Dear Sweet Amelia -
You are filled with so much love, always desiring to share it with others. You are sometimes very timid and other times very boisterous. I have a sneaky suspicion that you are going to love forensics. Friends are a source of delight for you, and your friends at Collegium are priceless. In fact, for your birthday this year you want a sleep-over with your besties. The idea of "girl time" is high on your list. You continue to grow like a weed, but are on a basketball team where you are not one of the "tall girls". Playing outside as opposed to inside is a new concept, but you can dribble the ball with your right and left, so new found confidence is slowly taking hold. Watching you develop, through your activities, over the past year has been both a joyful and painful process. You grow in maturity daily but sometimes not without tears. Whatever the case life with you is a blessing. Your glowing presence is what makes you unique and I love you sweet girl for it each and every day. Happy Birthday Baby!
Things I want to remember as you turn 11.
1. Amelia, you love Aggie Rose as much as a child can love a sibling and then more. I mean it. You are so good to the little girl and she knows it, because she loves you.
2. Piano is not something you love. If you could quit you would. However, you know piano is considered a class in our homeschool curriculum, and therefore do not ask for a release from this task. With that being said, you truly enjoy sharing your music with others. Somehow you know music can spread joy and this motivating factor keeps you happy (for the time being).
3. Basketball has become a dominant activity in your life whether you like it or not. Some days you are up to the challenge and other days it's just not what you want to do. However, like piano, there are just some activities that are character building, simply because they are a challenge. I do love your "fierce" side, which only seems to show up on the court, but it's nice to know you have one.
4. Audrey and you are roommates and have been roommates for the past 4 years. This has definitely strengthened your sibling bond. You girls sometimes are at odds with each other, but for the most part you get along nicely. Things you enjoy doing together are playing Barbies, Calico Critters, and dress up. At night you continue to talk after nightly tuck-in and readily get up on the weekends so you can play in your room before the official call wake-up call.
5. Baking birthday cakes has become one of your favorite birthday activities. You enjoy baking for yourself and for others. This year you chose a coconut bundt cake recipe that was super yummy. You enjoy looking for recipes, doing the work, and decorating. However, you don't enjoy cleaning up, but always recite what Oma says...."half of baking is cleaning up."
6. If you could ignore math you would. You do math just fine, but truly detest doing Saxon Math because it is so redundant. You continue to ask if we are going to do Saxon Math next year and when I say "yes", sigh and roll your eyes. You like to say, "If only math were a choice."
7. For Christmas you received tickets to Aladdin. There is something about stage theater you truly enjoy. However, Disney stage theater really is up your alley. You love the music, costumes, and stories. We are headed to Aladdin this Friday and it is all you can talk about.
8. You love audio books. You enjoy reading as well, but have a fondness for listening to audio books in the car. As of recent, you have been touched by some of our listening selections. These books make you think and question what is right or wrong. I am thankful that all of my children would rather listen to a story than the radio. These audio books are helping to shape your character and I love that you embrace them so fully.
9. This year I forced you to take art with Mr. Adair. You were very resistant, but with a possible upcoming move, I felt you needed to take advantage of his quality instruction. Even though you claim to be the worst artist in the class, your art skills have greatly improved and you secretly know and love it.
10. You are nervous about our upcoming move. The idea of leaving your friends, Collegium, our house, and a place you have come to enjoy is not something you want to do. Being close to family is something you are excited for, but starting over isn't. You are nervous and excited at the same time. Change is in the air and change isn't something you like. Lucky for you, you have encouraging sibling who are in the same boat. Doing this with Avery, Audrey, and Aggie makes you more brave.
