We just came back from a wonderful time of celebrating our granddaughter’s 4^th birthday.  We met her Daddy and the other grandparents at the theater, saw the movie “Coco” and then went to lunch.  She is down for a nap at our house right now so thought I would write about her special day.

Our granddaughter, whom we sometimes call “Little Miss” because she is very much the “girly girl”, was completely outfitted for the occasion, as all 4-year old princesses should be.  She was dressed in a yellow “Belle” gown (Beauty and the Beast), silver sparkly shoes and to accent the pink flower on her dress, had two pink butterfly hairclips pulling back her dark brown just-past-shoulder length hair.  Added to the cute outfit was her happy excitement of knowing that today was her birthday…Adorable!

As we walked into the theater, she saw Poppa first and called out his name then gave him a big hug.  I of course was right behind him and ready for my hug as well.  I never tire of those hugs!

The movie went well; just one part of “Coco” seemed a bit unsettling to her but she clearly was engaged in the ending scenes (spoiler alert, happy ending).  Popcorn and soda water were the perfect accompaniments to the movie.

As we exited, she held her daddy’s hand and my hand and then decided it was a good time to take about 15 or 20 jumps forward instead of walking.  I am pretty sure I would have been exhausted had I tried that, but she had plenty of energy for that aerobic period.

The other Grandma and I talked over lunch about the joy that our granddaughter has brought to our lives.  No matter the other stresses going on in our lives such as business projects that are sometimes difficult and the ongoing strain of my youngest daughter wanting to live estranged, the love of our granddaughter is a sweet balm to the heart.

To Little Miss on your 4^th Birthday,

You bring both light to our lives and joy to our hearts.  Your bubbly energy, your cheerful 4-year-old trust that life is good, your hugs and kisses, the drawings you leave on our refrigerator…all these things make you the little girl God planned you to be and you are precious to us.  Your love reminds us that Jesus brings joy from unexpected gifts.  We are so glad you are in our lives.

Love you forever,

Nana and Poppa (November 25, 2017)