six wishes.

our sweet, sweet anika.  you have been prayed about for a long time.

when we found out that we would be so blessed with babies close in age,

the deepest desire of my heart was for you to be a girl.

in all honesty, i didn't even know it was there until

they placed you on my chest & i repeated over & over,

she's a girl! she's a girl!  i can't believe she's a girl.  chloe has a sister!

a sister.  to drive you.  to push you.  to love you.  to just know.  to walk with.

to fight for you.  to laugh with you.  to play games with unspoken rules together.

to sit for an hour figuring out ponytails & run excitedly to show mom.

a sister.  to be.

you, my little love, are such a blessing to this family.

the joy inside your heart & the way that you enjoy seeing it in others

is beautiful.  you love people in a way that is real & humbling.  you

pray with a memory that speaks to the depths of your heart.

you are six years old and you advocate for the orphan.  you love them.

like really love them.  your prayers always include the fatherless and that

more & more families would love them.

 

you are silly & love to be playfully tricky. 

one of your favorite things to do is to put on sunglasses & 'spy' on people.

i refuse to tell you that i can still see you despite the glasses.

anika taylor, as you live out this sixth year, i pray:
that God will continue to grow your tender heart for people.

that you will remain infectiously joyful.
that you rest in contentment & not happiness.
that you receive your prayer for a puppy or a sibling. 

that you will understand more of the depth of God's great love for you.

that you would dream big things with Him.

He has great plans for you.

you are so loved, anika girl.

happiest birthday.