Today, Bethany is 13 years old.  So here, 13 things about our Bethany Kaitlyn:

1 – She is strong-willed.  Though always a defining characteristic, she has learned to (mostly) use it well, and yield when necessary.

2 – She is great at math.  She doesn’t always get the best grades (though she has improved her attention to detail by leaps and bounds this year), but she very rarely struggles with understanding.

3 – She loves animals.  I’ve tried to explain the lack of logic in such a strong affection, but she persists in it nonetheless.  It is possible that I’m just a bit less compassionate than she is.

4 – When at home, she seems incapable of sitting down without pulling her knees up to her chest…except at the dinner table, which might only be because the table impedes her progress.

5 – She is beautiful.  Tall and strong and always tanned, with dimpled cheeks and big brown eyes (on the outside).  Quick to laugh, quick to forgive, cheerful and optimistic (on the inside).

6 – She loves Jesus.  Simply and completely and without reservation.

7 – She can put both feet behind her head at the same time…a feat I’ve never been able to accomplish (lame pun intended).

8 – She is still, and possibly forever, a fan of anything sparkly or shiny or fluffy.

9 – She is most easily offended in life by her 9 year old brother.  Always.

10 – She is, literally, the exact picture of a small child chasing a butterfly.  Chores and schoolwork and attentiveness, in general, often succumb to her as yet uncontrolled ability to be distracted.

11 – She is a gifted artist.  It just makes sense to her, I guess.  I enjoy so much seeing any new drawing or painting or clay sculpture she creates.

12 – She can now, after many years of diligent practice…drumroll, please…walk in a straight line.

13 – She is indescribably precious to, and immeasurably loved by us.

We are so excited to walk alongside and celebrate with Bethany today.  She is a one-of-a-kind treasure.