Double Digits!

Our little 5 lb. 6 oz. baby girl has grown into a beautiful 10 year-old. Where has the time gone? Poor Kelsie spent her big double-digit birthday driving back home from Florida. We took her out for a special birthday dinner at Burger King in Shreveport, LA, where we let her pick anything from the menu! Don't feel too bad, she did get to go to Florida and celebrate her birthday (a little early) with Grandma and Papa Wallace and the Burtons. It was the first birthday spent with family in 3 years, so it was extra special. The next day was all about Kelsie. She opened presents, feasted on her favorite foods--steak, raspberries, salad, rice, and chocolate cheesecake. The following day she received lots of gifts in the mail and we celebrated again.

In honor of her 10th birthday, here are 10 things we love about Kelsie:

1. She is kind-hearted. She is always thinking of others and just spent some of her birthday money to buy Jackson a birthday present.


2. She's active. She played soccer for a couple of seasons and this year is giving volleyball a try. She wants to run a 5K with me this summer. Go Kelsie!


3. Kelsie is fun. She loves to play games, make up games (and the rules), tell jokes and make everybody laugh.


4. She is entertaining. Kelsie loves to write scripts, put on plays, and record them on video. Boy, will she love those DVDs in a few years!


5. Kelsie is creative. I'm not quite sure where she gets her creativity, because it's certainly not from me! She loves to draw, sketch fashion designs, sew clothes for her American Girl doll, and do anything crafty. She just took 2nd place in her school's "Tar Wars" campaign and will now be entering the state competition.


6. Kelsie is thoughtful. She often leaves little love notes around the house for me to find.


7. She is a good big sister! She is so nurturing and good with Jackson and Chloe. Wally and I feel like our investment is beginning to pay off and we look forward to the days when she can babysit!


8. Kelsie is a wonderful example. After having a particularly hard day at school, I found Kelsie in my office reading articles from "The Friend" magazine. She came home and prayed and opened the magazine to discover an article about the same issue she was facing.


9. Kelsie is beautiful, inside and out! When she was a baby, Wally's uncle made a comment about how beautiful her eyes were because they were filled with the light of Christ. That light still radiates from her.


10. She is a blessing to our family! We feel so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter. We are so proud of her!