Sweet Sixteen and Sushi

April 22, 2010

April is a big birthday month for us. This week we celebrated Joshua’s 22 birthday and yesterday Emma turned sweet sixteen!

Normally I make them their requested meal on their birthday, but this year they wanted to go out for sushi. I think Josh was the only one that ate the ‘fishy’ kind, the rest of us ate the California rolls and a couple of other ???? (no fish) kind.

Emma was my first pregnancy while walking faithfully with the Lord, so she was the first baby that I prayed fervently for beyond, “God please let this baby be healthy”.  My prayer for her from conception was that God would use her in a magnificent way to bring Him glory, that He would do something extra special through her.

He has already done great things through her, mainly using her to teach me so much as she pushes me out of my comfort zone. She challenges me to be sure I know what I believe and why.  She has a work ethic like her father which convicts me some days. If there is a job that needs to be done she’s the first one to jump in and do it!

One day when Emma was about 4 or 5  we were down at the lake, it was winter and even in Alabama the lake water gets COLD! We were playing around when one of the kids balls drifted off in the water when no one was watching. As soon as Emma saw it she jumped in to retrieve it, not even giving thought that the water was COLD; she knew there was a situation and she was going to handle it!  My thought that day was, ‘THAT is what missionaries are made of!’ She has so much courage and fears very little in life.

A couple nights ago she and I were home alone when there was some suspicious activity outside. She grabbed her new BB gun ( powered by CO2) and was out the door to protect Mom! Full of courage! She would have been a great pioneer woman!!!

She has a deep, deep compassion for animals and for people, yet she won’t put up with any nonsense and will often get in trouble for telling it like it is. I think she’ll make a great mother!!! If anyone in the house gets sick or hurt she is so attentive and kind, that she also got from her father!

Emma is most known for her humor; she makes me LAUGH sometimes until it hurts. God has given her such an ability to make people laugh (although not everyone understands her humor) which I do hope He will use it to bring healing and comfort to people…there is nothing like a good hard laugh! Now I will say, this gift of humor also gets her in a lot of trouble.  The picture above is from an egg hunt we did for some little ones last month…she felt she needed to dress for the occasion!

Emma is hoping to learn cosmetology; she received several hair supplies for her birthday. I’m not so sure that I want a comedian cutting my hair.

Definitely a Daddy’s girl!

See those earrings? They match her personality!

Happy Sweet Sixteen Emma Grace, you have filled our lives with much love and laughter!

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