Nine years ago, our Sweetpea was born…the smallest of all of my babies.  Now, she is taller than Ava, strong, independent, helpful and persistent.  While she was also the least interested of all her siblings to become mobile as a baby, she is now the one least likely to be sitting for any length of time.  Isabelle regularly finds excuses to be moving around when we’re watching a movie together.  Schoolwork is a challenge many days simply because she doesn’t feel like she’s doing anything.  She literally wanders around the house looking for tasks she can “help” with so that she doesn’t have to sit down and attend to her schoolwork.

The plus side of this is that she is quite proficient at many things.  She makes breakfast, does laundry, vacuums, cleans bathrooms, pulls weeds, helps Tim fix things, preps vegetables, waters plants, and so much more.  She is endlessly inquisitive and also loves to explain things to others.  When given the option, Isabelle will always choose to work alongside someone rather than work alone.  She seeks out interaction in almost any endeavor and just gets such joy out of being around people.

Isabelle is nurturing and compassionate.  She has the best giggle, still, and the biggest eyes that show every emotion so clearly.  She is often ready with a word of encouragement, and is particularly benefited by words of encouragement herself.  She is thoughtful and exuberant and literally bounces with excitement at times.  She brings light and optimism with her wherever she goes.

I love this youngest girl of mine with all my heart.  She is a unique, precious treasure to my heart…one of God’s very best gifts to me…and I am so thankful for the chance to celebrate her 9 years today.