Our Adriana turned 10 this July. This girl! Deep and intense! She takes everything so seriously, even her play! Her big eyes sometimes say so much more than her words and her beautiful smile warms up any heart. Someday, I believe, that smile will bring comfort to weary souls and reach much further than the walls of this home.
On more than one occasion she has blown us away with the depth of her perception of things and situations that would seem beyond her years. I think of how intently and intensely I have seen her and heard her pray when she knows there is a need. She is a fierce intercessor. Someday, I believe, she will hold up the arms of those around her and stand in the gap with her prayer.
She's a pacifier. She will do anything in her power to help those around her get along. Her efforts at this age, are sometimes raw and immature, but the seed is there. Someday, I believe, she will build bridges and bring reconciliation where she might go.
But right now she's only ten. She's our little girl. This is her world. So we tried to make it brighter by celebrating her as best we could.
She had a few "friends" over as a part of her celebration! We have such good friends to pack up their unique pets and bring them over for a short visit just to bless our Adriana!
Not every day you get to see one of these (or three!) up close!
Feeding this little fellow was lots of fun!
This was a "big party" year for her (as all 10th birthdays are around here) and she had been waiting excitedly for this big day for 18 months (since Elena turned 10). She had a few friends over and water balloons were a big part of the celebration! As we did for Elena (and is now an established "tradition" for that very reason), we gave her a Bible, engraved with her name. Since she is our animal lover, we also bought her a tiger decal for the wall of her bed.
She was a so blessed. And we are so blessed to have her. What a gift she has been to us these 10 years. Mothering her has had its challenges, she has stretched me, she has grown me, and she has brought so much joy! We love you, sweet, dear girl!