Guest Post: Happy 11th Birthday, Maile!

Dear Maile,
Oh, our sweet girl.  How has it been ELEVEN years?! We remember the day you were born and the days and years since then.  Just like Gretchen Rubin says, “The days are long, but the years are short.”  This rings so very true when we take the time to look back and realize how quickly it has all gone by.  We are so blessed to be on this journey of life with you.  It has been a whirlwind of a year, with a lot of growth and movement into the tween years.  We can’t wait to see what the next year brings.  

This is how we would describe you today.  You are a girl who . . .

. . . loves to laugh and can fill up a room with joy

. . . loves a mental challenge – new found love of escape rooms

. . . loves her family – immediate and extended

. . . wants to spend as much time with friends as possible, too

 . . . has taken to entrepreneurship to find ways to make money

. . . still doesn’t care much about clothes and things, but loves to earn and save for trips and experiences

. . . still loves reading as a number one hobby

. . . writes the most engaging stories and dreams of going to writing camp

. . . has a full calendar of sports and activities:  soccer, basketball, softball, dance, and chess

. . . completes her homework daily without prompting

. . . played in her first regional chess tournament this year

. . . made it to the final battle of her school's OBOB competition

. . . is willing to try new things, including a new school, if it seems like a good fit

. . . loves drama, acting, the stage, and improv

. . . still wrestles her dad for fun

. . . gets a thrill from competition

. . . still loves sushi, steak, prime rib, pho, and treats of most kinds

. . . is exploring golf a bit more

. . . appreciates some good down time with a show

. . . would rather avoid long car rides, if possible

. . . must touch and feel anything that looks soft and cozy

. . . has a mind for numbers and loves being challenged in math

. . . never asks for “things” and appreciates the value of money

. . . serves as an ambassador for her school

. . . now loves her beauty sleep on the rare occasion when she can sleep in

. . . is a role model for a little sister who looks up to her so very much 

Happy 11^th birthday, Maile!  We love you more than we could ever express! 

Love,
Mom and Dad