Ellie is 17

Ellie celebrated her 17th birthday at home with her family and her friend Shams. 

As it’s been tradition for the past few years, she insisted on making her own cake, chocolate with peanut butter icing. She asked for grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner and of course I had to add bacon for the boys.

She seemed like she enjoyed the day. She got lots of fun gifts. It was a school day, so there was limited celebration. But I think her friends made her feel special in school and that’s very important at this age.

Ellie is still doing great in school. She has a 4.0. She loves art and is getting into oil painting as of this birthday. Granny gave her oil paints and oil brushes and canvases for this new journey.

Ellie plays the piano very well. I love that. She still practices learning new songs. When she finds a song, she like she tends to play it every day. It’s great hearing her work at it.

She also got into tennis this fall a little bit. We’ll see if that goes anywhere.

She is learning how to drive and she is really quite diligent. She doesn’t seem in a hurry to drive but she’s working through it.

She has soft spoken and kind most of the time. She loves Young Life. She says it’s what turned her into a real Christian. I’m happy she has that group of people and that outlet.

On ellie‘s 17th birthday if I could give her one thing, it would be confidence in the ability to use that confidence with her voice. I can’t wait for her to stop worrying about what other people think and just live in them being who she is, and who God made her to be. 

Happy birthday, sweet baby girl.  I love you and I always will. 

Sadly, I didn’t get a picture with her on her birthday this year. But I got her and her brother and her cousins. We have somebody in the family in each grade at Linganore this year. I love that.