It's crazy to think that this year marks the last birthday before your teenage years set in. While we certainly do see glimpses of what is to come, you are still so full of the innocence and wonder of your younger years. So many of the things that we've always loved about you haven't changed much as the years have passed.
You are still an incredibly creative and imaginative child. You love to make all sorts of crafts and creations. Rarely do you like working from a kit that gives you some sort of prescribed directions. You like to do your own thing. Whether it's making some sort of accessory for your dolls or writing a song or painting on a canvas or making an incredibly thoughtful card for no apparent reason, you're constantly channeling your inner creativity. As always, your creative side also comes with a messy side. There is still a 99% chance that you'll leave a mess or a stain wherever you go! It's not just when you're in crafting mode that you leave a mess....it's also when you're playing (which is still a definite favorite for you). You have not lost your love for pretend play - playing school, playing with dolls, pretend shopping with your cash register, performing songs and dances (usually with your door shut tight because you get SO bashful if someone sees you), and the list goes on and on. You get super engrossed in whatever you're playing....and often a major mess gets left behind. We try to not get too upset about it. We know these days are going to pass and, one day, we won't hear you through your door as you "teach" your imaginary class or sing to your imaginary church congregation.
Instead, we will listen at your door and hear you chatting away with your friends for hours on end...which we already see happening much more than in the past. This was a change that came with the handing down of your brother's old IPod. You couldn't wait to get your hands on it (after spending a few months proving that you'd be responsible enough to not break it or lose it). Once you did, you immediately became the family member that is known to be the most likely to answer a call or stay in touch with someone. You've been known to have random chats with your grandparents or TiTi that we never even knew about. And, if it's not family that you're staying in touch with, it's definitely your friends. You have all sorts of group chats or zoom calls with friends on a regular basis. It is completely evident that your social circle is highly important! And, we are incredibly thankful that the friends you've kept in your inner circle are fantastic. Whether it's school friends, sports friends, band friends, Girl Scout friends, or whoever....you have done an amazing job of finding people who are just as wonderful as you! We hope and pray that this continues on and that you will mutually grow into amazing young adults.
It's no surprise, given your very social nature, that the shift to having things be a bit more "normal" this year was especially good for you. You love going to school and being with your peers. You've jumped head first into various clubs and activities. Dance was a highlight last winter/spring and then softball took over for the summer and fall. Once softball wrapped up, you joined the school basketball team and had a blast with that. You have thrived with being back in school. You've hit that phase where we, as parents, do very little to keep you on track. You are super independent about your school work and rarely need our help. You do an outstanding job of problem solving and taking the initiative to contact your teachers or classmates if you have questions. The most impressive example of your independence was the book drive that you started at your school with Bridget. After finding out that there are kids who don't have their own books at home, you couldn't stop thinking about how sad that reality is. You used your assigned "passion project" as a way to get books into the hands of those who are less fortunate. You and Bridget wrote up an entire plan, presented it to your teacher and principal, publicized it to the school, and ended up collecting over 300 books! There simply aren't enough words to express how proud we were to watch you tackle that from start to finish. We love that your kindhearted nature spurred you on to make a difference in your world.
It's that kindhearted nature that is still our absolute most favorite quality that you possess. You are the most selfless and generous child and would do anything to make someone else's day better. As you've grown and matured, the simple gestures of kindness that you're known for have morphed into deep thoughts and conversations about how you can make a difference on a grander scale. You haven't stopped with the random acts of kindness, but you are definitely beginning to think bigger and beyond what is right in front of you. We know that God is going to keep using your compassion and kindness in amazing ways. We know that He has made you to do so much and it's been a privilege to watch the evidence of His goodness in your life already. We pray constantly that you will continue to follow His lead and leave a lasting impact on this world. The world is so much sweeter with you in it and we don't know what what our life would be like without you. Happy birthday to the sweetest 12 year old we know!!!
Love,
Dad and Mom
