Happy Sixth Birthday Mia

Mia sixth birthday was Saturday. It included several celebrations: a trip to the Leesburg Animal Park, Build-a-Bear, and the Cheesecake Factory the weekend before with Grandma Joy. Since I was on bedrest at this point, we were grateful for grandma being here to share in the fun and fix dinner / cake the next night too. Then, on her actual birthday, Mia shared cake and was sung to at the closing party for her soccer team before picking up Nama at the airport. We then celebrated again with dinner, presents, and leftover cake from the soccer celebration. What a special and memorable birthday to have both grandmas visit!

In honor of Mia's sixth birthday, six things I love about her.

1- Mia is exactly what her name means "My Joy." She is full of life and happiness. Mia does not do things half-way; she does them fully and with great expression.

2- Mia has a strong sense of herself and a confidence that others will love and accept her. Mia knows what she wants and believes.

3- Mia is very sensitive and compassionate to the feelings of others. She knows what everyone in the home or in a group is thinking or feeling. She tries very hard to bring happiness to everyone and to love and help others.

4- Mia has a strong testimony of Jesus Christ, ability to feel the spirit, and a love of God. She does not just feel this, but can recognize, articulate, and act upon this knowledge.

5- Mia is smart and inquisitive. She loves to learn. She asks meaningful questions and expects substantive answers.

6- Mia loves animals and stories. She wants to grow up to be a veterinarian and is always trying to rescue animals -- who have an astounding ability to trust her. She also loves to read books, watch movies, and listen to stories. She has a wonderful imagination and will recreate the characters and events that she hears about. She can retell and understand the nuances of the literature she experiences.