April 23rd, 2018 (I'm over a week late!)
Dear Livi,
Happy Birthday my little Livi Lou/Angel Girl! Let me just start by saying what a joy it is to be your mama!!! You have no idea how much I love you and how much your sweet spirit completes our little family. You have matured so much in this past year and your heart gets sweeter each and every day. You are at the most precious little stage right now and I could just eat you up with a spoon. You are the perfect blend of sweet and sassy and your giggle is about the best sound in the world. You are so thoughtful and are always making cards for your friends at school, or asking to take something to give to them. At the church Easter egg hunt, you went and put eggs you had found in the basket of another little girl who didn't have as many...and you didn't have to be asked. You're very generous and you are all the time sharing your candy or treat with Will because he eats faster than you do. You love all things princess, purses, makeup, stuffed animals, baby dolls, jewelry, and ART! You would sit and color all day, and your writing is so good! You love writing your letters and the names of everyone in your family. You love to sleep in nightgowns, and the minute we get home from school, you strip down and change into a princess dress or an ensemble that only you could come up with. You love singing praise and worship songs and you've gotten to where you hold one hand up in the air while singing in the car (I love that you love to worship like your mama!). Your current favorite is "O Praise the Name", and you truly belt it out throughout the house. You love to pray, and you volunteer to pray every night at bedtime. You talk about Jesus a lot and you are constantly telling me that Jesus never stops loving us. You are a sponge when it comes to learning your Bible verses and you're always so proud to recite them. You are a great balance of all things girl, but you're not afraid to get completely dirty! You love going to the woods with your daddy, or digging in the sandbox. You call your daddy, "daddy-roo-ski", and always ask him to carry you like a "sack of potatoes!" You love to have your back scratched/tickled and you contort your little body in the craziest ways to ensure that every inch of your body gets tickled. You love to swing at the park and you sing songs at the top of your lungs while I push you. You love to bake and even watch "baking shows" on your computer. The other day you asked me for a "piping bag" and this cracked me up! You're still taking and loving gymnastics and your first "recital" is next month...which should be pretty stinkin' cute!
You have been talking so much about your Neeno lately and this is both happy and sad for me. It makes me happy to hear you talk about her, because I pray daily that you never forget her...but it makes me so sad that you want to see her, but can't. Last week, you put on your fairy wings and told me you were going to fly away. I asked you where you were going to go, and you said, "to heaven, to see Neeno!" You tell me all the time, " Neeno loved me so much"...and you also tell me, " I made Neeno giggle!" One day, I will be able to fully explain just how much your Neeno loved you, and that you and Will were two of the reasons she tried so hard to live. She told me countless times during her battle with cancer, " I want to see your babies grow up", and she also specifically told me, " I don't want Livi growing up without knowing me". Neeno's desire for you to know her, is now my heart's desire...so I pray that you will know her through me. I pray that every story about Neeno that I tell you, will resonate in your mind. I pray that all of the sayings that were Neeno's, will be sayings you learn, and cherish. I pray that all of the love I give you will be twofold, as I am loving you for Neeno too. I pray that you will know Neeno's character, and her joy through me, and through all of those that knew Neeno so well. There are days that I can get glimpses of Neeno's big personality in your big personality, and it always make me smile. If there's nothing more you get out of this letter for your fourth birthday, please always remember how loved you are...not just by those that are present in your life, but by those that are now with Jesus too. You are one special little girl Livi, and I thank God for making me your mama!
For your birthday this year, we had a small "princess tea party" that you loved! You love having tea parties and you love dressing up as a princess, so your party was a perfect way to celebrate YOU!
Happy 4th Birthday Livi! I love you to pieces!!!
Love, Mom
Love, Mom
