Grace's birthday

I am sitting here typing in the dark as we participate in Earth Hour. I hope they will publish satellite pictures if you can really see the difference turning the lights out for one hour made.

Today is Grace's 11th birthday.

Sometimes when I look at her, she seems so much older. It also feels like I have had her all her life. It is very strange and difficult to find the "right" words for time before Grace and after. So if someone recalls something from the past, the question was, "Was I here yet?" I think we need to come up with better wording. I will work on this.

I digress.

Warning! Warning! Mother beginning to brag!

Grace has such a kind soul. She is so kind and sweet with both her grandparents and her cousins. I did not realize Grace was quiet until I adopted Annabel. She always has a smile. She is so laid back, nothing seems to ruffle her. She continues to grow in love, wisdom, maturity. She loves music, just like the first reports from the orphanage said she did. You cannot hurry Grace. She takes her own sweet time on EVERYTHING. She would much rather read, draw, or play the piano than just about anything, but she has developed an enjoyment in playing outside since Annabel loves to. She rarely asks for anything. She hates to disappoint anyone. She follows the rules and makes sure I do too. She is a back seat driver making sure I follow the posted speed! I cannot imagine life now without her. I pray that her life will always be blessed with many blessings, the strength to meet all challenges, and the courage to stand up for herself.

To celebrate her birthday we started with a bowling party last night.

This was her choice.

We have only been bowling once and at that point, Grace could put on a good pout if she lost!

But she was sure this is what she wanted to do.

We invited some family and friends and had a great time. To hit any pins was a HUGE success for most of the group, so laughter was usually the music they bowled to.

After bowling was cake and presents and running out the door as the temperatures continued to plummet.

I don't think it has ever been cold on Grace's birthday and this is the first time her birthday has been on a Saturday, I guess not in her whole life, but her life with us.

Grandmom offered to fix her "deluxe" breakfast for the birthday girl and anyone else who got up in time. After that Poppa took the girls to Lowes to build a flower rain gauge. VERY CUTE! If I were Holly, I would have pictures!

Then we all went to Texas Land and Cattle for lunch.

When I sign up for things on the internet, I fake my birthday by putting in Grace's with another year, so I got all sorts of birthday greetings today, including a free adult entree at Texas Land and Cattle.

While it was very good, we have decided McDonald's is more our style!

After that we were bound and determined to get Grace some shoes that actually fit. I'm not sure why they don't do corrective shoes anymore, since I was "blessed" with them. (Not a single boy in my classes was exempt from getting kicked in the shins by my gigantic pigskin lace ups! and I wonder why I am not married??)

Since GG has green (or were they yellow?) converse, Grace decided that's what she wanted. We went to The Academy, but all we could find were some more Sketchers and a million people all trying to find shoes.

Although we were then cutting into the grandparents' nap time, they obliged us by going to Whole Earth Provision. That place has the largest collection of feet friendly shoes I have ever seen.

We lucked upon a pair on sale, so for once in Grace's life, she has 2 good pairs of shoes, that fit and do not hurt.

Annabel found herself a harmonica and entertained us all the way home.

A game that we have lots of fun with but had never had is Connect Four. So that was part of her gifts. I ALWAYS win. So the girls are always challenging me to try to beat me.

BUT my little baby has grown up and now whupped me on EVERY game!!! Annabel and I played like we were beginners! Grace won 14 games! Annabel and I each won 3, but we never had a long winning streak before Grace won again.

She is easily as competitive as I am and knows I try my best. So when she wins, she truly wins!

Dinner was Grandmother's soup, great for a VERY cold evening.

Showers were fast so we could turn out all the lights in time. But first Grace got to try out one more of her birthday gifts, her OWN hair dryer!