA5AZAqGKhCvu2cPzGYbPalqmuNdDBU-tS68gvg0eNgPAO68qO2MMQjtRYExdXlUrs/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirld6_WDGewgjqXBh7BkHsUEykLDL0u6Tnouq6t4DHRM4ZvjzZmjH-KQVKQeFS4E9Qmy3ZwSCSCbDJ5cz3ulhKMEUlPDt-GmEUVUZ7eZN30kKkBW5DiC9arc1vs09ML8JN34OCbvOIkrE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirld6_WDGewgjqXBh7BkHsUEykLDL0u6Tnouq6t4DHRM4ZvjzZmjH-KQVKQeFS4E9Qmy3ZwSCSCbDJ5cz3ulhKMEUlPDt-GmEUVUZ7eZN30kKkBW5DiC9arc1vs09ML8JN34OCbvOIkrE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq93Fv_cSg6jTcOg2CAb4VbLSF4BRZ16vh28vLpi9jGg16JEtz8B1qGHR5hxnd0OHJuWWTWmm6UVNBQ38WeBOFo9ip1_KfPA3u7V8VtfyXhis6MDJu4mhfuUm_HFHwfPyM1lWbpcElrLw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq93Fv_cSg6jTcOg2CAb4VbLSF4BRZ16vh28vLpi9jGg16JEtz8B1qGHR5hxnd0OHJuWWTWmm6UVNBQ38WeBOFo9ip1_KfPA3u7V8VtfyXhis6MDJu4mhfuUm_HFHwfPyM1lWbpcElrLw/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDTbhSIOw3eHinnh_ZcMkiJiUE_ett4rNyShuAsuMW28jM17RANhVQqt9hr9q3FT_cQ7DCOYFVV4EhR38NDH3Wn5IfaQoY7mE_GNjqEXA9dzgvLm1FoRLus06wjrp68StC21R8Ahx96E/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDTbhSIOw3eHinnh_ZcMkiJiUE_ett4rNyShuAsuMW28jM17RANhVQqt9hr9q3FT_cQ7DCOYFVV4EhR38NDH3Wn5IfaQoY7mE_GNjqEXA9dzgvLm1FoRLus06wjrp68StC21R8Ahx96E/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-8.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNb1BgJ46TuEML5pIxoGG15315DEqPnWerByFCaQHxs5rWq5UbXu4DHGQU7AuY7zxAqw90rzkP3jeIzVSKASdf0ZBe_Y5nuWxTHkSrhUQqRtJgPpIbnuF3pTSLmr3Oep4akMKUjyMo0o/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNb1BgJ46TuEML5pIxoGG15315DEqPnWerByFCaQHxs5rWq5UbXu4DHGQU7AuY7zxAqw90rzkP3jeIzVSKASdf0ZBe_Y5nuWxTHkSrhUQqRtJgPpIbnuF3pTSLmr3Oep4akMKUjyMo0o/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past year with you has maybe been my favorite, Becks. Don’t get me wrong, you were SO adorable and fun the first few years, but man you were difficult too. You were just so stubborn and defiant. But this year you really turned a corner and you’ve listened and obeyed so much better. You are helpful and inquisitive. You can find a quiet corner and occupy yourself for hours. You have developed an awesome sense of humor and have quite the fashion sense, too. You always make comments on what your dad and I are wearing, and even tell us if you think we need to change.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your favorite friends right now are your sisters. You and Blythe especially can play from sun up to sun down with very little direction from me. And you and Nan have grown leaps and bounds since the beginning of the school year—when you choose to be you are very patient with her and have been a great teacher. You were honestly a HUGE help to me when it came time to potty train Nan, and you took your role quite seriously. You also took to Sloan immediately this year when he joined our family. You would sit and hold him for such a long time, and you were always willing to help feed him or entertain him if I needed to do something else. This transition to a family of six wouldn’t have been as easy without your help.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L24dP2qjmQ00hb9XeAgjIo42wOSwWMndw3kXronTUwa6nvY84UNDmBDf4W6ru1Isn1IamCqX7ur8G320B7RjIL13cSZksIUwWlK9hYw-54wQjHSZt4c0im6-AaQZciGItX2S287BYng/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L24dP2qjmQ00hb9XeAgjIo42wOSwWMndw3kXronTUwa6nvY84UNDmBDf4W6ru1Isn1IamCqX7ur8G320B7RjIL13cSZksIUwWlK9hYw-54wQjHSZt4c0im6-AaQZciGItX2S287BYng/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-10.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOt1lnBsV3HeMdWAW6XxGsLyfh5Abw3CP0x598MlkMMa_ApSd9in-Zs4GoZtXquknPtWe68L7FO1LkS2LXskrfpEIDxYeBY7VwAYmbsaRmTBK9NoofvyvRHHyasWvaoXHWwGGl8Hdo9U/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOt1lnBsV3HeMdWAW6XxGsLyfh5Abw3CP0x598MlkMMa_ApSd9in-Zs4GoZtXquknPtWe68L7FO1LkS2LXskrfpEIDxYeBY7VwAYmbsaRmTBK9NoofvyvRHHyasWvaoXHWwGGl8Hdo9U/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-11.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gcPgW9_jHJjep4kQ0mm4ZQ-T8T6M-08-6eJbsmFYxKml1dr2JGIKeugMsAL4Woz44Q8yTSLxefsRG0z8D0BcKSvGFdvhyphenhyphenkTn03iuufbgojx0rjKKvip51MYok0og8DUg6Q8yTt_a0gQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gcPgW9_jHJjep4kQ0mm4ZQ-T8T6M-08-6eJbsmFYxKml1dr2JGIKeugMsAL4Woz44Q8yTSLxefsRG0z8D0BcKSvGFdvhyphenhyphenkTn03iuufbgojx0rjKKvip51MYok0og8DUg6Q8yTt_a0gQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONckCWSPRfqjul0WF7gbGMHIZTL68WIUzVxzpCtte0Gs2j_7tlrObZkWf4_wmJPSvF7WgmSdDPbqY3mz9wnhu5Eh9F6-ocMJvDiH0X_tymoFcDFokTDf56e05f6sHR1Lk2GGQQATBv7Y/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONckCWSPRfqjul0WF7gbGMHIZTL68WIUzVxzpCtte0Gs2j_7tlrObZkWf4_wmJPSvF7WgmSdDPbqY3mz9wnhu5Eh9F6-ocMJvDiH0X_tymoFcDFokTDf56e05f6sHR1Lk2GGQQATBv7Y/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWpSYmA45akEskFXT8wlB1LheLiSo3_jPwroSgISwDHdMq26CpwObFWBRpNieg0Od_PVLkomn1HGYCwMdiXHb6FJPjWqnFYa47Zh2q3k-0nxQUnp11djJop5rb2imvScSjABOoi5OyQw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWpSYmA45akEskFXT8wlB1LheLiSo3_jPwroSgISwDHdMq26CpwObFWBRpNieg0Od_PVLkomn1HGYCwMdiXHb6FJPjWqnFYa47Zh2q3k-0nxQUnp11djJop5rb2imvScSjABOoi5OyQw/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-14.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVteHG4kINifTo6tkjUh_XkIxxqPYOtmwVlLKqF7LYx1gxQDXCmwgNhPR5lSCqLoL7P90bRIwLPvOkcUwNyV67ukeJxSTniR-EgnEU2GOT5OWl92bj-ZHwu38itKTf301KLBvSPSqpbkI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVteHG4kINifTo6tkjUh_XkIxxqPYOtmwVlLKqF7LYx1gxQDXCmwgNhPR5lSCqLoL7P90bRIwLPvOkcUwNyV67ukeJxSTniR-EgnEU2GOT5OWl92bj-ZHwu38itKTf301KLBvSPSqpbkI/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-15.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6LPLPAU1U-HM0oTxEzHUsy8zG2oxrH_naiGggkU1QaC4hDzsJQocc47LQAbf8USn2NRFigYox_c32RZnkf4j09koQwkbRY1bihM5xVDlxu0grrQ8jYu6kUcNG26iWQ3UgTbLiqCrx0c/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6LPLPAU1U-HM0oTxEzHUsy8zG2oxrH_naiGggkU1QaC4hDzsJQocc47LQAbf8USn2NRFigYox_c32RZnkf4j09koQwkbRY1bihM5xVDlxu0grrQ8jYu6kUcNG26iWQ3UgTbLiqCrx0c/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaQF97m029UWWwMGl-OGw752HbZlZLS92CAzTSROPPNb2VzVEvf5GkGdkmFxOT_PH-idgdW3VmmB_OCu8N4ZNBiKn7W-Gy8xF_c3NwbhkXvYfGdDxljrPlt9Ru2nUv2WBQ1Pm-C0yQww/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaQF97m029UWWwMGl-OGw752HbZlZLS92CAzTSROPPNb2VzVEvf5GkGdkmFxOT_PH-idgdW3VmmB_OCu8N4ZNBiKn7W-Gy8xF_c3NwbhkXvYfGdDxljrPlt9Ru2nUv2WBQ1Pm-C0yQww/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-16.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGI_Ot-T8r_6_RzfKjsAguvNGnGk1jBIBrnrGPLJgtj6nwKcznkJr2HTK_LZNEbdPJFfcTEhscQfLLDQZ5h2SUwmhIVWrddVkcTSyxRPNAM9kJ2ggg7LZw7f_ijM66DQHr6Q4RbNkKgE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGI_Ot-T8r_6_RzfKjsAguvNGnGk1jBIBrnrGPLJgtj6nwKcznkJr2HTK_LZNEbdPJFfcTEhscQfLLDQZ5h2SUwmhIVWrddVkcTSyxRPNAM9kJ2ggg7LZw7f_ijM66DQHr6Q4RbNkKgE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pv64HnIWTbEp6ZYMEM95E83UGeK3iw49Khe1kLVrkStS9s2TbF0736eQjq0MQlBBjjfPNnvkRXlMXQAoik0eKYSojitmPYBKnf3pfFx9ZX10qGhgMOvzRSFAMwsxAJSSoCaO44VlSJY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pv64HnIWTbEp6ZYMEM95E83UGeK3iw49Khe1kLVrkStS9s2TbF0736eQjq0MQlBBjjfPNnvkRXlMXQAoik0eKYSojitmPYBKnf3pfFx9ZX10qGhgMOvzRSFAMwsxAJSSoCaO44VlSJY/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoP93A8CzVrVrncXDm1BiWs5sgPina6-c6GXZNbPSbRFX4V24z8ZBTAI7Kr5Hel12KsW2_lgkReuum8pCdXmLT8fTDZcFVZNr8Ybyd0Wfkp1VNErDpqlsrnRPKJilN4W50p08hEyjXto/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoP93A8CzVrVrncXDm1BiWs5sgPina6-c6GXZNbPSbRFX4V24z8ZBTAI7Kr5Hel12KsW2_lgkReuum8pCdXmLT8fTDZcFVZNr8Ybyd0Wfkp1VNErDpqlsrnRPKJilN4W50p08hEyjXto/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-19.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr7DaGpVb9g04Bu7I002rWCZ_xDlRM-8Ps2vqWfgYpdahBxQmwoTTfHwUY2hyphenhyphenm3kamERx5lvqsNf_LRTT3ggnkX-bg4X0vYYrd065xDRh0J1PLVSxh8W8XBa4aoEEfaNFp7uZmA7s_jo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr7DaGpVb9g04Bu7I002rWCZ_xDlRM-8Ps2vqWfgYpdahBxQmwoTTfHwUY2hyphenhyphenm3kamERx5lvqsNf_LRTT3ggnkX-bg4X0vYYrd065xDRh0J1PLVSxh8W8XBa4aoEEfaNFp7uZmA7s_jo/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-20.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn8hdn3I5eR6xUd1JKCe36LCAa_Z2CKxZ7dzngwHCYUucn_ncu-iWwC-20S98iYgcjpL5_NwQi-8wPqotFK-xbKpTHlxMeJ7aWpqiCXd0KTYPlHHK2VYptQzK3uWxKEpSta2bONNU90Q/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn8hdn3I5eR6xUd1JKCe36LCAa_Z2CKxZ7dzngwHCYUucn_ncu-iWwC-20S98iYgcjpL5_NwQi-8wPqotFK-xbKpTHlxMeJ7aWpqiCXd0KTYPlHHK2VYptQzK3uWxKEpSta2bONNU90Q/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-21.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You are my feeler. You just intuit things differently than the other kids and you process things through your heart. When the other girls get hurt, you cry more than they do. Papa took you hunting a month ago and you were asking questions about if it was okay to shoot the girl deer because they were the ones that had babies. If I am ever not feeling well you come and check on me frequently. The end of my pregnancy with Sloan was very difficult and there were times I was stepping up or down or moving through the house and maybe had a grimace on my face and I would look up and you’d be watching me with concern across yours. A friend recently broke her arm and when I told you about it and showed you her picture, you didn’t ask what most people would ask [“How did it happen?”]—you asked, “Is that the arm she writes with?” You were concerned for her day to day functions. You notice when others are hurting, and right now it kind of paralyzes you in some ways, but I pray that as you get older that it will prompt you to help and move you to action in ways it won’t for others because they may not even notice what your heart seems to naturally see. I actually just read a description in my book [The Clockmaker's Daughter] the other night about a character, and it could have been written about you: <i>"[She] had only to feel in order for those feelings to be known. [She] was dramatic, charming, fun, and funny. [She] was hard work; sunshine in human form; thunderous." </i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zygRRuK2_5qRUl5utLKNs5NUrkWxVj2FzUXou_j_aTDxYAeHR6Lq1KX67cA0qjmt7Q4VaDfr4X0uiYxrtWicNIXjAkgUwSqQYw4z9NjviB3e1ZLW01aQ-FbJyHL9W_UWYSM3wrBw3vo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zygRRuK2_5qRUl5utLKNs5NUrkWxVj2FzUXou_j_aTDxYAeHR6Lq1KX67cA0qjmt7Q4VaDfr4X0uiYxrtWicNIXjAkgUwSqQYw4z9NjviB3e1ZLW01aQ-FbJyHL9W_UWYSM3wrBw3vo/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGiFShzts4mZGkRJ3hBksHCW_6PERClEvaElU4AopO0kxCa-VdsVVKt8nkFK22Yy4GKUmshOJmqK-GaYWos2TT4M0695ey2SXnVwUppYXWTrCGOabD8cRj_ze7YMwuCfKyBUTI-t113s/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGiFShzts4mZGkRJ3hBksHCW_6PERClEvaElU4AopO0kxCa-VdsVVKt8nkFK22Yy4GKUmshOJmqK-GaYWos2TT4M0695ey2SXnVwUppYXWTrCGOabD8cRj_ze7YMwuCfKyBUTI-t113s/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF5wIqvJzcHRb-Bb82tEwZ5QZfxrIFbAC_Ed0boBz79gseOEOucnb9IzgcwEtgAbPfC3JrNcexPQ-pdh2joIOo7GnySt4CwuQAoU0Tjtmn0b198byi6YoJcjxAlB-MY_SJReI46wU_uU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF5wIqvJzcHRb-Bb82tEwZ5QZfxrIFbAC_Ed0boBz79gseOEOucnb9IzgcwEtgAbPfC3JrNcexPQ-pdh2joIOo7GnySt4CwuQAoU0Tjtmn0b198byi6YoJcjxAlB-MY_SJReI46wU_uU/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6drkn8LcWz3Y-B04EXMvSJkIPl93_9DdGLe_QejYUIQm-7BWNuC2mfTNyw6KdVJ2SYn-ko4ktKG7Ai04Jo5dQ_CE96Wg9TKK0ygwKzXCH4VNFhGwK1hIgsN37LawLuPsTxHlTXBcCOk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6drkn8LcWz3Y-B04EXMvSJkIPl93_9DdGLe_QejYUIQm-7BWNuC2mfTNyw6KdVJ2SYn-ko4ktKG7Ai04Jo5dQ_CE96Wg9TKK0ygwKzXCH4VNFhGwK1hIgsN37LawLuPsTxHlTXBcCOk/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4aMuiceygYmNfXaU0nY6d0Fopm0cZM70Wx750n8rmgJjJNLw0yj8qp20HvHzWsFYx062-R6JsKENKX2WQh-hiavqaq8wAl33NZrZC67kuIFGID-WgWVSVXo2V311fUDS2MCheQUudMU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4aMuiceygYmNfXaU0nY6d0Fopm0cZM70Wx750n8rmgJjJNLw0yj8qp20HvHzWsFYx062-R6JsKENKX2WQh-hiavqaq8wAl33NZrZC67kuIFGID-WgWVSVXo2V311fUDS2MCheQUudMU/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-26.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Q-dfGGLMkz_7i3dVSxgQKOJnXxMXY6sKqrEGsdCM1xFeEX4A45nZsauuiGcrc-qdi9UViyGn65-ef_TrGdM1OhdkjKyiTTN0DYegOBBI9BY0NhR5_Dw3uiOm42y3HMQeCy5DmbZzxes/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Q-dfGGLMkz_7i3dVSxgQKOJnXxMXY6sKqrEGsdCM1xFeEX4A45nZsauuiGcrc-qdi9UViyGn65-ef_TrGdM1OhdkjKyiTTN0DYegOBBI9BY0NhR5_Dw3uiOm42y3HMQeCy5DmbZzxes/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-28.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VW-ME5wh8Dpc3Gw35ifePH_1H40j_RcDA-FItflIxHT6LcHw5sIr69BLpmUWU7PQ-nDAYZyXvVwbO3Lhsl45iWEcK8AzkwRnkE1mDntD6kcWPaQ_TSaN7pHqQHCe5uXMFpQ4qCbF1is/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VW-ME5wh8Dpc3Gw35ifePH_1H40j_RcDA-FItflIxHT6LcHw5sIr69BLpmUWU7PQ-nDAYZyXvVwbO3Lhsl45iWEcK8AzkwRnkE1mDntD6kcWPaQ_TSaN7pHqQHCe5uXMFpQ4qCbF1is/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-27.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd-zYtVJSmISLH6dIsag34xqhkT8W3JJt_GuwAC592JpEYVa_u7fMnxaq2qPmKLKcyj2ZdupKVXScdfY3pBmNge41X12ROYMQC7uhBHUUbFRKE4-8L4GfETeQOgyO3_qnArRtqk2EAKM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd-zYtVJSmISLH6dIsag34xqhkT8W3JJt_GuwAC592JpEYVa_u7fMnxaq2qPmKLKcyj2ZdupKVXScdfY3pBmNge41X12ROYMQC7uhBHUUbFRKE4-8L4GfETeQOgyO3_qnArRtqk2EAKM/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGP_y3Neyp7W7fxSf0jidrpUcVNtxuW8BKtO6wqIB2OFC61fTyRp90nmDb2YiUHTl9BouqJHMvi9GaZjyGKvthhyphenhyphenJryiyVSygytvN51l8Y-o6mzt2-ZrWhc_emjoQeTQoJtkAzXLgkmw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGP_y3Neyp7W7fxSf0jidrpUcVNtxuW8BKtO6wqIB2OFC61fTyRp90nmDb2YiUHTl9BouqJHMvi9GaZjyGKvthhyphenhyphenJryiyVSygytvN51l8Y-o6mzt2-ZrWhc_emjoQeTQoJtkAzXLgkmw/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-32.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUlusOMwFuwlw8F6EyXSEQAb64eflZ9_MJKclJ91lhZMeK5s1n0mcI6KoW4Z0gA5PifCDF1E97BQo9J-WxvEh7MiVAwCUmHz34-_51Q6Ct2G6W0VP5vmQP-oui1b0kT3JYDqj3lHYHY4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUlusOMwFuwlw8F6EyXSEQAb64eflZ9_MJKclJ91lhZMeK5s1n0mcI6KoW4Z0gA5PifCDF1E97BQo9J-WxvEh7MiVAwCUmHz34-_51Q6Ct2G6W0VP5vmQP-oui1b0kT3JYDqj3lHYHY4/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-33.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHULnFqUUDWacLffvqVg3DCZk4s-veZkJMgqy4OQfAxYlCLex65AaSWAjrGU9JSV3WerZ4TQNl3Kg5a4WhgndqeTb_CYZFMB_WToLInA1YroHs1QuGFJUGxYmH5BL9W-6dMXkjqb9NjIA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHULnFqUUDWacLffvqVg3DCZk4s-veZkJMgqy4OQfAxYlCLex65AaSWAjrGU9JSV3WerZ4TQNl3Kg5a4WhgndqeTb_CYZFMB_WToLInA1YroHs1QuGFJUGxYmH5BL9W-6dMXkjqb9NjIA/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-35.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GQ3KciXZ_IqXzpe917wIsn0SP2CiHG165Gp5Ii5AS2hF5conrJDyyYG5d9rJbEIZc5F-yFb6nIJbDwBbHOI30trpC1ItB7D_RYY8pOoPiiyfDyDyV9UaEzrgI0DVfcokwLPFq4myl1Y/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GQ3KciXZ_IqXzpe917wIsn0SP2CiHG165Gp5Ii5AS2hF5conrJDyyYG5d9rJbEIZc5F-yFb6nIJbDwBbHOI30trpC1ItB7D_RYY8pOoPiiyfDyDyV9UaEzrgI0DVfcokwLPFq4myl1Y/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLV0QFIOeM7u3T95ufFSLbjYzFC74Ja4BNxe13HXdQSDKD0VurrkfK6LhFczBisKnrfpui5E-K3OZE4wPlBJt4S8m2Vfd3a79fZArytBPjDaF5zYuzmGEVrKJKuoxQNGYvi0mszyjKt8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLV0QFIOeM7u3T95ufFSLbjYzFC74Ja4BNxe13HXdQSDKD0VurrkfK6LhFczBisKnrfpui5E-K3OZE4wPlBJt4S8m2Vfd3a79fZArytBPjDaF5zYuzmGEVrKJKuoxQNGYvi0mszyjKt8/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-37.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltkIuGWZ9CnE_o1yRwNkgWTWot7kl2gfi-mTeR81oTJsTYLn_5sAVjs1LW3EjhD55FPa7-3iZjys6A40PUZsDB7-Cgk1F7-tFmZKKLljVknxEHJzl1AjdoRqxLiyNfL9EDf5CK0aG_RE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltkIuGWZ9CnE_o1yRwNkgWTWot7kl2gfi-mTeR81oTJsTYLn_5sAVjs1LW3EjhD55FPa7-3iZjys6A40PUZsDB7-Cgk1F7-tFmZKKLljVknxEHJzl1AjdoRqxLiyNfL9EDf5CK0aG_RE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-38.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFkMNh1DiZUUu4bK5nTLxXLmoSmw9DymWNsnWqvLSpCpUm2XLaiIqso0uoE443vdO4ca5LermDaLEtu3Ql-KxmM5GSdZ0kXBtDE1DB-hnp8II5jz_qtmB7hdlxcFnKaIYWdwUBXbAmN8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFkMNh1DiZUUu4bK5nTLxXLmoSmw9DymWNsnWqvLSpCpUm2XLaiIqso0uoE443vdO4ca5LermDaLEtu3Ql-KxmM5GSdZ0kXBtDE1DB-hnp8II5jz_qtmB7hdlxcFnKaIYWdwUBXbAmN8/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-39.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOSDJKxC_21HQlAwpmeQkbBBXeEGqIqGbFUuN890ZmYuwSK3d893K_KMxHnbwi1Ap1w7JTvD_gv1zDhFYblN1mp41JT9RP6ovQ3Yb93Cnn6o3pWJlLHqtNCnFZ_eZOGz2fak9Yen_LYk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOSDJKxC_21HQlAwpmeQkbBBXeEGqIqGbFUuN890ZmYuwSK3d893K_KMxHnbwi1Ap1w7JTvD_gv1zDhFYblN1mp41JT9RP6ovQ3Yb93Cnn6o3pWJlLHqtNCnFZ_eZOGz2fak9Yen_LYk/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
You and I got to do preschool together this year. Again, it just made the most sense to not drive somewhere, and it gave me one more year with you home. I was a little concerned about what this would look like, because you and I are a lot alike in a lot of ways. But I didn’t know you would mature this year in such fun ways, and it has been an absolute joy of mine to get to be your teacher. You loved to learn, and while it looked different than it did with Blythe, it was fun and interactive and you soaked it up. You are still pretty timid about new situations and lots of people, so I have been a little concerned about how your transition to Kindergarten would go in the fall. But now that we are in May I have no doubt that by August you’ll be so very ready and do wonderful. Actually, the night before you turned five you looked at me and asked, “So do I get to go to Kindergarten tomorrow?” You’re very excited and it thrills my heart to see how far you’ve come in your ability to try new things.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
One of those new things for you is Tball. You knew that since you were turning five you would be able to play this year and you could not wait. You wanted [and received] and ball bag for your birthday, and the day of your first practice you woke me up at 7 asking me to help you put on your cleats. I’ve had the rare opportunity to get to be your coach this year too, and getting to watch you make new friends and try new things and practice skills and improve because you really want to has been incredibly fun. You’re still very small for your age, so some of the girls on our team are twice your size [and they will pick you up like you’re a toddler], but this doesn’t seem to intimidate you in the least bit. You can’t throw the ball very far yet, but you are getting faster and faster. I didn’t know if you’d actually play the first game though because when we pulled up to the field it was sprinkling and Blythe said, “Oh no! The lines are going to go away!” and your eyes got great big and you said, “There are LIONS here!?”<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWRjx894GUHVmf9iCEtJewdO7v_5z4LFuLkq7lqOsEwWGYcVfjafOsp7kc0Z30-i_jLqu3OzhRYOCQbzX44sAhOTlMuR3CEMSj65StC9yeO4nTjwEe6FN4G2ds7_o0meD16XBUhSOzPs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWRjx894GUHVmf9iCEtJewdO7v_5z4LFuLkq7lqOsEwWGYcVfjafOsp7kc0Z30-i_jLqu3OzhRYOCQbzX44sAhOTlMuR3CEMSj65StC9yeO4nTjwEe6FN4G2ds7_o0meD16XBUhSOzPs/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-42.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87phTwk38Rl62F_ncvZiPxPPu4rHnNDbhmYm8rpFVg3_0g__iCh-On9_uA1rOIJ02eVbITq92-sGtocFm79DXVZuAYCaFtj1fkZB47whiztW6lpW9Zmh2QuKX-4IH14ltKHtGF8tbDl4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87phTwk38Rl62F_ncvZiPxPPu4rHnNDbhmYm8rpFVg3_0g__iCh-On9_uA1rOIJ02eVbITq92-sGtocFm79DXVZuAYCaFtj1fkZB47whiztW6lpW9Zmh2QuKX-4IH14ltKHtGF8tbDl4/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-43.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindivGXpZOMgDhbcHjTmrGCYCPrFqOtWkirmi63f32Hdc1z2TKgXparnqFkYjkB-vZVsmplUGPDYuM_3zFVoy6mhLkQCTw8tbRSqWkgEcLwR9YCMcKHUjSqv5yd70sAd1AzqGgslVY8qM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindivGXpZOMgDhbcHjTmrGCYCPrFqOtWkirmi63f32Hdc1z2TKgXparnqFkYjkB-vZVsmplUGPDYuM_3zFVoy6mhLkQCTw8tbRSqWkgEcLwR9YCMcKHUjSqv5yd70sAd1AzqGgslVY8qM/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-44.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhk2VFCHLvGORUpmRCDm8WQxKgKd0m_nTYW0UaCBcHmujUEnm2I1ttTK6zzm5DrkUjdpFoX8MFBfeVny-wXrQ3m_9D545VZMHu3vWmnesUtwI-L5Whpk-WiJ2TgFKFDV6I_A4-sUWK3o/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhk2VFCHLvGORUpmRCDm8WQxKgKd0m_nTYW0UaCBcHmujUEnm2I1ttTK6zzm5DrkUjdpFoX8MFBfeVny-wXrQ3m_9D545VZMHu3vWmnesUtwI-L5Whpk-WiJ2TgFKFDV6I_A4-sUWK3o/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-45.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodzJ5l8ttpCHhZD9jx0DDa-cwjoNrskfizgb9NOjMGngYzfP6WkZTHFKJKL2vrzHy1Dk2JWFEWkYaw3MjXQn1wsXkC0YBaWdegJUrFNh4hn5OdJfr0s9seJ7DJ3kOmsHasIDwjtiA3_o/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodzJ5l8ttpCHhZD9jx0DDa-cwjoNrskfizgb9NOjMGngYzfP6WkZTHFKJKL2vrzHy1Dk2JWFEWkYaw3MjXQn1wsXkC0YBaWdegJUrFNh4hn5OdJfr0s9seJ7DJ3kOmsHasIDwjtiA3_o/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-46.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98evyKLigQsxPsE6q_rJZ9AWZLirbcQTh0rfQpCzsDu5_sLzuMECnHFBvwXtHF7vJN_432Fh0tK1wDNFe9a8noUVgwr8U9CXa7iEd4chkQj-OxPmfkGVuzs-6W2zEeL3GuhgbLIg7isg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98evyKLigQsxPsE6q_rJZ9AWZLirbcQTh0rfQpCzsDu5_sLzuMECnHFBvwXtHF7vJN_432Fh0tK1wDNFe9a8noUVgwr8U9CXa7iEd4chkQj-OxPmfkGVuzs-6W2zEeL3GuhgbLIg7isg/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-48.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgUYqAVXvnXCR9zjqaQqEKhgbKAgm3opnMsfRy1gkG5-_sWpRDuFHJWMsWQ_pNI5DW_tVIpyaynRRZMKZLlUA7qgStVuN5rEP5rQ8yhSKCq-b-wQ0bdudyhRwoXEC5fCJLL8jenELoeg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgUYqAVXvnXCR9zjqaQqEKhgbKAgm3opnMsfRy1gkG5-_sWpRDuFHJWMsWQ_pNI5DW_tVIpyaynRRZMKZLlUA7qgStVuN5rEP5rQ8yhSKCq-b-wQ0bdudyhRwoXEC5fCJLL8jenELoeg/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-49.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4amdDQibk_TXJwD1G4Vu2x1-mC8pxxLVvfA8l0YvtgBqu9K3xVm1WQMy5yjdpEWObAUBE-JkUMl5d9ECOpJ6IOehTssUQeVEKKnJJL5-RNaH-SOTFAAkryL-mjPINPCBn0wniulWEx0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4amdDQibk_TXJwD1G4Vu2x1-mC8pxxLVvfA8l0YvtgBqu9K3xVm1WQMy5yjdpEWObAUBE-JkUMl5d9ECOpJ6IOehTssUQeVEKKnJJL5-RNaH-SOTFAAkryL-mjPINPCBn0wniulWEx0/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-50.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2HRmAIa1Q22490UmV9aiYak6dkp9d7b5cMDhSTgowtQVeKz0PVvj0iHInLXQlhGDaL9t9hxEOpMRVKF-xLa-N634eMcnbD6RXMokoXq1Gi2NoOvNh4H3YVV1Nlcw-8wh6CcgY6VxuVU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2HRmAIa1Q22490UmV9aiYak6dkp9d7b5cMDhSTgowtQVeKz0PVvj0iHInLXQlhGDaL9t9hxEOpMRVKF-xLa-N634eMcnbD6RXMokoXq1Gi2NoOvNh4H3YVV1Nlcw-8wh6CcgY6VxuVU/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-51.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSak4e5jKQ117DcCj8Y51F2zhHviL0oVPCjUCCyysV0E3D4DxPHtZ7_wECUK_oPewfrBWSU-MG6TO160HLrmh_njoMb2x_M0QlP-8eGaWPU0MuHDvvGySGhclAEPAB7bB9Ox_7Wcf3TRo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSak4e5jKQ117DcCj8Y51F2zhHviL0oVPCjUCCyysV0E3D4DxPHtZ7_wECUK_oPewfrBWSU-MG6TO160HLrmh_njoMb2x_M0QlP-8eGaWPU0MuHDvvGySGhclAEPAB7bB9Ox_7Wcf3TRo/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
You have a tender little heart, Becks, and I feel like you’re pretty in tune with Spirit a lot of times because you’ll ask questions about God that I’ve never even thought about. The other day you asked me if I would make a sign for right above your bed that said, “Jesus, help to not have bad dreams and only have good dreams and I love you forever.” You make me laugh and you help me be creative and you’ve taught me boatloads about patience and consistency. You love to be outside [especially on nature days with papa], you’re our best eater, and you will do anything Blythe does. You have an uncanny sense of how and when to push someone’s buttons. You love to be barefoot, require the least amount of sleep of any of the kids, and would sit in someone’s lap and let them scratch you and hold you forever. You still love to bake and cook with me, you constantly sing songs [especially while going to the bathroom], and the first thing you want done every day is to put your hair in a ponytail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwXBLqu67nsDsYzOb6t8w8bSVmUtqzOYxZErrJIWl28Ox61po6-r2uFh9GfJanyNPad-aXAcc4HRKMJ849Orl_sLsF2A8fTT-ZiRWHyFgHF5GsCQKFgH5yO8WYhocctdUtLZ0h4tP1qg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwXBLqu67nsDsYzOb6t8w8bSVmUtqzOYxZErrJIWl28Ox61po6-r2uFh9GfJanyNPad-aXAcc4HRKMJ849Orl_sLsF2A8fTT-ZiRWHyFgHF5GsCQKFgH5yO8WYhocctdUtLZ0h4tP1qg/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-53.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5SVAjsYh40-mbiKgZwPOS29YTXNMm1VNYvQazepSXT12xskmD3avm3tVEk0mCfCPWhobUhlARMYBgaTBVKXMbUqvjvlGGQ3Jwls4UiviucYsxpb7BeNttG4v9hagnhOWmLgOQl_oo-g/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5SVAjsYh40-mbiKgZwPOS29YTXNMm1VNYvQazepSXT12xskmD3avm3tVEk0mCfCPWhobUhlARMYBgaTBVKXMbUqvjvlGGQ3Jwls4UiviucYsxpb7BeNttG4v9hagnhOWmLgOQl_oo-g/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-56.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVv_HOr-gaLh7BXSmCe-lKwbqo5Kkzsjau246lIdpVc9aKTTE8NjgXDT_Su2HhP7GgFfyadkBRirNDn-14opIuqWPB5PZoNpT31U6zkQO8Rx4qg53OSFlKO8K24XzKpumGmXfSlqABkRc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVv_HOr-gaLh7BXSmCe-lKwbqo5Kkzsjau246lIdpVc9aKTTE8NjgXDT_Su2HhP7GgFfyadkBRirNDn-14opIuqWPB5PZoNpT31U6zkQO8Rx4qg53OSFlKO8K24XzKpumGmXfSlqABkRc/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-54.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yiDJ46bd8K9dX6YcrqZL1S__T9tw2SCg-YfgPrMr-7Shyphenhyphen-K-mN70mHN0yp2j-4mZxMP-4wMjt5Az67xRTJpoNLb5SbW2awkkTdMz1v9rPZsunoqaRWQoiy_1dhb9EfEpzzNDq7U-q6Y/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yiDJ46bd8K9dX6YcrqZL1S__T9tw2SCg-YfgPrMr-7Shyphenhyphen-K-mN70mHN0yp2j-4mZxMP-4wMjt5Az67xRTJpoNLb5SbW2awkkTdMz1v9rPZsunoqaRWQoiy_1dhb9EfEpzzNDq7U-q6Y/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-55.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mzONUf8p7XTqc3dz73Eur9NH8MkV7pL-yuRGyHjRScS1ctvC-W8Revm1fn5WudXtOI-MTaFzRJkedC8EpSINQRW9IlzJs8mTgmTvu7ZBTuP8jOckv0I1zwAefToXecvuxt8pU778nqs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mzONUf8p7XTqc3dz73Eur9NH8MkV7pL-yuRGyHjRScS1ctvC-W8Revm1fn5WudXtOI-MTaFzRJkedC8EpSINQRW9IlzJs8mTgmTvu7ZBTuP8jOckv0I1zwAefToXecvuxt8pU778nqs/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-57.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4CWmBpYBr_MDjxMwzW6cbWeTi3gR2fcGqhl0vIb592izkqmgdxgjxapg9nCKjhutyfF3TxbL6xCs5-GyqWjPoAIErHjip4N3vURS8_Ri0WqBizSKzrIYBm9doQA6_6sembow2f9eQYE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4CWmBpYBr_MDjxMwzW6cbWeTi3gR2fcGqhl0vIb592izkqmgdxgjxapg9nCKjhutyfF3TxbL6xCs5-GyqWjPoAIErHjip4N3vURS8_Ri0WqBizSKzrIYBm9doQA6_6sembow2f9eQYE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-58.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6wk2FpbHoY462YFCtQvTXXz186vvHCY9mDyN03lhbd07VOJDKFORAXmBwf_fcxt1fqxE6VpdmdN5XkYJ9VNJ6s72yOIGRRZhUhno_aiuZ8N4QXZ1_5EHekfYvibZp4gwi0q2Lx-rWN8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6wk2FpbHoY462YFCtQvTXXz186vvHCY9mDyN03lhbd07VOJDKFORAXmBwf_fcxt1fqxE6VpdmdN5XkYJ9VNJ6s72yOIGRRZhUhno_aiuZ8N4QXZ1_5EHekfYvibZp4gwi0q2Lx-rWN8/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-59.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8qVwmnqmpgPER3Bgq1M6oO8wEchZXz9yF9d0k62h9u0uLhacpmaZ8uEwF3dF2mSnE-HJjb6tkr4F6nvGXyNgWR54Cv0VSMDyb0EMhyphenhyphenxU3LKd8BQ7qCz8pa6Hq5QNAa8eApkkRS4edOw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8qVwmnqmpgPER3Bgq1M6oO8wEchZXz9yF9d0k62h9u0uLhacpmaZ8uEwF3dF2mSnE-HJjb6tkr4F6nvGXyNgWR54Cv0VSMDyb0EMhyphenhyphenxU3LKd8BQ7qCz8pa6Hq5QNAa8eApkkRS4edOw/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-60.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
You really study situations and people, and then a lot of times you’ll mimic their actions [once you even mimicked a woman sashaying her bikini-clad self at the pool one time!Ha!]. And while I love that you are curious, and that you notice things many others don’t, I pray you learn your own drumbeat too. What I mean by that is, I hope you don’t study others so closely that you forget that God made you uniquely—that He poured His gifts into you in ways He didn’t others, and because of that you get to reflect His image. Don’t forget that—stay curious, observe, reflect—but remember that the Only One who’s image you should be trying to imitate is that of Christ.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEKqTPwcGvSuEfE6T0HBEp6IcTi67mKeBrjTHaKSTsTmMVxJiLyY4q_nJuTLTDlv0D9uxtt-e88fJ7vWeF6vnDtWDjiw1uXQulzyv9Xm40UoIlVobJeilmdjJPDpgZthhIiX02jKW1Hs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEKqTPwcGvSuEfE6T0HBEp6IcTi67mKeBrjTHaKSTsTmMVxJiLyY4q_nJuTLTDlv0D9uxtt-e88fJ7vWeF6vnDtWDjiw1uXQulzyv9Xm40UoIlVobJeilmdjJPDpgZthhIiX02jKW1Hs/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-61.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9U7cF4ja795hpVzdBj_tZDwJ7jVBlSDfr6g4basWMurN_RUqlYYzS3DltlV92QIKtq81DosPyaYmoPRip1nElZzFEcmvpTFhhjaQ6J3DjyF-947Ij27NrySYdlAavOdbdW336rXjA6g/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9U7cF4ja795hpVzdBj_tZDwJ7jVBlSDfr6g4basWMurN_RUqlYYzS3DltlV92QIKtq81DosPyaYmoPRip1nElZzFEcmvpTFhhjaQ6J3DjyF-947Ij27NrySYdlAavOdbdW336rXjA6g/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-62.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApTw7nQz6ujamc_YoZlAMvrcpOB5_PCUZGG5uQngeCDuajCtxfxTUQ7ZdqDNWZKrJ8lyYE6fEEWuLTQ4642eA-9l4v-aehLFWFrKwj7FG1Uiu8SskPmXFiCwG0ONH0crOwqFJzzWRtZk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApTw7nQz6ujamc_YoZlAMvrcpOB5_PCUZGG5uQngeCDuajCtxfxTUQ7ZdqDNWZKrJ8lyYE6fEEWuLTQ4642eA-9l4v-aehLFWFrKwj7FG1Uiu8SskPmXFiCwG0ONH0crOwqFJzzWRtZk/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-63.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJrHCsp5xoUQUHtJEO7wnhlgnaWxMH4OQ0fp9pf7IxAdu1CIyowzLs644gvUCH8lhDsH2HM_DvWEm__f7AJI5ZEf4pRN5aDfGCRvYeNYf1SWV94R6hbWsC1pG70FdXOfW3AqXhHtrBaw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJrHCsp5xoUQUHtJEO7wnhlgnaWxMH4OQ0fp9pf7IxAdu1CIyowzLs644gvUCH8lhDsH2HM_DvWEm__f7AJI5ZEf4pRN5aDfGCRvYeNYf1SWV94R6hbWsC1pG70FdXOfW3AqXhHtrBaw/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-64.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqOKe72wCbbeuMyP2kBHwUsw__QiWFuHdUtuTiTQqY8Cg3oEKrm-Bs5wafElYaRsExa_I40_PjPbqdbwXWY85i2o-N1OMhfyNSVgU6WX8dpLrVLShecByLZX9t8a0Ux7WvSyQAylZ4OU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqOKe72wCbbeuMyP2kBHwUsw__QiWFuHdUtuTiTQqY8Cg3oEKrm-Bs5wafElYaRsExa_I40_PjPbqdbwXWY85i2o-N1OMhfyNSVgU6WX8dpLrVLShecByLZX9t8a0Ux7WvSyQAylZ4OU/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-65.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iJs0VEPExBDwl8jDHqqbpHH92ok2qswFmORiQGdh3uTlgeTJVuKpFPBlN_Bmi0bw7PgDFe5IfoYdE6jbxEzdP8aaj5bnTw9Sqi2yYnTV632V4u6Vg75F0vTYxIJJd-daQzLxkA0QvG4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iJs0VEPExBDwl8jDHqqbpHH92ok2qswFmORiQGdh3uTlgeTJVuKpFPBlN_Bmi0bw7PgDFe5IfoYdE6jbxEzdP8aaj5bnTw9Sqi2yYnTV632V4u6Vg75F0vTYxIJJd-daQzLxkA0QvG4/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-66.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcINw2oNqgHmrYBEsjANxBm6oLQp0d3NPTtnRjE3GmIaoVfFyLd55o48nQWEZ1TP1GGrXKE0E2STki03klP0u1INZGT_uf8nYskmqYJjS9dApx2DRWhb5NBvzCZbqwIz2L1G8BKN6BMc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcINw2oNqgHmrYBEsjANxBm6oLQp0d3NPTtnRjE3GmIaoVfFyLd55o48nQWEZ1TP1GGrXKE0E2STki03klP0u1INZGT_uf8nYskmqYJjS9dApx2DRWhb5NBvzCZbqwIz2L1G8BKN6BMc/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-67.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElzr5vubRzxUcG_8VAcEI1htmiU9CXzMw5o0t2PdbPP9_I5euNqgXUz0DtrF8S8slrF0GHkTIOPAjeIj7AGwKu7oKakczqlO4HKkkAnf97o1azQgoREoykSXCOksk632aMhKSaiM1HNE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElzr5vubRzxUcG_8VAcEI1htmiU9CXzMw5o0t2PdbPP9_I5euNqgXUz0DtrF8S8slrF0GHkTIOPAjeIj7AGwKu7oKakczqlO4HKkkAnf97o1azQgoREoykSXCOksk632aMhKSaiM1HNE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-68.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
One of your favorite things to do is correct your sisters [or anyone really] when they are singing because you think you are the master of all lyrics. My favorite one recently was when I walked in and you were telling Nan, “No, Nan. It goes, ‘Father Abraham, and maybe sons…’” You just kind of like to come of with your own way of saying things in general. Like when you were playing outside and it started sprinkling so you ran inside and said, “It’s pittering out there!” Once you were trying to get Nan to come show me something and you were saying, “Nan, come on!” but she wouldn’t come. Finally you said, “Nan! I’m just gonna show you to mommy, I’m not gonna kill you or something!” And once your dad was getting you with his beard, kissing you all over, and when he stopped you threw your hands up to your cheeks and said, “Is my face on fire?!” You’re just so much fun to be around.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8m_nFYs_iBh5-UU4BympnPN2CFi1f2P5ssWFKxA0FtckoFptn20YC2RMCFyaBEfIRuKMnnVXPt8vAZx1HawdHIBfbJpZN4yps8vat9hvhYZSwtg3F6jdDiibsxJg0Ord5Vh9CToXs_VE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8m_nFYs_iBh5-UU4BympnPN2CFi1f2P5ssWFKxA0FtckoFptn20YC2RMCFyaBEfIRuKMnnVXPt8vAZx1HawdHIBfbJpZN4yps8vat9hvhYZSwtg3F6jdDiibsxJg0Ord5Vh9CToXs_VE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-70.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16EzYS1BZkijO93NoIHzjcHQ51siKgaP8afqT2ICOAQ9UpYoQ1D1kVHh1K8udtk1Jp2nfMtQ5RGvQvPSxbXBLN5WfVTSW-1Rke0zTbiuBH_ahUx9m7a2TomUlImbBElJ4T83JDB6iK24/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16EzYS1BZkijO93NoIHzjcHQ51siKgaP8afqT2ICOAQ9UpYoQ1D1kVHh1K8udtk1Jp2nfMtQ5RGvQvPSxbXBLN5WfVTSW-1Rke0zTbiuBH_ahUx9m7a2TomUlImbBElJ4T83JDB6iK24/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-72.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXeM-p_uP56Ln9UubW6eSYgafa6cZKSt8IbDIf_LHsIxHSx9aX76c2zAbh7ZhcZdqzHBz8TFvILQESb5RhcvvH3NDOh9GXdxhZGkkeYv6Tv5JMe63FsLAwxT1OER4mEdCmwVIWf0vvv8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXeM-p_uP56Ln9UubW6eSYgafa6cZKSt8IbDIf_LHsIxHSx9aX76c2zAbh7ZhcZdqzHBz8TFvILQESb5RhcvvH3NDOh9GXdxhZGkkeYv6Tv5JMe63FsLAwxT1OER4mEdCmwVIWf0vvv8/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-73.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigO2oBxyGS0t9xjaa1KryD5rAVNF92A2ZpUExSgW5ofjo4U5i67g56V0NGPU8gq_I44z9Ay8qNYFpWA46m5WneL3Dp1SxGFloYm3AcoPO7aTevhJx3ZqZoLgcoZFyxCW-6DggylMszkEI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigO2oBxyGS0t9xjaa1KryD5rAVNF92A2ZpUExSgW5ofjo4U5i67g56V0NGPU8gq_I44z9Ay8qNYFpWA46m5WneL3Dp1SxGFloYm3AcoPO7aTevhJx3ZqZoLgcoZFyxCW-6DggylMszkEI/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-74.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4-fopPpAlxOkI51aWuxVv0vtP-G4tPnq061r-j-ICyQeP1tIYX7J85YvGj_kVMpduyhloGj_SQlQuLEwFPSk11qetDRBHjmFAKUwM2N0semTytrY5dtW6lt0gsXLkQ32LQu025wnB3g/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4-fopPpAlxOkI51aWuxVv0vtP-G4tPnq061r-j-ICyQeP1tIYX7J85YvGj_kVMpduyhloGj_SQlQuLEwFPSk11qetDRBHjmFAKUwM2N0semTytrY5dtW6lt0gsXLkQ32LQu025wnB3g/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-75.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cezCBj291iJFWun2uNQZshigaA0gTJb4s8_t5TYDUwAui1R5LjgfkOZtQ8ly9DJCxx5Uv7YaTnwR2yWczykW3K-k37gFaa0AXmb4Jw549m2HxQ-C_JBMUSAJQo5dNVPAX5dqTU0Bvbo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cezCBj291iJFWun2uNQZshigaA0gTJb4s8_t5TYDUwAui1R5LjgfkOZtQ8ly9DJCxx5Uv7YaTnwR2yWczykW3K-k37gFaa0AXmb4Jw549m2HxQ-C_JBMUSAJQo5dNVPAX5dqTU0Bvbo/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-76.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnX8pfnS9Zumdt0aEMaqyA6AYX6nHZvbpnC8O14kR3QWFOhIIoYvv979qRmcH-FEns9-yEnYuvFXzWNQIrR2By7bFYAlCWnrS88Yh8TwKSx7HWbBht9gIlWO0YY5sWl7xqtI92Yov4Ic/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnX8pfnS9Zumdt0aEMaqyA6AYX6nHZvbpnC8O14kR3QWFOhIIoYvv979qRmcH-FEns9-yEnYuvFXzWNQIrR2By7bFYAlCWnrS88Yh8TwKSx7HWbBht9gIlWO0YY5sWl7xqtI92Yov4Ic/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-77.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbvLtDJySZwrC6yIA27-M0vLCmhk9mOgel58n76u1B_UNR-mqMIRQjpyq3Ui0RcT5ZoOT1IyCWiPLJcKg1zEoIdwyKHHcv8k1oXRbs2OiNLCZjieM2-Y-7PCeGYwdECHWwf8lGWJCo1Q/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbvLtDJySZwrC6yIA27-M0vLCmhk9mOgel58n76u1B_UNR-mqMIRQjpyq3Ui0RcT5ZoOT1IyCWiPLJcKg1zEoIdwyKHHcv8k1oXRbs2OiNLCZjieM2-Y-7PCeGYwdECHWwf8lGWJCo1Q/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-78.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikASPwCtvzJKBX3sScQ4HRWsDF2UepSLpCh-QXixfR0S3LlZVDkv1WXiug9ofhRDjYhm85yr0mDshVigo5bgk3twq217d0npTpjXhKXVaxj20XptX2bhZxJiF2ttiScXOnoqvDW5T_GsM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikASPwCtvzJKBX3sScQ4HRWsDF2UepSLpCh-QXixfR0S3LlZVDkv1WXiug9ofhRDjYhm85yr0mDshVigo5bgk3twq217d0npTpjXhKXVaxj20XptX2bhZxJiF2ttiScXOnoqvDW5T_GsM/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-79.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.4067px;">And as I always do, I will end this FIVE year old letter with this: Your dad and I hope you always understand the </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">why </i><span style="float: none;">behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyL0hB6A-auOYlvqIQUAG17aL1Cd8iwRYD0N5qH6wiPhB0qU-nJ5sfTH_e1QyudU2hyphenhypheniiJkDcg-sEfxMuAdhuW6ZmMVaH3Bpw9s0wR-VRodxHaZbu-wAsqJ7tBfRvAxee5BPSgk99QV0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyL0hB6A-auOYlvqIQUAG17aL1Cd8iwRYD0N5qH6wiPhB0qU-nJ5sfTH_e1QyudU2hyphenhypheniiJkDcg-sEfxMuAdhuW6ZmMVaH3Bpw9s0wR-VRodxHaZbu-wAsqJ7tBfRvAxee5BPSgk99QV0/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+1%2529-69.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Happy fifth birthday, Becks Lynae! There is nothing you can
ever do that will ever make us stop loving you!</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-54641005189880557202019-04-23T07:00:00.000-04:002019-04-24T20:29:48.747-04:00THREE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27W1axS7IGSNAcYvaoYenl52BD6kg7Ijd16I9_1CavauinpWrtR5WXXFAU5maAabBFEaJbaact07qPUmEwnlIxSMl2EKC5RGAGFTkpj4jLc-ZCyFXulakAKOt1LHKlIWoIPIIcd-vR6M/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252860+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27W1axS7IGSNAcYvaoYenl52BD6kg7Ijd16I9_1CavauinpWrtR5WXXFAU5maAabBFEaJbaact07qPUmEwnlIxSMl2EKC5RGAGFTkpj4jLc-ZCyFXulakAKOt1LHKlIWoIPIIcd-vR6M/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252860+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1MqvOBYH0wXy7Pqpwa6Bwx347fQv6Ena3cqtBzQwn_nc0yQX0dfWHlWSYWAeKTeD7NpgCYjjK0Z5-ANVI1DF43IrYzWWAhyimn5CXmh0sJdUqpQDmLKLMPxr-H1d-jc1NlBKVhIPHBQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252824+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1MqvOBYH0wXy7Pqpwa6Bwx347fQv6Ena3cqtBzQwn_nc0yQX0dfWHlWSYWAeKTeD7NpgCYjjK0Z5-ANVI1DF43IrYzWWAhyimn5CXmh0sJdUqpQDmLKLMPxr-H1d-jc1NlBKVhIPHBQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252824+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNNugBPTHihrxZrm_kmg4wd9wLeuoBpwcpO6GKDAXcWewoMSPQhmn6vueh3QePJx8TvPB5BdATXxxu6VgLiyoX7bsEiXBpoR6yXZg6LeLy3FQGXNVMy_yfjElU-AgtKu3I_yzmJScVSA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNNugBPTHihrxZrm_kmg4wd9wLeuoBpwcpO6GKDAXcWewoMSPQhmn6vueh3QePJx8TvPB5BdATXxxu6VgLiyoX7bsEiXBpoR6yXZg6LeLy3FQGXNVMy_yfjElU-AgtKu3I_yzmJScVSA/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25281+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTi-fC8xSYyNWwOPYdJ-Tg-Oopc9vPXNK76r7AocUW_4V8NjrLO3ILRera4qDg70edIUx0v9ILxeAAvKivcCW1w-8GqTkULfkH02VCFV-FsPigT0IPiz74hBcSref9PNy0rqUvDTAq86I/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25282+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTi-fC8xSYyNWwOPYdJ-Tg-Oopc9vPXNK76r7AocUW_4V8NjrLO3ILRera4qDg70edIUx0v9ILxeAAvKivcCW1w-8GqTkULfkH02VCFV-FsPigT0IPiz74hBcSref9PNy0rqUvDTAq86I/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25282+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfb2DosUMJZboGxdXWYGTxEiqE5yfM8QQI_j8tCBarvOEHkVDhiHvzUWSGr6DqpSvSA16QC8GI6HhvrX3Th7gAhD_tGWPzPe-qNao6OZ9szJY3VkySnw3mjRVekQxHkL2graUYvB8wFVE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25283+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfb2DosUMJZboGxdXWYGTxEiqE5yfM8QQI_j8tCBarvOEHkVDhiHvzUWSGr6DqpSvSA16QC8GI6HhvrX3Th7gAhD_tGWPzPe-qNao6OZ9szJY3VkySnw3mjRVekQxHkL2graUYvB8wFVE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25283+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nan Louise,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three years ago you were born into our family, making us
five. My only point of reference for a family was four—my own, and the one we
had already created. I knew, without a doubt, God was telling me to grow our
family, and was constantly reminding me that He would meet me in that space.
However, it was still unknown, and unknown often means scary for me. I didn’t
know how you would fit. My pregnancy with you had been okay, until we found out
your dad had contracted a rare thing called zi.ka. This meant lots of extra
ultrasounds to make sure you were okay. So on your birthday three years ago, we
were ready to just hold you in our arms, put whatever fears we had aside, and
figure out what life was going to look like after you joined us. And almost
instantly we couldn’t even imagine life without you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnATD2GbolBYuo2yj_59PQoqF-wnL6kkoE0yk4fuvchASl7A-JHxXBbWzwX7d2Jf197fV3lpKBYhlO2NeUpZEUn4-WRJApKeT9c1r_POohkG2p_ijJIqz7c-NUaE6f8PIHsmKGyhSlzI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25284+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnATD2GbolBYuo2yj_59PQoqF-wnL6kkoE0yk4fuvchASl7A-JHxXBbWzwX7d2Jf197fV3lpKBYhlO2NeUpZEUn4-WRJApKeT9c1r_POohkG2p_ijJIqz7c-NUaE6f8PIHsmKGyhSlzI/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25284+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2kPJTb3gpE9ZY9SOSQxPSWfdklbvhS7z7U8Sf7gzP7BMH0bBEjMa8F7ZB50_o2k8csh1VYbi_9w0uxt6Pg83S6iQM_HAJ5blaFx7TcxJPb6cN3Ycr8ovAsryK048-w8HQTdcMy_1acQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25286+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2kPJTb3gpE9ZY9SOSQxPSWfdklbvhS7z7U8Sf7gzP7BMH0bBEjMa8F7ZB50_o2k8csh1VYbi_9w0uxt6Pg83S6iQM_HAJ5blaFx7TcxJPb6cN3Ycr8ovAsryK048-w8HQTdcMy_1acQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25286+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3DBydDS_bxNI_wXvrz26KlsGTqiYaZHHyH1gfBAgc47JaC3siiAYy-c8XLQSvoWct8ZD7VhSiJQEGCnwSbLQ63gMRB0irFfADk6fj0YRC9Xm0XNvMTcXLVeeoRgftVTcFqGnz1jGWEw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25288+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3DBydDS_bxNI_wXvrz26KlsGTqiYaZHHyH1gfBAgc47JaC3siiAYy-c8XLQSvoWct8ZD7VhSiJQEGCnwSbLQ63gMRB0irFfADk6fj0YRC9Xm0XNvMTcXLVeeoRgftVTcFqGnz1jGWEw/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25288+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlpjtl7cOglGozvKszX3x_OdAntKqaT7e_q2Q242P2T0OOmNFtmvB-1IIc7xqcd5Lp6MvHWHtMqlj9xs16oO21tFIIDQ3tF20EX-Vuw13va2XCAsNv0gFRUq6eyzgUXjqaSK8EpvLwOI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%25289+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlpjtl7cOglGozvKszX3x_OdAntKqaT7e_q2Q242P2T0OOmNFtmvB-1IIc7xqcd5Lp6MvHWHtMqlj9xs16oO21tFIIDQ3tF20EX-Vuw13va2XCAsNv0gFRUq6eyzgUXjqaSK8EpvLwOI/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%25289+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_sO95ZVzp8OIQ-hn6qKqBofvz6XrnuQzndh0QLnrhUQXlceuvV9P7TqfurGfunumUIxb2-bZNEImuiPzaVYD-1HOyI5L4IXwnE8WFPnMtZbUU9hODatHRNQeddFrC9mVMXXLnXRnwco/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252810+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_sO95ZVzp8OIQ-hn6qKqBofvz6XrnuQzndh0QLnrhUQXlceuvV9P7TqfurGfunumUIxb2-bZNEImuiPzaVYD-1HOyI5L4IXwnE8WFPnMtZbUU9hODatHRNQeddFrC9mVMXXLnXRnwco/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252810+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVZ-eFqkdcYAQeCjP8CoddXD6zpruR2VUiB9kghzDJXeYUEEx0Vjlid5VP9sClqayrMg13x0GGRClqfVCs4HdpAlh8qbz7aJKjd2KBcjhMmiTcAFnzm7ytJecMiqAV39SqJ0jQf_pwT0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252811+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVZ-eFqkdcYAQeCjP8CoddXD6zpruR2VUiB9kghzDJXeYUEEx0Vjlid5VP9sClqayrMg13x0GGRClqfVCs4HdpAlh8qbz7aJKjd2KBcjhMmiTcAFnzm7ytJecMiqAV39SqJ0jQf_pwT0/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252811+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsUc2cmI6nGxlga8GICe_vqCHM2kJ5xXzC-1K3RPXFgbkmAkJnYpQMN18BjahP1dVmjiD4Z_h5HrN2sBLkaC6vBmVNTuGQvvky62AQ7TksfrWT6jXeA-YJPn3L9aTxBZxRzDXddR8TX4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252812+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsUc2cmI6nGxlga8GICe_vqCHM2kJ5xXzC-1K3RPXFgbkmAkJnYpQMN18BjahP1dVmjiD4Z_h5HrN2sBLkaC6vBmVNTuGQvvky62AQ7TksfrWT6jXeA-YJPn3L9aTxBZxRzDXddR8TX4/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252812+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTKVfBOcFJuZv_kiDvPNtS2AjXh6IqX79rtrBNA4YvPgquv6wX_tG_m6kyBTsbrFjcUvsKRQV3WtGQt_tzm3E1bcbolgs5j1mnW7gi_cGIInY-9VGHmLxrdJnxhUKF0bvtEgAacApNzQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252813+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTKVfBOcFJuZv_kiDvPNtS2AjXh6IqX79rtrBNA4YvPgquv6wX_tG_m6kyBTsbrFjcUvsKRQV3WtGQt_tzm3E1bcbolgs5j1mnW7gi_cGIInY-9VGHmLxrdJnxhUKF0bvtEgAacApNzQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252813+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR8wNjHFmfhSdfOkrzM0rNxW-J-usIu-8QJZ0Jjq8c9BM_jd-zRouFlmeGE5gADffWyv-SAjTVv5P0X6biMbWM1_c5ghCetfj58X6Tqdncl9FqEssCfMr-l7rxh9wMnv_n5gXxxtC33E/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252814+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR8wNjHFmfhSdfOkrzM0rNxW-J-usIu-8QJZ0Jjq8c9BM_jd-zRouFlmeGE5gADffWyv-SAjTVv5P0X6biMbWM1_c5ghCetfj58X6Tqdncl9FqEssCfMr-l7rxh9wMnv_n5gXxxtC33E/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252814+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And as you kept growing, we were continually amazed at how you just kept adding so much to our family. You were loud and spunky in ways your sisters weren’t. You were sweet in different ways. You captured our hearts in different ways. And you just kept growing all of with your huge personality. And now, three years later, I can hardly believe I was ever afraid of having a third child, because life without you would be so much less full.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year you became a big sister. From the start you <i>liked </i>Sloan, but you were content to give him his own space while you did your own thing. Once he got a little more responsive, you wanted to hold him and feed him and sing to him though. You never once acted out of jealousy towards anyone when it came to Sloan though—you seemed to understand that adding him to our family was for everyone’s good. Before he came you also transitioned to a big bed, and shared a room with Blythe and Becks. This proved interesting. Once everyone was asleep, it was fine, but you didn’t really like being quiet in a room with your sisters—who are your favorite playmates. So we usually ended up putting you to bed early, or in our bed, and then snuck your sisters in later or moved you to your bed. We did this for about a year until we moved to our new house and finished a room in the basement for your sisters. And now, most every night, you need to know that Blythe and “Becksy” are going to bed too… you miss them in the room with you but have transitioned well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMcS4I-WUzvCva5AGTK0naVG9Chr4XNgFFB3L0_42ZcS_t2ZIPj4zfXzlpQUYaijLjcECAyy9maEK4XjvYsQbnmVn61SzRNTXCMSeGiKubKla53YFeo7-QxwnB_55QuyFwq4Fi1t_2zs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252816+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMcS4I-WUzvCva5AGTK0naVG9Chr4XNgFFB3L0_42ZcS_t2ZIPj4zfXzlpQUYaijLjcECAyy9maEK4XjvYsQbnmVn61SzRNTXCMSeGiKubKla53YFeo7-QxwnB_55QuyFwq4Fi1t_2zs/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252816+of+73%2529.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D9q6smW4XqavFNDdedNoOyzDWy9b46XJtMOGbfOLLhA_3RWJWmhwV7VGTnNSFdg67EH4Ncu5Iml-sc0eTxiYwLAp4dRMHgXW85pTXS0G6CWjKvG7eanLoZUzKSGp1gu6Isp-84XKIbs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252817+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D9q6smW4XqavFNDdedNoOyzDWy9b46XJtMOGbfOLLhA_3RWJWmhwV7VGTnNSFdg67EH4Ncu5Iml-sc0eTxiYwLAp4dRMHgXW85pTXS0G6CWjKvG7eanLoZUzKSGp1gu6Isp-84XKIbs/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252817+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPfbREw9rl4vlLJ_UYkjRf0EOyqCxluZ06Rd-vRFFhfQ-kA0XpGJR6yzmXOgMxw7Vcs83bYLhGyS5seTi2JfHHUP908pRTIy1DUL73ib1a5dZ0-RIAgmugjorJk_pgV5XB3DAOgb9R_U/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252815+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPfbREw9rl4vlLJ_UYkjRf0EOyqCxluZ06Rd-vRFFhfQ-kA0XpGJR6yzmXOgMxw7Vcs83bYLhGyS5seTi2JfHHUP908pRTIy1DUL73ib1a5dZ0-RIAgmugjorJk_pgV5XB3DAOgb9R_U/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252815+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAtAYkYWHGPZvlG8V8egKP-bfGnzSGP4e_lGF3Bz2oYKMrKSAuSg-FK2kLJqBqrjhYCWN_qHTZowmN6bWYly3Eo94UyslP6fo-tALEc-sq8Km7vVv9XR9NWBipRbGJKZl0tTVWxWfjBs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252818+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAtAYkYWHGPZvlG8V8egKP-bfGnzSGP4e_lGF3Bz2oYKMrKSAuSg-FK2kLJqBqrjhYCWN_qHTZowmN6bWYly3Eo94UyslP6fo-tALEc-sq8Km7vVv9XR9NWBipRbGJKZl0tTVWxWfjBs/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252818+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQEbNJ0lcYgmx-QD4gpJhqMh8Len2ZKWsGLvgwWYof4WyTZONjy2Hb1iMYfN9DIE3WbCbv3HmHfjeNucvoaAnDt0HttclhpHIE_ZbcberHP_TCdLLI7gI_6r1uhrhJOEHJCcQdeWJ3Qs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252819+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQEbNJ0lcYgmx-QD4gpJhqMh8Len2ZKWsGLvgwWYof4WyTZONjy2Hb1iMYfN9DIE3WbCbv3HmHfjeNucvoaAnDt0HttclhpHIE_ZbcberHP_TCdLLI7gI_6r1uhrhJOEHJCcQdeWJ3Qs/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252819+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwNQuA2_xdT16WU21AOXDvUcwRPc0IiebP918bkJoRd_Bv3hoMCOlef9Z62spzqTumC0Hc1zXGUcJnVIBwlnilByfrZEDea-3I8YOU8h4ZB4RrjoXd41jfZ46VcoJCwSwSRtfkouf-ZI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252821+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwNQuA2_xdT16WU21AOXDvUcwRPc0IiebP918bkJoRd_Bv3hoMCOlef9Z62spzqTumC0Hc1zXGUcJnVIBwlnilByfrZEDea-3I8YOU8h4ZB4RrjoXd41jfZ46VcoJCwSwSRtfkouf-ZI/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252821+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXgKExjt42ZTSXzr1dxn2MTTDKf8nGXL75ibiQB8SnVECZ0kiuyCySPJPal5viQnBXNNEhwhmWkS1go6Eo7wFcWZf1VaOP-HgMD75GyBagysQrKtaenaAyI1EOhon8fR9zwgQ2rb-hZA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252822+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXgKExjt42ZTSXzr1dxn2MTTDKf8nGXL75ibiQB8SnVECZ0kiuyCySPJPal5viQnBXNNEhwhmWkS1go6Eo7wFcWZf1VaOP-HgMD75GyBagysQrKtaenaAyI1EOhon8fR9zwgQ2rb-hZA/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252822+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrSM9gqs_kXFQ_ZYq7si0rNdoTd6m567k2lbhknQoRCZDDcelJkHT29vyZ8BxPifGMDaDGsa3jAqdZ3eV6AQfXA4gjd1Ei4kWzyPl-xYx5uaGhKdd6US-hZeWkDo3Ms_Qrb6vsN8hL6Y/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252823+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrSM9gqs_kXFQ_ZYq7si0rNdoTd6m567k2lbhknQoRCZDDcelJkHT29vyZ8BxPifGMDaDGsa3jAqdZ3eV6AQfXA4gjd1Ei4kWzyPl-xYx5uaGhKdd6US-hZeWkDo3Ms_Qrb6vsN8hL6Y/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252823+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another big step for you was potty training! And you did awesome! I tried once or twice, and could tell you weren’t quite ready, so we just waited it out. And finally in January it seemed to click and in about two or three days of training you got it. Your sisters loved helping you out in the early days, but now you let us know—adamantly, like most things—that you can do it yourself. One thing that didn’t go so well this year was your skin, unfortunately. You have incredibly sensitive skin, and the summer proved to be the worst. We tried tons of prescriptions and ointments and lotions and I just hated to see you fight your eczema so much. I’m really hoping that this year is better in that department!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You also got glasses this year! We knew at one year that this was going to happen sooner or later, and this ended up being the year. You were SO excited about them, and even MORE excited that they came in a CASE with your own “tooshie” [which is what you call the cleaning cloth. Why, we have no idea]. The day we got them you put them on and looked across the room at your dad and just kind of stared at him a bit. Then later you were outside and looking down at your feet running in the grass you said, “I can play really good in my glasses.” And you continued to say little things like that that assured us that they really are making a difference for you. You rarely take them off, and when you do it’s only to brush your “beautiful hair”, or because you have "cries" in them when you're upset, it’s because they are so smudged and filthy from your endeavors that you can’t even see through them anymore. I also noticed that you started coloring in the lines, and I hadn’t thought that sight was the problem, but now you do such a great job that I think it was the culprit. We can’t go anywhere without people stopping us to tell us how adorable you are in them, and it’s quite true—you’re a sight to behold and have the personality to pull them off in magnificent ways.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBclsUlQtGJzulJeZTmbNDXjtyVVntJ-NGZCcHLXU0nUvNjS5U1de7p8nLbTJfCrnkeHQpHk64s2PtK8XPZaiUYlu2I91p8Hc16SEJ4Yw3JszT1wJbUko1PIl46AXIk08zw7XdXucBNJs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252826+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBclsUlQtGJzulJeZTmbNDXjtyVVntJ-NGZCcHLXU0nUvNjS5U1de7p8nLbTJfCrnkeHQpHk64s2PtK8XPZaiUYlu2I91p8Hc16SEJ4Yw3JszT1wJbUko1PIl46AXIk08zw7XdXucBNJs/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252826+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVfXIZD3WNocB92mgYBu48WLJcMY3bqADulV4voCKj-jyZK38t-CZUkF-0U5Xnwazfe3VtVq3goVvnGJyBltmiG_sBSnRikqVRalZEy4R3B3zECO-ra_2tQlPvqTs6NXiS5PxwcRn-f4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252825+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVfXIZD3WNocB92mgYBu48WLJcMY3bqADulV4voCKj-jyZK38t-CZUkF-0U5Xnwazfe3VtVq3goVvnGJyBltmiG_sBSnRikqVRalZEy4R3B3zECO-ra_2tQlPvqTs6NXiS5PxwcRn-f4/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252825+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEiXueEcZKb4u8PdROevtEQuSKbVa3SZIGDY7w9co6dcl1bb6YfCryASCcZCYfzA787SqdTFUC1BECc0XvJUjMBuwJrLZEoDt3-SrIGyWo5KFbA24zHAjD_iUXuvwkSd5B6YmiqOK7FI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252827+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEiXueEcZKb4u8PdROevtEQuSKbVa3SZIGDY7w9co6dcl1bb6YfCryASCcZCYfzA787SqdTFUC1BECc0XvJUjMBuwJrLZEoDt3-SrIGyWo5KFbA24zHAjD_iUXuvwkSd5B6YmiqOK7FI/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252827+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYT33iH4f-i1csPLyXKtzbKlJtIXYTQly60LkbbAjRM6O6XP2lHeXCb3w8XprDlMqzxKLByBjpScb736EUWUSmW7uQCnAso0cmE5ib5m3FTV8oG8-cGoHviadzBVhKdHwt01YqFgExiq8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252828+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYT33iH4f-i1csPLyXKtzbKlJtIXYTQly60LkbbAjRM6O6XP2lHeXCb3w8XprDlMqzxKLByBjpScb736EUWUSmW7uQCnAso0cmE5ib5m3FTV8oG8-cGoHviadzBVhKdHwt01YqFgExiq8/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252828+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgcYUqBsGZXn38m16HUVb_xb4tVkMm37Znh22FoCk471Uw3BypXdj9AGPNtx9Zw9WkeoOJ6OX3LERqwPmPCioLUFtCOCnfSc907JWuPp9_68JHLf4mknm7Z_u37tQHqyDYKuv1s6pZi8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252829+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgcYUqBsGZXn38m16HUVb_xb4tVkMm37Znh22FoCk471Uw3BypXdj9AGPNtx9Zw9WkeoOJ6OX3LERqwPmPCioLUFtCOCnfSc907JWuPp9_68JHLf4mknm7Z_u37tQHqyDYKuv1s6pZi8/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252829+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeHvKvREUIxDlkConJ7IIkkgXma0vZUymWIyHszhbnMbZassjvKPexBhRYlch2fHkFjZRpNPA90Qr2Te2rCeq1GHdyiQ8deRdXkWgs-OqYxPwI4ZYTL_Z9HQE2jE7J6NolrWHuXXGMCQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252830+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeHvKvREUIxDlkConJ7IIkkgXma0vZUymWIyHszhbnMbZassjvKPexBhRYlch2fHkFjZRpNPA90Qr2Te2rCeq1GHdyiQ8deRdXkWgs-OqYxPwI4ZYTL_Z9HQE2jE7J6NolrWHuXXGMCQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252830+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyw4xmgYxuIzVd6T7UehhgtoNLB04hfCVWYRbUgXooWTehE4QGQC9Y2AmQgaOpHaPXIvU6VqYXVLRMHpLexHtpDv9dOuBoTFpmyv8AEznaPc1dZV4UEzBKj2HvmPM9xwzC0Gm8nufp-UQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252831+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyw4xmgYxuIzVd6T7UehhgtoNLB04hfCVWYRbUgXooWTehE4QGQC9Y2AmQgaOpHaPXIvU6VqYXVLRMHpLexHtpDv9dOuBoTFpmyv8AEznaPc1dZV4UEzBKj2HvmPM9xwzC0Gm8nufp-UQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252831+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Dc8Hjv7yrx5m3Ely7fmk1DTOCEmLwU6XnPp1QsL7LdUmtlK724eHp9sUjQF5vulGM9Pf7z3jAwfpeqWXvcGhGI_76OQw9losynG60ZnSR6B433q7Bf14MeLstDy0lZXML-P2yY_bYgA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252832+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Dc8Hjv7yrx5m3Ely7fmk1DTOCEmLwU6XnPp1QsL7LdUmtlK724eHp9sUjQF5vulGM9Pf7z3jAwfpeqWXvcGhGI_76OQw9losynG60ZnSR6B433q7Bf14MeLstDy0lZXML-P2yY_bYgA/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252832+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKAmuChYqzXVMi4Jh8VpXZ4ATMWpBOCgieTysnINQKQBKIEYI0D2YZUtgFh7Jbl7bediLwNcuiRaf8kbgYSZlRfoSTWXcsEG43vW3pz620oDGkwj1DRaCCi07rU0ofWiAmLgZl6cPEQE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252833+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKAmuChYqzXVMi4Jh8VpXZ4ATMWpBOCgieTysnINQKQBKIEYI0D2YZUtgFh7Jbl7bediLwNcuiRaf8kbgYSZlRfoSTWXcsEG43vW3pz620oDGkwj1DRaCCi07rU0ofWiAmLgZl6cPEQE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252833+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8XO8UYPN90r-_HTfsSJevlNL6FVVQMmwwvgY9-D1dYxaU_L2C6JN5gl1Wx96fwpla4vcseadmoWdyXqIHUQvpnmq2Wqa_EpYw2dZS8wjLYfF5-7fvyzzxgaZ0z4VAovcMm8M-j7qFJg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252834+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8XO8UYPN90r-_HTfsSJevlNL6FVVQMmwwvgY9-D1dYxaU_L2C6JN5gl1Wx96fwpla4vcseadmoWdyXqIHUQvpnmq2Wqa_EpYw2dZS8wjLYfF5-7fvyzzxgaZ0z4VAovcMm8M-j7qFJg/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252834+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCfE48zYGwJFMiOUDQ9n0pl7e5S_fIVSrw7Ep8kEIj-27qer9OJbGqplNj_ApKu6mujUb9-b-TISA0XLhi8Hmc3tHuIQ4GWNclilp4AeKRtceRnOwyfVUeofO8RhxhKXdluHqUhsWEkE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252835+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCfE48zYGwJFMiOUDQ9n0pl7e5S_fIVSrw7Ep8kEIj-27qer9OJbGqplNj_ApKu6mujUb9-b-TISA0XLhi8Hmc3tHuIQ4GWNclilp4AeKRtceRnOwyfVUeofO8RhxhKXdluHqUhsWEkE/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252835+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXONZ8tRtIYHUoPmnbPlMvXmCXU5oReJg9NazyoNjHfT-f6J8MqImZToqyDhAGKdekb8npzJWUpsapUwoydexa3KNkdYl_WsLT2n0opAt8ACrwihyphenhyphenyR2T4bhBtAaNc19Pw8lGvg1GU4M/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252836+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXONZ8tRtIYHUoPmnbPlMvXmCXU5oReJg9NazyoNjHfT-f6J8MqImZToqyDhAGKdekb8npzJWUpsapUwoydexa3KNkdYl_WsLT2n0opAt8ACrwihyphenhyphenyR2T4bhBtAaNc19Pw8lGvg1GU4M/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252836+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT9TJFJb4fStj3RonOvAN6w532nRC4xDgErVNHYcj8mtTf9XXkHB1IqZazLj9zQahh7-i_4EiEhzS0RKaWTMsVG49e0lh4zUjB0aMqedgVaPUp0JiSjzqIQr6wYERRIJkil3RQ_RNl94/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252837+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT9TJFJb4fStj3RonOvAN6w532nRC4xDgErVNHYcj8mtTf9XXkHB1IqZazLj9zQahh7-i_4EiEhzS0RKaWTMsVG49e0lh4zUjB0aMqedgVaPUp0JiSjzqIQr6wYERRIJkil3RQ_RNl94/s400/KIrwinPhotography+%252837+of+73%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
This year your relationship with Becks has grown tremendously. You two can play together and pretend the funniest things. One of your favorites to play with her while Blythe is at school is “moms and kids”, but you also LOVE to sing and dance to any kind of music [your favorite is old vacation bible school songs]. It’s been fun to watch you and Becks grow closer together this year, as it was kind of a slow-starter relationship [she just wanted to hug you too much!]. You’ve even graduated to being able to play school with the big girls, and even though they’ve told you a hundred times that when the teacher says, “Class. Class,” you’re supposed to say, “Yes. Yes,” it <i>never fails </i>that you say, “What. What.”<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s kind of how you are, Nan. You just say what you say. You do what you do. You always want a “whole much” of something, and that’s how you tackle life. The other day you wore your Little House on the Prairie dress [bonnet, and apron, and all] while playing outside, then later decided you just needed your swimsuit and cowboy boots. And that is what you were wearing when you and Becks walked down the street to meet Blythe when she got off the bus. One of the neighbors commented, and said she hoped you had a good birthday, then followed it up with, “But I think Nan has a good day everyday.” And you really do. I told our neighbor I want to be like you when I grow up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8BBwBRz_48cS6KKTgdxzhTiff4UTqy_XuKqDsqiJ1UGjAjamvsvZJMpfsFj_ZI1juUxRii36Ua1Go_pDGrl-WwaWp_Z63-qJZudRxKRTHQnxdN2_EHnlVmJ6nAaDgHiEwauv5vsVw1A/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252838+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8BBwBRz_48cS6KKTgdxzhTiff4UTqy_XuKqDsqiJ1UGjAjamvsvZJMpfsFj_ZI1juUxRii36Ua1Go_pDGrl-WwaWp_Z63-qJZudRxKRTHQnxdN2_EHnlVmJ6nAaDgHiEwauv5vsVw1A/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252838+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUvpEDJPa2MhT3b7qMl7QZ5OgGvXnMRmGUTVP43xZ1XxAUJe74MnV0CwzUxr5SrQK9iUY3LzkgHOqSvoJgzehbwf7lRrFE9wDQWBg2ODtDkO66BzfDyBWbo4gROFA7POpBR-II-HhPEE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252839+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUvpEDJPa2MhT3b7qMl7QZ5OgGvXnMRmGUTVP43xZ1XxAUJe74MnV0CwzUxr5SrQK9iUY3LzkgHOqSvoJgzehbwf7lRrFE9wDQWBg2ODtDkO66BzfDyBWbo4gROFA7POpBR-II-HhPEE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252839+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGZ_CO5hdcyyLVtDsUvJIxgbIe7tpKR6lCsJPT8oqwiuALnUdoo5OErL45dVOxbXzSrN5qDsgbmueBFspbe8ub8W6ANNp4-Xmd2hM_DiZp35SC1MnV76QAwFs0XgzJc-AJjaLuHLP1tU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252840+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGZ_CO5hdcyyLVtDsUvJIxgbIe7tpKR6lCsJPT8oqwiuALnUdoo5OErL45dVOxbXzSrN5qDsgbmueBFspbe8ub8W6ANNp4-Xmd2hM_DiZp35SC1MnV76QAwFs0XgzJc-AJjaLuHLP1tU/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252840+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPuR7FDMyadBi59oAE6hjZB9OOYwBNAZzg1e0qBgxVkmPkghhKvHkEOoOJ_tYIP7Ma9nh0i1-Y3WLkNnBT-N_9WU9ZF4YIaj7-JUbNbJVahpaMzNXRGOk7mIKV_VoaWFWUbd3CrsZtv8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252841+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPuR7FDMyadBi59oAE6hjZB9OOYwBNAZzg1e0qBgxVkmPkghhKvHkEOoOJ_tYIP7Ma9nh0i1-Y3WLkNnBT-N_9WU9ZF4YIaj7-JUbNbJVahpaMzNXRGOk7mIKV_VoaWFWUbd3CrsZtv8/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252841+of+73%2529.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XhaiA92wFzxmUJK0x1NseHuvfAJp1HEAbnJc0NkrUbvDsEctmy_k7XqoKaHQs109LZX4xHrnPSGisnU0XeBkKV7Itmd-5EbyvBe7KUWkX-GgNaGwN7JF4J_joeu7b7F36eezyfz0rHE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252842+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XhaiA92wFzxmUJK0x1NseHuvfAJp1HEAbnJc0NkrUbvDsEctmy_k7XqoKaHQs109LZX4xHrnPSGisnU0XeBkKV7Itmd-5EbyvBe7KUWkX-GgNaGwN7JF4J_joeu7b7F36eezyfz0rHE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252842+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1cq6nsiP6OQ6EsW75XXtF7wOthUgZjPNj4IfRfCpnmA3gnhyEy086zuVH-8wPCfWBC9u-A-7FYGUUjjdVcB5kWpUwChIxezRLAF0H_gyqM_hGbyZrEtCbO8PpBBI5WPklLiiPgiXWMU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252843+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1cq6nsiP6OQ6EsW75XXtF7wOthUgZjPNj4IfRfCpnmA3gnhyEy086zuVH-8wPCfWBC9u-A-7FYGUUjjdVcB5kWpUwChIxezRLAF0H_gyqM_hGbyZrEtCbO8PpBBI5WPklLiiPgiXWMU/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252843+of+73%2529.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksMz__RaP5tpnlaEdW9qyTzNPcNj0Ebxy2k8c8CyNh0LqLyNK2c6K0tIxkA4gJcWlZa7v9QMo2r_bcC-hTAApFWPxy5aTa3ykmaeAHQZiCD3f-k4o3ViG6eTQQHk6h5O5OW644sqGbwk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252844+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksMz__RaP5tpnlaEdW9qyTzNPcNj0Ebxy2k8c8CyNh0LqLyNK2c6K0tIxkA4gJcWlZa7v9QMo2r_bcC-hTAApFWPxy5aTa3ykmaeAHQZiCD3f-k4o3ViG6eTQQHk6h5O5OW644sqGbwk/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252844+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho426p9tN97EJHAPOWoCY5yvsIGGLxaBfSLDFMrmKwRASY_Y42LrSCg1MgpT3C2aXOmWTBWHG8fZudQAS72bsXm9IXOHZNiD5-hvSjMkVhGC0yp6ExvkuKgziwJ9MxqtngQ9y_rTAIjOE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252845+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho426p9tN97EJHAPOWoCY5yvsIGGLxaBfSLDFMrmKwRASY_Y42LrSCg1MgpT3C2aXOmWTBWHG8fZudQAS72bsXm9IXOHZNiD5-hvSjMkVhGC0yp6ExvkuKgziwJ9MxqtngQ9y_rTAIjOE/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252845+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis15lvZZNP7VmVoYG0v-AY_iOCZX9mET-us8UUb3wWv3BzzmjwPSdhC72XBuu0yK9j-zTpZDXR-fgiYijBQ302VRRJaNw1m3mgdg_oSq5y0yx4xeAzAKCUao6V1Y0HbYFg7hnOuC2_f-Y/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252846+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis15lvZZNP7VmVoYG0v-AY_iOCZX9mET-us8UUb3wWv3BzzmjwPSdhC72XBuu0yK9j-zTpZDXR-fgiYijBQ302VRRJaNw1m3mgdg_oSq5y0yx4xeAzAKCUao6V1Y0HbYFg7hnOuC2_f-Y/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252846+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Jf1C3Sj4YGsCgMh_jBSQfMD9m2Yg1VCn7-YZ6QB1JrVleq4V0H8l-CtnA9l_uQ6UvcjO7w35QOjUDr6Vvi8Tq-PP0NDEZ3cEXcScwFoNFmSfeLRm3QCAO-7LnAJD0XQ0HYW6zs9NyZw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252847+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Jf1C3Sj4YGsCgMh_jBSQfMD9m2Yg1VCn7-YZ6QB1JrVleq4V0H8l-CtnA9l_uQ6UvcjO7w35QOjUDr6Vvi8Tq-PP0NDEZ3cEXcScwFoNFmSfeLRm3QCAO-7LnAJD0XQ0HYW6zs9NyZw/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252847+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
You constantly make us burst into laughter with your turns of phrases. One day you woke up and said, “Mommy, I need a drink—my froat is fuzzy.” And when Sloan is crying sometimes you come to me and say, “Sloan’s crying about you.” I’ve had to “get me off this” when a sticker is stuck on you, and help you at supper when you yell, “I can’t fork this!” You started trying to tease us, and then you’ll say, “I’m messing you around!” You want to know "who-body" did something. And I kind of always hope you call the refrigerator a “fridger” and need “bam baids” for your boo boos.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot of days when I’m reading my bible you crawl up in my lap and so the margins throughout those thin pages are scrawled with your handwriting. I hope in twenty years when I am studying 1 Peter again and I see those Crayola marks that I can recall with detail the way your face still smelled like a toddler, the way your hands felt for my face when you needed to tell me something urgent and turned it to look at you, and the way you impatiently-patiently waited for me to finish. Often during this time I would have you “pat the bible” and we would say, “God’s word is true,” just like we did last year. I know you won’t remember these times in my lap, sharing my coffee and my bible-pens, but I pray you remember the Word in front of us and the truth that His word is always true in the most permanent way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiTU0I15DWs1HOe7HLv42PcOovQZ7laZFHTRrBPtwJILuXkMfOCWuAcLgrSgG2g_QoJWFRlUzRPq4CGXSD14CLAxoGz3YyR5d1-LormNpX8TdV0sjpD-EwP9rL0E6WYFh1z-vdySjNFQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252848+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiTU0I15DWs1HOe7HLv42PcOovQZ7laZFHTRrBPtwJILuXkMfOCWuAcLgrSgG2g_QoJWFRlUzRPq4CGXSD14CLAxoGz3YyR5d1-LormNpX8TdV0sjpD-EwP9rL0E6WYFh1z-vdySjNFQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252848+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eM55bnEm3ml41WzYFJYWoRnU23mVW8vT2TYoS35THRNgo8AHyFsRUU8gOLSF-qIs-dCkpknS6aqJNqKfkA-yy4UW_GUqkJLaYAtaPOdOoh4FeagWMQJmX7xFbAgUe8qdF-CdDslI6K4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252850+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eM55bnEm3ml41WzYFJYWoRnU23mVW8vT2TYoS35THRNgo8AHyFsRUU8gOLSF-qIs-dCkpknS6aqJNqKfkA-yy4UW_GUqkJLaYAtaPOdOoh4FeagWMQJmX7xFbAgUe8qdF-CdDslI6K4/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252850+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42Y25RoVU-11LCDk2jNs4rUtYjhkeR-2R6q24jT2FEJFO_Qx5AHDLjrOcLUew-XPdYGfzhQZIehJSGob38TJjOuC4IiCX_Ao25x6mfeYTgs353d_ksSimK83pLjb5IgNhwvoep8gzSu8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252849+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42Y25RoVU-11LCDk2jNs4rUtYjhkeR-2R6q24jT2FEJFO_Qx5AHDLjrOcLUew-XPdYGfzhQZIehJSGob38TJjOuC4IiCX_Ao25x6mfeYTgs353d_ksSimK83pLjb5IgNhwvoep8gzSu8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252849+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42Y25RoVU-11LCDk2jNs4rUtYjhkeR-2R6q24jT2FEJFO_Qx5AHDLjrOcLUew-XPdYGfzhQZIehJSGob38TJjOuC4IiCX_Ao25x6mfeYTgs353d_ksSimK83pLjb5IgNhwvoep8gzSu8/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252849+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBUdYgEMskjUSJkvnZDizdSwdmEYV18DAAat_rCBhYypuorbgFeG0F5v4A29ucnX_WQaNCIUa2nZlRYpC7q2fqtAyikTeM2PrGppj8tscqJ-uqRLV2dyJjNqiVkVK5Spd34psbf8qKu4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252851+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBUdYgEMskjUSJkvnZDizdSwdmEYV18DAAat_rCBhYypuorbgFeG0F5v4A29ucnX_WQaNCIUa2nZlRYpC7q2fqtAyikTeM2PrGppj8tscqJ-uqRLV2dyJjNqiVkVK5Spd34psbf8qKu4/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252851+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwezVZUmoc3jZPP6pYRaTs6PwEr8bZpd9p8R7NuPg3pRkcCnEln2X_jzmvL-c1R-50ppPhoLfzteihuCUMVSXSz76my4-aqMzATbx0qdIOmYVYzXdxK4xYzabaYt3YY5OgORwEGztUYoM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252852+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwezVZUmoc3jZPP6pYRaTs6PwEr8bZpd9p8R7NuPg3pRkcCnEln2X_jzmvL-c1R-50ppPhoLfzteihuCUMVSXSz76my4-aqMzATbx0qdIOmYVYzXdxK4xYzabaYt3YY5OgORwEGztUYoM/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252852+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNImmbqIBQfL9k4OQJa3mt7q9uPOD3n0qmuJGgsHNJNSEDfumRiSSuIIwX8IOhLBa5KgPnqNHvpSFnpRaUM8z8-3__m8WYrxgOi7pP6bGSLR1NmJgzdFeVmnGLIWAOj-7-XfIqYbrYxw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252853+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNImmbqIBQfL9k4OQJa3mt7q9uPOD3n0qmuJGgsHNJNSEDfumRiSSuIIwX8IOhLBa5KgPnqNHvpSFnpRaUM8z8-3__m8WYrxgOi7pP6bGSLR1NmJgzdFeVmnGLIWAOj-7-XfIqYbrYxw/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252853+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2efGBonw1u82zxcCZd_GA9SbCNghjNygPzfR4EmHpx5VbcoCLHB4PRXfmY7zqcoDQ-JHdi7OHDAVO9Frw5KA22kpG_DNsIczDaRHZBfQNrBNQQeBdLAlfdCzOid2Z3VD6sMNGaF_YGWg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252854+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2efGBonw1u82zxcCZd_GA9SbCNghjNygPzfR4EmHpx5VbcoCLHB4PRXfmY7zqcoDQ-JHdi7OHDAVO9Frw5KA22kpG_DNsIczDaRHZBfQNrBNQQeBdLAlfdCzOid2Z3VD6sMNGaF_YGWg/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252854+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ_lAKxsgPQBLD9_T6U0PlX3CncVrxpjQvlkeE4bfwOOmkOrpRun70j6_t0IRUaJZ3ML3AVuFSkjc_0ABzsTmfhE2RAswVZPV7f8QYPB4ouCBnXIDFndVdYqwZMjV8UbGdsWkdrGGwBQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252856+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ_lAKxsgPQBLD9_T6U0PlX3CncVrxpjQvlkeE4bfwOOmkOrpRun70j6_t0IRUaJZ3ML3AVuFSkjc_0ABzsTmfhE2RAswVZPV7f8QYPB4ouCBnXIDFndVdYqwZMjV8UbGdsWkdrGGwBQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252856+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UEjaUss6iNIPfNIcPhbN6_UmBSiSCtdwjR8d_TX4B_IVUGNlqeCeinut0_67i5glTUxxII2LNBYHLPAyKfKqtimMvffg8bD5mHkFBkgNFXfjcjkzndakYuspRx05NaPjOP7Wz1Bi48s/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252857+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UEjaUss6iNIPfNIcPhbN6_UmBSiSCtdwjR8d_TX4B_IVUGNlqeCeinut0_67i5glTUxxII2LNBYHLPAyKfKqtimMvffg8bD5mHkFBkgNFXfjcjkzndakYuspRx05NaPjOP7Wz1Bi48s/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252857+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8eA87MkLVeQTM19EoYV58L3HOP7ngPE-lQuwshOkNMMxl-h9rqU6X9n8anEiX1CpKXWygMBArVpN1M65oftziqN8fcmfrNoi6pyVQxHxyUJ_DejQjI3DF2jViIfsud9fKfJRzxS_dVM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252858+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8eA87MkLVeQTM19EoYV58L3HOP7ngPE-lQuwshOkNMMxl-h9rqU6X9n8anEiX1CpKXWygMBArVpN1M65oftziqN8fcmfrNoi6pyVQxHxyUJ_DejQjI3DF2jViIfsud9fKfJRzxS_dVM/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252858+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh Nan. The weeks leading up to this birthday I seriously would find myself clenching my chest, my heart felt heavy in its cavity. You couldn’t possibly be turning three? The year from age two to age three is, in my opinion, simply magical. I think it is one of God’s kindest, funniest, hardest, most growing gifts to parents. And it is so very fleeting. But you have taught us all to suck the marrow out of life a little more—to run as hard and fast as we can, even if it means we may smack into a wall and knock the picture frames off and break them! Ha! You love to play “get you game” with your dad, and every.single.day. when he gets home from work you ask him if he has a white shirt on. He usually wears an undershirt under all his dress shirts, and you know when the work shirt comes off, and he’s just in that white t-shirt, that it’s time for get-you-game! Your squealing and squalling can be heard all over the house. And I know each age will bring beautiful new things for you, but I hope you’re always as uninhibited as you are when your dad is chasing you around the house in his white shirt.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHG2mZvMaZ1KfFYqJuT9FpwQJ31i-ptqDaMnDq1q9eI929N8ZQLtvn8Rh0vhMs4h6oAW3Q5T3loPxzwIwbBeOZ9HoOuS22K7mM6OHCLGWQsOX_W10lx2KJuiZsvrKuW7c6p1CmEgCeo6s/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252862+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHG2mZvMaZ1KfFYqJuT9FpwQJ31i-ptqDaMnDq1q9eI929N8ZQLtvn8Rh0vhMs4h6oAW3Q5T3loPxzwIwbBeOZ9HoOuS22K7mM6OHCLGWQsOX_W10lx2KJuiZsvrKuW7c6p1CmEgCeo6s/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252862+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPhty4wE5kGiEgdi_e_BHIOx7CEwGIJN2WsloSHPks9dzT9kZXkHT2DGIM-gw3Cguiglps6I94FOQWOl1kmC-UrjtNExqDaaFrgJ7Y5ziFeL4rg-m9HI6zZkm6JAZTqzhl-ma7o3xalc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252863+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPhty4wE5kGiEgdi_e_BHIOx7CEwGIJN2WsloSHPks9dzT9kZXkHT2DGIM-gw3Cguiglps6I94FOQWOl1kmC-UrjtNExqDaaFrgJ7Y5ziFeL4rg-m9HI6zZkm6JAZTqzhl-ma7o3xalc/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252863+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPCqlFNhYAyboUIuoOHvddL50mWwCBYFwRtiZRQlAhGZVZpX3HBMrnYtgnFCyWImv01Kd3Mfim5-ZK3WvmExe4gjChbds3Mp_Gt0r3t02ysRZuwjquq-TnGZ7ZvR233OG5QaiB6jN2wQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252864+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPCqlFNhYAyboUIuoOHvddL50mWwCBYFwRtiZRQlAhGZVZpX3HBMrnYtgnFCyWImv01Kd3Mfim5-ZK3WvmExe4gjChbds3Mp_Gt0r3t02ysRZuwjquq-TnGZ7ZvR233OG5QaiB6jN2wQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252864+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL3gKuyhuaqlduFlimsWt_wfoIEkvWTIEkfuMgSrAgV5W0HAO18eDRUNqf53dbCB9UeWAHvy9uj7uxJ7S_ySLdPtLJSWmAkWmD62kB25C0zHRr2QFSuztSVvgSuM5ulVcVnzXEccg_Zo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252865+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL3gKuyhuaqlduFlimsWt_wfoIEkvWTIEkfuMgSrAgV5W0HAO18eDRUNqf53dbCB9UeWAHvy9uj7uxJ7S_ySLdPtLJSWmAkWmD62kB25C0zHRr2QFSuztSVvgSuM5ulVcVnzXEccg_Zo/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252865+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXI1RQPv_GJfNv4eS91YkqjJGA8VlhA5fckpHySajA9mP3MSkJZA3T7Dp-FI9OD6WT8UD0Ra2LvHeNFgF5Y7Dtb-7DNN-WdWsS0ABbQfg6nDyOgsCpacBy2TbjkgQftDWG9N3NKPv6Ss/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252866+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXI1RQPv_GJfNv4eS91YkqjJGA8VlhA5fckpHySajA9mP3MSkJZA3T7Dp-FI9OD6WT8UD0Ra2LvHeNFgF5Y7Dtb-7DNN-WdWsS0ABbQfg6nDyOgsCpacBy2TbjkgQftDWG9N3NKPv6Ss/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252866+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
If people haven’t been around our family much and then we spend time with them, inevitably there is a moment where they are watching you—your red hair in pigtails, your glasses, your raspy voice, your endless energy and spunk—and they’ll lean over to us and just say, “Man. THAT one!?” It’s a question and an exclamation of sorts. And yes, <i>that one, </i>YOU, are something to behold in all the best ways. When grown ups really find simple joy in life they often refer to that as “finding their inner child.” And I think that if you stripped everyone down to their raw, pure, most innocent “inner child”, it would be such a child as you are every single day, and I feel so lucky to spend those days with you, Nan Louise.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguociz83snbiyvrBPlKR3lWAJUJ2Rx00jDXHzn60cP7uYZ1Z-nDHgdxH1ashYTXyEP0L0qiiHH5OgWdFMY7zJ3moiSJM1AZgFMFh_ZHMrsskp3MQJ8WtAOL8w9bXKcyez3fip2DoDiInc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252867+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguociz83snbiyvrBPlKR3lWAJUJ2Rx00jDXHzn60cP7uYZ1Z-nDHgdxH1ashYTXyEP0L0qiiHH5OgWdFMY7zJ3moiSJM1AZgFMFh_ZHMrsskp3MQJ8WtAOL8w9bXKcyez3fip2DoDiInc/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252867+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PnIzNuvL0_yfp-x3P1O4htBLhXO-LITSBhD0qMudH-3n_h0QAoygMNVMIkYlPR00UBoZkcAQJPmaPyn1ufyNvHZ3UgAOigryDPX9L5waKD1z2l516M8tEkeRRCL8rWg29X4EBzIFk3s/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252868+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PnIzNuvL0_yfp-x3P1O4htBLhXO-LITSBhD0qMudH-3n_h0QAoygMNVMIkYlPR00UBoZkcAQJPmaPyn1ufyNvHZ3UgAOigryDPX9L5waKD1z2l516M8tEkeRRCL8rWg29X4EBzIFk3s/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252868+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZRa0IldNawjzAWzd3X_0w4JQr337tWnMWkksKvLRCNMKM9Rm1evEQuakBE0MzGglB6Y3fTUPTlqKLdT6it7CaEmQHT9p19IfrCWgcfU53FR7VWCTuW-j3lSFEv9_oMIbanKqRb2r2HI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252869+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZRa0IldNawjzAWzd3X_0w4JQr337tWnMWkksKvLRCNMKM9Rm1evEQuakBE0MzGglB6Y3fTUPTlqKLdT6it7CaEmQHT9p19IfrCWgcfU53FR7VWCTuW-j3lSFEv9_oMIbanKqRb2r2HI/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252869+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3d2_qEkadY6039Fc_HHk70Emem2AimyGLbZKTvrhTE3-KhamGL9jr5HQ05np2bgutzBYrobLrVZNxNv_GJYvTy5f_BrJIPM9d-FZ6678cC35YoiK2Qd_nERHs5ZT8YiEqwJz3t3OImw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252870+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3d2_qEkadY6039Fc_HHk70Emem2AimyGLbZKTvrhTE3-KhamGL9jr5HQ05np2bgutzBYrobLrVZNxNv_GJYvTy5f_BrJIPM9d-FZ6678cC35YoiK2Qd_nERHs5ZT8YiEqwJz3t3OImw/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252870+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">As I have ended all birthday letters, I want to end this one to you, sweet Nan, as well: We hope you understand the </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">why </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that is was God's daily bread that provided it all.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.4067px;">Here's to the next year with you, Nan!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.4067px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimE07267HnSe6Tpg0kM6q3D1y1XcGZsASbd13_iQRZ7PLjzbU03NOmfZNRnr25vvqgJEajIBlspvwM-lph6k3PGubGTQhN7sJbW35cVZ0_TAWKUwIhlhGdDMFBFfk_wlOaTvz9U_aT-Y4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252871+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimE07267HnSe6Tpg0kM6q3D1y1XcGZsASbd13_iQRZ7PLjzbU03NOmfZNRnr25vvqgJEajIBlspvwM-lph6k3PGubGTQhN7sJbW35cVZ0_TAWKUwIhlhGdDMFBFfk_wlOaTvz9U_aT-Y4/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252871+of+73%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHg9GOGnh_qpYJiOO_mGWJLa8pPzWCOBKkf8LUGhDDVAEo-1Pe4rWHpV9KtHVPvcxgfDE4GdCkvoQwM41GN0wO0OMK7Alufbm_e1dfPCA1KOonTLzKtBW-QqVAzOJnBTntzV6fKtd5FU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252872+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHg9GOGnh_qpYJiOO_mGWJLa8pPzWCOBKkf8LUGhDDVAEo-1Pe4rWHpV9KtHVPvcxgfDE4GdCkvoQwM41GN0wO0OMK7Alufbm_e1dfPCA1KOonTLzKtBW-QqVAzOJnBTntzV6fKtd5FU/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252872+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS0MD2-RoQePZnTbfSbOEP_rScFjl_HTZsOjX4MAUUDBbf_0kz-BFM0F6XDulGjndk2MeTGN_ZHxGKUYhQYJh2nWkyQGu5VH_oe9YQPTeK7EYiOTxmdJo6l-se9wfHa1XylpDzcWNgLU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography+%252873+of+73%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS0MD2-RoQePZnTbfSbOEP_rScFjl_HTZsOjX4MAUUDBbf_0kz-BFM0F6XDulGjndk2MeTGN_ZHxGKUYhQYJh2nWkyQGu5VH_oe9YQPTeK7EYiOTxmdJo6l-se9wfHa1XylpDzcWNgLU/s640/KIrwinPhotography+%252873+of+73%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy third birthday, Nan!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is nothing you could ever do that will keep us from loving you. </div>
kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-55910656573872338982019-03-31T15:53:00.002-04:002019-04-03T21:03:08.882-04:00SEVEN<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDzQVxGBfEBDF99HrgFGBKIvsXh6BM7-v4R8yCko_z7lKHXGcRnnlUdUVDgSE9JPTrJJzT-1x-5KVVcY2GvFOm5pRJaxGvAy_8zHg5sr554t9vf2AKSO5dE7qBcTNtgI4NJ5neJCn47U/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDzQVxGBfEBDF99HrgFGBKIvsXh6BM7-v4R8yCko_z7lKHXGcRnnlUdUVDgSE9JPTrJJzT-1x-5KVVcY2GvFOm5pRJaxGvAy_8zHg5sr554t9vf2AKSO5dE7qBcTNtgI4NJ5neJCn47U/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4262.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uXr02BG9S4KhRRZIlFCZkf-eB9O7EAB_0JNr3DhVlePxYWMIa_sARLwjak-qh56ojuXzmoz8MLWs4xqnT3nGPHnk1IcPq14LDIFSO6N6zcqCFyUpyCyyIH6MWu9_dOWhQGsKYZViIjk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uXr02BG9S4KhRRZIlFCZkf-eB9O7EAB_0JNr3DhVlePxYWMIa_sARLwjak-qh56ojuXzmoz8MLWs4xqnT3nGPHnk1IcPq14LDIFSO6N6zcqCFyUpyCyyIH6MWu9_dOWhQGsKYZViIjk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4150.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWAbzHj8lmUiJFKU3erNj2kS0KA4WRODEG0gd7aweq-Q_M8gaAbNY7zZOzntNiid4PSnVkJAT_2HyDTDj6InwoFjM9iOMjwFwta8pwodvjxJAS_rLbqv-NcbXvNoRRdpUAzs4ctcaTds/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWAbzHj8lmUiJFKU3erNj2kS0KA4WRODEG0gd7aweq-Q_M8gaAbNY7zZOzntNiid4PSnVkJAT_2HyDTDj6InwoFjM9iOMjwFwta8pwodvjxJAS_rLbqv-NcbXvNoRRdpUAzs4ctcaTds/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4078.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRGQ2WYRQmHoOinp0dRSXR_9kHH4WgwQ6LWr-PN7LRTmk4_xzpro4ymziBkRfClWbyWni8wehdSrS_kG1RzjAOwf9D4vlmqC84s0Dn1UqH2kXy_7q4ooT74hMdo2Et1wf8wmQXFqJcp4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRGQ2WYRQmHoOinp0dRSXR_9kHH4WgwQ6LWr-PN7LRTmk4_xzpro4ymziBkRfClWbyWni8wehdSrS_kG1RzjAOwf9D4vlmqC84s0Dn1UqH2kXy_7q4ooT74hMdo2Et1wf8wmQXFqJcp4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4210.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM11BCiKRKC19hRSGeqQ_rFM88cvdz6-mgchHk8oOI0z8BjlCG7ukp0YdnTSv2j1ubo7VEjiI2o56iAo1bMVWlMeA_0uKhtzO-EJbxI9oEhgjGsL2v320g56jOUkdDt3LVEyhMN8aN2a0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM11BCiKRKC19hRSGeqQ_rFM88cvdz6-mgchHk8oOI0z8BjlCG7ukp0YdnTSv2j1ubo7VEjiI2o56iAo1bMVWlMeA_0uKhtzO-EJbxI9oEhgjGsL2v320g56jOUkdDt3LVEyhMN8aN2a0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4202.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuh9twTqsKy4t7lewgaJgaPPbOR1cNvlSdT1j__I7-JDhhbTThZakXwrzy1yZqghOAFh5eE2DqoYOmLp2thKGUQ6Ig4EIvW9cEk3bCaym0CWSDCzdn3NBNuthf5LnlltOkUe-9htBYh4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuh9twTqsKy4t7lewgaJgaPPbOR1cNvlSdT1j__I7-JDhhbTThZakXwrzy1yZqghOAFh5eE2DqoYOmLp2thKGUQ6Ig4EIvW9cEk3bCaym0CWSDCzdn3NBNuthf5LnlltOkUe-9htBYh4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4178.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthU1mqhvJ70qALXhQwkQPOrNO21UJqwbMoZZV_so6LvrMihQyBBfIptpAug-SNoxiwron4irWIJfbkZxXkvUoL-liB-nOkD-dBoCSVrZ9bhHPXqj52JLgltdPrZX0hxvvVdkPDWXbZ6o/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthU1mqhvJ70qALXhQwkQPOrNO21UJqwbMoZZV_so6LvrMihQyBBfIptpAug-SNoxiwron4irWIJfbkZxXkvUoL-liB-nOkD-dBoCSVrZ9bhHPXqj52JLgltdPrZX0hxvvVdkPDWXbZ6o/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4323.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6laXHh0vRpx-BdQKAKEzPSDkjyfOO8QDGg7wAWEeW8-CRFHvy2q-OQ2iU2lY-ZXwDU0ZR4ZAgaOOtRi9biU8YN8OJc6Spdl9aloF5Jh8yO_P2BJK48M7jW-BgI70fP_Ky5qvrwuhvHw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4401-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6laXHh0vRpx-BdQKAKEzPSDkjyfOO8QDGg7wAWEeW8-CRFHvy2q-OQ2iU2lY-ZXwDU0ZR4ZAgaOOtRi9biU8YN8OJc6Spdl9aloF5Jh8yO_P2BJK48M7jW-BgI70fP_Ky5qvrwuhvHw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4401-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To my dear, sweet Blythe Kathleen,<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seven years ago when they laid you on my chest your hands were still a little purple and your eyes where a little puffy. You were so quiet there against my skin—so impossibly small and fresh. Those next few days were a blur of figuring out how to get you buckled up in your car seat without breaking your tiny arms and legs that refused to stretch out in the right directions, and figuring out how to keep your lethargic-little-self awake for feedings, and figuring out how you best liked to sleep. I don’t think I could see much past the next hour, let alone year. But if I could have, and I would have stepped out of the haze of those newborn days and moments with you and dreamed about the little girl I would want you to be at seven, I don’t know I could have pictured you to be as wonderful as you are right now.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflB4131o0edsK7UG6h9m1ICSuX7MjWdrvdAivJQQTbWqJM46EorIDs-l88aOcpOa3NyEGGifaYcBjEaIiSpJ2yHHNbEEbnR0D32dEcTMjSAG97R0VrY-Xbx5lzAwlw5PGcb8URnVN7Zo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflB4131o0edsK7UG6h9m1ICSuX7MjWdrvdAivJQQTbWqJM46EorIDs-l88aOcpOa3NyEGGifaYcBjEaIiSpJ2yHHNbEEbnR0D32dEcTMjSAG97R0VrY-Xbx5lzAwlw5PGcb8URnVN7Zo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4065.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DzljYh8WMPkPToHoIctLC65zTKdpTugv095r4i7AhyhoW6mAFoeltoEV8BIlh8MCewtmXIKTkWdjqHy_vJurUVm1QmHE99goWYPT0O_41iA3N7OFMf_O0Yygx2_gKCzqxVCt9WjXtyY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DzljYh8WMPkPToHoIctLC65zTKdpTugv095r4i7AhyhoW6mAFoeltoEV8BIlh8MCewtmXIKTkWdjqHy_vJurUVm1QmHE99goWYPT0O_41iA3N7OFMf_O0Yygx2_gKCzqxVCt9WjXtyY/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4072.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApB6pvybqTArBcn6YZo_2IT7OXNhyphenhyphenU1kSHTyTu82hLt7A3f84zMKciNIeX7PsnbZfSTsVKIJoUnT0MyDIk2hlDHyI6IZVaDFUw_fDR1V_ckSA_pr9sf7pHvHaqv2wAGWZAgkizbFIz5E/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApB6pvybqTArBcn6YZo_2IT7OXNhyphenhyphenU1kSHTyTu82hLt7A3f84zMKciNIeX7PsnbZfSTsVKIJoUnT0MyDIk2hlDHyI6IZVaDFUw_fDR1V_ckSA_pr9sf7pHvHaqv2wAGWZAgkizbFIz5E/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4089.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdR3ccCEKlsgtzgkxdsoFEMzZ2nIVR9fWX6TXfB4of1_s5l07xxZFk7QejWGCr5sAa5jWTkok8xWpMvwkn96G62aZXGDtn-tVwEQkKc2hJIYLVfWHfjGuwqo-FF6J1WixtM6OOOOGW_Y/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdR3ccCEKlsgtzgkxdsoFEMzZ2nIVR9fWX6TXfB4of1_s5l07xxZFk7QejWGCr5sAa5jWTkok8xWpMvwkn96G62aZXGDtn-tVwEQkKc2hJIYLVfWHfjGuwqo-FF6J1WixtM6OOOOGW_Y/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4098.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJuatgpW1S2Rf3-dz7yFnXtlRip-GUYRpG09S0LrtwbYvX-6HqohM6gclgnzjSXzNHlwP7ZBDpsauKM654ZEBz6jXT9UKOcsqgUFgUFm75rLjLEtJZcQk1XyShcIdf3_3xTuzukg6Cj8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJuatgpW1S2Rf3-dz7yFnXtlRip-GUYRpG09S0LrtwbYvX-6HqohM6gclgnzjSXzNHlwP7ZBDpsauKM654ZEBz6jXT9UKOcsqgUFgUFm75rLjLEtJZcQk1XyShcIdf3_3xTuzukg6Cj8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4102.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cjE-XE4vk-6B_pP5D2XnD1krakV6jMQtQbCTCnNXqITXOYDxL01TYYdeMRQRGqzvJVmMBx9RlJIOhlrjP4lMQOmFzEc-Ku1S2vwHjxF07D5BLppgXhouWKXUG-36joqxyEfkIXdCnuI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cjE-XE4vk-6B_pP5D2XnD1krakV6jMQtQbCTCnNXqITXOYDxL01TYYdeMRQRGqzvJVmMBx9RlJIOhlrjP4lMQOmFzEc-Ku1S2vwHjxF07D5BLppgXhouWKXUG-36joqxyEfkIXdCnuI/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4109.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeFdlffle95-fwzgB-_Dw9sWztzn38o4FC5EHbFiZSwZIvWBzsX-vrim5p_9h-c54OW4EJfay_b7YrJ_1b6AxwsI_UtqMfKY3AWnu-UtPkf34Fi911DvNBbUUdpR6_wReyJyvLEUW1iA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeFdlffle95-fwzgB-_Dw9sWztzn38o4FC5EHbFiZSwZIvWBzsX-vrim5p_9h-c54OW4EJfay_b7YrJ_1b6AxwsI_UtqMfKY3AWnu-UtPkf34Fi911DvNBbUUdpR6_wReyJyvLEUW1iA/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4105.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72qKDVe08HOPaeAsothM8E64MjpO2_qzFoX7hv2WHYAVYa83fsz4aAB36Qg1VAjmc0L0-iqA290wC0IWmojM7OFwsdBixhotbbKZj1uGX6dWN8eSz5FjqFbpW3prccfFl-Dqbwlb6ews/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4112-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72qKDVe08HOPaeAsothM8E64MjpO2_qzFoX7hv2WHYAVYa83fsz4aAB36Qg1VAjmc0L0-iqA290wC0IWmojM7OFwsdBixhotbbKZj1uGX6dWN8eSz5FjqFbpW3prccfFl-Dqbwlb6ews/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4112-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMKMVch7md-HM4z4-GiM5mz-_BJ5OmxySXwmsukFQgCNPfoKID-I7G-T96hJRDqDKNtVrTKWbf0EnsImu_X09xHtrPs3MhLSqjsaX106nORQkysIpuwuL_ZEayBh-qFj0s0gsUyg8j_M/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMKMVch7md-HM4z4-GiM5mz-_BJ5OmxySXwmsukFQgCNPfoKID-I7G-T96hJRDqDKNtVrTKWbf0EnsImu_X09xHtrPs3MhLSqjsaX106nORQkysIpuwuL_ZEayBh-qFj0s0gsUyg8j_M/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4123.jpg" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkn1QAfJAkU-dZ9z4Cdvwkba66-8tabxNuRpLHRmRgDppg8YkijmiSxzC2w7lMGv2BxqHbB3F_6q_6LlUmle1IbhjbwAU96VwwfOqTOFmyWyhGe3CqCPL9a0atNHcA3kK61E11GIFPXY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkn1QAfJAkU-dZ9z4Cdvwkba66-8tabxNuRpLHRmRgDppg8YkijmiSxzC2w7lMGv2BxqHbB3F_6q_6LlUmle1IbhjbwAU96VwwfOqTOFmyWyhGe3CqCPL9a0atNHcA3kK61E11GIFPXY/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4120.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS28TrNp1ZS5y-pGx_ID62GkOdLomd0cVUexDVP5Wf_FxmUSky0rjJrIWgq2mAoUXKdibvKGtUwjPrBkDQfo47GfRt7yyXNug4P1453vUz1e2ZQL0HNBrD1FlTJGK2DhMgI5n6RFQQ2Y/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS28TrNp1ZS5y-pGx_ID62GkOdLomd0cVUexDVP5Wf_FxmUSky0rjJrIWgq2mAoUXKdibvKGtUwjPrBkDQfo47GfRt7yyXNug4P1453vUz1e2ZQL0HNBrD1FlTJGK2DhMgI5n6RFQQ2Y/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4124.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s no secret I love the toddler stage. When you were two and three, I was a little sad to think of you being older. Your pudgy hands would thin out and need me less. You would stop saying “aminals” and “good job-ob”. But in those toddler days what I didn’t know was that, yes, you would stop doing some things, but you would also start doing so many more. You would read and you would understand sarcasm [an important gifting for anyone in my life ;)], and you would be able to play games and throw a ball and care for your siblings in incredible ways. I should have realized what I’ve seen to be true throughout my life: we let things go, but new things grow in their place. Our God is a God of abundance and not lack.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so here we are at SEVEN. And while you don’t say “aminals” every time [it still sneaks in occasionally], you are still the two year old, the three year old…all the ages you’ve ever been… in this great seven year old package. And we are enjoying our time with you so much.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUp-a_OBV9eEEP0L_W2Onf64dNoFLuYRVxpe0oSklfNm8g36CESD2qiTM_Y6zCr5uUimjy8-cgmq0ziIuaFsc3aMF8KL7b7nX5Dp45eWWxqJSXrTYfNME-BHRUHAZHdB2awTNW5FFWrY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUp-a_OBV9eEEP0L_W2Onf64dNoFLuYRVxpe0oSklfNm8g36CESD2qiTM_Y6zCr5uUimjy8-cgmq0ziIuaFsc3aMF8KL7b7nX5Dp45eWWxqJSXrTYfNME-BHRUHAZHdB2awTNW5FFWrY/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4125.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FMKTarvwVQXLD18vYvhHDhEOGRmZC-RccsUlTwJSM9Qu4-0BIBLrZPtXDBS77x0Qxhy57aPSW9nBvncFlR2UA5P7DJw1sZ7zGEN7uHCvIq4IUw-VaCQqQvJcspj9wWhvSoHJqzs22Mo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FMKTarvwVQXLD18vYvhHDhEOGRmZC-RccsUlTwJSM9Qu4-0BIBLrZPtXDBS77x0Qxhy57aPSW9nBvncFlR2UA5P7DJw1sZ7zGEN7uHCvIq4IUw-VaCQqQvJcspj9wWhvSoHJqzs22Mo/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4131.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1NPV_FebGN0S5qUCwG3TmzM7aqD76hKnSbr12u0xoEvb1SmgzAIOBXhFY_q7-ms5Qd-lHedEhIwgdaz_s-3jf1HC1xvSPknzcGHUctMnh6-pvlVKFgNc4GoL8oy3ZM4WWWy2VHmLM8M/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1NPV_FebGN0S5qUCwG3TmzM7aqD76hKnSbr12u0xoEvb1SmgzAIOBXhFY_q7-ms5Qd-lHedEhIwgdaz_s-3jf1HC1xvSPknzcGHUctMnh6-pvlVKFgNc4GoL8oy3ZM4WWWy2VHmLM8M/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4143.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiIUBUUi1nvji5BErPfQvE4Ti5clP66rpbMUc1MXKDk6ZJwqrzrNdpwQTOILd-4qnI8AmF4Hy_mODvBuB-QJCFHHGFQzQNED4bEa2xgh51UwkpGcvknMpb2iB5SEGwlI3cdZ8Yo_-w80/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiIUBUUi1nvji5BErPfQvE4Ti5clP66rpbMUc1MXKDk6ZJwqrzrNdpwQTOILd-4qnI8AmF4Hy_mODvBuB-QJCFHHGFQzQNED4bEa2xgh51UwkpGcvknMpb2iB5SEGwlI3cdZ8Yo_-w80/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4144.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAShhVOla1_1nIOBPmVBtt7vdd2cB_TXKHK1HLTo9fjA910LSIMB9Yb1p240FFW7RMaLRuZ-fXZKUKDw1UYB4dGpWD4KrBwe4OTJCoev6mMhqwSxNvnnOtrcCRIC0qS-s7pRyW0VRm2o/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4150-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAShhVOla1_1nIOBPmVBtt7vdd2cB_TXKHK1HLTo9fjA910LSIMB9Yb1p240FFW7RMaLRuZ-fXZKUKDw1UYB4dGpWD4KrBwe4OTJCoev6mMhqwSxNvnnOtrcCRIC0qS-s7pRyW0VRm2o/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4150-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5iHRdT6eDptT_mke9nfP8iH71sd6rUjGavIsit6s9cBSShyphenhyphenBaZACxb3RJLypm7cACVdstVjHnusj3hVfLKx_qUbNKi-9MtMaprZ2d76Z92l35HQbA2rk1cbmhizndZ4BpV6TJ8Rjz-U/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5iHRdT6eDptT_mke9nfP8iH71sd6rUjGavIsit6s9cBSShyphenhyphenBaZACxb3RJLypm7cACVdstVjHnusj3hVfLKx_qUbNKi-9MtMaprZ2d76Z92l35HQbA2rk1cbmhizndZ4BpV6TJ8Rjz-U/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4154.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This year your reading just sky-rocketed. I love to listen to you read—you read with such inflections and enthusiasm. You enjoy school and adore your teacher. You’ve had so many snow days this school year [it’s been a crazy winter!], and you were always so torn, saying you wanted to be at school but you liked being home playing with your sisters too. Once again you are a great friend, and you love all your special classes. You’re especially excited about your music program this year, and you get to start piano lessons soon. I don’t know what exactly you do at recess, but I know that you do not have a single pair of jeans that do not have holes in the knees, so whatever happens I know you’re going hard. Every day you bring either a peanut butter or ham and cheese sandwich—you’re still a pretty picky eater but your love for cheese and sweets runs deep. This school year has seemed to fly by, and yet I know it was packed full with so much learning for you. I truly am amazed at how much first graders learn! You also started riding the bus this year—it was another letting go for me. It seemed way scarier to me than it was in actuality, and your new bus driver actually stopped at our house during the summer to introduce herself to you and me. She was the best! She gave everyone a treat once a week as a “thanks for being great!” She was one in a million and such a good way for both of us to ease into the bus-riding situation. And then we moved across town and you had to switch drivers. You’re the first one off…but they have forgotten to stop twice! And you handled that pretty well, all things considered. You said, “I got to ride the whole way with [your friend] Addy, and she lives way far away by the wind-wheels [windmills] and has a chicken hoop [coop]!” Everything is an adventure waiting to happen for you, and I couldn’t love that more.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UzV48gMpg1R3ZN7q3HKykolpbmangQOQSr3JYTpX4sxR6OZz1USOFvF4NUVDP4xTCpPXgVGmvJdwO4cjWr2haP600zj7QdbDlWR0vXfwOZQfrFs5uNUFUGp-QEVjTTTnTsqhOF3nndc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UzV48gMpg1R3ZN7q3HKykolpbmangQOQSr3JYTpX4sxR6OZz1USOFvF4NUVDP4xTCpPXgVGmvJdwO4cjWr2haP600zj7QdbDlWR0vXfwOZQfrFs5uNUFUGp-QEVjTTTnTsqhOF3nndc/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4173.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QGNr4p6tvvxzZCJ7FmJgjt1OxuNZGo7a-vZZWdQcCgmET0OCXtMDh1uExUSTWlV7CDXQmo3d_zVyYk3Y6BU_r1g3XHlPEW_wPylHLorNMYrkC81Z8zPc4g42DC5VHn14FR7o9c8xNLo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QGNr4p6tvvxzZCJ7FmJgjt1OxuNZGo7a-vZZWdQcCgmET0OCXtMDh1uExUSTWlV7CDXQmo3d_zVyYk3Y6BU_r1g3XHlPEW_wPylHLorNMYrkC81Z8zPc4g42DC5VHn14FR7o9c8xNLo/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4175.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPIn8l4xAaPWNOyigyWv4cTtx9TBqDN2g8k2HWNctB3K_KddeYckxu9hpCzUy64L8rQW3XvqBZxpjEvzajN_3pAO_1EHMzS5X4GSBANbdtFBA0lFhtKBViDYpJHKQsszac4az5tjC8co/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPIn8l4xAaPWNOyigyWv4cTtx9TBqDN2g8k2HWNctB3K_KddeYckxu9hpCzUy64L8rQW3XvqBZxpjEvzajN_3pAO_1EHMzS5X4GSBANbdtFBA0lFhtKBViDYpJHKQsszac4az5tjC8co/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4182.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK738i5G7A7s8l9pk_o-Qp171FT_pvONFUR4jk1XSuGWUNAmMhUMTTosGNl9M9_Qmv5LIVPdjhpOf4q4V7hd4Rw4s2dJHSQ7tOFheUUslKC5DglcY1DGfTBkV_Qydagf5QN6aL2HXBT3k/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK738i5G7A7s8l9pk_o-Qp171FT_pvONFUR4jk1XSuGWUNAmMhUMTTosGNl9M9_Qmv5LIVPdjhpOf4q4V7hd4Rw4s2dJHSQ7tOFheUUslKC5DglcY1DGfTBkV_Qydagf5QN6aL2HXBT3k/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4179.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Jpw-B7tDwoCh8g1F8reMQzkA9oH_yks40bJGh0_PxNeGJp1SHH9RB914iUFNQ4UJGysUL8UFH1u-wSLmUioecoqjao9tE9GnyD7eDZw7aetPfn1AN24LnbVGgq51MFKigjzP7dLurAU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4202-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Jpw-B7tDwoCh8g1F8reMQzkA9oH_yks40bJGh0_PxNeGJp1SHH9RB914iUFNQ4UJGysUL8UFH1u-wSLmUioecoqjao9tE9GnyD7eDZw7aetPfn1AN24LnbVGgq51MFKigjzP7dLurAU/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4202-2.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_YFQxnrb4IClcwzE8FrYD6ToBToGWNHKpUKCmSJ7S6q51KGufIf_dh38QIK2YkTskWJjelXgm9ziJnB15xhZAU9T07BemRWHnQ_BmqNTyUVIs9B5Q9qBan4yu-ACRZcgvau2w63r66w/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_YFQxnrb4IClcwzE8FrYD6ToBToGWNHKpUKCmSJ7S6q51KGufIf_dh38QIK2YkTskWJjelXgm9ziJnB15xhZAU9T07BemRWHnQ_BmqNTyUVIs9B5Q9qBan4yu-ACRZcgvau2w63r66w/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4196.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsdm-Lz64PsnQdR9tz_4Ag-UIhOTVW8ww1RHxAdgq0S4eXWbJD-DyJ3vpVVGQ6iPNQ3yPEzR40vC8GpNGXX1WicOp6NIPBu3odODi3xIBIHJAtoa8CZJ8QAEZOQxWpN7tQIdq_Onti-8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsdm-Lz64PsnQdR9tz_4Ag-UIhOTVW8ww1RHxAdgq0S4eXWbJD-DyJ3vpVVGQ6iPNQ3yPEzR40vC8GpNGXX1WicOp6NIPBu3odODi3xIBIHJAtoa8CZJ8QAEZOQxWpN7tQIdq_Onti-8/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4216.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgAeMZHvLdM8GS-Pw3qCPThkAIwWGPJMwtDB3UVn9whlYHLSULeeJQUmZEajI-KzR0HlSCLj-j_J0oXAZtPlx6vkqDYZZ2ymgik2V_F5FjU9XgoRNy01H8sYuwZTrfvryhoEM34e0Vvk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgAeMZHvLdM8GS-Pw3qCPThkAIwWGPJMwtDB3UVn9whlYHLSULeeJQUmZEajI-KzR0HlSCLj-j_J0oXAZtPlx6vkqDYZZ2ymgik2V_F5FjU9XgoRNy01H8sYuwZTrfvryhoEM34e0Vvk/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4220.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTtaw6JliyKKYhmsGUspJ1iG5jw-KzyQ8RTAiFe4unJzvxCqmBqWPy8YYsdjsY5GCiFpuB5qH95jXMYo4kxJ4nMl69HknE9O2iabjbLRhay6VKy9rO_TZJ0GQ6jP5wV2OjFiNZZdqY6s/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTtaw6JliyKKYhmsGUspJ1iG5jw-KzyQ8RTAiFe4unJzvxCqmBqWPy8YYsdjsY5GCiFpuB5qH95jXMYo4kxJ4nMl69HknE9O2iabjbLRhay6VKy9rO_TZJ0GQ6jP5wV2OjFiNZZdqY6s/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4226.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdB6SyUsGrXFaIUFi3anaYeP_JhBXG9Ci47KO7q2gzLsja0YrAE-BDlNZdNbY1mkwVGx-vnGbHogYmWeGZqFseCaMjZOPQ24WdFHBe3_7SBAnv9piRMPrOm6b5Tbcy3_TRO9KFsrY4RU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdB6SyUsGrXFaIUFi3anaYeP_JhBXG9Ci47KO7q2gzLsja0YrAE-BDlNZdNbY1mkwVGx-vnGbHogYmWeGZqFseCaMjZOPQ24WdFHBe3_7SBAnv9piRMPrOm6b5Tbcy3_TRO9KFsrY4RU/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4227.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ebRgBNeUFiNV2HbmSznFfEtCneiKXIet3U1BhdXRP9Hl3xr2eykhSyiKANAqflNVDsfI3cPIV76Kh-asnyvZS0fr-ysBXyCpUPpxfAwv7LfYhxo1T0014tuqGuSA_qan0oBuJlN44AQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ebRgBNeUFiNV2HbmSznFfEtCneiKXIet3U1BhdXRP9Hl3xr2eykhSyiKANAqflNVDsfI3cPIV76Kh-asnyvZS0fr-ysBXyCpUPpxfAwv7LfYhxo1T0014tuqGuSA_qan0oBuJlN44AQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4233.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Yes, we moved across town this year…and you got a new sibling! And you, dear Blythe, never—NOT ONE TIME—missed a beat. I do not say this lightly, but I truly think you were our glue through all these changes this year. My pregnancy with your brother was not an easy one, but I had <i>you </i>throughout the summer to help…and help you did. When Sloan arrived, you entertained sisters, or held him, or did whatever was asked of you as we transitioned to a family of six. Your enthusiasm to have a baby brother was contagious for everyone. And then just two months later we moved across town. That morning I dropped you off at Nana and Papa’s and that afternoon Nana brought you all to the new house. And that was that. You ran through the new spaces, piled high with boxes and furniture, and squealed with joy. That night you crawled in your bed and everyone followed suit and everyone slept soundly. The next few months brought a huge remodeling project, with workers in and out of our house. Not only did you act like this was per usual, but you learned their names and enjoyed watching them work. Those few months were hard for your dad and I, but you sincerely never floundered, and neither did your sisters or brother. It was another adventure for you, and each day was just as joyful as the last. You handled change better than I ever have in my entire life, and it truly helped me through that season of chaos.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAxM_DVKQSL-DVQhclm7kVj85WllWywHbAHLANqrgq684U2CR33TsrvAgVncS6fj6c0wIl96-O8Kv_HHdYoAOyxZSSJcitlnZ2kDpEfijSRAhlxSWwZUa3188xKIyyVLc-RyzyJOO3RQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAxM_DVKQSL-DVQhclm7kVj85WllWywHbAHLANqrgq684U2CR33TsrvAgVncS6fj6c0wIl96-O8Kv_HHdYoAOyxZSSJcitlnZ2kDpEfijSRAhlxSWwZUa3188xKIyyVLc-RyzyJOO3RQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4229.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8PzWYx36eGG5Xk-8rR5tckuoempOXxAAoQ6h4eIjxGdkXYGZTzYEfYy5m1CDyKP_t_6C2czq_zeqq-QAb5rIGaeLCwws4ecwRSvr7OEDMFJw44mg4h3yHrBx3vn3o7T3HERT5B60Yps/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8PzWYx36eGG5Xk-8rR5tckuoempOXxAAoQ6h4eIjxGdkXYGZTzYEfYy5m1CDyKP_t_6C2czq_zeqq-QAb5rIGaeLCwws4ecwRSvr7OEDMFJw44mg4h3yHrBx3vn3o7T3HERT5B60Yps/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4240.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8TDHLVZzDMy7tXgOol_CCvLS83sWtJI3o7sI4xGFMIdBYy213-SJaNYSMnNbr7u55y87zicowFMdSeGM0C4LHEUUTrMMCCTPieqlCqI_OJAf2XaWLuAx8oA0LVWMWbaGgEESXUmeDGk/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8TDHLVZzDMy7tXgOol_CCvLS83sWtJI3o7sI4xGFMIdBYy213-SJaNYSMnNbr7u55y87zicowFMdSeGM0C4LHEUUTrMMCCTPieqlCqI_OJAf2XaWLuAx8oA0LVWMWbaGgEESXUmeDGk/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4244.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiha-_p3JmbQDtxzbUlW8svJeXCs4P_0Xs3lkDWGxpaUa6oRTKzrDczhTnt9-qknjYPgD5-Zbd2a74S1xU5c-iFGoP8-CAzHlHOmfe18sKG9DmXqQL0KOoGP4z2ySriDMwST1FJh45bXI0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiha-_p3JmbQDtxzbUlW8svJeXCs4P_0Xs3lkDWGxpaUa6oRTKzrDczhTnt9-qknjYPgD5-Zbd2a74S1xU5c-iFGoP8-CAzHlHOmfe18sKG9DmXqQL0KOoGP4z2ySriDMwST1FJh45bXI0/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4250.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJaD5sdYebmHggFcjj912vaVjodcJdbqpDk8vmpmWaEzGCUZCgXQSWHBqMQ35qkk4Cu5ktu19CLfyIf3G7ZIrv9Jn-W6Vp80CM-YbLGJ8_6w85Fls93PLxW_j_qjn3RQf-ThGT5U8wkw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJaD5sdYebmHggFcjj912vaVjodcJdbqpDk8vmpmWaEzGCUZCgXQSWHBqMQ35qkk4Cu5ktu19CLfyIf3G7ZIrv9Jn-W6Vp80CM-YbLGJ8_6w85Fls93PLxW_j_qjn3RQf-ThGT5U8wkw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4255.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckr6rhIlKN6xVszZl_VRBkTEGSGcwXYeTavzcmi7kny-ZNuApX4GpxyRvP3fGEN2nFQM_Q9U9OJ9rEEyTgHKaDY_k7zVJ7IRzSnOUO5yQs-spXZmV0C2qeD-VRouFIDOJkpz_ipVbAGs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckr6rhIlKN6xVszZl_VRBkTEGSGcwXYeTavzcmi7kny-ZNuApX4GpxyRvP3fGEN2nFQM_Q9U9OJ9rEEyTgHKaDY_k7zVJ7IRzSnOUO5yQs-spXZmV0C2qeD-VRouFIDOJkpz_ipVbAGs/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4256.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS19iOrvfoyPNNEKJMcVOQUXWXn71eYA5TkbX8FOOjxSy_aRn1ggS6aYilTyazzigNDXD6ioWMlvGFmC7506dwFcAROoqglLL007bpPGviMjBXELUOgE3_bsGaHjShmcg-ZYMWBuM31C4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS19iOrvfoyPNNEKJMcVOQUXWXn71eYA5TkbX8FOOjxSy_aRn1ggS6aYilTyazzigNDXD6ioWMlvGFmC7506dwFcAROoqglLL007bpPGviMjBXELUOgE3_bsGaHjShmcg-ZYMWBuM31C4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4260.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiLadhXtIM_9YFKa6qhkpxs-djozwk_vc9tcgwDXa3DMJdGCyzhOQkd8q8b7P2UG3C8WWVdPDyRYGZxFlQRRd7N0yEiMbvLc2pqlnYuATnt1nHx9jqT_9nGgLz2J-gya3GEMwDFvUkUE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiLadhXtIM_9YFKa6qhkpxs-djozwk_vc9tcgwDXa3DMJdGCyzhOQkd8q8b7P2UG3C8WWVdPDyRYGZxFlQRRd7N0yEiMbvLc2pqlnYuATnt1nHx9jqT_9nGgLz2J-gya3GEMwDFvUkUE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4263.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_OMEcq86mZ4lVX3HvG31A2Y_WzSYvckA_QToaHTNtFpPURTx-QZhmM1jy-QXcsQK8l2_98udsR4RFMTAD0RG4CbqozDHozZWZPY6ADbcCdIRh4c-QgIUs9WR8QN6g7LfoQ8TsZWecpg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_OMEcq86mZ4lVX3HvG31A2Y_WzSYvckA_QToaHTNtFpPURTx-QZhmM1jy-QXcsQK8l2_98udsR4RFMTAD0RG4CbqozDHozZWZPY6ADbcCdIRh4c-QgIUs9WR8QN6g7LfoQ8TsZWecpg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4264.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPgtZOEKjntsJcmTvI8E4R29vkexZfL-SUQuz0d0kFwXMfyLvX9hsyJJy88JjyV06yk1f9Jm7F5Voxg17hzpCXs_3zXnzOoDk7v0sn05_EPlpE1wUjguS9v5E3y5gsfHFMfVCO3M6Nxg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPgtZOEKjntsJcmTvI8E4R29vkexZfL-SUQuz0d0kFwXMfyLvX9hsyJJy88JjyV06yk1f9Jm7F5Voxg17hzpCXs_3zXnzOoDk7v0sn05_EPlpE1wUjguS9v5E3y5gsfHFMfVCO3M6Nxg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4273.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
And you adore Sloan. I had no doubt you would, but some mornings you crawl in his crib and hold him and sing to him and I just am overwhelmed at what a caring soul you have. And you’re so capable with him. You know just what he needs and cater to him so well. When you were just two you became a big sister, and you were kind and caring to Becks then, and I knew you’d have a special bond. Then along came Nan and, it was funny, because Nan didn’t want to give Becks the time of day but she immediately knew you were a trusted ally and calmed in your presence. Now Sloan is the same way. You just have something in your soul that babies know they can trust, I suppose.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You, Becks, and I are currently reading through the Little House on the Prairie series, and you have fallen in love with them. You and Becks slip into your Mary and Laura roles frequently throughout the day. You have bonnets and lanterns and just the other day I heard you telling her you “MUST thresh the wheat!” One Sunday you wanted to wear your bonnet to church, so of course we let you. I hope you always are passionate about the things you love, and that even if bonnets [or whatever it may be] aren’t in style, that you still wear them with abandon!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUE9XngPJTRaSi4tL2GF6Fdk-2RDKLfvqCtzhFWsFZ8ipBAznur4gfZjOzga4ptS0LQsU2AXxEkJKMtaQik93oBycAemN_CLOldD8MdjXY9QB8CY-LUo4dhuT4C5vOtpPFFkwlQ3D0qw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUE9XngPJTRaSi4tL2GF6Fdk-2RDKLfvqCtzhFWsFZ8ipBAznur4gfZjOzga4ptS0LQsU2AXxEkJKMtaQik93oBycAemN_CLOldD8MdjXY9QB8CY-LUo4dhuT4C5vOtpPFFkwlQ3D0qw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4285.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaPNl3rUjGh2cBDp01k3Gd-erPGl494pJEWJqDu2j6uSoJXPCAdTnMUYkiA7BoSZQdDjMgBEonAy4DJlvZ82lpywGokDc45PaBGizIgdmA9ZpBa50bIuN3TGjC0u6H_ROEjLiwmQCMDA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaPNl3rUjGh2cBDp01k3Gd-erPGl494pJEWJqDu2j6uSoJXPCAdTnMUYkiA7BoSZQdDjMgBEonAy4DJlvZ82lpywGokDc45PaBGizIgdmA9ZpBa50bIuN3TGjC0u6H_ROEjLiwmQCMDA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4286.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TLavFXMGAX2pU0vDV-HZbc5_WoA5K3vSFClUnGYfHmLITYPhtAMtNEz43bDutVKj_6C39Asihyphenhyphent8mNa3DGkWt6mZiQt0xUvIkbDGldm5qztyOlveu33IFEAZxBoREO-CtiT5Y2P1Jw8/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TLavFXMGAX2pU0vDV-HZbc5_WoA5K3vSFClUnGYfHmLITYPhtAMtNEz43bDutVKj_6C39Asihyphenhyphent8mNa3DGkWt6mZiQt0xUvIkbDGldm5qztyOlveu33IFEAZxBoREO-CtiT5Y2P1Jw8/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4290.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b1Sf4rGMSF7FDnHaVSoZyAEfFICIZ-4QGB4zi9lBDi3SRGhOtQp7HmFEjBnOn6UQmjHhz2xZiKPaAgN79CbdvG2i01Xd4mWtvCEaL4jbVJ9eykcJ3N_EEobljM8UR0Ao7Hvz6GXPpQA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b1Sf4rGMSF7FDnHaVSoZyAEfFICIZ-4QGB4zi9lBDi3SRGhOtQp7HmFEjBnOn6UQmjHhz2xZiKPaAgN79CbdvG2i01Xd4mWtvCEaL4jbVJ9eykcJ3N_EEobljM8UR0Ao7Hvz6GXPpQA/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4306.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HMxJJW7kzaiCuOZiUKS9MDPOTeIMq6ENYjr_s4F4LWyP_wx1GpeidSPvFPfdrZef_wmfj6Q0ep10qzVop9vtH3B-solS3URgh2XDZA9fRaq_rQyxy-HunPd3emYGjRy3Bsy8_v5fx8Q/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HMxJJW7kzaiCuOZiUKS9MDPOTeIMq6ENYjr_s4F4LWyP_wx1GpeidSPvFPfdrZef_wmfj6Q0ep10qzVop9vtH3B-solS3URgh2XDZA9fRaq_rQyxy-HunPd3emYGjRy3Bsy8_v5fx8Q/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4302.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-BEi-MmyABvX5ZzHy0GQm2yG_ZtETy-yi_tM3iwlGGxyGJN4in9O9M2dtkEaG1rFfptm07kwhV-JXJqCc0AvRBr3plKpyz76R7HV_Py61JkjgDef8m7Gsz9q0Wtrdy7lGlAMYDN6Igo/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-BEi-MmyABvX5ZzHy0GQm2yG_ZtETy-yi_tM3iwlGGxyGJN4in9O9M2dtkEaG1rFfptm07kwhV-JXJqCc0AvRBr3plKpyz76R7HV_Py61JkjgDef8m7Gsz9q0Wtrdy7lGlAMYDN6Igo/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4314.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvyT7nr9eXGmeG8YkD9dEyHj7tc7FHP07E-2y-dg72U7jxTTee1eJsqQ0PKce5M2QvTU9JoeEQYtd4210PI5k4DX5nDXXWmTbJs9MB_0I297ppOFWWs9HYciM-0nfE-m6ZPrh8XBZDfE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvyT7nr9eXGmeG8YkD9dEyHj7tc7FHP07E-2y-dg72U7jxTTee1eJsqQ0PKce5M2QvTU9JoeEQYtd4210PI5k4DX5nDXXWmTbJs9MB_0I297ppOFWWs9HYciM-0nfE-m6ZPrh8XBZDfE/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4309.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdAj2ny_4U1q3pm0Bnyk7yFs9i7C_ljkkuFfM1VVBKLcfUIH_F1kFU0e3nBlln8-tCzjXpTwZs1SfXrBrLpjWP6P3o5CDkZ2BxEEUORb5tt7XWHsE0BeUbRypa5Oh2A79zLlrzibwJ8o/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdAj2ny_4U1q3pm0Bnyk7yFs9i7C_ljkkuFfM1VVBKLcfUIH_F1kFU0e3nBlln8-tCzjXpTwZs1SfXrBrLpjWP6P3o5CDkZ2BxEEUORb5tt7XWHsE0BeUbRypa5Oh2A79zLlrzibwJ8o/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4313.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQClsxUJ2RaHreOKRZXwDbK4snQ156PmMC92A3JEwhiCoo5e3dZmGCJv6_PbgAT-2wHjr30rJ0hk4oaFdumwbIChdRpI5df0Jb7tddtKnivzYh_8mlRXVCcrtP_cmEI5VMDEWN7HTFn58/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQClsxUJ2RaHreOKRZXwDbK4snQ156PmMC92A3JEwhiCoo5e3dZmGCJv6_PbgAT-2wHjr30rJ0hk4oaFdumwbIChdRpI5df0Jb7tddtKnivzYh_8mlRXVCcrtP_cmEI5VMDEWN7HTFn58/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4317.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbYt-QbUjPPKEp2VROOd2hxvkg3EaE5RUHoldrenUA_af8ZroUhS3CcPabk_sidGpNUI7r5PZ2-WKuf3-AuuBYLvg8dqFI37Ko54TLztM-ZTo5pmIl_fDriTkl6ktkWWTVXC2wa_h5Og/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbYt-QbUjPPKEp2VROOd2hxvkg3EaE5RUHoldrenUA_af8ZroUhS3CcPabk_sidGpNUI7r5PZ2-WKuf3-AuuBYLvg8dqFI37Ko54TLztM-ZTo5pmIl_fDriTkl6ktkWWTVXC2wa_h5Og/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4324.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Watching you get older hasn’t all been easy though. Yesterday we were outside on one of the first truly warm days of Spring. You and Becks were so excited to run outside that you went out in your socked feet. I found you riding your bikes down the street with just socks on! I hollered at you and told you that you needed shoes, but you refused. Shortly after that, we were in the backyard and you started screaming and crying. I jumped up from my spot on the deck and walked over to you. You had stepped in a really large thistle. I could see all the tiny thorns poking through your socks. I carried you over to the deck [noting to myself that I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to do that], and pulled off one sock, then started removing the thorns. You started shaking and crying and didn’t want me to take off the other sock and insisted we wait for your dad to come home. So we did. There was one really stubborn one that we couldn’t remove, and so you’ve been walking around with a limp.<br />
<br />
And that sums up watching you grow up—it’s you having to walk around in your sock feet and stepping on a thistle to learn why you need to wear shoes. I have to let you make mistakes. I have to watch you fall. And I can’t always get all the thorns out for you. But the beautiful thing is that when I step back and let you learn on your own, the lesson sticks. And while today it is sometimes just thistles and thorns, I know soon I’ll have to watch you make bigger mistakes. But my prayer is that you will come out on the other side, maybe limping, but knowing why shoes are important.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Qv0tBKz2XRwo6D6RqgNsoJhMQM1KirLfg_2K-VqG3pH-DglZDZ_Rn0K7fumipPZ02qejbsb7j_QRgwRUACM9CUR1pTSXpUnYGr4PbnTKJE7g-N444zwxFytmKfP3bHWPfdstst1A-9w/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Qv0tBKz2XRwo6D6RqgNsoJhMQM1KirLfg_2K-VqG3pH-DglZDZ_Rn0K7fumipPZ02qejbsb7j_QRgwRUACM9CUR1pTSXpUnYGr4PbnTKJE7g-N444zwxFytmKfP3bHWPfdstst1A-9w/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4330.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmAjRQTZ5jEuDnAlIA1JphXSjh86yd78s-57y5R8FCEgFYZhvv3UmRE-3gg87YkGHxWFXbfgfUBc4Ofn8UjZfutt1JmEnMONfSYApekVqiDHUkFc2BNIG3IqAum4Lajxw5ctZay_eAtY/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmAjRQTZ5jEuDnAlIA1JphXSjh86yd78s-57y5R8FCEgFYZhvv3UmRE-3gg87YkGHxWFXbfgfUBc4Ofn8UjZfutt1JmEnMONfSYApekVqiDHUkFc2BNIG3IqAum4Lajxw5ctZay_eAtY/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4332.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoE5b6_ZX801EmrjJt-cq559hUf-_IsQPalEIte4RLyXdnp9iM4sVkf4BsFdRPVUVly0LBzpApUaQH07H26RFnu9D5stjBOf2GKmaBZwzdLSDqHaCVxktmkD536HmAGSlhxzyOZKkBiJE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoE5b6_ZX801EmrjJt-cq559hUf-_IsQPalEIte4RLyXdnp9iM4sVkf4BsFdRPVUVly0LBzpApUaQH07H26RFnu9D5stjBOf2GKmaBZwzdLSDqHaCVxktmkD536HmAGSlhxzyOZKkBiJE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4333.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3Y7UL61IGNzarnM52kFx55MWDIQ6cYQxuL_7BaRSQ8fijLL5RcRRGzKM_f2PMWg4MLQRkKtWGg8yEwjb9trEwoNmEHAhCP-M-QCq7oSBxj8YofyFg3E-CGDHVsVR1n17tYcQ7a6ScRM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3Y7UL61IGNzarnM52kFx55MWDIQ6cYQxuL_7BaRSQ8fijLL5RcRRGzKM_f2PMWg4MLQRkKtWGg8yEwjb9trEwoNmEHAhCP-M-QCq7oSBxj8YofyFg3E-CGDHVsVR1n17tYcQ7a6ScRM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4341.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GijbJxTHv7cFFeXhK5wydPfoMT6SBA-v9xts5NSFG_hyphenhyphen844VuCvFlX70qxQqyqZnc79cS1nynm6G_Tr2XpUGaRQFnTd3n59h0u-xSYzeWjEmCqTmk4kE5twXWPXTYDozWcBpfforTUE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GijbJxTHv7cFFeXhK5wydPfoMT6SBA-v9xts5NSFG_hyphenhyphen844VuCvFlX70qxQqyqZnc79cS1nynm6G_Tr2XpUGaRQFnTd3n59h0u-xSYzeWjEmCqTmk4kE5twXWPXTYDozWcBpfforTUE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4353.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykH33nGX8hJEtYPHwXEaqH36NBJQQEjdWbgNtRd4cCxzhjWrR6bAczF0dpp15hS4f3eoW-G3edjQQDWqN9EwVJUz_a1hV-68WojWvKudp5UtaVxIpApogjnmYjCBj-aPmv22JG_Ae0VI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykH33nGX8hJEtYPHwXEaqH36NBJQQEjdWbgNtRd4cCxzhjWrR6bAczF0dpp15hS4f3eoW-G3edjQQDWqN9EwVJUz_a1hV-68WojWvKudp5UtaVxIpApogjnmYjCBj-aPmv22JG_Ae0VI/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4371.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcdNi7iW9r1eMfgdBpEtLThZfN6yb_AkGlbkbv1OZ2otIVQHV8W23dVsDtU1ZzoXV8oglztbHKJmwGmhTa0oa9d3Af8JcvXmHtGuks95RrvdXoDKkQO6HeSNrrUavceKZ5cEaIl_45jU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcdNi7iW9r1eMfgdBpEtLThZfN6yb_AkGlbkbv1OZ2otIVQHV8W23dVsDtU1ZzoXV8oglztbHKJmwGmhTa0oa9d3Af8JcvXmHtGuks95RrvdXoDKkQO6HeSNrrUavceKZ5cEaIl_45jU/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4364.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZPXMj_KjUSfzxELpDaEfEC1ukfxTnJHEZ-Akr4n8k6rPHea7HYiUvJCwM_B7yWrL3AF4Z_X4E6Q-s7x51Zf472pGhT7R1a6KyVs-J1IPMZ2mGe9T7Ecas28YAhQwQXTUuLqJgkfYxe0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZPXMj_KjUSfzxELpDaEfEC1ukfxTnJHEZ-Akr4n8k6rPHea7HYiUvJCwM_B7yWrL3AF4Z_X4E6Q-s7x51Zf472pGhT7R1a6KyVs-J1IPMZ2mGe9T7Ecas28YAhQwQXTUuLqJgkfYxe0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4359.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I was trying to think of the best story I could tell to really capture who you are at this age. First I thought about the time when you three girls were sitting on the steps to the basement listening to the workers. You got up and said to Becks, “I have to go to the bathroom: you boss Nan around until I get back.” Ha! You do like to be in charge. Or I thought about the time your dad said there wasn’t time to read a book before bed and you argued, “But Dad! Books give us good experiences!” Or when you were reflecting on your experiencing drinking Sprite [you’ve never liked pop], and in truth Blythe fashion [you never <i>don’t know a word, </i>you just make something up that fits what you’re trying to say], you said, “I kind of like it when I sip it, but like, when it really resolved it gets kind of space-y.”<br />
<br />
But I think the best example I can give of who you are at this age involves your cupcakes for your school party—two parts: First, on the day we were supposed to have your party, there was a gas leak at school. Fire alarms and panic and kids lined up on the streets obviously meant no party that day, and when I picked you up and said something to the effect of “bummer”, you just shrugged your shoulders and waved your little hand in the air and said, “Oh it’s fine.” And genuinely it was to you. You knew another day would come, and you were just glad the school wasn’t on fire. And secondly, a week or so ago when you decided you wanted cupcakes for the party, you then quickly said, “Oh! I don’t think Ryland likes frosting. He never eats the frosting. Can you leave it off of one for him?” And so I did. Your teacher told me that was the first cupcake he had eaten in its entirety that year during a class party. All because of your thoughtfulness and attention to what your friends need and like.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rd3CWAR6ivsl3r5kH4tU47pKJbMO32gp_wts76zOBPpDAyLTZsMLu5K5bjvLqo-RvqEFhVwr1fhrvhdykthK_7daCExgTX6gYuJk3HeX43DB6Vq8NhYTFG0Zb5bnc6r76x8xGs1quq0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rd3CWAR6ivsl3r5kH4tU47pKJbMO32gp_wts76zOBPpDAyLTZsMLu5K5bjvLqo-RvqEFhVwr1fhrvhdykthK_7daCExgTX6gYuJk3HeX43DB6Vq8NhYTFG0Zb5bnc6r76x8xGs1quq0/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4394.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtYQbuUWsNdAMH8dTBBJhHHbSAGOaZ-uaWVOdK5euxuYbgxjzyYV9LEfB-2sCvv_Q7nJFm3WB2qvkEgsVl0Ut0Ha2funPE1VK4srZU2UfOguCLTdsNgLBQrVubBcA8OLtg_rw51sVuzU/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtYQbuUWsNdAMH8dTBBJhHHbSAGOaZ-uaWVOdK5euxuYbgxjzyYV9LEfB-2sCvv_Q7nJFm3WB2qvkEgsVl0Ut0Ha2funPE1VK4srZU2UfOguCLTdsNgLBQrVubBcA8OLtg_rw51sVuzU/s400/KIrwinPhotography-4387.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5NwVCd2P5XD6awfqResh__bnxYmJ4zMsShRlqKDZ5cQ6zWj0LxXhd3d7VYxkcZPJTjQ6IEwnNJFcxveRMP9Vep-pI3e5Eq-6vHVMXEOhB4OovyFECVDkdupFq0lfYDc6tJxsNQLOoX4/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5NwVCd2P5XD6awfqResh__bnxYmJ4zMsShRlqKDZ5cQ6zWj0LxXhd3d7VYxkcZPJTjQ6IEwnNJFcxveRMP9Vep-pI3e5Eq-6vHVMXEOhB4OovyFECVDkdupFq0lfYDc6tJxsNQLOoX4/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4398.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeiA3cZSkhV3-iYO9d43gJtB44LARts7Dn68KYDdc9tlYHZd8FSrGoRHQOmAFLEWpx46RQYghJbo3BE3as5ztcsj15AC0G5naLf8mTasGujyt9X2_V2OqBzPAaKYY-KBMhbeNoiIVERs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4401-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeiA3cZSkhV3-iYO9d43gJtB44LARts7Dn68KYDdc9tlYHZd8FSrGoRHQOmAFLEWpx46RQYghJbo3BE3as5ztcsj15AC0G5naLf8mTasGujyt9X2_V2OqBzPAaKYY-KBMhbeNoiIVERs/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4401-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNpeoAqeEikP6X0EvL58qGpsnVQFIJ4p97JXYtiVEuezfve_MSXPayJb7a8tbQ1sF4I5grec0LqSgt5Rahp1e4e2NzKEGkJUZGHA0IAMCCVmHUisbwPafSS4gqVCqk-Un4-P4ea81Vi0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNpeoAqeEikP6X0EvL58qGpsnVQFIJ4p97JXYtiVEuezfve_MSXPayJb7a8tbQ1sF4I5grec0LqSgt5Rahp1e4e2NzKEGkJUZGHA0IAMCCVmHUisbwPafSS4gqVCqk-Un4-P4ea81Vi0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4404.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj4fZFv8PKorTS4ElLV37TCRSESydaXzc05m8jYdIUGClMptx0jZ0EGrMoQpke_1Rd42iMgx5IvrBg3ic9a3SJk4KXc_5uokCI6XBg-omrUgz-FMgvcdTsdvTzQwRcshpTjU0JeCw5Ho/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-4405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj4fZFv8PKorTS4ElLV37TCRSESydaXzc05m8jYdIUGClMptx0jZ0EGrMoQpke_1Rd42iMgx5IvrBg3ic9a3SJk4KXc_5uokCI6XBg-omrUgz-FMgvcdTsdvTzQwRcshpTjU0JeCw5Ho/s640/KIrwinPhotography-4405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And that is you, Blythe, at age seven. You haven’t lost any of your baby teeth yet [!!!], but you roll with the punches and care about those around you. You love cheese, your siblings, your watch, and horses. You are funny and kind, smart and generous.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every night when I check on you before I go to bed, I lean over your growing body, and I pray, “God, please give her eyes that see you, ears that hear you, and a heart that knows you.” Because Blythe, the thistles are waiting for you, and many are growing in your own little heart. You will need your dad and I less and less, but you will need your Savior and the light of the Word more and more. And so my deepest, most earnest prayer for you is that you will know Jesus and choose to obediently surrender your days to Him. Like I have said in all my letters to you: we hope you understand the <i>why </i>behind our no-s. We hope you feel safe in the boundaries we set. We hope you feel freedom in the wide open places we leave for you. We hope you see God in our actions and in our words. We hope when you leave our little home for good and go out on your own that you'll look back on this simple little life we had together-- chaos and mistakes and messes and all-- and see that it was Grace that held us together; that you see that it was God's daily bread that provided it all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blythe, you’re such a joy to be around, and we are so grateful you are ours to love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;">
Happy Birthday, Blythe Kathleen! There is nothing you will ever do that will make us stop loving you.<o:p></o:p></div>
kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-90255812212743947362018-12-22T01:24:00.001-05:002018-12-22T11:31:21.044-05:00From our family to yours:<div abp="1337">
</div>
<div abp="1337">
I am shocked to look at the calendar and see "December" at the top. </div>
<div abp="1337">
Okay, full disclosure: My calendar actually still says "October" at the top because that just seems to be how things go around here. So imagine my surprise when pictures of people's Christmas trees started popping up on Instagram?! And then Christmas cards started coming in the mail [thank you! thank you! They are my FAVORITE part of holiday "decorations". The tree can go but I want to see all your faces in my house! ]<br />
So here we are, at the end of another year, and this one was packed to the brim of good, hard, beautiful things for our family. As always, my Christmas card is relegated to this blog post [until I return to "real work" and budget in that postage ;)]. So imagine you just skipped to your mailbox [or if there is ice, please walk carefully], and found this card enveloped in a beautiful cranberry red envelope, your name embossed in gold on the front: </div>
<div abp="1337">
</div>
<div abp="1337">
And of course, tucked against this picture you would find this Christmas letter, because my English teacher heart will ALWAYS look for an excuse to put pen to paper: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEK0relRmSEpdREqOfAUqTFD9EXncs8JoOTX_EnluCt-HwnvpQufh9vs3G_Zz2EMOfl0mPbi9HyyX5vtWG5FPSxc0n7UT81YTKS5GmaNHipX6crOyew_6ez-fFu8KUxm1zmLiiUj24jM/s1600/IMG_1904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="649" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEK0relRmSEpdREqOfAUqTFD9EXncs8JoOTX_EnluCt-HwnvpQufh9vs3G_Zz2EMOfl0mPbi9HyyX5vtWG5FPSxc0n7UT81YTKS5GmaNHipX6crOyew_6ez-fFu8KUxm1zmLiiUj24jM/s640/IMG_1904.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div abp="1337">
</div>
<div abp="1337">
</div>
<div abp="1337">
Friends and family,<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas! If you didn't notice, we added one more person to our photo-in-front-of-the-tree this year... and this biggest news of all: HE doesn't have pigtails! We will start with Sloan and work our way up. Brent also has written a little song he sings each of our kids, and I will wrap up their update with his song for them, as each one seems very appropriate to who they are.<br />
<br />
<b>Sloan Lee, age 4 months:</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_A00dSVLRx60soRd3V6W-77OUtSJY1aj5ZA0WlPg26FSbtP0_LvbFGTBiwKPX9V1XCUNlThaQyICm55yypmP7pfSAGGAsk4jWN9A7KNTfVzCHhV9l1p9CM4IGWk32h2m20TLWNxZgTg/s1600/IMG_9248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="750" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_A00dSVLRx60soRd3V6W-77OUtSJY1aj5ZA0WlPg26FSbtP0_LvbFGTBiwKPX9V1XCUNlThaQyICm55yypmP7pfSAGGAsk4jWN9A7KNTfVzCHhV9l1p9CM4IGWk32h2m20TLWNxZgTg/s640/IMG_9248.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJWr61dn9FMw6LTqsMqMRfERWtgplMhPomv60sPH_oJh8yBMtG-LcJU4NuY7PUA2Z9MPD6OxdLvGhKLniuruHepNgZ937kV56pzuT8xJuTku97Ki5AqIxLIUHA32GDjwuSVCF8jZaEFI/s1600/IMG_8952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJWr61dn9FMw6LTqsMqMRfERWtgplMhPomv60sPH_oJh8yBMtG-LcJU4NuY7PUA2Z9MPD6OxdLvGhKLniuruHepNgZ937kV56pzuT8xJuTku97Ki5AqIxLIUHA32GDjwuSVCF8jZaEFI/s640/IMG_8952.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAf771CcUFTHpdJ22qnvPbNV-rEQG4PS_YrVbBplGvpofy4QM77ZyymOPJL2sdHxlzjyjEkCeBmfn49ekq51LD5uPolbxEr0r1Kh2xnXxOE0WjjVCKUha2Y1RkMh2VrAaC-6_OADBod8/s1600/IMG_9049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAf771CcUFTHpdJ22qnvPbNV-rEQG4PS_YrVbBplGvpofy4QM77ZyymOPJL2sdHxlzjyjEkCeBmfn49ekq51LD5uPolbxEr0r1Kh2xnXxOE0WjjVCKUha2Y1RkMh2VrAaC-6_OADBod8/s640/IMG_9049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqVIVzsY_iAOCaCaOq5BFf5wRjz33ZhgTMcO-ykPFB7ScN_XGyO0UGECG0hcgZrSkUF6Etkf8maTx1ivQsWaOGKbXddXyTF1OoWSIIvrHZ964TKZe-8tubMiRMBhSPGJuxVFAMayl-1k/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqVIVzsY_iAOCaCaOq5BFf5wRjz33ZhgTMcO-ykPFB7ScN_XGyO0UGECG0hcgZrSkUF6Etkf8maTx1ivQsWaOGKbXddXyTF1OoWSIIvrHZ964TKZe-8tubMiRMBhSPGJuxVFAMayl-1k/s640/IMG_1533.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div abp="1337">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjborfj8wfb4uC8tVCIGr5UahYx2rkhTCMehOrqCBLa0S7zgqMuqnvi6T0GUrhoASRWO_JDezLxaVg-QqnpfCBSfPJwzQlnp8Z4n6qv0LUT1W8BMWyQ99S0cO2TtvVvQ1Bl2GfGIrhcdWA/s1600/IMG_1716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjborfj8wfb4uC8tVCIGr5UahYx2rkhTCMehOrqCBLa0S7zgqMuqnvi6T0GUrhoASRWO_JDezLxaVg-QqnpfCBSfPJwzQlnp8Z4n6qv0LUT1W8BMWyQ99S0cO2TtvVvQ1Bl2GfGIrhcdWA/s640/IMG_1716.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLNL7ND8zKR1IfEoMxGT6chAJna5xHG_PugzSZm6ao5LrXTPuw3kXLEnVL9PFAWTnE48Ur5QPPqtG4pX4hcSvaQADmsTR-rOZ4d8Tj0J11amu7DxaFNd9zGIF1RZJGt67eWM-E7QplqA/s1600/IMG_0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLNL7ND8zKR1IfEoMxGT6chAJna5xHG_PugzSZm6ao5LrXTPuw3kXLEnVL9PFAWTnE48Ur5QPPqtG4pX4hcSvaQADmsTR-rOZ4d8Tj0J11amu7DxaFNd9zGIF1RZJGt67eWM-E7QplqA/s640/IMG_0836.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-DulWYvnA3bpwXP5_Miz4EIcgn6G1HhBIEegC-VX2Da6-RDUF8vLwhvP7Kb9A9NWO385UGpaPaKKLMB-NlNh6bUDSweaIVCnaomOYW_Y_hJYaHhFfwYdA2o-sZ73fXzI4JyfXFh65K0/s1600/IMG_1753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-DulWYvnA3bpwXP5_Miz4EIcgn6G1HhBIEegC-VX2Da6-RDUF8vLwhvP7Kb9A9NWO385UGpaPaKKLMB-NlNh6bUDSweaIVCnaomOYW_Y_hJYaHhFfwYdA2o-sZ73fXzI4JyfXFh65K0/s640/IMG_1753.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc18M6ibei5udozr_oSxA-UgZsyMMMsii9HVTK43eoMBW67guFZegqKbgG5-zzESh9u5uNutQD8VWv27C_ZZWLBB79MgWOWInjaunUtLzJycZAqJY_T2uIZsjVLu2AOl5rgH5RWPGJ_g/s1600/IMG_9106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc18M6ibei5udozr_oSxA-UgZsyMMMsii9HVTK43eoMBW67guFZegqKbgG5-zzESh9u5uNutQD8VWv27C_ZZWLBB79MgWOWInjaunUtLzJycZAqJY_T2uIZsjVLu2AOl5rgH5RWPGJ_g/s640/IMG_9106.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MJJWRgmfGRTrQAntr5x_DzIKO8zdAMvm8IciThTBMlD5wemqGCAFjT2LKHuZIbuJ3oI9-xD68FBUNQ_spZLQcdLuOUUe5RYLp7vH-bFDa1JGuL_a1-86Z6KckRiA1XoB9DFleL-Mzeo/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MJJWRgmfGRTrQAntr5x_DzIKO8zdAMvm8IciThTBMlD5wemqGCAFjT2LKHuZIbuJ3oI9-xD68FBUNQ_spZLQcdLuOUUe5RYLp7vH-bFDa1JGuL_a1-86Z6KckRiA1XoB9DFleL-Mzeo/s640/IMG_1767.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6HZiNlPyXXoKx7p4hewXxd7PdnEkvNoSPvTMV4pQfny-g8pqX8ZmsMw__7ispbi_qWXES7CMXwyBIOADX_RtWhKTgnyNTkFxooELK_Aq1v2RrzMK5-wu0tHMtJQF1Mhbh-Q4H2rAtpo/s1600/IMG_1854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6HZiNlPyXXoKx7p4hewXxd7PdnEkvNoSPvTMV4pQfny-g8pqX8ZmsMw__7ispbi_qWXES7CMXwyBIOADX_RtWhKTgnyNTkFxooELK_Aq1v2RrzMK5-wu0tHMtJQF1Mhbh-Q4H2rAtpo/s640/IMG_1854.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Sloan made his appearance on August 24th of this year after another incredibly quick labor and delivery. However, he was different from the start, weighing almost two pounds more than any of our tiny girls...and he hasn't slowed down! At four months he weighs roughly 18 pounds [I can't get him to stand on the scale for me]. He is incredibly happy, well loved by all his sisters, and usually completely content to just hang out on the floor and watch the girls play. However, if no one is in the room he lets us know he prefers company. We think he is incredibly cute, his hair has a red tint, and he has added so much to our family already. If you haven't met him, you should. I can almost guarantee he will smile at you.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I'll be with you Sloan Lee</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>whenever I can,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I'm your daddy</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and your my little man,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My beloved son,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>my only one,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sloan Lee</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>my baby</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sloan Lee</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>the one and only</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>Nan Louise, 2 years and 8 month: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFusFHdB0L8n3MSm9nRFrmv-qbGDjb8W2Xe0bbf5nZabo5Uc8KBYs-XSabbAQrO_CcVAiIIftiurDP4piBhRyyka3vEqqxUwHCYoqxr01WsVDd3JCLqeKGfY9trAF-At1aehE4ODPiPjU/s1600/IMG_6010.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFusFHdB0L8n3MSm9nRFrmv-qbGDjb8W2Xe0bbf5nZabo5Uc8KBYs-XSabbAQrO_CcVAiIIftiurDP4piBhRyyka3vEqqxUwHCYoqxr01WsVDd3JCLqeKGfY9trAF-At1aehE4ODPiPjU/s640/IMG_6010.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrdcaS-_GxFFWtyLu7_O4RuBMpQTGgF0oZUsNa9Qy9TgqBk6cI7Uj8E2cSY5816X0OtpLCPzwxZoVvrA-jTCQmN-q_fnDwlfwWSRkBB55VfY-c-b4C1lwseFJCmZ1kau2rqX_1wLuN28/s1600/IMG_4971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrdcaS-_GxFFWtyLu7_O4RuBMpQTGgF0oZUsNa9Qy9TgqBk6cI7Uj8E2cSY5816X0OtpLCPzwxZoVvrA-jTCQmN-q_fnDwlfwWSRkBB55VfY-c-b4C1lwseFJCmZ1kau2rqX_1wLuN28/s640/IMG_4971.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FR62NKWuvwa49Hod15yB_Mf0-j7tE9P6jwi0e9dzOeh2iVWHyDxUOhDRKSOcDl6qaC0F0fzGwVqYR1MfnaD9F5zWZ6cBaWI8obVKrmFiZXZdjWeEWCV-Fh1hIkqqjyMZDz5iXzxKgho/s1600/IMG_6237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FR62NKWuvwa49Hod15yB_Mf0-j7tE9P6jwi0e9dzOeh2iVWHyDxUOhDRKSOcDl6qaC0F0fzGwVqYR1MfnaD9F5zWZ6cBaWI8obVKrmFiZXZdjWeEWCV-Fh1hIkqqjyMZDz5iXzxKgho/s640/IMG_6237.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DoomJ3Ao_k69BHYWuFeLk8f0wbbhqiQWYJ_p0UG9IiLhVsHx1tu-p-MQJfbz7ocl5fzPcDsNO6tvc1o4VXoZJj4XOxVm67M5FlJ8SHKU7tcXidMkDEq0bq44iYfhZd74W_xeLunHpM8/s1600/IMG_7547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DoomJ3Ao_k69BHYWuFeLk8f0wbbhqiQWYJ_p0UG9IiLhVsHx1tu-p-MQJfbz7ocl5fzPcDsNO6tvc1o4VXoZJj4XOxVm67M5FlJ8SHKU7tcXidMkDEq0bq44iYfhZd74W_xeLunHpM8/s640/IMG_7547.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD57Yt7IVT3EP9yUw6UIoHXPz59kNVbno94erBBExx5BdT4vpoioeI9uCWPfd2yfbOtZiaCr8a2dHNaNnXbrjHjP5LTJBeeTaEAdh24rydrXDU2w7NyeCYjB5-GriVu0HJrLchugLv0H4/s1600/IMG_8376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1118" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD57Yt7IVT3EP9yUw6UIoHXPz59kNVbno94erBBExx5BdT4vpoioeI9uCWPfd2yfbOtZiaCr8a2dHNaNnXbrjHjP5LTJBeeTaEAdh24rydrXDU2w7NyeCYjB5-GriVu0HJrLchugLv0H4/s640/IMG_8376.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOtq-Qkx3jSpBn-Zazj7mjTQtY3VcA6qW96oXkCUD53KQnYlVth7UOKfuF2twmqhyCSdgWJ8tce5lMFWkqUi4EjFyunIwV7TfnkbFddKsrar-VD3Fn6ObUchACbyYO0oVM3MOKbPuxlI/s1600/IMG_1395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOtq-Qkx3jSpBn-Zazj7mjTQtY3VcA6qW96oXkCUD53KQnYlVth7UOKfuF2twmqhyCSdgWJ8tce5lMFWkqUi4EjFyunIwV7TfnkbFddKsrar-VD3Fn6ObUchACbyYO0oVM3MOKbPuxlI/s640/IMG_1395.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KjWs_XG2c_Ck_8_uXCh9a4C2ynEtVkJAbTaphl4rMyU3r2IvENAkyFULuJgZtMg3zq2ax4GtYsDA9B0N86WMhW7o49rsWWJCZkLs2dhrtR59eeVvSwEyyzO8QMBJpiUIka8sto2HlNE/s1600/IMG_8618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KjWs_XG2c_Ck_8_uXCh9a4C2ynEtVkJAbTaphl4rMyU3r2IvENAkyFULuJgZtMg3zq2ax4GtYsDA9B0N86WMhW7o49rsWWJCZkLs2dhrtR59eeVvSwEyyzO8QMBJpiUIka8sto2HlNE/s640/IMG_8618.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_zsRD3lFrvfqLYCCazsTmWV93b8g4PEl9hW_3pYGhVFREorx6mT_LacNeSX46a5Xejn9jS7a6BwinZqZLc7TdPPmBH95PVUN3JiTaV_fpav08Al471et3mcvw9JgM3v7xR8L58yllHw/s1600/IMG_9845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_zsRD3lFrvfqLYCCazsTmWV93b8g4PEl9hW_3pYGhVFREorx6mT_LacNeSX46a5Xejn9jS7a6BwinZqZLc7TdPPmBH95PVUN3JiTaV_fpav08Al471et3mcvw9JgM3v7xR8L58yllHw/s640/IMG_9845.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
Oh this girl. This girl hit two this year and never looked back! We are big fans of age two in this house, and Nanny Lou has not disappointed us in hilarity and shenanigans. If her mind is set on something, it can take <i>hours </i>to talk her into something else. If she knows she has an audience this girl will perform perform perform. She is long and lean, generally happy, and<strike> probably </strike>our loudest child. She is not afraid to get dirty-- whether while eating or playing outside, and she is beginning to really enjoy tagging along in imaginative play with her sisters. She thinks she knows how to write her name [she doesn't]. She an frequently be found coloring, dancing, not being potty-trained, and asking "where the girls" are. You cannot be around Nan without belly laughing at least once at something she says or does. And if you're ever having a bad day, just let me know and I'll send you a video of her dancing. She often informs me she needs "a whole much" of something, and that is how this girl lives-- in a "whole much" kind of way!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Nanny Lou</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I love you</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>She's my red headed girl</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>and she rocks my world</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Nanny Lou</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I love you</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>do-do-da-do-da-da-do-do-do</i> </div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Becks Lynae, 4 years and 7 months: </b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWYmiA0NyHmaDekz4ZPc8WP4VaB4FDeB81bgBFS2MmfRwQwh7cMjobWYrHGRLDxPNtAGGbu6BpPIlq4hCgu7m7LTI8FnlyWD3gsyk_9Uogb0Rq8jSHmsCYc-Kw6WuHU3Ty4c1A1tPthc/s1600/IMG_6902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWYmiA0NyHmaDekz4ZPc8WP4VaB4FDeB81bgBFS2MmfRwQwh7cMjobWYrHGRLDxPNtAGGbu6BpPIlq4hCgu7m7LTI8FnlyWD3gsyk_9Uogb0Rq8jSHmsCYc-Kw6WuHU3Ty4c1A1tPthc/s640/IMG_6902.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblwIiy0q_0BJ9dFTCl3oUTua8vRDhmolJFiNp45lSZbVI-VPRT-c93MdHZjyotMA9vCABpLiQFvEYaDHbVzb25fC6qq-sSRXVwqTiYofWYflrVNuDGePgo26AIeQO6flcclhnQpYDoII/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblwIiy0q_0BJ9dFTCl3oUTua8vRDhmolJFiNp45lSZbVI-VPRT-c93MdHZjyotMA9vCABpLiQFvEYaDHbVzb25fC6qq-sSRXVwqTiYofWYflrVNuDGePgo26AIeQO6flcclhnQpYDoII/s640/IMG_0112.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOmAMCbdggpSxkycgK5Sil1rod21dnKJ3-1ypEMNszNwhSAn29t6seEW-Uf-HeKUmR96_L8KIMQWX2H1Vc1zPusGuLpDdJ0rDyV0mXRp-dPbYxSgL3ae421S5F4d3kegqU4N9VtmvEUw/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOmAMCbdggpSxkycgK5Sil1rod21dnKJ3-1ypEMNszNwhSAn29t6seEW-Uf-HeKUmR96_L8KIMQWX2H1Vc1zPusGuLpDdJ0rDyV0mXRp-dPbYxSgL3ae421S5F4d3kegqU4N9VtmvEUw/s640/IMG_0123.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Troqj2OBz6TxqCBHxnY0I0cxeEgRhPj2-207w9CLTr9AOeIhm7xZYWhDsfticm0O7vK2vd0J2qygdbAz-VLfKf04Woc21HfxfqA6belA2h-7JnFF6HKzG1CPb-xAHiBjjIM0HGs5q5A/s1600/IMG_0363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Troqj2OBz6TxqCBHxnY0I0cxeEgRhPj2-207w9CLTr9AOeIhm7xZYWhDsfticm0O7vK2vd0J2qygdbAz-VLfKf04Woc21HfxfqA6belA2h-7JnFF6HKzG1CPb-xAHiBjjIM0HGs5q5A/s640/IMG_0363.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGd_F1j0jbULg6f_izdoowYKrqCOWl39IUiKbu0-APjZDFBbCs1sKFDwyI9Z-NW854Pdlbnq_FphDxdcOU7Ii3MoR6d8LLy2aOHBc5rSAbn3IKQlob6pQNb4XL6XuX-8rdUTpLPlliEWE/s1600/IMG_1468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGd_F1j0jbULg6f_izdoowYKrqCOWl39IUiKbu0-APjZDFBbCs1sKFDwyI9Z-NW854Pdlbnq_FphDxdcOU7Ii3MoR6d8LLy2aOHBc5rSAbn3IKQlob6pQNb4XL6XuX-8rdUTpLPlliEWE/s640/IMG_1468.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-C84n0K7Ad5HjfQg-lGy2NJUqMX4RhldoyiEeCX9OVvtqzR6fy-HnpqSW0sDMECzccjHDJUYMiYdVn7okoeQORG3SxEqTvfRg5HFcL_fNIJnm0bWSB0faKjYgTzM9Ieh2AyDonnXx4qQ/s1600/IMG_8385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-C84n0K7Ad5HjfQg-lGy2NJUqMX4RhldoyiEeCX9OVvtqzR6fy-HnpqSW0sDMECzccjHDJUYMiYdVn7okoeQORG3SxEqTvfRg5HFcL_fNIJnm0bWSB0faKjYgTzM9Ieh2AyDonnXx4qQ/s640/IMG_8385.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Z3vrBTDiUoNPM8tYCFcDHVB5a3Xq609DouorWpiMGrfdccVifjGd_FWrIyBI8Ng3dkp5jYKQx2NbmFN9i67F_59LfRjPdYriSYwBF8v-R3889CUS2HgZ7hPhw_lNjcRR8uSl5ZjMkCI/s1600/IMG_8622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Z3vrBTDiUoNPM8tYCFcDHVB5a3Xq609DouorWpiMGrfdccVifjGd_FWrIyBI8Ng3dkp5jYKQx2NbmFN9i67F_59LfRjPdYriSYwBF8v-R3889CUS2HgZ7hPhw_lNjcRR8uSl5ZjMkCI/s640/IMG_8622.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bu9GEoSr9OrpYseu3XeTFzQMOntukLjWRuq7YunbHBvpCCbpqrFJGJB7I5mWQvvnb2ozGNpyaCx4ZGa33-FREEZU6aCXpMWRREjk5-RW9XETdrFnva3QnCjm1am-mlhBVh9m8TAwogU/s1600/IMG_8886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bu9GEoSr9OrpYseu3XeTFzQMOntukLjWRuq7YunbHBvpCCbpqrFJGJB7I5mWQvvnb2ozGNpyaCx4ZGa33-FREEZU6aCXpMWRREjk5-RW9XETdrFnva3QnCjm1am-mlhBVh9m8TAwogU/s640/IMG_8886.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV89kqjaYbxo-13eEF0_C_XydND1T22PO8fwIYNuaPWNEP5f0PFReC1ssfXuZorNAj5CpjopOyZaNx6QXPe1VCY55PDPEELt_r9e0CoQGkZIytSuM-ZBaYBhjzhinw27A6ZzoAoOebrJs/s1600/IMG_9728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV89kqjaYbxo-13eEF0_C_XydND1T22PO8fwIYNuaPWNEP5f0PFReC1ssfXuZorNAj5CpjopOyZaNx6QXPe1VCY55PDPEELt_r9e0CoQGkZIytSuM-ZBaYBhjzhinw27A6ZzoAoOebrJs/s640/IMG_9728.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIgc9Tagtqw1xqb-3T3hNsPZlSGYXzEbtXvtPhUCmyQ6-8D8N2eCmJlzS-wkPf7eDnr_8eTsizAcfhtyffr8wDTS-WLJTQU48lbd4Pj4eY4IOLL4boMr2zIbubbgi8pTDJivJGFv0yl0/s1600/IMG_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIgc9Tagtqw1xqb-3T3hNsPZlSGYXzEbtXvtPhUCmyQ6-8D8N2eCmJlzS-wkPf7eDnr_8eTsizAcfhtyffr8wDTS-WLJTQU48lbd4Pj4eY4IOLL4boMr2zIbubbgi8pTDJivJGFv0yl0/s640/IMG_0732.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjryStqQZmz1j2OrB0yC8yHTsAuS6JZUvpjL-pWnsGetb1HfuaPEGNwssBt89nbTDaNBl_7h9jDQitDioQqkj5E7Zh_oFjUtruvHZ9LS-eQgRB0amHLwJvidDX3ZyLNTi7d5C5o05o5F0/s1600/IMG_0740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjryStqQZmz1j2OrB0yC8yHTsAuS6JZUvpjL-pWnsGetb1HfuaPEGNwssBt89nbTDaNBl_7h9jDQitDioQqkj5E7Zh_oFjUtruvHZ9LS-eQgRB0amHLwJvidDX3ZyLNTi7d5C5o05o5F0/s640/IMG_0740.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Becks has grown leaps and bounds this year [of course, not physically]. She is still stubborn and determined, but rarely does she argue anymore, and when she does it does not take two hours to "break through". She is incredibly compassionate: once Blythe got a bloody nose and Becks cried way more than Blythe did. She absolutely cannot get enough of Sloan. She and Nan have found their rhythm together as well, but she and Blythe are the very best of friends right now and can play for hours on end with the smallest of things. She currently loves dried mangos, dreams of owning a cat, and loves to hear stories about when she was "little". She reminds me every night that she wants to do preschool the next day, and she and I both are enjoying that time together [something I wasn't so sure would happen a year ago! See! She's grown so much!]. She loves her nature days with Papa, too, and loves to be outside, as long as she doesn't have to wear a coat or shoes. She's cuddly and introverted, wild and free. She's such a fun girl to be around.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Becks Lynae</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Born in May</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>is the one I love today</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>love today.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>If I had</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>just one wish</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I'd wish for a Becksy Kiss</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Becksy kiss </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Blythe Kathleen, age 6 and 9 months: </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XqsDhtZeyZ09MCdRGS0OtjzNN3qgosBDbDOp3McMlHqny9xCN7a4EaDqSbGqPl5wAIRTpVb78I4-hcHfQKmUVMCy_bY14km2_cStKD1MXCGL3boRor2xKoSSsRpJC49gUYesE1cA1TQ/s1600/IMG_5635.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XqsDhtZeyZ09MCdRGS0OtjzNN3qgosBDbDOp3McMlHqny9xCN7a4EaDqSbGqPl5wAIRTpVb78I4-hcHfQKmUVMCy_bY14km2_cStKD1MXCGL3boRor2xKoSSsRpJC49gUYesE1cA1TQ/s640/IMG_5635.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1rjHQARCVkadz6x_bMkXzEJrfQm2EDWPDKJ9rcU73x07jWuEUYC1PwoKC-Cdu98mCHcqXjUosjclvMNg0yClDTVowxk-PJBad0wahDCShSG3SPRLpSxyvNbrIBNzabzsWkZIOdwIM8o/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1rjHQARCVkadz6x_bMkXzEJrfQm2EDWPDKJ9rcU73x07jWuEUYC1PwoKC-Cdu98mCHcqXjUosjclvMNg0yClDTVowxk-PJBad0wahDCShSG3SPRLpSxyvNbrIBNzabzsWkZIOdwIM8o/s640/IMG_0240.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsNQH7DH1ofSzCnpAzWBYhweVSOBQ_0aQ924IupnnVR3_O6W4IHLzwXBmOlwIPSnQzNknz3-SDwEEm7lPgM4KtqMdMJRbAHdt-nxg3odxU1laEMqBZYd9laEADlje1Vb-BB-eAblj_ZE/s1600/IMG_7733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsNQH7DH1ofSzCnpAzWBYhweVSOBQ_0aQ924IupnnVR3_O6W4IHLzwXBmOlwIPSnQzNknz3-SDwEEm7lPgM4KtqMdMJRbAHdt-nxg3odxU1laEMqBZYd9laEADlje1Vb-BB-eAblj_ZE/s640/IMG_7733.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYSMnnb5n0NMvSBTi_CTBxdFMuDkUa9-X_Miqj5Zi7tExBPTKyzVik1Dceeev9jKhCve4eW4lKPmYqIQ_k-Sx4SMbuM0aN2unoqKurP8pImplK1l4mihzHwUTdIZG6DYFNRI5b_tYioE/s1600/IMG_8152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYSMnnb5n0NMvSBTi_CTBxdFMuDkUa9-X_Miqj5Zi7tExBPTKyzVik1Dceeev9jKhCve4eW4lKPmYqIQ_k-Sx4SMbuM0aN2unoqKurP8pImplK1l4mihzHwUTdIZG6DYFNRI5b_tYioE/s640/IMG_8152.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsv-McxmiGo3ZU3hJwTiJwHECxGYs8QVeqIThAzURH-ExHDpE11R2C5bf54yebSiuWh4sWt_ilX56ztY1K0brMnjDcNxHJkwAzn0Cc_wlyM9TNrQ0fNh7iQAcAjKRNtUIqn6iBcze9e3o/s1600/IMG_8623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsv-McxmiGo3ZU3hJwTiJwHECxGYs8QVeqIThAzURH-ExHDpE11R2C5bf54yebSiuWh4sWt_ilX56ztY1K0brMnjDcNxHJkwAzn0Cc_wlyM9TNrQ0fNh7iQAcAjKRNtUIqn6iBcze9e3o/s640/IMG_8623.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXbMi9WTCC4dGH7RnIn8getaub5n4Iv5CkbJ2M0r2Sg7XXzDDRENzQdUojFLH4FZ9ly2PKoHm5RCux_YykiatIfgG5DuY3YO56MtqMH9G4QJN9jESMi4Y7l5XxTvHaF167ruYHnBIIsU/s1600/IMG_6801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXbMi9WTCC4dGH7RnIn8getaub5n4Iv5CkbJ2M0r2Sg7XXzDDRENzQdUojFLH4FZ9ly2PKoHm5RCux_YykiatIfgG5DuY3YO56MtqMH9G4QJN9jESMi4Y7l5XxTvHaF167ruYHnBIIsU/s640/IMG_6801.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__dyGkmf_jbliOA7pmXlLB0CFA8kiqDkjG0cyIDXTnF73QP2XVc2-WDyVB1c9GK5JRdpYdXZl-23hi3A14nh0QvChST2JDJAqKtOCmn5UVUnHRwDKgscFqzMcjGcdWIaqG1We7xwoEvI/s1600/IMG_8379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__dyGkmf_jbliOA7pmXlLB0CFA8kiqDkjG0cyIDXTnF73QP2XVc2-WDyVB1c9GK5JRdpYdXZl-23hi3A14nh0QvChST2JDJAqKtOCmn5UVUnHRwDKgscFqzMcjGcdWIaqG1We7xwoEvI/s640/IMG_8379.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrz61tlE8memUo-2SCZhaRO72fvfFT6j3j4RfjuGkjvlCmYx7OzUllIFZ6-JP9Wb4m6XtyoY3Bj3g1fQ6HbgsZAPIg3uTgEU8-ODmDh-DskCzEaAcQUr6TYChxoTmDe3w-fE0T1maLxA/s1600/IMG_9876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrz61tlE8memUo-2SCZhaRO72fvfFT6j3j4RfjuGkjvlCmYx7OzUllIFZ6-JP9Wb4m6XtyoY3Bj3g1fQ6HbgsZAPIg3uTgEU8-ODmDh-DskCzEaAcQUr6TYChxoTmDe3w-fE0T1maLxA/s640/IMG_9876.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nlnClNSaXc_M2R1cdXPvQFlJ9kQJepqUsGVrfCGzNFZR34yjbQz6_cxRZa6KZQM0A-mV9KUyvQYmKI69rlxwFgsNziDWR-KnnwYKnKtwUTRy3a9tl7pPBGTSFdwigVlwSATGVrEdffk/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nlnClNSaXc_M2R1cdXPvQFlJ9kQJepqUsGVrfCGzNFZR34yjbQz6_cxRZa6KZQM0A-mV9KUyvQYmKI69rlxwFgsNziDWR-KnnwYKnKtwUTRy3a9tl7pPBGTSFdwigVlwSATGVrEdffk/s640/IMG_1128.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowp-1beVh6Q7j0dFKbgA4J3IU6nekKaQLsodtMQzJWDr6lS0Ux4H0bNrtVCfu9d-YitgfaCYRgpsW-pRO1ygJMXfkF8eNJqy9X1QV34Dx4bDYyq_377BvzeJsia71Xfyxnxa_nwFIa88/s1600/IMG_8878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowp-1beVh6Q7j0dFKbgA4J3IU6nekKaQLsodtMQzJWDr6lS0Ux4H0bNrtVCfu9d-YitgfaCYRgpsW-pRO1ygJMXfkF8eNJqy9X1QV34Dx4bDYyq_377BvzeJsia71Xfyxnxa_nwFIa88/s640/IMG_8878.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
There is not a year that has gone by with this girl that isn't simply wonderful. She continues to blow us away with her kindness and joy, and her consideration for her siblings. It cannot be easy being the oldest in such a large family, but she handles it with grace and fun. She finished up Kindergarten in the spring, and enjoyed a summer of tball and swimming [she became quite the swimmer!] and her dreams came true when a neighbor invited the girls over to spend time with her horses. She suffered her first minor injury, and had to wear a walking boot for awhile this summer [never complained]. She attended art camp and continues to love drawing. She started first grade this fall. Her first day of school was two days before we welcomed Sloan, and 2 months before we moved, and none of those big transitions phased her. She is an incredible reader, a generous friend, and still has a deep joy that spills out. My pregnancy with Sloan was incredibly difficult this time, but Blythe was my little helper and I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through the summer without her. She takes her roll as a big sister seriously though-- the other day I heard her say, "Becks, I have to go to the bathroom. You boss Nan around until I get back." She's a treat know and a joy to parent.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Blythe Kathleen,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Blythe Kathleen,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>She's my beautiful, wonderful, silliest girl</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Anyone can see-eee,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This girl she is so swee-eet,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Cute from head to fee-eet</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>She's my beautiful, wonderful, silliest girl. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaPwaTp9HZzBVtNLSO5dd5UeGxCy77bc1pSg6EJ1NSNvvLloEUVvBBgDViebBlpUsjgx60qa9ZGk1-AX3dI1ZdokYaNNrM9CvU0tYvaJLW9NX5O_gc2I6vgIrbyUCidhKuJlKqCGwG-A/s1600/IMG_8761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaPwaTp9HZzBVtNLSO5dd5UeGxCy77bc1pSg6EJ1NSNvvLloEUVvBBgDViebBlpUsjgx60qa9ZGk1-AX3dI1ZdokYaNNrM9CvU0tYvaJLW9NX5O_gc2I6vgIrbyUCidhKuJlKqCGwG-A/s640/IMG_8761.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
This was also our first year since we lost our baby, Jordan, to miscarriage. We decided to release a lantern to remember Jordan, and then had some donuts together by the lake.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDkTGMUnKmah5usgQUQAaSsGD24jpk2FnJP3nEcDdMp1efAjf46DCcwdNBI8Zajo5YouD7Fh4m7GJ4qlgHyNZgZ80m2QscNRYkKx6Y4I6o125Fos0mwpckJP4cdKsPV_DFvakxkdEO3k/s1600/IMG_8719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDkTGMUnKmah5usgQUQAaSsGD24jpk2FnJP3nEcDdMp1efAjf46DCcwdNBI8Zajo5YouD7Fh4m7GJ4qlgHyNZgZ80m2QscNRYkKx6Y4I6o125Fos0mwpckJP4cdKsPV_DFvakxkdEO3k/s640/IMG_8719.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
It was simple and perfect. The girls still talk about Jordan often, and Brent even wrote a song for him/her:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Jordan</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I can't wait to meet in heaven</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Will you have your mother's smile</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Ask to "get-you" for awhile?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Jordan</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I can't wait to play in heaven</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>We'll run the streets of gold</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>But for now whose hand you hold</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>is all you need.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Jordan</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It was such a kind and generous gift to welcome Sloan one week to the year after we said goodbye to Jordan. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In May Brent and I were able to take our first big trip together for our TEN year anniversary. We traveled to Estes Park, Colorado, where we had gone on our honeymoon. The weather was perfect and we got to rent a Jeep and make Brent's dreams come true. I couldn't do much hiking, but I waddled here and there and did what I could and it was such a refreshing and fun trip for us and we can't wait to bring our whole crew back. Colorado is such a special place to us. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetmqEjmURlbR2wIunZvCXNOK5ePQcwmayODIJ5C7Hv_xh9NcVeKZen106IezcmwFFEuxA8m-E7K-pU-jE-P-8WlcDJXBOVmPkSDIT9ktCbxrKfaKBhT-6EDLAbMgvdW-TzZ5Tf3j6pi8/s1600/IMG_6566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetmqEjmURlbR2wIunZvCXNOK5ePQcwmayODIJ5C7Hv_xh9NcVeKZen106IezcmwFFEuxA8m-E7K-pU-jE-P-8WlcDJXBOVmPkSDIT9ktCbxrKfaKBhT-6EDLAbMgvdW-TzZ5Tf3j6pi8/s640/IMG_6566.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGHGEk3v7fp_2zUiHeERNNMZ5Wm0jwsjPWksAPo6oKydqr31n3H9OOgfOxri2foc6EEhAtdhMdsKwAaiDeqk_9yQnbZJI-GIyGUir8ir1t3-28iflorEKRBk8JTcLoPsdAPuDZP42Im0/s1600/IMG_6463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGHGEk3v7fp_2zUiHeERNNMZ5Wm0jwsjPWksAPo6oKydqr31n3H9OOgfOxri2foc6EEhAtdhMdsKwAaiDeqk_9yQnbZJI-GIyGUir8ir1t3-28iflorEKRBk8JTcLoPsdAPuDZP42Im0/s640/IMG_6463.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
We also had one other big event this summer: our PAIGE got married in June! Paige is like a sister to me [Blythe is named after her family], and it was such a beautiful day [Brent got to be the wedding singer], and so fun to watch our girls be flower girls [Nan was born for that moment!].<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0uZHpFxavrvxR4yIwo1A0liRtbp6ekXB9W8-x03VCoqwq1vHOmE4edGOFpY3lmObPY3jdhkWXXJth3pdwcoz7IsjN8eWXdpXgP1UL3jQK0IrWS3bldekGW86uw3B9r3sptIhw0_JeHA/s1600/IMG_7172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0uZHpFxavrvxR4yIwo1A0liRtbp6ekXB9W8-x03VCoqwq1vHOmE4edGOFpY3lmObPY3jdhkWXXJth3pdwcoz7IsjN8eWXdpXgP1UL3jQK0IrWS3bldekGW86uw3B9r3sptIhw0_JeHA/s640/IMG_7172.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Brent is still rocking the dad gig. Watching him love his newborn children is the reason he convinced me to have four children ;). He adores them. He is eager to help, fun to tag team with, and it's no secret he's the favorite for our children. He is still at the bank here in town, working as the compliance officer. He enjoys his work and where he works, for which we are both grateful. He still loves to run, and added some longer, harder triathlons to his resume this year. After Sloan was born he pumped the breaks on his training a bit to help out [I told you: he's the best], but hopes to jump back in and complete an Olympic triathlon next summer. He was so good to all of us through our move across town to our new house in November-- steady is a word I often use to describe him. He's a good man, our Brent. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXNxObhzytQDKH6yhQNx1U-E8ke71CYTXbaSdeRzn86aQmYyCn_xIi83EY6yJ0UaRF_1YqBPWgPNsdJY6dRU4yBn9yzowjo5X7Vt4IPiqPAKFDzMxg-yzSCFdrGFlN07PKmfQ_a5VJXE/s1600/IMG_9139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXNxObhzytQDKH6yhQNx1U-E8ke71CYTXbaSdeRzn86aQmYyCn_xIi83EY6yJ0UaRF_1YqBPWgPNsdJY6dRU4yBn9yzowjo5X7Vt4IPiqPAKFDzMxg-yzSCFdrGFlN07PKmfQ_a5VJXE/s640/IMG_9139.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFeEuta_k7YlyCPvHnKEpwDc5xJGlT3X2nGF3I-axawGP_g575vOOwSnXz723aLYlOCsJOBxDmAVMaegOhpNF95zstQ3LqWgBqBj9z3qBoSdgvpFKMVD6Vxg8ApYgXa8-uMj1xTE8K6Q/s1600/IMG_0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFeEuta_k7YlyCPvHnKEpwDc5xJGlT3X2nGF3I-axawGP_g575vOOwSnXz723aLYlOCsJOBxDmAVMaegOhpNF95zstQ3LqWgBqBj9z3qBoSdgvpFKMVD6Vxg8ApYgXa8-uMj1xTE8K6Q/s640/IMG_0621.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghYNZbDc8zu5ZN48YBF4dioi1InQhFR7OnqPm_JJbZ-vcmcExq5oICRAF4JpHqYKWP2x0t_MW3xEO4cstTbNx6m1KbiQXsAzOSJwNo-Gxl02ACvFY17sTCGy229VDvcUG4NGQyuF13CY/s1600/IMG_4561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghYNZbDc8zu5ZN48YBF4dioi1InQhFR7OnqPm_JJbZ-vcmcExq5oICRAF4JpHqYKWP2x0t_MW3xEO4cstTbNx6m1KbiQXsAzOSJwNo-Gxl02ACvFY17sTCGy229VDvcUG4NGQyuF13CY/s640/IMG_4561.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVSdT5cZrxZ1PzPzt29TRRv2FJfwrxnqIaxW_zJ49-wenNQftEPCSm8QaAEqe0Y6SMjqBdenU1Qk1zRQeHe9W0WxBY_kmeDy885GikEb1vrdEgYeUnIk4rGn6sWe3lQ4MZvQ3T9f5ngw/s1600/IMG_4763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVSdT5cZrxZ1PzPzt29TRRv2FJfwrxnqIaxW_zJ49-wenNQftEPCSm8QaAEqe0Y6SMjqBdenU1Qk1zRQeHe9W0WxBY_kmeDy885GikEb1vrdEgYeUnIk4rGn6sWe3lQ4MZvQ3T9f5ngw/s640/IMG_4763.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BLdQ9XuRVgwoBQ2hVz-9y31oq3nwWv-mPnR601cxmlrTUThUSTwmVpUM-6EkgtweKybv8og6FeLv5s5-H07OM7nl8dlwlJxTT63uyaZt2I74ofEytm55MAE_GlGrMaLg3iu_t1NGcrA/s1600/IMG_7119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BLdQ9XuRVgwoBQ2hVz-9y31oq3nwWv-mPnR601cxmlrTUThUSTwmVpUM-6EkgtweKybv8og6FeLv5s5-H07OM7nl8dlwlJxTT63uyaZt2I74ofEytm55MAE_GlGrMaLg3iu_t1NGcrA/s400/IMG_7119.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5oRDGW2a4P_EzqFD3nMMgCtPGUjw-Ri8uNPt9_QgroOyKCsbm8iTqyooCTSbvlN96oP01EjNS-TWBzrML7F6XHyQI78fOvAMBQc8JVozxh92xGVsAyDu3zsHpMjGGoYMIYnTevKn7uY/s1600/IMG_7328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5oRDGW2a4P_EzqFD3nMMgCtPGUjw-Ri8uNPt9_QgroOyKCsbm8iTqyooCTSbvlN96oP01EjNS-TWBzrML7F6XHyQI78fOvAMBQc8JVozxh92xGVsAyDu3zsHpMjGGoYMIYnTevKn7uY/s640/IMG_7328.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggMs_6IG5np4okxjb000nVCJ4Or2KVtDn9PJ8yOxNd5ChoimXSY5ey-t13-RL0FjDcg29SR8pNRQkyNaoZ-FaCR023pcRJ0cLYnbl39vmvROa-u9yT148hk3YKui-cs4Df4FJVujP9XA/s1600/IMG_9250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggMs_6IG5np4okxjb000nVCJ4Or2KVtDn9PJ8yOxNd5ChoimXSY5ey-t13-RL0FjDcg29SR8pNRQkyNaoZ-FaCR023pcRJ0cLYnbl39vmvROa-u9yT148hk3YKui-cs4Df4FJVujP9XA/s640/IMG_9250.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXtHTA1a9CxG9C7UwgkJhrNjPQETqOU_BHY1ZZIveJBDSwWIfNuheiTrUb46Dadn_MElNeMDrq1ufDs3J5rmqn0wM2yRvRzt3n9HtNCrJNX2cG_FzAK2tm-xeb5nvq9wW0A9NbWjUmcM/s1600/IMG_9206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXtHTA1a9CxG9C7UwgkJhrNjPQETqOU_BHY1ZZIveJBDSwWIfNuheiTrUb46Dadn_MElNeMDrq1ufDs3J5rmqn0wM2yRvRzt3n9HtNCrJNX2cG_FzAK2tm-xeb5nvq9wW0A9NbWjUmcM/s640/IMG_9206.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And then there is me. I'm still home with the kids, doing preschool with Becks, putting out fires, keeping up with laundry, changing diapers, preparing snacks every five seconds, and smothered in so many kisses. I still love to read and write when I have time, love to be creative and make things, and enjoy the opportunities I get to be a photographer. This year was a hard one for me: physically for the first half because of my pregnancy and pelvic issues, and emotionally for the second half as the move was a lot. When I was little I sang a song called "Kids under construction" and there was a line that said, "The Lord might not be finished yet..." And this year was a reminder to me that the Lord is never finished working in us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJxOfIy6ISBFyNM03epP2ldrg-_fsfy5-GTfRJzopLKExMvE8NNVkzowNAvEe3-9TZjmMoFocR2QzCp1DL7l34nKlXYLS_kZkVauN3s-92Fm0C8Y0C-OzZ2Y54xYyAs-2HMGalM4uUXI/s1600/IMG_8343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJxOfIy6ISBFyNM03epP2ldrg-_fsfy5-GTfRJzopLKExMvE8NNVkzowNAvEe3-9TZjmMoFocR2QzCp1DL7l34nKlXYLS_kZkVauN3s-92Fm0C8Y0C-OzZ2Y54xYyAs-2HMGalM4uUXI/s640/IMG_8343.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV699gKIZwB3z3oY7Ds0JogSW_HaQ71FFqY32d4rxirlOX3fSrbBv20P2fgsU2nmxHvW6HnDiBgLtD7Oy92pGyDct-9LO_AEDFh-1MpqoZLNzzRmvGMMN5TRHZ957o5ySYAV6q3209sg/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV699gKIZwB3z3oY7Ds0JogSW_HaQ71FFqY32d4rxirlOX3fSrbBv20P2fgsU2nmxHvW6HnDiBgLtD7Oy92pGyDct-9LO_AEDFh-1MpqoZLNzzRmvGMMN5TRHZ957o5ySYAV6q3209sg/s640/IMG_0038.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeXEgGc6KHtvo0nwQRK4cNuYs3vI55G4xuO6gKxolov3UDx0X-SlqmCToD_1b6L2ID1Z5kZiVM-jSK9y5HKwosa7GkEMIaDlal2v2ac_3eTfbWEBpKZBD6R1kGzvZ-g53k3CIXDug8T4/s1600/IMG_6635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeXEgGc6KHtvo0nwQRK4cNuYs3vI55G4xuO6gKxolov3UDx0X-SlqmCToD_1b6L2ID1Z5kZiVM-jSK9y5HKwosa7GkEMIaDlal2v2ac_3eTfbWEBpKZBD6R1kGzvZ-g53k3CIXDug8T4/s640/IMG_6635.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUyPOKtqJmAQPGooKWqF_c3Me3D5n-A6eTpO6BIdl-48EUmup6L7sbWB-fhInUYwi4yDeWN3qX_sSNu-rApTmgKglcAw6pCeXyb61gxLzkrm6SeLK6YXGGNKYdTHpiRoDprp6A12igvU/s1600/IMG_8550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUyPOKtqJmAQPGooKWqF_c3Me3D5n-A6eTpO6BIdl-48EUmup6L7sbWB-fhInUYwi4yDeWN3qX_sSNu-rApTmgKglcAw6pCeXyb61gxLzkrm6SeLK6YXGGNKYdTHpiRoDprp6A12igvU/s640/IMG_8550.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And that is where our year brought us...right here to week number two of sick kids and sick Brent and my hands have been washed so many times they are cracking and scabbed. It's not how we'd planned on spending Advent, but today I posted a picture and wrote something I would like to end this year's Christmas letter with:<br />
<br />
My house is one big "where-do-I-even-being." But maybe that's what Advent is-- a question of where to begin; a knowing in our soul that is' more than we can tackle. Because the baby in the manger, born unto <i>us, </i>is the answer to that question, and a calming in our soul. Right now, just when I get a minute to "dig into" the mess somewhere another fever rises, another little bottom needs a lap to be comforted upon, and my cool hands need to be calming a hot forehead instead of sweeping a floor. And so during this Advent I will begin with the baby who one day would tell us His burden is light. And I will think of His mother, who most likely didn't want to begin in the much of a stable, but who leaned into the birth of the Savior of the world even when nothing was perfect. And so I will lean into what that Savior is birthing in me this season. A weary world rejoices.<br />
<br />
Thank you friends. Thank you family. Thank you church-family. For loving us well this year through a tough pregnancy and so many changes. It's because of you our kids didn't miss a beat and our bellies were fed. We are forever grateful for all of you and love living this life alongside you.<br />
<br />
And finally: Merry Christmas! May you lean into what the Savior is birthing in <i>you </i>this season as we worship and celebrate the One who made this life worth living.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRGtEffjC15xQ25Pw-DNgSJp_bS5YvFQLwGO7V5DRVXEQboGHHkRuC_QKCTp_UV6ekG1_I5WSiukfpDsc76Nbyu3fY7MiKYxZ3GCCU0ZeFR-XPvtQqraQ_Wxxu1HbqHvTy4RuwTsjwyk/s1600/IMG_8944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRGtEffjC15xQ25Pw-DNgSJp_bS5YvFQLwGO7V5DRVXEQboGHHkRuC_QKCTp_UV6ekG1_I5WSiukfpDsc76Nbyu3fY7MiKYxZ3GCCU0ZeFR-XPvtQqraQ_Wxxu1HbqHvTy4RuwTsjwyk/s640/IMG_8944.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesfXkf33Qc_SdJMY1UxiMW7U2JCj3DwZB_qpzl5nN6VyQk09Bk2qnn_Jdh5CR6nWFil-3ihRjL9IWqN_xIjE504aUZeuXdcmlfOhyYalltyv2m5RHwNghTjSPmDkgwJzAtxX_vx7V-VE/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesfXkf33Qc_SdJMY1UxiMW7U2JCj3DwZB_qpzl5nN6VyQk09Bk2qnn_Jdh5CR6nWFil-3ihRjL9IWqN_xIjE504aUZeuXdcmlfOhyYalltyv2m5RHwNghTjSPmDkgwJzAtxX_vx7V-VE/s640/IMG_0835.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUplj7Zt_5rAqw22pdozQS5WfriDsnIehtjx5xVvmM98QU0Yq49aosqJRlGGtzHtgJJQu2leoMqoAwD_PC7cg8hmrAkCvkJ7_3vsIrREHYTZXXPt_kL6RAnC0z6vSPWpBIxCsJfor9r5s/s1600/IMG_9302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUplj7Zt_5rAqw22pdozQS5WfriDsnIehtjx5xVvmM98QU0Yq49aosqJRlGGtzHtgJJQu2leoMqoAwD_PC7cg8hmrAkCvkJ7_3vsIrREHYTZXXPt_kL6RAnC0z6vSPWpBIxCsJfor9r5s/s640/IMG_9302.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Love,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Irwins</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Brent, Kelsey, Blythe, Becks, Nan, and Sloan</b> </div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Long lay the world in sin and error pining</i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth</i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<b><i>A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices</i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<b><i>For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-73074545863267967202018-12-04T23:25:00.002-05:002018-12-04T23:25:58.456-05:00settled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFOTXxtadfG6wjbw5xmL9wBWRiEJA_L3uZEqQHrBiNsmBxtM_TBlgsbLqo3sQawIhnpQpzPtjU33GXtmc_siNarh4H3QnZRGGlmhyphenhyphenps2_Iaqg0MR8H9BQf81nbLPumi67yBWKPACy5SI/s1600/IMG_1662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="750" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFOTXxtadfG6wjbw5xmL9wBWRiEJA_L3uZEqQHrBiNsmBxtM_TBlgsbLqo3sQawIhnpQpzPtjU33GXtmc_siNarh4H3QnZRGGlmhyphenhyphenps2_Iaqg0MR8H9BQf81nbLPumi67yBWKPACy5SI/s640/IMG_1662.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Settled. Moored. Tethered.<br />
<br />
I've been thinking a lot about these words lately as we uprooted our family.<br />
Okay. <i>Uprooted </i>is probably an overly dramatic verb as we only moved one and a half miles.<br />
<br />
But maybe not, because my soul has felt uprooted.*<br />
<br />
Yes, leaving our home on Sloan Street was hard in its own right. We had been there for 8 and a half years. It was our first home we purchased. It was where we brought all of our children home. It was where I spent days roaming the backyard as a child, and then later watched my own children meander its same paths. My history in that home was layered and deep and long and wide. It was steady and certain. Our days there were simple and small and full. As I vacuumed the rooms one last time I could not control my sobs as my Dyson rolled over memory after memory.<br />
<br />
Several years ago I shared a picture of my empty Louisville apartment that I snapped on the day Brent and I moved out. I wrote about leaving Louisville to "move back home" [can one every <i>really </i>move back "home"?]. I wrote about how I moved to Louisville, a new wife, kicking and screaming. I didn't want to go there. And two years later when we left? I cried. And those tears taught me something: That time and that place <i>had </i>been important, and I hadn't realized it fully while living there. And then I was crossing the river heading west and it was too late.<br />
<br />
And back in 2014 when I was reminiscing that leaving, I wrote this:<br />
<i>I thought about how each stage of life has been so full and heavy of good things. I thought about how, because of that fullness, each stage sometimes felt like </i>more <i>than I could handle. </i>More <i>than I had bargained for. </i>More <i>than I had expected. </i>More <i>in the wrong ways. But as each season of life has passed, I can look back and see that the fullness-- the heaviness, the more-ness-- are so very commingled with the beauty and grace that came to me during that time that I can't separate them. In fact, often it's the fullness of that stage that I want to return to. I look at that empty apartment and am reminded that we always want to go back. We always want to relive seasons of our life that are gone. And I wish I had been more present for many of those seasons. I wish I would have realized how good I had it. Even in the hard, messy, unfilled in parts. ... I thought about Louisville and our little-one-bedroom-apartment-evenings. How leaving was so hard because I felt like I hadn't sucked all the marrow out of life that I was supposed to while I was there. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
And then my unknowing 28 year-old self wrote this:<br />
<i>And if one day we choose to leave this home, and I snap a picture of the empty walls and space as we are leaving, hopefully I will smile and know that our time here was filled with all the best kinds of MORE because there was a wife and mom who embraced each season of life she was given. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I didn't snap the picture. Brent and I had promised each other not to take a picture of the house when it was empty. We didn't want to remember it that way. But I stood in the living room with tear-stained cheeks that were pushed up in a smile. I was grieving the good-bye of that place, but I was deep-in-my-bones grateful of the time we had spent there. And you know what I did? I sang the doxology, out loud, through my tears. [For those of you that didn't go to my college or attend a church that sings the doxology: <i>Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen."</i>]. That may sound strange, but in that moment my heart was bursting with gratitude to our God for that place, and for filling it with all the best kinds of MORE, and for allowing me the grace and endurance to live in the grit of it and suck the marrow out of it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwh_irjssxFJxeT3nMFwWXejWhWSdzkzzZcTdDbd9ihl8E7cNtTIsRd3BnBo6sfwCIlRG0U1LrDWA2yeegyRM8AiYRv4AFMwCLFSBZOg9PBonbP9dvOaBiYzA7D7gd2OFHjRDRYQtSCLI/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwh_irjssxFJxeT3nMFwWXejWhWSdzkzzZcTdDbd9ihl8E7cNtTIsRd3BnBo6sfwCIlRG0U1LrDWA2yeegyRM8AiYRv4AFMwCLFSBZOg9PBonbP9dvOaBiYzA7D7gd2OFHjRDRYQtSCLI/s640/IMG_1031.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the last pictures I took: the girls and I delivered a little gift and note to all our old neighbors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Sloan Street aside, there was something really difficult to me about moving to a new home.<br />
And it was the feeling unsettled more than the change.<br />
There were boxes everywhere and no history in the home for me. There was chaos in the basement that was being remodeled and an address that I had to force my hand to write because the muscles couldn't do it themselves while I thought about making supper.<br />
I didn't feel moored.<br />
I didn't feel tethered.<br />
<br />
And I kept bowing down to the idol of settledness.<br />
I kept worshiping the idea of consistency.<br />
I kept grabbing for peace in my surroundings which were scattered and still in boxes; surroundings that weren't familiar and didn't smell like me.<br />
<br />
I'm writing this as if it were past tense.<br />
To be honest though, I'm still working through all this.<br />
<br />
But here is the Truth with a capitol T that I want to cling to so that I can stop worshiping false idols:<br />
The same God that I stood and, weeping, thanked and sang to in my old living room, moved that mile and a half with me. That same God that gave me a steadfast husband and those four children to bring home, let me bring them all that mile and a half with me.<br />
<br />
And that same God promised me that He would never leave or forsake me.<br />
That same God promised that He would be my rock.<br />
That same God said that He, and nothing else-- not an organized pantry, or turquoise cabinets, or toys in their proper place-- would be my <i>peace. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
There is a wall in my new kitchen on which I've decided I want to do a large, hand lettered verse. Brent and I were discussing what verse we thought it should be. We wanted something about the character of God that we could see everyday, and we landed on John 16:33--<br />
<br />
<i>I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
In Him we may have peace.<br />
In Him we are settled.<br />
In Him we are tethered to the greatest Anchor of all.<br />
In Him, while longing for our one true home, we are always home.<br />
<br />
And as I wake up to what feels like chaos rather than a settled home, I will remember that He is my peace. I will remember that He gives the Spirit without measure. I will remember that a fruit of that spirit is peace.<br />
<br />
<i>And if one day we choose to leave this home, and I snap a picture of the empty walls and space as we are leaving, hopefully I will smile and know that our time here was filled with all the best kinds of MORE because there was a wife and mom who embraced each season of life she was given. </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwSDM1T3R-DQwgPYZ1B_UZUI-WEZT9c6LMTmWRTru28pndPASBnMpKmcWmOp2jPJitfP64gnvztVHlhx2Kfq-5duwtUfVnFkyGhWGe1L-pUgBjBkUixBnCiC53j2w3c0Jrne1VWTDtLo/s1600/IMG_1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwSDM1T3R-DQwgPYZ1B_UZUI-WEZT9c6LMTmWRTru28pndPASBnMpKmcWmOp2jPJitfP64gnvztVHlhx2Kfq-5duwtUfVnFkyGhWGe1L-pUgBjBkUixBnCiC53j2w3c0Jrne1VWTDtLo/s640/IMG_1653.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
*worth noting: the kids all handled the transition like champs. We didn't make a big hoop-la of leaving the old house-- one day, we just did. And they've never asked to go back and, as is evidenced by the last picture, have had no problem making this new space their own.<br />
kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433724144623540258.post-45316209039252387722018-09-17T22:31:00.001-04:002018-09-17T22:31:02.984-04:00Sloan's Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: right;">
<i>To read any of the girls' birth stories, click the tab at the top of the blog. </i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: right;">
<i>To read all of the letters and such I wrote Sloan before he was born, click <a href="http://kelseylynae.blogspot.com/search/label/pregnancy%205">HERE.</a> </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirHa3HSXbZIGYpGQyXixnRHTdPMRvkSWKbf6rzJfR1fAsQZ6NOZ4e5672CF36t6AiaThhmJLeMC1G45HOU6bw9h4Iumss6SIEeAqJa5BMso_CaZypGY5RDjO_4UrKORD9VqNtk9lnsXo/s1600/IMG_9049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirHa3HSXbZIGYpGQyXixnRHTdPMRvkSWKbf6rzJfR1fAsQZ6NOZ4e5672CF36t6AiaThhmJLeMC1G45HOU6bw9h4Iumss6SIEeAqJa5BMso_CaZypGY5RDjO_4UrKORD9VqNtk9lnsXo/s640/IMG_9049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jU0nP2aDq7m8HRPbmoc4F44HYg9ke3jobPILg3Tspq_bf8xAvzIzFubGjcl9k6tRpZE1tHSGJ6NBCMhUa6EFqtqbtsXQeJfTvLyb9BzXgNl54-njTr2ynGFVsy_6CAiPsm4Y-Uo9eEA/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jU0nP2aDq7m8HRPbmoc4F44HYg9ke3jobPILg3Tspq_bf8xAvzIzFubGjcl9k6tRpZE1tHSGJ6NBCMhUa6EFqtqbtsXQeJfTvLyb9BzXgNl54-njTr2ynGFVsy_6CAiPsm4Y-Uo9eEA/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6661.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabfRVHcQsZA9iak6wxeWOzfz3zf5d-WKbr74FMpa5AGxyWYGOxCX4NM6ek1Sw51KmO1QIuwhT0Zn2YIBp4GDfxMDS1DXCsjooRqHtZm3NDf-rovLpLMMId19IPN4RPAQ9gnIqCCRXNuk/s1600/IMG_9056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabfRVHcQsZA9iak6wxeWOzfz3zf5d-WKbr74FMpa5AGxyWYGOxCX4NM6ek1Sw51KmO1QIuwhT0Zn2YIBp4GDfxMDS1DXCsjooRqHtZm3NDf-rovLpLMMId19IPN4RPAQ9gnIqCCRXNuk/s640/IMG_9056.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: right;">Also: this is a </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: right;">birth story. </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: right;">I tried not to be too detailed, but birth is messy and raw and painful and there are times that, in order to tell the true story, I had to say things like "scrape membranes" and "dilation." Consider that your warning and proceed with caution :) </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlabeRI_eMz-UqInaMOxGj3Vsjp4n9irHb3q-znLwpO4G4crtlYvxbJEFcld4FNe_X2_QmemxE9N33CSXtpOpYAw1zogaxLtwYTaeYzRhQmvSdT4pXlVsoWrO6ARb_L3H6UOFgJHucwhI/s1600/IMG_9050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlabeRI_eMz-UqInaMOxGj3Vsjp4n9irHb3q-znLwpO4G4crtlYvxbJEFcld4FNe_X2_QmemxE9N33CSXtpOpYAw1zogaxLtwYTaeYzRhQmvSdT4pXlVsoWrO6ARb_L3H6UOFgJHucwhI/s640/IMG_9050.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Writing a birth story takes a lot of thought for me-- and starting it is always the hardest, especially when functioning on much less sleep and three weeks post-partum! Like I wrote at the start of Nan's, there is just so much crammed in such a short space of time, and <b>in the end there is another human on this earth. </b>How do I put that into words? How does one describe <b>the moment that moves from painful to sacred </b>when your child is laid on your chest?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know this is a birth story, but I think I need to start at the beginning. This past year and a half felt like one long, winding road. It started with the courage to try for a fourth, which felt very <i>beyond </i>my capabilities. That led to a long first trimester through a hot summer, followed by the shock at 14 weeks that our baby's heart had stopped beating. The next few months saw us through grief and healing, and the decision we would try again. The day before Christmas Eve I learned I was pregnant again, and by the end of February I was already experiencing some pelvic pain. My pelvic bone had separated from the pubic symphysis after my delivery with Nan, and so we knew it was a possibility again; however, I did not know how early that pain would start, and how hard the last six months of my pregnancy would be. But through it all there were two constants for me: The never-ending love and peace of God, and the steady, quiet love of a man. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brent never left my side, even when I felt so weary. When I couldn't even bend over or put on my own pants, he worked tirelessly to keep our family and our home functioning. He told me to sit down and he vacuumed and emptied the dishwasher over and over and over. He folded laundry and handled bedtime. He worked full time and then came home and worked full time. We had a lot of help, but Brent is what got me to the finish line. <b>Our three girls never missed a beat while their mom could do so little, because their dad did so much. When we needed him the most, Brent gave his utmost for us. </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b02vwtx5tKH6mHVsUXhJ-n8tZfZygHODoqmJ6BBSwYxSBpv9vxdyRuIi2a-9jLZ8-NbXwh-7d4pzmD6RgF45iKBHqLaUNa6djIS1WR-_DTsIKWa52lY0nFZV2G_TKeoeDcLQfsYkc48/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b02vwtx5tKH6mHVsUXhJ-n8tZfZygHODoqmJ6BBSwYxSBpv9vxdyRuIi2a-9jLZ8-NbXwh-7d4pzmD6RgF45iKBHqLaUNa6djIS1WR-_DTsIKWa52lY0nFZV2G_TKeoeDcLQfsYkc48/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6647.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgFPy4V3Zv7FHLQYfi0qOZtOwTjw51miDNwCX56IGXrfRvAyUrHub-vK5exINsX_BY-RGMQFIk_k5bD6aISTZAxhGNaEDVRt68UZnwpkD57KLowqtRHaegMeakOGtsshEUpC_AkIVExs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgFPy4V3Zv7FHLQYfi0qOZtOwTjw51miDNwCX56IGXrfRvAyUrHub-vK5exINsX_BY-RGMQFIk_k5bD6aISTZAxhGNaEDVRt68UZnwpkD57KLowqtRHaegMeakOGtsshEUpC_AkIVExs/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6659.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVN4MIOxkawZouCAI9Wj5EYZP0cJXN_kc7V9q-ssjTpJIrowIVSbjONkeg38DiNQpvkHLFr0u9eSfdlhFlcE701EwdaH7LMZrYrvXJPgMJid-sM3CLznpDOQm2-ZAD8mW9ZuYYoxhv-g/s1600/IMG_6442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVN4MIOxkawZouCAI9Wj5EYZP0cJXN_kc7V9q-ssjTpJIrowIVSbjONkeg38DiNQpvkHLFr0u9eSfdlhFlcE701EwdaH7LMZrYrvXJPgMJid-sM3CLznpDOQm2-ZAD8mW9ZuYYoxhv-g/s640/IMG_6442.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoq3kiARWGfjObHG4KDdcXg3V8OBPuNO5AksJI-Yl5xpprlsT70bSrDksVuB3vICaOtzNnus0rFa1R97k1occ7_5mmvhfLMW3VsNCxzlNekSAYaTEKxWcKoLmBVb9dBXcgQ_7CW5CpxQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoq3kiARWGfjObHG4KDdcXg3V8OBPuNO5AksJI-Yl5xpprlsT70bSrDksVuB3vICaOtzNnus0rFa1R97k1occ7_5mmvhfLMW3VsNCxzlNekSAYaTEKxWcKoLmBVb9dBXcgQ_7CW5CpxQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We've walked through the wilderness and found the clearing, and it was Brent that reminded me I could make it-- he told me not to pitch a tent and camp in the wild places but to keep moving-- <i>he reminded me that God would make a way. </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was in so much pain carrying our boy, but I don't know how <i>Brent </i>did it, <b>because he carried us all. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Which got us to August 24th: My induction date. I was amazed and grateful we made it to the induction. My doctor, like last time, truly believed an induction was the safest route for me as she was fearful if my water broke on its own that we would not make it to the hospital in time. I trust her without question, and we set the date. The night before we put the girls to bed like usual, but lingered a little as we tucked them in. I wrote a blog that night about <a href="http://kelseylynae.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-normal-day.html">our "normal" day. </a>We crept in once they were asleep and gave them some final kisses. My eyes welled up but I did not cry because I knew that, even though things would be changing in huge ways for our family, bringing another sibling home for them was deeply and fully <i>good.</i> I knew it would stretch my time thinner, but I also knew it would be adding richly to our family's story and I did not fear the change it would bring us all like I had when Becks joined our family. Though this child was an unknown,<b> adding to our family was no longer an unknown I feared. I knew it would yield beauty. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuNIhuxsigaE3QAHA0m6Lzyj4PghDoxJ_POBxeVtmArQM7zzEsFfHTbcWXoIR4KUpQUrm3e-VnBH7JsGiAddFWmMonp8Z_wkJqtk3f8FF0E_aksgO2BP2iost-v9KsUVk14QN28iyjGI/s1600/IMG_8944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuNIhuxsigaE3QAHA0m6Lzyj4PghDoxJ_POBxeVtmArQM7zzEsFfHTbcWXoIR4KUpQUrm3e-VnBH7JsGiAddFWmMonp8Z_wkJqtk3f8FF0E_aksgO2BP2iost-v9KsUVk14QN28iyjGI/s640/IMG_8944.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last picture as a family of 5 before we left for the induction Friday morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpvY0RqB5YWzaFHyl4TVMAVnzzqo5NtuWYqH8Rp2TbSCTeZ6dYveb4QPr9o8wJQ5orAEFcp0QHFex7I34eGtp_gkG7ff4E-mQYul_DMRsWiGkWGTPUU8Aws6b6UTDuFb_W4znQTVmaME/s1600/IMG_9042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpvY0RqB5YWzaFHyl4TVMAVnzzqo5NtuWYqH8Rp2TbSCTeZ6dYveb4QPr9o8wJQ5orAEFcp0QHFex7I34eGtp_gkG7ff4E-mQYul_DMRsWiGkWGTPUU8Aws6b6UTDuFb_W4znQTVmaME/s640/IMG_9042.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S86-N2NNi9qVRYPJzPiQlzIy3VkhEAFAyZp3WFM1PeIm-wZnbdNhEZplq0cVMRg0X7FVcxX1RUc01BWxX3oc7EhIoWYOJ8jKAQx-IvoXFMhYYvCnd4vdlW-pwTxVr3sRQDPLrVtlKQw/s1600/IMG_9038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S86-N2NNi9qVRYPJzPiQlzIy3VkhEAFAyZp3WFM1PeIm-wZnbdNhEZplq0cVMRg0X7FVcxX1RUc01BWxX3oc7EhIoWYOJ8jKAQx-IvoXFMhYYvCnd4vdlW-pwTxVr3sRQDPLrVtlKQw/s640/IMG_9038.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNWAkv9HxlAtZyyKIp2szKkj4M5oi2XAAzKhJJaxXQc0zEPN8tEtZGJ0i31S2BaTzk9kn_jAZsP_iG7hr68bFNYx8uIBqXQ-_B9kCTd_2m_zfS9lRDfiGvMj8BJRWaMUnfMmJ9cGKG10/s1600/IMG_9037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNWAkv9HxlAtZyyKIp2szKkj4M5oi2XAAzKhJJaxXQc0zEPN8tEtZGJ0i31S2BaTzk9kn_jAZsP_iG7hr68bFNYx8uIBqXQ-_B9kCTd_2m_zfS9lRDfiGvMj8BJRWaMUnfMmJ9cGKG10/s640/IMG_9037.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
I went in the bathroom and took some tylenol p.m. to ensure a little sleep before the big day, and slowed at my image in front of the mirror. There I was, in all my 39-week-pregnant glory. Baby boy's feet were still sticking out in a lump on the right of my swollen belly and I could see the reverberations of his rolls. <b>I placed my hands on my so-tight abdomen, took a deep breath, and asked God for the strength I would need to deliver this boy into the world, for the peace to remember the command to "fear not", and for my <i>son </i>to be healthy and whole. </b>I then waddled to my side of the bed and, grimacing and with no grace, rolled in. I stuffed pillows all around and me and tried to get comfortable for one last night.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqdgX46exnotqx2ndATb90wFBIAvQyAK_lx5bNaxdqeYInvt2gPY2Upr6jyT2NOA0NMW6VfOXchsj1C9D8HKMLBUzokbSfOSZogqhluz5zTSz_yfXtpDeOKdGtltthLFgWjHGhI13igc/s1600/IMG_8939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqdgX46exnotqx2ndATb90wFBIAvQyAK_lx5bNaxdqeYInvt2gPY2Upr6jyT2NOA0NMW6VfOXchsj1C9D8HKMLBUzokbSfOSZogqhluz5zTSz_yfXtpDeOKdGtltthLFgWjHGhI13igc/s640/IMG_8939.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting the last chain on her "countdown to baby brother!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Waking up on the day of induction is strange. I knew that, most likely, within the next 12 hours I would be holding this baby on the outside, and yet I was having no feelings of labor. I made some oatmeal, had a chocolate chip waffle with peanut butter [I don't know <i>how many </i>Eggos I ate the last month or two!], and a cup of coffee. I wanted something that would "stick", should I have to miss a meal. Brent and I got the girls around, I did several heads of little girls' hair, and then we loaded up the car. Blythe and an infant seat were in the back. We pulled out of our driveway and I knew I was leaving "only a girl mom" behind. We dropped Blythe off at school, and that big six year old just said goodbye and hopped out of the car like it was any other day. As the door shut behind her, I reached over and grabbed Brent's hand-- now it was time. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuOrTkLXT8U2F_Smq8Zpp2drd7bxdiTRTpjFFzqNKXY15ETxnU9-jxuHI2cubvzfAydBsjNr2-cEwYtSrOzkoYt8TRg0NWx7lgMPIbwMs90zaAqVy_z4gT-CzO3D36mAFNb0N8mCMqOY/s1600/IMG_8938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuOrTkLXT8U2F_Smq8Zpp2drd7bxdiTRTpjFFzqNKXY15ETxnU9-jxuHI2cubvzfAydBsjNr2-cEwYtSrOzkoYt8TRg0NWx7lgMPIbwMs90zaAqVy_z4gT-CzO3D36mAFNb0N8mCMqOY/s640/IMG_8938.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I don't know what it would be like to be a soldier and strap on a bayonet and head over the hill into enemy's camp, but I can't imagine the feeling in my stomach would be much different. Here's the thing with labor and delivery: <i>you have to do it. </i><b>There is no way around it, only through it. </b>I knew I <i>could</i> do it. I had been there three times before. But it did not mean I was looking forward to it. I was so ready to meet this guy, and be done with pregnancy, and be on the other side of all of it. But I wasn't so sure I was ready to don that hospital gown and endure what was set before me. And to me, that's the worst part of induction: you know it's coming and there is nothing to distract you [i.e. contractions], on your drive to the hospital. Brent and I chatted here and there about nothing in particular. At one point he brought up something about labor, and I said I didn't want to talk about it. We sat silently, together. And then we were pulling in the parking lot of the hospital. We found a spot, parked, and then Brent grabbed my hand and he prayed for our doctor, our nurses, us, and our baby boy-- for whatever the next few hours may hold. <b>We walked into the hospital holding only our bags, anxious and excited to be holding a baby on the return trip. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsotnqMY2qjVmFX7aNNO_C7NtctDKR0jABw3POJ53-cHENxurgzEAhrQafOP9Dx-LtqiGwCuhYokwreuE9LvRnKG_Ykpm6jGW-KMHmDAMHcurkL789BrTGHA63BeIqmnCg3aXvwCtqKE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsotnqMY2qjVmFX7aNNO_C7NtctDKR0jABw3POJ53-cHENxurgzEAhrQafOP9Dx-LtqiGwCuhYokwreuE9LvRnKG_Ykpm6jGW-KMHmDAMHcurkL789BrTGHA63BeIqmnCg3aXvwCtqKE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6669.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hHDSMx4KESVVDJjwTe0Yrw3GurInd07NtdiP7lfyn9WIFlmPEtSBsw7gmPIM6ibwob_mMxT-Q1-lwQ8Sb08U5HN9hXIz0qQKoU55qGb-wHa_2AAZwad4kzOlPJmAb2Cdjvpj8ybub4A/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hHDSMx4KESVVDJjwTe0Yrw3GurInd07NtdiP7lfyn9WIFlmPEtSBsw7gmPIM6ibwob_mMxT-Q1-lwQ8Sb08U5HN9hXIz0qQKoU55qGb-wHa_2AAZwad4kzOlPJmAb2Cdjvpj8ybub4A/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6672.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFleBoOz2J_V2vU-6XGqP_pD4Kw6W5w6q0VuUjyCfQyDP1tELj92VHn1Aqx-P98jZ2rpusFJ1sSRR1UI3yGoBXCKavgWp2KLUzpgNXESwbt8ABoi7yXZvYyhfKAWuPdfvPe55g91_ABQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFleBoOz2J_V2vU-6XGqP_pD4Kw6W5w6q0VuUjyCfQyDP1tELj92VHn1Aqx-P98jZ2rpusFJ1sSRR1UI3yGoBXCKavgWp2KLUzpgNXESwbt8ABoi7yXZvYyhfKAWuPdfvPe55g91_ABQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6665.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
We were led to our room for the next few days-- room 1819-- and were greeted by a nurse named Pam, the smell of hospital hand sanitizer, and a green gown. We chatted with Pam as she fired up the computer, asked us questions, and put on our arm bands. At one point nurse Tara popped her head in with a hello, and a warning for Pam that I was going to go fast! You know you've had a lot of kids when some of the nurses know you and remember your labor history. Tara was the nurse that almost got the privilege of delivering Becks, had Dr. C not <i>ran </i>from her office. I knew right away I was going to get along great with Pam because she got my i.v. in on the <i>first try, </i>which has never in my life happened [I have terrible veins]. She therefore earned my trust and my accolades immediately. She told us she had gotten called in that morning because they were so busy, but that she said she would only work until one because she had promised her son she would pick him up from school. It was 9:30 and I told her I would do my best to have this baby before she had to leave.<br />
<br />
Once the i.v. was in and the monitors were all hooked up and playing the wonderful sound of our son's heartbeat and tracking my non-contractions, we sat and waiting for my doctor to come in and give us the game plan. I had Brent turn the temperature of the room to the coldest setting-- I had been hot my entire pregnancy and our room was icey cold. Brent changed into his sweats and a sweatshirt. At about 10:30 my doctor came in and when I saw her I was even more grateful I had made it to my induction, if for no other reason than I knew I would have her there with me. We all chatted a bit, and then she checked me. I was still at a 3 [which I had been at my appointment earlier that week], but then she made a face. "I thought he was further down when I checked you Tuesday, but he still needs to come down some more." Not what I was expecting or wanting to hear. Maybe my labor was going to be longer than we anticipated after all. I was only about 50% effaced too, but she assured me I was "very soft" and she wasn't too worried at all. She had a surgery she had to step into at 11 that she knew would keep her tied up for about an hour. She didn't want to break my water "and miss it!" I was a little disappointed she didn't want to break my water and get things started-- it sounded to me like baby needed to drop, I needed to get contractions going and progress some more, and all of that would not happen within an hour! But I trusted her. She went ahead and stripped my membranes and we started on pitocin.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCe9Z9UFzmi9lp3DRcFNXUzJsYwGoVV4ew3I0brmuwC6patSkAgZPmDa2n6uguj7ZecE3YAR9PHZBV3szcUxeLu6kZ0mMj6dCGBu611JcWUaROOKc7tYcZh358CFxWWZMiIvtBzGR7-NA/s1600/IMG_8948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCe9Z9UFzmi9lp3DRcFNXUzJsYwGoVV4ew3I0brmuwC6patSkAgZPmDa2n6uguj7ZecE3YAR9PHZBV3szcUxeLu6kZ0mMj6dCGBu611JcWUaROOKc7tYcZh358CFxWWZMiIvtBzGR7-NA/s640/IMG_8948.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd5g9i2GhIJdQPxQ5lavvZow88_P5i6mOINCnJ-aqFwxnuK1n_vYUBhaGt0_7Ik05phrnz5TkvjzvQ-4bJaNc3rVcOh0-rc2qAE2i2eVWBEbD1nXqUwJpMt_Z_GhL52zJ78QH3wBpHY0/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd5g9i2GhIJdQPxQ5lavvZow88_P5i6mOINCnJ-aqFwxnuK1n_vYUBhaGt0_7Ik05phrnz5TkvjzvQ-4bJaNc3rVcOh0-rc2qAE2i2eVWBEbD1nXqUwJpMt_Z_GhL52zJ78QH3wBpHY0/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6652.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8O-_6lh3lQBGsrpL0BwmrGd2cF1AAFAHKK06KXoCPqxeKs4pd8tAGJBGBaaQ4WqfLpj049-MvPHPyQNFnRNPHKSGsD_lPM_HJCTzFp_ylxhDyFev8kQVYErN-6Jy0GOAvFbI-WnyZPU/s1600/IMG_8947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8O-_6lh3lQBGsrpL0BwmrGd2cF1AAFAHKK06KXoCPqxeKs4pd8tAGJBGBaaQ4WqfLpj049-MvPHPyQNFnRNPHKSGsD_lPM_HJCTzFp_ylxhDyFev8kQVYErN-6Jy0GOAvFbI-WnyZPU/s640/IMG_8947.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxXKnXch0E9YZhZTKrvvUJ2g7lsbRpdOeZ-qxFNz4txoyjU8D_qVpqDLnFE6LDRk6QdeftzZo0InYBcqF1I7aAb_USqPEEQT1erRhUdgzqiTV5ybghLImaR577yxzfYavUtScXlF8Xmw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxXKnXch0E9YZhZTKrvvUJ2g7lsbRpdOeZ-qxFNz4txoyjU8D_qVpqDLnFE6LDRk6QdeftzZo0InYBcqF1I7aAb_USqPEEQT1erRhUdgzqiTV5ybghLImaR577yxzfYavUtScXlF8Xmw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6683.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0Y4nsdtPU0aQpRKH_v8pK6C_mtMCYnMrvjKcnkjb8xkD2C_ht4bCmBxxdZOKzUMxjPBE7mBhFnu3xQAKL3C7vBSRIVfj8b1wafsx5yfcnurZB8Ccv7QJc_cwbKuXZJc4Zo1jX5Co0aE/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0Y4nsdtPU0aQpRKH_v8pK6C_mtMCYnMrvjKcnkjb8xkD2C_ht4bCmBxxdZOKzUMxjPBE7mBhFnu3xQAKL3C7vBSRIVfj8b1wafsx5yfcnurZB8Ccv7QJc_cwbKuXZJc4Zo1jX5Co0aE/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6653.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
She left and Pam found us a portable monitor so I could walk around and try and encourage something to get started. Walking was something I had been needing to avoid during my last two months. It was painful, but I was determined to get something started. After all, we were there to have a baby! So Brent pushed my i.v. up and down the halls. On lap three I had a contraction or two, and by lap four I needed to stop walking while the contractions happened, and I could tell they were already starting to pattern up. It had been about 20-30 minutes since we started the drip. We hadn't even started lap five, and Pam met us around a corner holding Dr. C by the elbow. "I found her!" she said, "And I made her stay until you came back."<br />
<br />
It was almost noon, and Dr. C wanted to check me again now that I had had a few regular contractions. I was still at a three, but I was effaced 80%. I said I was hoping she would say I had dilated more, and Pam laughed and said, "I'm impressed you went from 50-80!" Dr. C felt comfortable breaking my water at this point, and told me she really thought I would move quickly from this point forward.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbihCwAH4fS5bB6_uy7MdKfYZU-Zn1sW7P0p6Bdto16FUnStyJWHp6ytfItER2ewosuQrMK1P2Q5V3_vegE6gs-bLtCoCfFJmnH93rz2VA8VffPuOPS4sntSgluMw3qSBQG8jVagrbSYk/s1600/IMG_9052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbihCwAH4fS5bB6_uy7MdKfYZU-Zn1sW7P0p6Bdto16FUnStyJWHp6ytfItER2ewosuQrMK1P2Q5V3_vegE6gs-bLtCoCfFJmnH93rz2VA8VffPuOPS4sntSgluMw3qSBQG8jVagrbSYk/s640/IMG_9052.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tfLALHSaj5F7MzHaQEwzLoRxneXtCaBbjiq7j2p7nBX8-yn5L5FiOXJT9onvLndLAm7tZNLR-g1u_dhRmmQmXT43IvgLYGQzwqDtbvToegDUhzgYPpsEMoO2rBRun-P3Wn8S7Uiiowc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tfLALHSaj5F7MzHaQEwzLoRxneXtCaBbjiq7j2p7nBX8-yn5L5FiOXJT9onvLndLAm7tZNLR-g1u_dhRmmQmXT43IvgLYGQzwqDtbvToegDUhzgYPpsEMoO2rBRun-P3Wn8S7Uiiowc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6677.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Right after she broke my water, my dad came in the room. I didn't know he was coming, and he almost got quite a show! But luckily he went to the wrong room first. Apparently there was another family there with the last name of <i>Irvin. </i>Dad got sent to the wrong room, which is a funny story in and of itself, and it spared him from walking in on my water being broken. He dropped off a dinosaur book for his grandson and he and Brent talked about biking or running or something. I'm not entirely sure because behind them Pam was prepping the delivery table. She set out gauze and tools and supplies I don't have names for but that look fairly intimidating when you're about ready to deliver a baby. My dad looked over and saw the set up, and made some comment about how appeared time for him to leave. Pam responded that setting all that up "this early in labor" went against everything she normally did, but everyone told her it was necessary with me so she followed orders.<br />
<br />
It was about 12:15 and I noticed my contractions starting to pick up. By 12:30 I was really needing to breathe and focus through them. I was finally in real labor! <b>It was what we were there for and what I had been waiting for for months, but as the hard contractions started pulsing through my body I remembered labor for all that it was. </b>It was everything I remembered, and just like my last induction I seemed to be starting right in the middle with no build up. Pam said she was going to bump my pitocin up a bit, to really get things going, so I got up and went to the bathroom because I knew that would probably be the last time I wanted to get up. She offered me a birthing ball, and asked if I wanted anything like that. I told her we would see, but that I usually can't do anything but lay in the bed and try not to scream.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfT4dCwkZGG2EvLsOrpBPaR3bedQp6VsxipybAqJnGIR97_u91K0_mDdJT2VkIJy086DcGJOlrpkFfnwbxPGjO3EFEdFahR2Moq9VgWuioevYtRv2SyQKxzIjmdSpelp2qqADDGPexAI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfT4dCwkZGG2EvLsOrpBPaR3bedQp6VsxipybAqJnGIR97_u91K0_mDdJT2VkIJy086DcGJOlrpkFfnwbxPGjO3EFEdFahR2Moq9VgWuioevYtRv2SyQKxzIjmdSpelp2qqADDGPexAI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6627.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzomzBXRLmDtjfosnoiR08483G_W4mva0WIaSu1tcn29VMcYz4mkRJ2_yv8q3Dt77HsbjF5QhFNhk3T1Eedz1qLfnCDh3YzE40ZhhaG-O1pa_0jhkxOX9GBTVfne_ncLMoMbmy_MN5_Vs/s1600/IMG_9058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzomzBXRLmDtjfosnoiR08483G_W4mva0WIaSu1tcn29VMcYz4mkRJ2_yv8q3Dt77HsbjF5QhFNhk3T1Eedz1qLfnCDh3YzE40ZhhaG-O1pa_0jhkxOX9GBTVfne_ncLMoMbmy_MN5_Vs/s640/IMG_9058.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bpqWMcij3AUu21sp3c-PhWCd7nsYX6dFIM0V9gBqlT_W5Iusal5Gas0iANGLAJGQE_EYVaX1KDDrW1-ZQ6RMwxBqa7Ojwd-RnB6ux4FxBb8u3DyF5V74Sg-XtdlgJPGM1MrNtnKSx4Y/s1600/IMG_8991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bpqWMcij3AUu21sp3c-PhWCd7nsYX6dFIM0V9gBqlT_W5Iusal5Gas0iANGLAJGQE_EYVaX1KDDrW1-ZQ6RMwxBqa7Ojwd-RnB6ux4FxBb8u3DyF5V74Sg-XtdlgJPGM1MrNtnKSx4Y/s640/IMG_8991.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When I got back in the bed, Pam encouraged me to labor on my side. I remembered doing that with Nan, and I remembered it was the hardest, most painful labor I had experienced. However, I also remembered it really sped things along... even for me... so I trusted her guidance. <b>And from that point forward it seemed that every single contraction was compounding on the last and every pain had so much purpose. </b>Contractions were coming every 30 seconds to one minute and lasting almost a minute. Just like my previous three labors, my body was not messing around and it was not going to give me the "luxury" of easing into anything-- it hit the ground running. After 15 minutes I flipped over on my other side. Flipped makes it sound like it was easy: I waited for a contraction to subside, and then Brent and Pam helped me painfully roll to my other side.<br />
<br />
I had memorized some verses to carry with me through labor. One of my favorite college professors always told us that memorizing poetry was like being able to carry around a warm casserole to offer other people when they needed it. This probably sounds weird if you aren't a word-lover like myself, but I always loved that image. And memorizing scripture has been like that for my soul when I need it most. However, this time when I went to pull the memorized scripture to remind me of the Spirit's presence with me, the intensity of the contractions was overwhelming for my brain to go there.The line from a worship song came to me at one point though, and for a few contractions <b>I just breathed in and out with the truth, "You are my hope and stay..." </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXueCLReWD4L1Ue4U0TzcjMt7HirVw6pa0tnSu8GI6TpvnbMoVvlNj7KjRoAWsaH7uuueDTc3wDECTAZuO6LtLES4i07ooDc3PbcumHbpjGzikXyHoSt-Ulz1WB1C9Qt_aYTIgkJXfqU/s1600/IMG_9068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXueCLReWD4L1Ue4U0TzcjMt7HirVw6pa0tnSu8GI6TpvnbMoVvlNj7KjRoAWsaH7uuueDTc3wDECTAZuO6LtLES4i07ooDc3PbcumHbpjGzikXyHoSt-Ulz1WB1C9Qt_aYTIgkJXfqU/s640/IMG_9068.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNeJDvDkY8tTBwbPapSK9FfPqd3PAzn4Fb11g5prCocVuh5pE-OMk0o86HNn3iJGqvPuP6mUawmXU1DWzJvtNXREcODxty6U04dBxqC1JeCxJUqJD7GmgGfm0dBlegv5I1tX9ciqLUDY/s1600/IMG_9073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNeJDvDkY8tTBwbPapSK9FfPqd3PAzn4Fb11g5prCocVuh5pE-OMk0o86HNn3iJGqvPuP6mUawmXU1DWzJvtNXREcODxty6U04dBxqC1JeCxJUqJD7GmgGfm0dBlegv5I1tX9ciqLUDY/s640/IMG_9073.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
However, very quickly all I could manage was counting. I stared at the tiny screw on the side of the bed that was a six-sided star shape and I would slowly count up one side, "<i>One.....two.....three...." </i>and breathe out the other side, <i>"...four.... five.... six" </i>until the contraction passed. At one point I lost focus for just a moment and had a frantic feeling. I'd never had that before in labor, as I've always been able to stay very zoned in on what I was doing, but this labor was a new level for me. With every pulse through my body I could feel him moving down, further into the birth canal. Dr. C had said he wasn't totally in position, but gosh darn it he was doing his best to get there quickly. I knew I couldn't lose my focus and I knew I didn't want that frantic feeling again, so my determination rose to a new level. It wasn't quite one o'clock when I looked at Brent and said, "I don't know if I can do this." To which he responded, <b>"I know that means you're almost done." </b>In every labor when I've hit that wall, it means I am in transition and the end is usually getting close, but labor had JUST started. I didn't think there was any way I could almost be done, but I had never experienced the level of intensity I was experiencing.<br />
<br />
Nurse Pam was supposed to leave at one, but she told me she would check me because she wanted to stay if I was close to delivery. She looked at me with a little smile and said, "You're a six, but I could stretch you to whatever I want." With that she dropped the light from the ceiling and went to let my doctor know. We were right by the nurse's station so it only took a second, and when she returned she said that Dr. C was right outside and that she wouldn't leave until she had delivered my baby. "You're clearly her I.P. today," Pam said with a little laugh. I thought dropping the light and getting everyone ready when I was only at a six seemed a little pre-mature, but I was also comforted knowing that my doctor was right at hand, and that they agreed with Brent's assessment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhfugfAKBc2YH74s5U2-T4dZTky7hrp2nr2JsIE1ra0jYmcCAEci1x4JEcpTaQSzxIoLKWHmBcYoPo_6A1AZhj1nkPaCy2GKL0JyKpQCovawXCfP682YfO0HfIHdSg0qtPgabv52SMck/s1600/IMG_6456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhfugfAKBc2YH74s5U2-T4dZTky7hrp2nr2JsIE1ra0jYmcCAEci1x4JEcpTaQSzxIoLKWHmBcYoPo_6A1AZhj1nkPaCy2GKL0JyKpQCovawXCfP682YfO0HfIHdSg0qtPgabv52SMck/s640/IMG_6456.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4uu-3g6TFwOOje-kADr1RCi9cMIXvBWieVc-i5XQCGc14bD0r7x9fd11jvhRNx4JundTjbS-lhLqVg7In2jWmNfALijug5uEW-Nk8O24XWx8xiifmGhqrzTEzLyby0UQwkhP2wQqxOs/s1600/IMG_9053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4uu-3g6TFwOOje-kADr1RCi9cMIXvBWieVc-i5XQCGc14bD0r7x9fd11jvhRNx4JundTjbS-lhLqVg7In2jWmNfALijug5uEW-Nk8O24XWx8xiifmGhqrzTEzLyby0UQwkhP2wQqxOs/s640/IMG_9053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Shortly after that Dr. C came in and wanted to check for herself. She said I was a little more than a six, and I had a couple contractions while she checked and she sat on my bed and just put her hand on my leg. Pam watched on from the side of the bed and jokingly said to Dr. C that I could "teach a class" on labor, and they praised me for my "control". <b>However, with every wave I felt a little closer to out-of-control, but I clung to the knowledge that I was getting closer with each contraction, and reminded myself that God had designed my body to endure such pain and deliver my baby. </b><br />
<br />
From that point forward I felt like I was hanging on for dear life. Pam didn't leave the room, and Brent just quietly offered his hand and his comfort like he always does so well.<br />
<br />
One to one-thirty. I don't ever want to relive that time. Whew. I am not one to make noise beyond my breathing during labor, but even I could tell I was breathing WAY louder than normal, and I couldn't help but say "Ouch" or "Ow" as I finished a breath out. At 1:30 I couldn't stand being on my side any longer and I maneuvered onto my back. I tried to remind my body and my brain about my precious baby boy at the end of all of this. My legs were shaking horribly with each contraction. I had never experienced that until the adrenaline rush <i>after </i>delivery, but it was like my legs were separate from my body and I couldn't control the way they tremored. I looked over at Pam and she said she was waiting for "that look on my face" that would tell her she needed to check me. To which I responded, "I think you need to just go ahead and check me."<br />
<br />
I was at a nine and totally effaced.<br />
<br />
She walked to the door to holler at Dr. C and I said, "Will you have time to pick up your son!?" to which she laughed and said, "Yes, but let's focus on helping you get to meet yours!"<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijm0aXE8cMoViohpaMyoHmCjGmz3iurw6Hf8LxCQsdLmB-rGFzvxg3o23gkSFNOqH-uIp3dmGixvEsQisYJRo34zpuD4PaXBIvLso4J7v3biGpAIWla7Je0_6RKMyaUk4zrIJlJ-m3cRY/s1600/IMG_9070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijm0aXE8cMoViohpaMyoHmCjGmz3iurw6Hf8LxCQsdLmB-rGFzvxg3o23gkSFNOqH-uIp3dmGixvEsQisYJRo34zpuD4PaXBIvLso4J7v3biGpAIWla7Je0_6RKMyaUk4zrIJlJ-m3cRY/s640/IMG_9070.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wonderful doctor who has delivered ALL of my babies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIG2115Xbw7dEngGu9xleNVN6mZBkN7pSrb9vSVGmSKTi9g1hTpRo_ny3Nu2f20YJwLrjSLCoIcq8ld7RNXr4H034ZsmBuBT8Ddzd4dvozRu3lwMXMdYop6J2vHJV93jPvDypdDFilK8/s1600/IMG_6444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIG2115Xbw7dEngGu9xleNVN6mZBkN7pSrb9vSVGmSKTi9g1hTpRo_ny3Nu2f20YJwLrjSLCoIcq8ld7RNXr4H034ZsmBuBT8Ddzd4dvozRu3lwMXMdYop6J2vHJV93jPvDypdDFilK8/s640/IMG_6444.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Everyone started pouring into the room. It was about 1:40. The cart with supplies that had been prepared <i>one hour earlier when I wasn't even really in labor </i>was pushed over. Dr. C unfolded the bed stirrups, not the high ones, as we had discussed earlier. She really wanted me to put my legs up at the last possible moment to keep my pelvis out of that position as long as possible to hopefully prevent further damage or total separation again. She checked me herself and said, "<b>Oh yes, you can start pushing now!" </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I didn't feel ready to push. </b>Every other labor I have <i>felt it-- </i>that significant moment when all I can think about is pushing. But beyond pain and pressure, I didn't have that urge. I knew every birth coach would tell me to only push when I felt ready and felt the urge, <b>but I was ready to be done with labor and I knew how to push even without the urge thanks to three previous deliveries. </b>So I double checked that I had heard her correctly and, taking her at her word, I put my feet in the stirrups and waited for the next contraction.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrMti1h_0IrQod5DtLU1zXM5ff9HMClg_ktLqp4UYeV6QTbRYylDZb1cicnX7oQfC0lk7s8jSg2QMXeniV1EItEgv8690dfB_jyVzMhoLxgXt2kS8TKorXCxyaeJPOZ959CtMwkodu2Y/s1600/IMG_9072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrMti1h_0IrQod5DtLU1zXM5ff9HMClg_ktLqp4UYeV6QTbRYylDZb1cicnX7oQfC0lk7s8jSg2QMXeniV1EItEgv8690dfB_jyVzMhoLxgXt2kS8TKorXCxyaeJPOZ959CtMwkodu2Y/s640/IMG_9072.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I started bearing down as hard as I could, drawing from memory ,and putting all my strength and focus into it. It didn't feel real. Yes, the pain and intensity were unmistakably real, but it all happened so fast-- even for me-- that my brain was having a hard time catching up. Brent was right beside me and I remember him saying, "Breathe! Kels! Breathe!" I never seem to remember that part when I am so focused on getting my child into the world. Every single cell in my body was only focused on getting him here. After that first contraction and pushing, I didn't feel like I had done much, but Dr. C looked at me and said, "<b>I see a lot of dark hair. He's almost here." </b><br />
<br />
And that was all the encouragement I needed.<br />
<br />
This was it. My fear of becoming a mother of four and leaning into God's strength; our grief over our miscarriage; my physical pain throughout the pregnancy and being taught again that I learn so much in weakness. All of that was leading us to this moment. <b>Our journey through the wilderness had brought us here, and as I pushed for the final time, we stepped into the clearing. </b><br />
<br />
<b>And they laid my fourth child, my first son, on my chest. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY1dwu54Nh_xRzj7DWJ6i2Q2vBBZRj_AQ_w2XCOrEY4lO3k6B51-kqscaFGOV5jKUgdzZZJ0lv4eEV-dfjJvLO1evlqTTD_WRWclKGQ8sNB8ZlCsuNh8nhbglN2JaWEqndBw4ZXxK77k/s1600/IMG_8949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY1dwu54Nh_xRzj7DWJ6i2Q2vBBZRj_AQ_w2XCOrEY4lO3k6B51-kqscaFGOV5jKUgdzZZJ0lv4eEV-dfjJvLO1evlqTTD_WRWclKGQ8sNB8ZlCsuNh8nhbglN2JaWEqndBw4ZXxK77k/s640/IMG_8949.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSN0n4Z85M2MWPDeW2phuMKS1QZrO0OERbbsG4SJX9FzwzB5IcybQ9vB-l7Ee-ZKis77Gj5dujNRTcTdenvs4ksL-uV97_F28cVUnkfq7sCr8E8jy9gofkuR-DnC18Qku9wZKYz3AvOE/s1600/IMG_8953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSN0n4Z85M2MWPDeW2phuMKS1QZrO0OERbbsG4SJX9FzwzB5IcybQ9vB-l7Ee-ZKis77Gj5dujNRTcTdenvs4ksL-uV97_F28cVUnkfq7sCr8E8jy9gofkuR-DnC18Qku9wZKYz3AvOE/s640/IMG_8953.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQww8urJlEz0iL-IlrWQkdfdfpl05t9pfTbSDxMDs8VGokIqKbLkqVAjZRavKHpmPpB6dbto8TDcZyMaCek2JpKP_F7YUMf_qMSl1Pl5rtIuc4LbGa7Cnj0typptTjS0TbXHzAOUP7glY/s1600/IMG_8988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQww8urJlEz0iL-IlrWQkdfdfpl05t9pfTbSDxMDs8VGokIqKbLkqVAjZRavKHpmPpB6dbto8TDcZyMaCek2JpKP_F7YUMf_qMSl1Pl5rtIuc4LbGa7Cnj0typptTjS0TbXHzAOUP7glY/s640/IMG_8988.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDIjyRTFv2e8rgKdJqfu4XxKWF01FOuXqvg8c__0JBddDLe6S7ChyphenhyphentWRq3ay7yD0oc8-ko6NyQ0YZ9FdEfPy8-c9q5N3NXc9Y30BeK2gTkjpOgZTcbjhPaArtjoZRaAyko9q9l8Xz4Rc/s1600/IMG_6437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDIjyRTFv2e8rgKdJqfu4XxKWF01FOuXqvg8c__0JBddDLe6S7ChyphenhyphentWRq3ay7yD0oc8-ko6NyQ0YZ9FdEfPy8-c9q5N3NXc9Y30BeK2gTkjpOgZTcbjhPaArtjoZRaAyko9q9l8Xz4Rc/s640/IMG_6437.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I looked at Brent, incredulous. I looked down at our son and felt his warmth against my chest. I was euphoric with joy and with the wonder of new life. I just held him tight to me, I kissed his head and tried to get a look at his face. There were seven other people in the room...or maybe seventy...I don't know, because in that moment God had just handed me my son. Like I wrote when I had Nan: These post-delivery moments are really, truly other-worldly. <b>It's a moment when God has parted the curtain back a crack and we see a little of His mysteries and miracles first hand. </b>The rush of "conquering" delivery couples with the rush of holding a brand new flesh-and-blood-<i>person-- </i>who is mine to love and call son, and it's truly more than I believe we were made to comprehend.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGH_BK3JTwxxK5CkK0uVCs3fPUUkISJDP9fzcJz_JXVR2w9snsxY3XMSRo2p3EuV7Cuji5Q46zUDPGpBwDP-qGHyzVdhggHa5oMdu6SxiT0iAMD57CM60-PnqH5zgAfcmfcAwEWGgm4-U/s1600/IMG_6455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGH_BK3JTwxxK5CkK0uVCs3fPUUkISJDP9fzcJz_JXVR2w9snsxY3XMSRo2p3EuV7Cuji5Q46zUDPGpBwDP-qGHyzVdhggHa5oMdu6SxiT0iAMD57CM60-PnqH5zgAfcmfcAwEWGgm4-U/s640/IMG_6455.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMkY_8Cezhtij9yuau8G3EddDPJcVGwKoSGZjJq9W3VcU3p73oC-cb7APLqPUsQnlBD2lqHezQWHATX938Quf2EI5AkT6tj1JG5dsZ6Mxi4etQwI8-QLJF2tnjL0tn8B54rlFrnchYlc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMkY_8Cezhtij9yuau8G3EddDPJcVGwKoSGZjJq9W3VcU3p73oC-cb7APLqPUsQnlBD2lqHezQWHATX938Quf2EI5AkT6tj1JG5dsZ6Mxi4etQwI8-QLJF2tnjL0tn8B54rlFrnchYlc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6673.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YkKPsmUFpe_gybQyj9hCUAiJbir-7zUqC40zv0KtqZwpDotRiS8sEpEC-mDQhhKWzN32bMBJO3gaPcbsTAe9ojWzYVeWMRBcwYR8gdGGUkxqRzUJIfP6MRyTngkFb0v6sTIXWgeGa_I/s1600/IMG_9051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YkKPsmUFpe_gybQyj9hCUAiJbir-7zUqC40zv0KtqZwpDotRiS8sEpEC-mDQhhKWzN32bMBJO3gaPcbsTAe9ojWzYVeWMRBcwYR8gdGGUkxqRzUJIfP6MRyTngkFb0v6sTIXWgeGa_I/s640/IMG_9051.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzU_ApEc6zg4wV9IGREFbvyWlEPEK05VURoQr5O35wXRb3vwCdHpQdgeVrMOzgGbI4FK1yxTlgOKXx22pYpaRgkvAEoT4xlHLIR1sgofv34Ux6kjeQTZ3S0s7fEECc0G4fYhcmqQLw0w/s1600/IMG_9063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzU_ApEc6zg4wV9IGREFbvyWlEPEK05VURoQr5O35wXRb3vwCdHpQdgeVrMOzgGbI4FK1yxTlgOKXx22pYpaRgkvAEoT4xlHLIR1sgofv34Ux6kjeQTZ3S0s7fEECc0G4fYhcmqQLw0w/s640/IMG_9063.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
It still didn't seem possible that he was on my chest-- on the outside! In the world! Breathing air! In the euphoria of the moment I looked over at Brent, then at Pam and Dr. C and said, "It is a boy, right?" They laughed and assured me he was. Again my brain was having a hard time catching up-- it didn't seem possible he was already here! As I held his pinking body against me, my hips and legs started to cramp like they have always done after delivery. I accidentally kicked over the bowl of iodine while trying to stretch out and Dr. C just calmly worked through it all to help me finish up all the post-delivery business that is necessary. Nurse Tara asked us what his name was and it's always so fun to say the name out loud to others for the first time. I felt a little like Adam in the garden getting to name the animals and proudly shared, <b>"Sloan Lee." </b>[Story behind his name: <a href="http://kelseylynae.blogspot.com/2018/09/behind-name-sloan-lee.html">HERE]</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAI2US6g70Db3u0EVTXOJmcCkGSOklS8gJWbZJVJdPHS60SALln9DOvidKZctexcpVoEq0a_3NPLcY1qkFbyhi544uL6yKgPciwYP3ZR4fsWF1Y9YoXt6aBX6hjCX448_TsVeIVUywx8/s1600/IMG_3963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1577" data-original-width="1600" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAI2US6g70Db3u0EVTXOJmcCkGSOklS8gJWbZJVJdPHS60SALln9DOvidKZctexcpVoEq0a_3NPLcY1qkFbyhi544uL6yKgPciwYP3ZR4fsWF1Y9YoXt6aBX6hjCX448_TsVeIVUywx8/s640/IMG_3963.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Slowly people started to leave our room. The spilled iodine was mopped up. The cart of supplies was wheeled away. Dr. C, Pam, and Tara lingered a bit, looking at him with us and congratulating us. Sloan reached up and put his little hand on my face, and Dr. C insisted that Brent "get that picture!" of us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFxnw3yBcUp5gRsEpOvXv6frjGjb6maxMgHxVsLlhmxoXPKoPAVitCDgJ5OgrDUhK_2vlvotO-iMQx68Afhhw86qC_sj2oy6NiW3B8i7t4ZShoQdPoe_ZXus9q3C-JqbplP5mjN4KA0w/s1600/IMG_8952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFxnw3yBcUp5gRsEpOvXv6frjGjb6maxMgHxVsLlhmxoXPKoPAVitCDgJ5OgrDUhK_2vlvotO-iMQx68Afhhw86qC_sj2oy6NiW3B8i7t4ZShoQdPoe_ZXus9q3C-JqbplP5mjN4KA0w/s640/IMG_8952.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It was one of our first moments together, flesh to flesh. We had been intimately connected for nine months, just he and I sharing secret kicks and hiccups and jabs. <b>But here he was, outside, skin to skin with me and he reached up to hold my face and I kissed his head over and over and thanked God from the pit of my soul for this life I held. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Then it was just us-- Sloan, Brent, and me. We had asked for that first hour together, insisted we have a little time to just watch this new son of ours and breathe him in. We'd never done that before, and that time was such a gift to us. I told Sloan Jesus loved him so much. Brent eventually went and got my mom, who had patiently been in the waiting room for the last couple of hours, and we introduced her to her grandson. And then we let the nurses know we were ready for them to measure him. Tara was the nurse to come in and do it, and when she put him on the scale she started laughing and said, "No way! You guys! He's 8 lbs 4 oz!" She remembered our small babies and had held little 5 lb Becks in her hands. We were shocked, but I also wasn't totally surprised because of the havoc that 8 lbs had wreaked on my body for the last stretch of my pregnancy, not to mention how much harder it was to push him out than it had been with the girls. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ6EfYwQQK6zvfnHzW4mYsLrz5Xo7tTpmztIIS2W4Yw4zLvRbuLEW7cbXDs0ANCoNOS8jNksoYLGYYvbjMGL1GyBQnnG-FAE8uEJnSZX-oRacWba_j_N84DfS5rOY7MiA8Iz05w5gox4/s1600/IMG_3895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ6EfYwQQK6zvfnHzW4mYsLrz5Xo7tTpmztIIS2W4Yw4zLvRbuLEW7cbXDs0ANCoNOS8jNksoYLGYYvbjMGL1GyBQnnG-FAE8uEJnSZX-oRacWba_j_N84DfS5rOY7MiA8Iz05w5gox4/s640/IMG_3895.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgFCguDmI5zQ6FsBUq9O-G_cGvmjqF_JSq6Augqjdpn4pF6ro9rPu7lMjEfY2cyrHKMnnJZgqBapJz8eL21oySe6gEbZouBY9Hvn4bobQG438bMih4Nqa-4c81Vv8tsg74WV2ziGJ_Eg/s1600/IMG_3901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1349" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgFCguDmI5zQ6FsBUq9O-G_cGvmjqF_JSq6Augqjdpn4pF6ro9rPu7lMjEfY2cyrHKMnnJZgqBapJz8eL21oySe6gEbZouBY9Hvn4bobQG438bMih4Nqa-4c81Vv8tsg74WV2ziGJ_Eg/s640/IMG_3901.jpg" width="538" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArIon6C6vmn1AaamAsEWZt7SDHxfoaeyzaUcOWjvK5FBitkTOXIxsfrWRYMTlP9oU5cFKaDlq6WBCn9nzWYq3Cx1id9_1zLmUrcDLAOQvwbIRR_4Tn4oscVP75KwxjXhPfM1GeRK3oPk/s1600/IMG_3919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1165" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArIon6C6vmn1AaamAsEWZt7SDHxfoaeyzaUcOWjvK5FBitkTOXIxsfrWRYMTlP9oU5cFKaDlq6WBCn9nzWYq3Cx1id9_1zLmUrcDLAOQvwbIRR_4Tn4oscVP75KwxjXhPfM1GeRK3oPk/s640/IMG_3919.jpg" width="464" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>And then began the joy of sharing Sloan with the world.</b> Slowly our family trickled in. He had a hard time warming up after his bath, so our room filled up with our parents, our girls, my grandparents, and the Blythes while we waited for him. He had barely arrived and already there were fifteen people in our room who loved him so much. That blessing was not lost on me. His sisters adored him from the very beginning. Over the weekend we had 30 visitors come and love on Sloan.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC11PUgmHs5jKqxdl0xyFKX_rj7SY-ZhMzYSyV4_LBWOpwKF__nKCM3nbCvIbK4Ud-Sx6gRtT4q5F1lHSLJ81Pnx18V5yr_JgPwM3SdyyF5OidI6b85WP0Skyf24XOOoqbyHIbdxSEbss/s1600/IMG_8951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC11PUgmHs5jKqxdl0xyFKX_rj7SY-ZhMzYSyV4_LBWOpwKF__nKCM3nbCvIbK4Ud-Sx6gRtT4q5F1lHSLJ81Pnx18V5yr_JgPwM3SdyyF5OidI6b85WP0Skyf24XOOoqbyHIbdxSEbss/s640/IMG_8951.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruhUthB5ouZOOjUDxcFyU025UL68GW0BQRfN76XV5Cx7AutyK6x9Rqy2N-yzV3doovXpyGrybsEOOjCz6W7bE8x9RkUvERwLxWZ9BYOSTrxtu2-RTxwam1sP_tN5chZiOj4asmfcOqGU/s1600/IMG_8955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruhUthB5ouZOOjUDxcFyU025UL68GW0BQRfN76XV5Cx7AutyK6x9Rqy2N-yzV3doovXpyGrybsEOOjCz6W7bE8x9RkUvERwLxWZ9BYOSTrxtu2-RTxwam1sP_tN5chZiOj4asmfcOqGU/s640/IMG_8955.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwASx7ElGVlQjttZo7ci9vUihJhrSlcDQX-0FFcmBqEG6CU79GRxnqsN4BOgK9fcih9f4k3y6WYsk3TsiR0dmwV5X4CuvLSd-yIxmE51_wa4wRVrWETvH4eet_9TN7tsw2uE84zD-wyeI/s1600/IMG_8989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwASx7ElGVlQjttZo7ci9vUihJhrSlcDQX-0FFcmBqEG6CU79GRxnqsN4BOgK9fcih9f4k3y6WYsk3TsiR0dmwV5X4CuvLSd-yIxmE51_wa4wRVrWETvH4eet_9TN7tsw2uE84zD-wyeI/s640/IMG_8989.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaqeheTWBEQzzReN1AuqLMcnzsQSAwCrVG_bzjKXu4n98KX2i5ZRpZWeLj8x-qjug8hF6j20Yv9J0ZPTAsXyT-o1rD1p7HhDizaKfcTkOAjs8d7Xe7Xm698V2KovjbBVk8G-v3dx5Ux8/s1600/IMG_8990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaqeheTWBEQzzReN1AuqLMcnzsQSAwCrVG_bzjKXu4n98KX2i5ZRpZWeLj8x-qjug8hF6j20Yv9J0ZPTAsXyT-o1rD1p7HhDizaKfcTkOAjs8d7Xe7Xm698V2KovjbBVk8G-v3dx5Ux8/s640/IMG_8990.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97rVg9yfAS6djLMbIud1a1hXMIKM1OTieRwIJJnlSar1vKHoJymBpL5hJKmIbvN6ANp3xGug7pCSm3uX2C0BqbONJLAiVgWJz6LdnCc1J-kBIBA_oiumX5Madcow6M-ny-gxRd0q9q_s/s1600/IMG_9012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97rVg9yfAS6djLMbIud1a1hXMIKM1OTieRwIJJnlSar1vKHoJymBpL5hJKmIbvN6ANp3xGug7pCSm3uX2C0BqbONJLAiVgWJz6LdnCc1J-kBIBA_oiumX5Madcow6M-ny-gxRd0q9q_s/s640/IMG_9012.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHmB2lb9HBlnlzIyUh4yxbK_oof4ot9S7XfNGZkHtcxDoOvGimlyoCWlho6pmJ0lK4jG0eWtQH9zV4Lwulx6KwujOKmu1J7weu9fM61cDEOIIo6LvNodLHOr-YfIiuhboiMZ1n7pZ1-8/s1600/IMG_6457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHmB2lb9HBlnlzIyUh4yxbK_oof4ot9S7XfNGZkHtcxDoOvGimlyoCWlho6pmJ0lK4jG0eWtQH9zV4Lwulx6KwujOKmu1J7weu9fM61cDEOIIo6LvNodLHOr-YfIiuhboiMZ1n7pZ1-8/s640/IMG_6457.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnQj34LOA7mEEZytZPPYb0e6Nl1vmNcWf9xc_U4lg0pCsmV7JJJex5MPbNwK-jqIXjZnKYKbmXgVLKE7ciIs0UmaXtoSI7dRsCvgkFpA4zE7G1nsdt2OCV6rDd1wVDm5pp7GYDJVZn7A/s1600/IMG_6415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnQj34LOA7mEEZytZPPYb0e6Nl1vmNcWf9xc_U4lg0pCsmV7JJJex5MPbNwK-jqIXjZnKYKbmXgVLKE7ciIs0UmaXtoSI7dRsCvgkFpA4zE7G1nsdt2OCV6rDd1wVDm5pp7GYDJVZn7A/s640/IMG_6415.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hwt0tJ3-HykuaxqPQfmDITg310BmcaSqmEL6v23MdLCTzwYrhfnnNLzjdG_zBRqSs3gE-_IDli3o-koU2d11Fd6lqb71aANy_2fOt1GtaLbE61OSQQd3xhib8pAQKQwWVPvP5mwyXuM/s1600/IMG_9029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hwt0tJ3-HykuaxqPQfmDITg310BmcaSqmEL6v23MdLCTzwYrhfnnNLzjdG_zBRqSs3gE-_IDli3o-koU2d11Fd6lqb71aANy_2fOt1GtaLbE61OSQQd3xhib8pAQKQwWVPvP5mwyXuM/s640/IMG_9029.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLf3MZl1-0u-sCl930-MQxY-TwPkPkIriMdOqOccLOKfquXyMhj1VAfIAVsO1z-EoO5vjfZQAgC0IhgQQd1_Kc0MzdL6kjSfioBIo9GJFe8DNHJ-igG-Y8C8kXOHIPaSaka4FYInSNNGI/s1600/IMG_9030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLf3MZl1-0u-sCl930-MQxY-TwPkPkIriMdOqOccLOKfquXyMhj1VAfIAVsO1z-EoO5vjfZQAgC0IhgQQd1_Kc0MzdL6kjSfioBIo9GJFe8DNHJ-igG-Y8C8kXOHIPaSaka4FYInSNNGI/s640/IMG_9030.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgIoRk755tA0slfXqSsKgxzeUuXMvHj6t-VPVNAcl71Lhk-J6Z8M_BEhJVvF1fQ5GG2AqPFcHI9R8E5eGb2IEEHZo_WevWNBO9RszyGTATpjE76WBcb7VB65lDyR607yxySj6fL9RuYs/s1600/IMG_3921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgIoRk755tA0slfXqSsKgxzeUuXMvHj6t-VPVNAcl71Lhk-J6Z8M_BEhJVvF1fQ5GG2AqPFcHI9R8E5eGb2IEEHZo_WevWNBO9RszyGTATpjE76WBcb7VB65lDyR607yxySj6fL9RuYs/s640/IMG_3921.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Those days in the hospital are some of my favorites. <b>They are simple and stripped down and all we have to do is study our new child.</b> To breathe in that newborn smell, to kiss his lips, and watch his eyes flutter. One night after I fed him and Brent slept on the cot next to us, I read him Psalm 139: <i>... You hem me in-- behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me...Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me... even the darkness will not be dark to you.. you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made... lead me in the way everlasting." </i>Oh how I wanted Sloan to know in his first 24 hours here with us how big and far-reaching the love of our God is <i>for him. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
This time was also special because I was able to talk with my sister throughout the night when I was up feeding Sloan, as she lives on the other side of the world. It's always been hard not to share our babies in their first days, but this made those quiet nights even more dear to me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr5b9WobTkrBeFD94SqA_I1jDScRDbW1nG97OJDbf2jh61htlLYHknSWe9nrB7hMCqeoYOu7trIoFws9aD_4NO3mPI0ISuHp6y_XkZSuv3Y2vrXEuI63h8l-qSbB-5CInRuQFCvEhw_c/s1600/IMG_9004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr5b9WobTkrBeFD94SqA_I1jDScRDbW1nG97OJDbf2jh61htlLYHknSWe9nrB7hMCqeoYOu7trIoFws9aD_4NO3mPI0ISuHp6y_XkZSuv3Y2vrXEuI63h8l-qSbB-5CInRuQFCvEhw_c/s640/IMG_9004.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEYGcNkF5Sy0ncoIh5lHlM6QT9pq-zy55xTfZ7k36kPZuWwXb-RhmiznQnvChuhyOej7msy2RT6NDEpPwvfrr3Q2AT6IKhTJnMiig_q8GBPcIICFBie-xRQM5OK_VgZg6OdK2n15JPtw/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEYGcNkF5Sy0ncoIh5lHlM6QT9pq-zy55xTfZ7k36kPZuWwXb-RhmiznQnvChuhyOej7msy2RT6NDEpPwvfrr3Q2AT6IKhTJnMiig_q8GBPcIICFBie-xRQM5OK_VgZg6OdK2n15JPtw/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6663.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6i8xUCf09b9AeJZbERGfD6ELxY7uNvn2mRJfxEdGkJ7D4RaDuLShyphenhyphen6jyEfAAaWsIIXu5Vdc4NFtWueBGckzf8CwUhJqk0uKBgoDCBZqblkrYnvax6Sgkz0xaof8t7DHCNjTi_ze1o-E/s1600/IMG_9001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6i8xUCf09b9AeJZbERGfD6ELxY7uNvn2mRJfxEdGkJ7D4RaDuLShyphenhyphen6jyEfAAaWsIIXu5Vdc4NFtWueBGckzf8CwUhJqk0uKBgoDCBZqblkrYnvax6Sgkz0xaof8t7DHCNjTi_ze1o-E/s640/IMG_9001.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB9FxzkQ2bkKUlU7CnSJzHmNcVDN4jslxUjbStfVca31YELCigMDUngtKKr2KFfLDbrM1oxpDhvbW1ZnC8ErZczJbWmp8pZREkNQLRPYFDd4_s0EnMSWKwZ-7ZLNkbz1wCrRPT1wjp_E/s1600/IMG_6443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB9FxzkQ2bkKUlU7CnSJzHmNcVDN4jslxUjbStfVca31YELCigMDUngtKKr2KFfLDbrM1oxpDhvbW1ZnC8ErZczJbWmp8pZREkNQLRPYFDd4_s0EnMSWKwZ-7ZLNkbz1wCrRPT1wjp_E/s640/IMG_6443.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcXvawAGQE-jO9pT_fK_Civy43QYbsdr9fkMkpghJj1L-wWjYJGW3KI5zo7rfQMJN1fIdfuP9k-bQseyENRogN1wvjTb__mbo8bu3zcsSvDMnafBkMsZYYQ8C2_DclP7HczvcipbCbwg/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcXvawAGQE-jO9pT_fK_Civy43QYbsdr9fkMkpghJj1L-wWjYJGW3KI5zo7rfQMJN1fIdfuP9k-bQseyENRogN1wvjTb__mbo8bu3zcsSvDMnafBkMsZYYQ8C2_DclP7HczvcipbCbwg/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6664.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGknU-LWEr4yzVpX9wSAdAvlG_qCGktOnBkQBTUfHCyUPpqqQ4w5-bWWGJCQ_eq7JcRNs2qR0trcGzIJidgsL4H-iVaGihyaa-7Tm-qPotqd29i0J85r8aNi38IdvRXmzw3jImLz1JpM/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGknU-LWEr4yzVpX9wSAdAvlG_qCGktOnBkQBTUfHCyUPpqqQ4w5-bWWGJCQ_eq7JcRNs2qR0trcGzIJidgsL4H-iVaGihyaa-7Tm-qPotqd29i0J85r8aNi38IdvRXmzw3jImLz1JpM/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6654.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFgUxWBb0jp-DWVbnQBwZ7xE4mn9Dtl9686_00ZiP81RJJ-rFxleNgwWBb5c3M3jXJlq8n9EKBYR_f8k8WvKvoRFKm3pjDGg3ClPYcswwuxu3Usx5p8KgUPCkwo9UTsC6rtXnU-_kA04/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFgUxWBb0jp-DWVbnQBwZ7xE4mn9Dtl9686_00ZiP81RJJ-rFxleNgwWBb5c3M3jXJlq8n9EKBYR_f8k8WvKvoRFKm3pjDGg3ClPYcswwuxu3Usx5p8KgUPCkwo9UTsC6rtXnU-_kA04/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6682.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1533g8nEZyhfbCQMFfz85GC01IaBv6yzJ9vievrIOgBsOJXBsq-LpOLhXL-8k1LGEUCtVdZxH6XZgmAvBOmiNG5BUrnxSAov4tkM1X20mPnhPlJOdubBbuvzIFwmu46qexuhNLSoVrs/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1533g8nEZyhfbCQMFfz85GC01IaBv6yzJ9vievrIOgBsOJXBsq-LpOLhXL-8k1LGEUCtVdZxH6XZgmAvBOmiNG5BUrnxSAov4tkM1X20mPnhPlJOdubBbuvzIFwmu46qexuhNLSoVrs/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6634.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGUpzFgAHdtgM3n12F1j5NBA78arj5pfWMHFYlslB_m8ztPBoMXoXqlPo68ADdSdNecmjipaU_mlDvcCKnK9NKppOMKWJZpd9w4ev0Pwww6CsIYWSlysZM4U7gd3mvBu5dvRFfIUgjrc/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGUpzFgAHdtgM3n12F1j5NBA78arj5pfWMHFYlslB_m8ztPBoMXoXqlPo68ADdSdNecmjipaU_mlDvcCKnK9NKppOMKWJZpd9w4ev0Pwww6CsIYWSlysZM4U7gd3mvBu5dvRFfIUgjrc/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6666.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiWlVK7WH0CNyrFQkT-ttk_BEwde71_KslyVjMMXfEEGkVvgRYxUO1V2tgaT2-5br7XyqZiMnSmkLKaSfgG_HdHEog_hn-kBEAethgAs1ZdyYcEu2tZAgC2-0vy9cCLGYa15qho6C2ho/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiWlVK7WH0CNyrFQkT-ttk_BEwde71_KslyVjMMXfEEGkVvgRYxUO1V2tgaT2-5br7XyqZiMnSmkLKaSfgG_HdHEog_hn-kBEAethgAs1ZdyYcEu2tZAgC2-0vy9cCLGYa15qho6C2ho/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6676.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
Labor is hard. And while my labors may not be long, they are so unbelievably intense. This one seemed to just be a rocket, launched with fire. And there is no way but through it. I always think of Isaiah 43:2 that says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." <b>There were moments this time that I thought for sure I would be set "ablaze", and yet God's faithful hand guided me to the other side. </b>In His kindness He gives us the pain of labor to see the fullness of the beauty and His glory on the other side. And where there is pain and exhaustion and agony in labor, there is even more life and joy and beauty on the other side.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHqRG-mZampLFzAQA5vIovAKAOo3KQNQKu-f9akIW6pKJEhODH79yZ7SBOjurSbOWyveF0SpIPqHquKfpskEUnDeLXyrDz-pFH1MzmggyLn-fIUhWdG67fV1zOSn7254N13nG4LK5Vd8/s1600/IMG_9076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHqRG-mZampLFzAQA5vIovAKAOo3KQNQKu-f9akIW6pKJEhODH79yZ7SBOjurSbOWyveF0SpIPqHquKfpskEUnDeLXyrDz-pFH1MzmggyLn-fIUhWdG67fV1zOSn7254N13nG4LK5Vd8/s640/IMG_9076.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRUZFQNDE8K_6NPdas2YbTfb0jRNq_7h_TB0bHXbjoRjhfpLAaFanmcN11pg1-UupGJVe7vx3P2o-enx5fgkd6d2pmU2ZAg-BFBBYZ_ag3mqov_O76p8WDA68e_u1v-pRVtHWNn-t8QM/s1600/IMG_9075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRUZFQNDE8K_6NPdas2YbTfb0jRNq_7h_TB0bHXbjoRjhfpLAaFanmcN11pg1-UupGJVe7vx3P2o-enx5fgkd6d2pmU2ZAg-BFBBYZ_ag3mqov_O76p8WDA68e_u1v-pRVtHWNn-t8QM/s640/IMG_9075.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i0_gh9ZR1G1VMNbX9JoukWwfuBr_G96kFSaQXdnUR9T4r087wJYD7qy4IL2QeqKv-nOEinBDVx47-G04E7tdj2gFNi3DFbUgM7NjMkzcCNvGSPMyTWRJ24WGWSc1eVDa7KP1gCeANxU/s1600/IMG_9115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i0_gh9ZR1G1VMNbX9JoukWwfuBr_G96kFSaQXdnUR9T4r087wJYD7qy4IL2QeqKv-nOEinBDVx47-G04E7tdj2gFNi3DFbUgM7NjMkzcCNvGSPMyTWRJ24WGWSc1eVDa7KP1gCeANxU/s640/IMG_9115.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGTedEdkBhtt9GFy7AKsGrr85pcXPru9CKmG_jBWTRRN71W0G2Yfhc-9xToQ5yu4CmYx7-VtEGUHop0AJjYLz_Xk88ywyF6CkGLPo63v5wn1OJXs4Dfg964VgDC7UkO5aUbXtou9lEH8/s1600/IMG_9116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGTedEdkBhtt9GFy7AKsGrr85pcXPru9CKmG_jBWTRRN71W0G2Yfhc-9xToQ5yu4CmYx7-VtEGUHop0AJjYLz_Xk88ywyF6CkGLPo63v5wn1OJXs4Dfg964VgDC7UkO5aUbXtou9lEH8/s640/IMG_9116.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYnSbY59Igv-eKV9U6rJQRPeV7qh2dphCbxw95rN1IweydUm1broeNtpx69tIpkOktyrdZN7a4-0XEFAMvP5EplGcrAj5Qh2sShP2_vTrBh21SkmerHJ73rljxJ0LUuz4-ZoYbJ87hBE/s1600/IMG_6453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYnSbY59Igv-eKV9U6rJQRPeV7qh2dphCbxw95rN1IweydUm1broeNtpx69tIpkOktyrdZN7a4-0XEFAMvP5EplGcrAj5Qh2sShP2_vTrBh21SkmerHJ73rljxJ0LUuz4-ZoYbJ87hBE/s640/IMG_6453.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Sloan Lee, we are so thankful it is you with us, and we are so thankful for the ways you will make us grow in love and patience and joy. You couldn't know this yet, but y<b>our arrival put a song in our souls that our family has not yet sung-</b>- we didn't know the words to the song until you came into our arms and shared them with us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ06X69h1xmgrlUrajxb81Bm-UbuJ0EFdtj8g8gnCMc3WRHiLE8x4DfAYmXFPc0weMNm-8Ww7YZ5yt7puAhO8tmfUWqV94x-q8hc4CX3XpzCVt2YJ5cPDVYpQ1NoCI9rA9EmyR8R_mOI/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6820-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ06X69h1xmgrlUrajxb81Bm-UbuJ0EFdtj8g8gnCMc3WRHiLE8x4DfAYmXFPc0weMNm-8Ww7YZ5yt7puAhO8tmfUWqV94x-q8hc4CX3XpzCVt2YJ5cPDVYpQ1NoCI9rA9EmyR8R_mOI/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6820-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvj4_JGR9zQSI8VlHSuo1exfBUbGaz0-qOG9LqzY02mY3kcroBb1pbCvxBC3fYnWOzGUaJHXiQDHSYZi9GhKKgP5PfiO55YSpEkqFnV9mfAMO6hGmwzpjo-8GiZ0uQgvaEao7M3VpmHQ/s1600/KIrwinPhotography-6748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvj4_JGR9zQSI8VlHSuo1exfBUbGaz0-qOG9LqzY02mY3kcroBb1pbCvxBC3fYnWOzGUaJHXiQDHSYZi9GhKKgP5PfiO55YSpEkqFnV9mfAMO6hGmwzpjo-8GiZ0uQgvaEao7M3VpmHQ/s640/KIrwinPhotography-6748.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTKkgPotWZxqhYvrzWP78nOOXFVctRKEuAY_3IKFRo4AIfObUcbDHhIKTFrDHRQg9i2Gpd9U5G9X2KnZg42uIt8XrxNsKBw2C-tGIBazAGqTipl0-9zBahn2P_vQ4kj0YMnjlskt0dR0/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTKkgPotWZxqhYvrzWP78nOOXFVctRKEuAY_3IKFRo4AIfObUcbDHhIKTFrDHRQg9i2Gpd9U5G9X2KnZg42uIt8XrxNsKBw2C-tGIBazAGqTipl0-9zBahn2P_vQ4kj0YMnjlskt0dR0/s640/IMG_3992.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkRrLGe0oJjdKSqgu20diHNuY1sBvhC_uIKsIpCkUJukPdEbBBjQwwliuIKr3Ko94VFxGkVaJ5J46cZHsXV0qXmR_x0o5tdJ7j5xxq92KoPCoc4mt40h6foui2NHi2LNBV1LycA2mtmA/s1600/IMG_3980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkRrLGe0oJjdKSqgu20diHNuY1sBvhC_uIKsIpCkUJukPdEbBBjQwwliuIKr3Ko94VFxGkVaJ5J46cZHsXV0qXmR_x0o5tdJ7j5xxq92KoPCoc4mt40h6foui2NHi2LNBV1LycA2mtmA/s640/IMG_3980.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvhG96Fw7hIbKaatU94J35BNtr6GL9GIC07yKLzN8np_6YB8nuVmB0WvMQZWq8qiBQ0364-ZfEAk7zHyoxLN6KaTg7TRKowcIzs78RtsOlPCBnCDGcU5M3wnFZbqF-NyMM9L4YSAZ6bE/s1600/IMG_6433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvhG96Fw7hIbKaatU94J35BNtr6GL9GIC07yKLzN8np_6YB8nuVmB0WvMQZWq8qiBQ0364-ZfEAk7zHyoxLN6KaTg7TRKowcIzs78RtsOlPCBnCDGcU5M3wnFZbqF-NyMM9L4YSAZ6bE/s640/IMG_6433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
kelseylynaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358560627942199725noreply@blogger.com2