Happy Birthday Claire!

Yesterday you turned 2 years old. It is so hard for your mom and I to believe that much time has passed since we first held you in our arms. You were and still are one of the most beautiful gifts God has ever blessed us with. From the moment we laid eyes on you, we were both in love. We have also spent each day trying to raise you up to know Him and to see the glory and healing that He brings. But our hope is not that you would just know him and love him, but that you would serve him. We believe God intended love to be an action and not just knowledge.

Today you are so talkative with all of your new words. Lately your favorite words seem to be pool, cute, GROCERY STORE, "no singing!", Lukie, and gorgeous. Your timing and use of these words generally has us smiling from ear to ear and laughing. You are learning to be loving and kind to your little brother who has occupied some of the attention you maintained for your first 13 months. You have a healthy obsession with Minnie Mouse and your stuffed dog, which we wisely bought a back up for in fear that one day we would lose him. It has already proven to be one of our better parenting decisions. You are a great eater and desire things like apples, applesauce, yogurt, grapes, and of course MILK! You love to swim and swing but mainly just love to be outside, despite the 90 degree plus temperatures. You have many friends including Maddie Wier, Miles Hytnen, Lily & Sophie Smetana, Carter & Miles Griffin, Sloane Thomen, and of course your cousins Kollyn, Reese, Tucker, Hunter, Taylor, Ashley, Grace, and Grant. But I would say your best friend is your bathtime buddy and sweet brother Luke. You entertain him on a regular basis and despite some of your bullying tactics, he continues to come back for more playtime.

Your mom and I love you so much and look forward to watching you grow, but are enjoying you just the way you are today. Happy Birthday sweet Claire!

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21