McDonnell Place

Madalyn,

Today you are SEVEN years old.

These pictures were taken six years ago on your 1st birthday. A lot changes in six years.

But then not so much… you still make me feel this way and you still show me that dimple.

But now you are “SO BIG!”

I am so thankful for the person God has grown you to be.

At night you read the children’s Bibles we have lying around and you have been quietly writing your own Bible upstairs. (See below.)

All you really wanted for your birthday were more Bible stories written into children’s books; that was what you asked for and told me you were excited to get this morning.

The day you were to be baptized you were nauseated from an ear infection and throwing up… but you INSISTED on still going.

You brought the blue throw-up bowl in the car and I was very worried about what might happen in the clear baptismal but how could I argue with the work God was doing in your heart?

You threw up IN THE CAR (in the bowl) on the way there but began to cry when I said “there will be other times, sweetie… you can do this another Sunday, you really need to be at home.”

That was the first time you went tearful that morning and said “NO! I will have to wait for WEEKS! I want to be baptized TODAY… I feel better! Let me do it! I want to show people what God’s done for me.”

How could I tell you “no honey… you might throw up in the baptismal?” I couldn’t. And I didn’t.

And you did it. And it was wonderfully sweet. I’ll have to post pictures and video later for memory. My favorite part was how you nodded emphatically when he said “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

YOU know Jesus. That is not a work I have done… it is not even a work you have done, but so clearly it is a work HE has done in your heart and I have never felt so full of joy as when I meditate on that work and on His goodness.

You’re not all serious though. You are funny and are learning the art of one-liners that your father is teaching you.

You still love attention. You don’t quite know how to handle yourself when you get excited and start crossing boundaries and acting rather obnoxious. I have NO idea where you get that. Eh hem.

You have melt-downs when you’re exhausted. SERIOUS meltdowns. But they are few and far between because it takes a lot to make you tired.

You love your brothers. You are nurturing to Jack and Sam. You lead Jack in endless imaginary games and are endlessly patient and kind and teaching with Sam. You look up to Evan and would prefer his attention and companionship more than anyone’s. You are NOT a doormat to him but you will go along with his ideas most of the time for the sake of keeping peace and companionship.

And you are quite the little mommy to Charlotte.

You ask if you can run get her out of bed and play with her in your room when she wakes up.

And I let you. Because I always wanted a little sister I could carry and mommy, I let you.

And she gets SO excited to see you.

I recently got the keyboard out of the garage and dusted it off and you spend more time on it than anyone.

I caught you drumming a rhythm on the wall with two hands- two different but synched beats… I am wondering if you will be musical like daddy. It’s hard to tell because you crack under pressure like mommy… sorry about that. I have to watch you when you don’t know I’m watching and am surprised by what I see.

I love you, Madalyn. You truly fulfill Jane Austen’s description that was painted on your wall at the old house: “Where shall we see a better daughter, or a kinder sister, or a truer friend?”

Mama

PS- You spend quite a bit of time at the desk in your room pouring your little heart out on paper. Here are some of the pictures I’ve found:

Bible verses: