Happy Birthday Carolyn!!!

Happy 14th birthday my dear, sweet, young, lady!

Before we started doing foster care, many years ago, I was surrounded by little boys.  I had two sons. My sister had two sons.  My brothers had two sons. I love little boys, so I thoroughly enjoyed them all.

When we first started doing foster care though, I longed for a girl and wouldn't you know it, the first many foster placements we had were all boys!!!   We eventually did start having a few little girls trickle thru after a while.  I enjoyed them all.  One of our first "girl" placements was Faith Anne.  After being in our home for two years, she, thru adoption, became my very first daughter.  God had blessed us mightily.  I was so happy.  We were all so happy.  Pinks and purples, dresses and bows had finally become a part of our lives. 

She was such a blessing to all who knew her.  We deeply miss her.

In 2000 we got a call for a placement for a little infant girl.  We said yes!  She was another girly gift to my heart, from God, from the first time I held her.

Such a tiny precious little one.

As she grew she was a cuddly, clingy, joy to have around.

Always a pleasure and often behaviorally/emotionally a challenge because she was born with FAS.
She officially became our daughter at almost three years old.  We were overjoyed.

Some things, she had terrible deep fears of...like clowns and people dressed in costumes.  But other things you would think she would be afraid of, she was not.   She begged to do this on a trip to Gatlinburg that year.  He kept gently jumping her up and down. 

She kept giggling and telling the guy.."Higher...Higher!!!"  He would just look at us and do it.  She was not big enough to be secure in that seat!  Finally the guy just pulled her all the way down and let her go! 

Talk about making my heart go pitter pat!  I thought he was going to shoot her to the moon...her laughing hysterically all the way!  Yup.  That's her!

That's our girl!

She has a special bond with her dad, as she is his little princess and they both like computers and electronics.

She was a sweet child with a good heart and kindness about her.

As she matured she followed me everywhere and wanted to do what I did and learn what I knew.  Very endearing.

She has matured and grown into a great help around here.

A trusted confidant. 

A good friend.

 Always willing to lend a hand.

She goes with the flow of the family, now, no matter what we are doing.

Our treasured daughter for sure.

She loves farm life and animals.  Here she is with her great friend, her pony Millie.

But yet she is always the young lady.

Here she is with her little dog that is almost always in her arms when she is in the house.  Princess!  All she wanted for her 8th birthday was a chihuahua.  She was given Princess and has raised and house trained her all by herself.

She loves animals, riding her pony, hanging out in the barn with the animals, cooking, loom knitting, writing simple short stories and farm life.   She is a homebody that likes to be home and not go out much.  She is a domestic, down to earth, kind of young lady.  She is helpful and kind.  She has a bit of attitude and sass sometimes but over all, a very obedient daughter who just wants to please us and help in any way she can.

She knows that I can not eat out at all and have to pack a lunch to take with me when I have appointments.  She knows I have blood sugar issues and need to eat regularly.  If I did not pack a lunch and my errands run past a mealtime, she texts me to check on me and asks if she can prepare my food to have ready for me to eat when I get home.  Bless my heart she is a sweet and caring young lady.

We combined a birthday meal out for Elizabeth and Carolyn last week.  They chose Mexican and then ice cream out after wards.

We grilled out today on her actual birthday and had cake.  My sister is so talented when it comes to cake decorating.  Thank you sister for making this beautiful cake for her,  just how she wanted it done and making her day special.

I don't know where the time goes but our little girl is not a little girl anymore but a young woman.  She turned 14 today!  Happy Birthday my treasured daughter and friend from all of us....

Proverbs 31:29-31  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Love, Daddy, mom, Stephen, Antonio, William, Zeke, Elizabeth and two little foster brothers!