Happy Birthday, Caroline!

My baby girl isn't much of a baby anymore. Caroline turned 11 today. {{SIGH}} How quickly the time passes! I remember waiting for her to get here, and how I seriously considered changing her name once she was born, but Camille had been talking to my belly and calling her Baby Cow-oh-line for so long, I thought it'd give her an identity crisis and Camille would always wonder what happened to that bulge in my belly we'd been calling Caroline, and where this new kid came from. So, Caroline it was!

She's such a fun girl, always clowning around (yes, even when she should be doing schoolwork or chores), and making everyone smile. She's an absolute book freak, but she got that honest, from both sides of the family. She's just started taking guitar lessons and has this natural inclination to dance. You'd never know that from the embarrassment she showed earlier today, but more about that later. It's been such a joy to watch her grow and imagine what God has in store for her life.

Caroline isn't much on crowds or being the center of attention. She'd rather sit at the back and watch from afar, and she much more prefers small affairs to grand galas. I have to remind myself of this often, as I'm just the opposite. She's been challenged the most of all of us, in adjusting to a country where privacy and personal space don't mean the same thing. How sweet to see her stepping timidly out of her comfort zone to interact with people and help us in the ministry. And as is the joy of every missionary parent, it's just too cool to hear her speak fluently in another language.

True to her personality, she chose to invite a couple friends out to a Princess Day instead of having a birthday fiesta. They donned crowns and had lunch together, followed by a trip to the theater to see Ice Age 3. In the restaurant, the wait staff insisted that Caroline sing a little song about all the parts of the chicken ("The chicken has feet, the chicken has wings," or something to that effect.) We enjoyed celebrating her big day and spending it with her friends. Click below for the photo and video of her song and dance. Happy birthday, Baby Girl!

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