We never go out of style

To my dear niece Elizabeth Mae on the occasion of your 9th birthday. 

(sorry for the delay!)

Elly, I never thought this day would come

You were 4 and I blinked and now you are 9

Some things have changed so much

So much is still the same

You are still sassy, busy, and determined

You are beautiful, happy and 

careening through your childhood at way too fast a pace

This has been a year of gymnastics, Taylor Swift, and tank tops

A year of "watch my back bend walkover" and

"Can we have a sleepover tonight?"

You are somewhere between little girl and preteen 

You are beautiful Elsa and brave Ana all wrapped in one

Elly, this year you made so many discoveries

The magic of Nancy Drew mysteries

That you can make the bad guys good for a weekend

That there is no such thing as too much sparkle
And that you just have to shake off the haters

There were so many crazy talks this year

We talked about your mission

(10 years to go! )

I gave you advice about relationships

("he has to have a job...being in a band is NOT a job...)

You joined my girl power Sunday School class and we started reading the New Testament together

(And you became the New Testament for a day!)

I wish I had a million more memories to share

This was our first year of pulling  more apart than together

But I am excited for you to find your own path

And to continue to become the strong, amazing woman that I knew you would be

The very first moment I saw you 

I love you more than you will ever know, Elly Bean.

Love, 

Aunt Lori