I am late recalling the story of how our first baby girl entered our lives eight days early. Aliya entered this world on September 11, 1991, weighing 7 lbs., 14 oz. Our lives have thankfully never been the same!
Aliya came into the world with a pronounced little will. She cried more piercingly and persistently than any other baby being wheeled through the halls. We could always guess she was coming for a nursing visit to my hospital room way before she arrived at the door. She managed to outcry all the other wailing babies with her.
She spent her first few hours in Daddy's arms. If there is any truth to that bonding lore, then she was definitely affected by those hours. Aliya is definitely a daddy's girl! Thankfully, however, she and I have developed a wonderful friendship over the years.
Aliya has come a long way from the baby who used to roll stealthily around the family room eating newspapers before Mom found out. (If it was quiet and Aliya was missing, trouble was in the works!) She is less sneaky and much more honest! She is still persistent. However, this persistence increasingly shines in her God-given determination to grow into a godly young woman. She is more outwardly focused, yet inwardly focused in the sense that she is sensitive to areas in her heart that need change. She loves the Lord and is continually seeks to grow in Him and apply what she learns through daily devotions and weekly sermons. I am grateful for her tender heart that yearns to please God. She is quick to come back again to God when she fails. God uses Aliya in all our lives to remind us of his never-failing grace.
Aliya also loves her family, sports, literature, music, math, science, art, writing, and administrating her life and those around her. :) She often serves as my second brain by planning for me and remembering details I always forget. She is full of drama, has very big dreams and too many things from which to choose in life. I think she still identifies at times with Louisa May Alcott's character, "Jo." Hers is not a predictable path. God seems to use Aliya as one joyful surprise in our lives.
Aliya, you are a blessing to me! Your smile makes me smile. I love your laughter, your drama :), your zest for everything, your sense of humor, your left-handedness, your willingness to learn and work hard in school and in life, and your beautiful, blue eyes! You are still my soft, cuddly, sweet, baby girl!
Happy 17th Birthday!!!
Aliya Nicole: "To go up to the city of God victoriously"Keep climbing by God's grace, Sweetness!!
"Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false. [a]
He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior." Psalm 24:3-5
3 comments:
She Is SOOOO Adorable when she was little! I wish I was that cute. :)
How can she be 17???? Ronda are you getting old??
You were (and are) all so cute. But cute is as cute does.... hee hee Love ya.
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