AnnaBanana

Guess who's 4 years old today?

Yep, this little girl.

I met her when she was 6 weeks old but was utterly clueless to the fact that one day she would be my little sister.

She is super duper silly sometimes. Sometimes she says silly things. Like crying over the fact that we were having pizza soup, when really I said pizza SOON. We laughed and laughed about that one. She has so many stories to tell and keeps anyone entertained when they are over... whether they like it or not.

Anna has mastered the cute, sad, pouty look. Kind of Shirley Temple-ish. She uses it to get her way... no one can say no to that...Can they?

She had a big year! But I think her adoption was the highlight! She looked so beautiful in her new fancy dress. Even though she danced around the court room and wouldn't hold still, wrote a 'letter' to the judge on his notepad, spoke into the mics, and crawled under the table...the judge still thought she was cute. Anna made it a day to remember. Oh, Anna.

Anna is loved. I won't ever forget the nights I bounced her to sleep. When I kissed her chubby baby cheeks. The day she left us. The nights I cried myself to sleep, praying she was safe. The day we got the phone call about her. The night she returned, we slept 3 hours and then got up to watch Curious George. The hours I spent teaching her how to crawl and eventually walk. The court days that brought that nervous feeling. Then the day last November...we all curled our hair, got into beautiful dresses and went off to the courthouse. Anna Victoria-Merciful victory. You are our victory, you are the victory God planned for us. After 3 years of blood, sweat and tears, you are here forever. You are loved. You are loved by Him, it is evident in your story. You are loved by you 7 sisters and 3 brothers, it is evident in the way they kiss your chubby little cheeks. You are loved by your mommy and daddy, it is evident in the way they fought so endlessly for you. You are loved.

You are one of the greatest things that ever happened to me.