What 9 Years Has Brought....

Today, my baby girl turns 9. I almost don't want to talk about it because I think about how next year she'll be double digits and I am just in shock. As I sit here and remember these last 9 years, I know that without a doubt God gave Katelyn Faith to us for so many reasons. One reason was to stretch us and OH how she has done that. When she turned 3 we saw an amazing strong will in her and we had no idea how to handle it most of the time. She would push us at all costs and not let up very easily. She always had a sweet spirit underneath all of that will. As she grew we had many nights of battles and days of discipline that left us tired and not understanding. We continued to teach her about Jesus and teach her how to turn that strong will into something that she could use to follow the Lord so closely. Once we realized that God gave her that strong will, we began to see her so differently. Another reason God gave us Katelyn was to show us just how amazing He is. Katelyn has always had a heart that wanted to lead (we used to call it "bossy"). We very rarely saw her follow other children. She was usually the one teaching them or starting a game that everyone could play. She taught us how to not care what anyone thought as long as we were pleasing to God and to be the one that makes a difference in the life of others. Katelyn will always be our little girl who loves to play outside and get dirty, wants nothing to do with pink or princesses and doesn't care what anyone thinks about that, strives to help me through the day, loves being a big sister and teaching Samuel new things, loves forts and swords, loves babies and animals, loves sports and climbing trees, cares for the weak and sad, rocks it out to Lecrae and Toby Mac, could go the rest of her life never wearing a dress, and walks with such a confidence and grace that is an amazing example to us each day! Thank you Lord for this amazing gift you have blessed us with and we thank you that we get to be her parents. I can't wait to see what she will become as I see who she is now in Jesus. I love you Katelyn Faith, to the moon and back!!!!