Happy Birthday, McKinley!

2 years old.  I suppose that makes it seem silly when I call you my baby girl. Of course, you are my youngest, by 17 minutes, right?  You make everyday fun with your giggles and grins.

• You are the most compassionate girl I know.  When we enter a room, I can almost guarantee that you will head for the person who most needs loved.  If someone is hurting or quiet you have this sixth sense that gravitates you toward them.  You sit on their lap and just snuggle in and let them enjoy your sweetness.
• You are a peacemaker, on most days.  Whenever you play with Ethan & Elissa, if a dispute arises over who gets what, you almost always give up whatever they want.  Other times, of course, you can speak very loudly about what you think you should keep.
• You are a stop-and-smell-the-flowers kind of girl.  When we take family walks, you hold my hand and stroll more than walk.  You like to point out the people and animals we pass by.  You also get this peaceful look in your eye whenever the wind blows in your face.  Maybe you know it's God giving you a sweet hello kiss.
• You have a variety of interests, so much so that it's sometimes hard to decide what gifts we can get you that you will really love.  Right now, you seem to enjoy singing and swaying to fun kids' songs.  At the same time, you like trains and trucks and blocks, too.  I'm excited to see how your interests take shape over the years.
• You have a very keen sense of what's right and wrong, but can be very decisive about which you're going to pick to do.  God's been teaching me to love you for who you are in a lot of ways and to not try to change you to make you more like me.  You're perfectly created as the little girl God wants you to be.

I pray that God continues to use your compassion and kindness to bless other people's lives.  And may He some day soon use that to point them to Jesus.  I also pray that God will give us an awesome bond as I continue seeking the best ways to train you in righteousness and obedience.  I love you, my Kinley girl.  Love, Mommy