And today she is 8...

She has an attitude, this 8-year-old of mine. She constantly contradicts what I say. And if her brother is telling a story, she can't just listen, she must interrupt and finish the story. She cries at the drop of a hat, and generally anytime she doesn't get her way. And she has a terrible habit of putting things in her mouth...anything close by: Fingers, hair, necklaces, etc.

But this 8-year-old is a beautiful, kind, sweet little thing. She is a loyal friend, almost to a fault. And sticks up for the underdog, regardless of how it may effect her. She has no tolerance for bad people, and her favorite quote, especially when watching movies is "The bad guy never wins". When she talks, it's with her whole body...her face lights up, her hands move and often times, even her legs start moving (since she is often talking about dance). She loves imaginative play, especially with her brother. It warms a Mother's heart to listen to the giggling of "pretend-land" while they are deep in Claire's created world. She is somewhat artistic, although her short attention span doesn't allow her to always finish what she's started. This includes books, as she can read words like a high schooler, but can't sit long enough to finish a chapter. All the vocabulary she has stored in that 8-year-old brain makes her a sharp student, but also causes frustration when math doesn't come as easily as reading. Her struggles with this have made her more confident (which sounds backwards) and required her to become more diligent in her studies. This little girl can also dance like a butterfly while on stage, even though this same grace exudes her in normal life. But this 8-year-old on stage is a joy to watch, as this same joy is written all over her face while doing what she loves. She has no idea how many people tell her Mother how much they enjoy watching her perform. It's a gift, given to her by her Maker, as are these other personality traits and flaws. And even as these traits create a young lady, as much as I want to stop time and relish in her contradictions, math studies and dancing, I have to mark time with a birthday and just enjoy the moment, as each year she grows more and more into a independent being. But even though she turns 8 today, she will always be my little girl.