It’s Wellesley’s birthday today. She turns 27 years old. And as I have been going down photo-memory-lane, sinking more in love with her with each photo. I just want to share a few. Be forewarned, this is a random assortment. But filled with all my love. And hers.
First this one.
I don’t know why it hit me with so much extra love today. The funny big brother (goggles and a sword?:), the imaginative and involved Grandfather. The stance at the top of our stairs in our old house where we grew our babies.
Why were they sitting there, specifically? I wonder what they were doing and what they were talking about. What was going through their hearts? Did they know how loved they were?
But today I look at Elle. You can see her confident humility as she slumps into Grandfather. I can almost hear her deep, raspy voice. She is wearing a crown. And all these years later I think yes, that is right. She is royal in many ways. From the inside to the outside she is grace.
From the ways she treats her siblings:
Shoot, let’s get a more smiley one…
To the way she has no inhibitions to just love unconditionally.
It’s the way she treats everyone.
Did you know she played the violin?
And once lucked out to get a five-pound candy bar while trick-or-treating on Halloween?
(I warned about the random assortment, right?)
Do you know how much she adores adventure?
…and her nieces?
It is strange how through the years of mothering you just keep finding new things to love in your kids. It’s like you turn a corner and bam! Something new to deeply appreciate pops out. Most of all this year what I’m ever grateful for is Elle’s ability to lift and give love.
Oh I’ve watched it for all these twenty-seven years. She has a natural capacity to see the one who might need extra love.
But I watched it most poignantly recently as Carson’s dad passed away. He was too young to go. It has been heartbreaking and seems that the whole world should stand still as he left. I have more to say about that, but for today I want to share that I got to hold onto Elle as she held onto his family. And there is something in the power of love that hit me more than ever. This chain that holds us all together even in the most difficult of circumstances. There is something sacred about watching your girl love and lift powerfully. In her own unique way. She is a woman of God. One who follows Jesus. As she tries to love as He does.
And feeling extra grateful for another quality Elle has: to make good decisions. I love this picture of her and Carson. It may seem like a strange choice of a photo. I mean, I have a million of these two. But that light! To me symbolizing the beautiful union of these two people I love with all my heart.
There is so much synergy going on between these two as they compliment each other in every way.
I am sending all my powerful love today. Thinking of this little lady on her first cake float when she turned one:
Thinking of my sister too, who shares her birthday and her cake-float tradition, who turns fifty today (love you Sayds):
And thinking of all the other memories filling up all the photos swirling around in my heart right now.
This little girl who has grown up to be an incredible woman. And one of my very best friends in the whole wide world.
Love you forever Miss Wellesley Jade.
Happy Happy Birthday!!
XOXO
Happy birthday Elle
Sad to hear about Carson’s dad.