Birthday Girl

We celebrated Olivia's 8th Birthday this weekend. This year was a "family birthday celebration" Although this girl would like to have a party every year we stick to our plan so our birthday celebrations don't get out of hand from year to year. We focused on making her feel special and building her up with the talents, passions and gifts God has placed in her. Olivia adds so much fun to our family with her witty sense of humor and animated facial expressions. She is quick to catch onto jokes and even makes up her own that are quite funny. She is independent and always eager to make any situation fun even if when she thinks rules are made for breaking (you can pray for us on that one!) She is curious, persistent and loves to learn. She is social and loves to be around people all the time. She likes to dress up, go shopping and she likes to get dirty...

She enjoys hiking, exploring and challenge

This is Olivia's determined face as she is watching the big boys at the skate park. She didn't care one bit that she was the youngest or the only girl at the park. That didn't matter to her. 

She is not afraid to take risks

She loves animals and dreams of one day having her own farm with a lot of animals. Even though she has some of the same interest as her siblings she always makes her own place.

She will not miss a 4-H event and especially meetings that are for serving others.

This girl is a faithful prayer warrior! She storms the gates of heaven faithfully praying for sweet Tori and others. This year through Tori's circumstance Olivia started to pray deep, sweet, innocent and heart wrenching prayers for Tori. Her heart is tender and teachable and I continue to pray she will have a pliable heart that seeks the Lord. 

Olivia was persistent this year that she needed to get baptized and she was NOT going to wait any longer. She was excited and eager to make her faith public.

Olivia was persistent that a store bought cake was not going to work this year and she wanted a safari cake with homemade marshmallow fondant.  I must say, this cake was made in record time as we had a very full weekend and there was no choice but to get this done and the cupcakes for her classroom. 

So what the heck do you do when you run ALL day long with activities only to discover that you forgot to buy candles?!  Hey,  it worked and no one had to go to the store!

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
   my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:14