13! unacceptable.

I feel an extravaganza of birthday posts coming on.

We have FOUR birthdays in the next couple of months.

I have strong feelings about my kids getting older...

Generally it is not allowed.

My kids disagree.

 

Celee is turning 13. THIRTEEN!!

That means she is a teenager.
She thinks it is super awesome.
I haven't decided if I think it is super awesome or not.

I am embarrassed to admit, adopting what most people consider an "older child" was not something I ever planned to do. I was sure they would be wild and out of control. I was afraid older kids might negatively affect the younger ones we already had with us. It was a response based entirely in fear.
I could not have been more wrong. The Lord knew exactly what He was doing when he put this precious girl as the second oldest in our family.

Celee came into our lives for the first time when she was 6. She stayed for about a year...and then she came back when she was 8. She was a nervous little mouse. She was all hyperventilation and anxiety. She was scared of dying and routinely told me she could croak at any minute. She had all kinds of "illnesses" from sniffles to strokes. That lasted for a couple of years.

She still has a flair for the dramatic. But generally, she is level headed and a fairly logical kid. She is almost always a rule follower and a rule enforcer. She is usually soft spoken, but not always.


Celee really loves to dance. She dances almost every time she moves. She dances to and from the table, she dances up the stairs. She dances in the grocery store. She has rhythm. She did not get that from me.
 

Celee is an amazing big sister.

She is patient and gracious with the younger kids.

She readily helps anyone who may need assistance.
I love that.

Celee has morphed into a wise,self-confident, and hugely compassionate young lady. She teaches me lessons about the world almost daily. She has (and continues to) overcome tremendous obstacles with grace and determination.

I remember the day Celee arrived at our house for the second time. After we ate dinner she informed me she needed to go the hospital because she was "sicker than she had ever been in her whole life."  Then she quietly let me know she would not be staying.

I am so thankful she changed her mind.

Happy Birthday, Celee!