Dear Britta,
This year for Christmas I decided to start a new tradition of writing each of my children a letter. This has been a very exciting year for you. Most notably, you started Kindergarten--and boy do you love it. You are in your element at school. I have had your teacher tell me more than once how much he enjoys having you in his class. You work hard and you care intensely about doing your best in school and you thrive on the praise that comes from being at the top of your class.
You continue to love all things girl as well. One of your favorite games to play is house. You and Elodie trade off being the "mom" or the" sister", and the husband is always off somewhere working (more often than not his name is "Chris" and I hope you do marry someone just like your daddy someday). You have also become quite the artist this year. You will spend hours on a single picture, making sure every detail is just right and that all of your coloring is inside the lines. As you put it, you're doing "quality work." Detail is important to you, and always has been. You can sit and finish a 100 piece (or more) puzzle all by yourself, or spend hours building a Lego creation to the exact specifications in the instructions. Rules are important to you and you follow them to a tee. You wore your school name tag for months because your teacher told you to on the first day of school. You also have an impeccable memory and pay such close attention to detail--it has always amazed me the things you remember from such a young age. You'll be able to recall things we did or saw from years ago; you are just like your dad that way.
This year you also mastered the art of riding your bike and it was so fun watching you try and try until you figured it out. Like me, it is hard for you when something doesn't come easily to you. There were many tears and moments of frustration, but with Dad's help you finally figured it out. You are a very sweet and sensitive girl.
I've always said that you run hot or cold. Either you are a ray of sunshine or a little storm cloud. In the past few months I have come to the conclusion that you feel deeper than most. Whether it be physical pain, emotions such as excitement or happiness, or frustration--you feel with every part of you.
Another big change for you this year came right around your birthday when we finally took you to the eye doctor and found out that you did indeed need glasses. As it turns out, you have astigmatism in both eyes and your prescription is actually quite high. I learned so much about you in that 30 minute eye appointment, however. Never once had you complained about your vision (likely because you didn't know any different), and while it was obvious during the exam that you couldn't clearly see the symbols presented to you, never once did you say you couldn't do it. Instead, you sat there, sometimes for 30 seconds, focusing with all your might on the screen until you forced yourself to make out what was up there. And most of the time you were right. I was so impressed with your determination and perseverance. Above all, I was so proud of you for doing your best despite your limitations. I learned that as children we don't always recognize our limitations and so we are more fearless to go after things, but as we get older we let fear and doubt get in our way and hold us back.
You continue to love going to Primary and it has been so wonderful to watch your testimony grow this year. You memorized your line for the Primary Program with no problem and knew every word to every song. You're always the first one to volunteer to offer prayers for dinner and bedtime and you never forget to say your prayers each morning.
I love you sweet girl. You have taught me so much about myself. I see so much of me in you and sometimes I feel badly that I am often so short-tempered with you. There's nothing I want you to know more than how much I love you and love seeing the girl you are growing into. I wish I could keep you small and innocent forever, but then I see how much you are learning and growing and I can't wait for all that this life has in store for you.
Love, Mom
