Happy Birthday Laurel!

Our kind, thoughtful, beautiful, challenging, appreciative daughter Laurel turns 11 years old today!  She is such a fun friend, diligent student, hard worker, gifted athlete, and loyal sister.  Laurel continues to be the most logical child we are raising who takes her time reasoning through new ideas before she comes to conclusions.  She asks thought provoking questions that throw us off guard sometimes, but is very content to discuss the answers to those questions without getting bored or frustrated.  Laurel leaves the sweetest notes for her family members to encourage them and tell them how much she appreciates them....she is very heartfelt with her writing!  She is the first child in the family to break a bone this summer and was such a brave young lady....she shed no tears the entire 24 hours it took us to realize her wrist was actually broken and not just a little sore from falling off her bike. She didn't get upset that she had to wear a cast for four weeks during the summer, which meant limiting her water activity time (one of her favorite things to do!) and being at church camp with limited activities.  Laurel doesn't strive to be the center of attention, but is always drawing people to her with her calm and pleasant and consistent personality.  She does like to be first and we are working on humbling ourselves and allowing someone else to see/do/experience things before she does.  She loves eating meat, watching television, using sweet smelling body lotions, chocolate, animals, soccer, and interacting with elderly people.  Laurel has a short temper that only comes out occasionally, but when it does she is quick to react.  She is doing very well with working to control her temper and finding ways she can deal with her emotions.  She does not like cleaning her room, chicken pot pie, being interrupted from a show she is watching, lasagna, and waking up early.  Laurel will say the most kind words to her siblings out of the blue and has made it a goal in her classroom at school to give someone a compliment every day.  We are so proud of this young lady and thankful every day that God has blessed us with her.  We love you mightily, Laurel Annie!!

1. What is your favorite color?  Pink
2. What is your favorite sport? Soccer
3. What is your favorite fruit?  Watermelon
4. What is your favorite movie? Avengers End Game
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Meatballs
6. What is your favorite subject in school? Math
7. What is your favorite game? Papa’s Milkshakeria
8. What is your favorite snack? Goldfish crackers
9. What is your favorite animal? Flamingo
10. What is your favorite song?  Behold Our God
11. What is your favorite book? Little Women
12. Who is your best friend? Maddie
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cocoa Pebbles
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play on the rope swing
15. What is your favorite drink? Chocolate milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What is your favorite restaurant? Red Robin
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Sausage and bacon and eggs
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Hamburgers
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A physical therapist