Miriam is EIGHT

Our house is suddenly full of Miriam. It's the best kind of fullness. She is fully present in a new way as she crosses into a new year. She sees the needs of those around her and strives to meet them. If Simon needs comforted, she's there with a squeeze. She can make Mommy and Daddy's bed for them in the morning. While grocery shopping, she makes sure Vivian and Felicity are paying attention enough to keep up with the cart. In the classroom, her teacher says she gives other students a hand with tricky lessons. We were talking recently about what we all want to be known for. With so much certainty, she answered, "Being a helper." She truly is and desires to be a helper, a shoulder to lean on, your right hand woman, the person who walks in unafraid to carry your burden with you. Her open heart is a model for her parents.

She'll quietly read books or loudly be part of the "band" in the basement. We love that she's unafraid of play and believe it's her younger siblings who keep her fun and innocent. And she's smart, so smart. She's responsible and gentle and kind...as long as her sisters aren't pushing her buttons. They know how to get under her skin and when they do she lashes out quickly. This is probably her mother's temper revealing itself. Which means Mommy will need to work extra hard to teach her self control.

It's simply our pleasure to be her parents, to watch her grow. And grow, she does! Part of the fullness of having Miriam in the house is her height! She is so tall! Perhaps she's really average height, but every morning when she comes up for her hug Mommy is surprised by the height of the hug!

For her birthday meal she asked for hamburgers, of course. And brownies. She prefers their chocolaty fudge to any cake.

She went on her birthday date with Daddy to Wu's. She's an adventurous eater so all those delicious Chinese flavors were right up her alley.

Some tea, edamame, a hearty soup with all kinds of veggies and meats, a taste of her Daddy's hot burned pork...

 ...and more chocolate.

After dinner they stopped at Cracker Barrel to shop...our girls think this is the epitome of a good time. She brought her birthday money from out of town family and picked out something for herself and each of her siblings.

Happy 8th birthday to our eldest sweetness.