Proof of Life: Abigayle Grace

My Dearest Abby,

I can't believe you are 5 years old now! Mostly because, I remember being 5. I remember wearing a blue shirt and walking outside with my cousins who were 6 years older than me, and I distinctly remember thinking that I knew more than they did. This is one of my first memories, in fact. So believe me when I say, I know what it's like to be 5!

I thought I would tell you a little about why we named you Abigayle Grace. Waaaay back in the year 2002, Daddy and I were sitting at a coffee shop discussing baby names. We were not yet even dating...but that day we scribbled on a napkin the names of our 4 or 5 kids that we would one day have if we decided to get married. (I think we both knew then that we would get married very soon!) :) I wish...oh I wish...I still had that napkin. But the first name on our list (and the only one I remember with clarity) was Abigail Grace Campbell.

We loved this name because Abigail means "A father's joy" and Grace means "An undeserved gift". Since it's such a common name, we determined to add our own flare by changing the spelling. We must have had an entire sheet of notebook paper with different variations scribbled all over it. Finally we settled on Abigayle.

These five years have been filled with joy and I am often breathless as I think about how much of a gift you are to our family. In honor of your birthday, Abigayle, here are 5 ways that I have seen you grow this past year:

1. You've grown in your compassion for other people. I have joined with you as you pray for your friends and family who are sick or sad or hurting. I've listened to you try to calm your crying brother with soothing words and hugs. And my heart swells each time someone is getting "picked on" and you stand to that person's defense. You have a heart for people. You are sensitive to their needs, and I LOVE that about you!

2. Your sense of humor has grown in major ways this year! You make me laugh with each of your knock knock jokes. I love hearing your songs that you create, especially as you try out different rhyming words. And my favorite is when we both hear or see something funny, then look at each other and laugh our heads off! You bring joy to life in our family.

3. I'm amazed at your growth in responsibility this past year. With 2 and at one time 3 pets, you willingly feed and water them without complaint. You offer to wash dishes and clean windows just because. And on days when I'm exhausted, your willingness to serve is such a blessing! There was even one day when Caedmon refused to let me change his diaper. He only wanted "Sissy" to do it. Instead of refusing, you went into the bathroom and said, "Ooo-kay!" I love your willingness to step up and take on extra tasks without expecting anything in return!

4. Oh how I have enjoyed your growth in imagination and sense of adventure. You've created your own comic book series called "Adventure Girls" and I can't wait for you to publish these stories one day! I enjoy hearing about each new character and the super powers that she possesses. I love playing in the yard with you and going on monster quest hunts for porcupines and meerkats. I never know what each day will hold in your world, and that is exciting stuff!

5.Finally, I've been really impressed with a new sense of giving to others that I've seen in you. Sometimes I think you pamper your brother by letting him have the toy that you are playing with...but as I look more deeply, it seems that you just want him to be happy and are willing to give to him. When you have friends over, you are willing to share your toys and even your newest nail polish. When you have two snack cakes, you save one for your Daddy. You are an example to me, my dear!

You told me today that you are nervous about being 5. You said that you are afraid that you may not be able to handle it. First, I want you to know that I believe in you. You will be able to handle anything that comes your way this year. And for those things that come up that you may feel uncertain about, you can count on me and Daddy to walk with you and help you along the way.

This next year, my prayer for you is that you will continue to grow in knowledge, the things you know in your head. I pray that you will continue learning and enjoying the process of learning. But I also pray that you will grow in your heart knowledge. I pray that you will learn to trust more deeply and will not be afraid. There is a verse that I learned a long time ago: "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. " Psalm 56:3. My prayer is that you will learn this year to put your faith in Jesus and trust Him more and more.

Abigayle Grace, it is my absolute joy to be your Mommy. I delight in you. If I could line up all the Abby's in the world and pick one out to be my little girl, do you know who I would pick? I would pick you. Every. Single. Time.

Happy Birthday, 5 Year Old!!!
Love,
Mommy

Five years and counting: