That's your word this year. It defines your tenacity, your passion, your energy, your soul. You are deep as a well and bright as the sun. You are fierce and beautiful. I'm so glad I get to know you, little one.
You have a best friend, Dylan. The two of you have a rhythm together, with crazy laughter and sleep overs and a sisterly little friendship that is blossoming so beautifully. Her parents are fun and we eat together and play and walk to Scoops for ice cream after dinner.
You and Luke and buddies, too. You decided our rhododendron is a tree house and the two of you climb up into it and sing songs and shriek and sing "i'm looking for a friend / i'm looking for YOU" because you both know it makes me crazy. He loves you, and you love him.
This summer, you sleep over in his room almost every night on the top bunk. I read Harry Potter to you both with a flashlight until I can hear the deep, soft rhythm of your breath. I close the book, click off the light, and brush the sunbleached hair off of your forehead.
I love these days. Your Daddy broke some bones in his neck this summer, so I wasn't sure after that crazy July 4th weekend just how things would go. And it's not easy. But it's good, it's full, it's beautiful. Hard and beautiful. So life goes.
Love,
Mom
