brooklyn got to wake up in cokeville on her 9th birthday and she couldn't have been happier about it. extra cousins around, a delicious sunday dinner, great-grandma petersen made her a lazy dazy cake and she loved it, and brooklyn just loves being around gobs of people so it worked out great for her!
the next morning we started her 'birthday day' fun stuff by surprising her with a new bike. she was so excited and james and i loved her reaction!
we went to pizza pie cafe for lunch as per tradition and stuffed our faces.
we dropped off the younger sisters and daddy at lagoon and headed shopping at station park. brooklyn loves to shop! so that's really all she wanted to do. after we were shopped out, we met up with everyone at lagoon to do some rides all together.
we did birthday cake at nana and papa's later that night and she loved being with family again.
we love this girl and can't believe how much she's grown up in the last year. she's responsible and caring and such a huge helper! she babysits almost every day and i'm so grateful she's willing!
i love you so much brooklyn jayde and can't wait to what this next year has in store for you!!! love you!!!
Dear sweet Brookie,
As I’m sitting here in Aunt Julie’s front room in Cokeville on you’re birthday, watching Rosie play with the shoelaces on my shoes on the ground, I can’t believe how big you are and how much you’ve grown.
Thinking back, you’ve been such a blessing in our lives and brought so much joy to our lives and to this family. Watching you run around with Liv and Addison and play with the rest of your little cousins and your sisters makes me so proud of you and so grateful to be your Dad. You’ve turned out to be such a cute girl, not only in how pretty you are but in your kind and tender heart and desire to help and serve others. I love to reflect as I write you your birthday letter each year and think back on how hard your Mom worked to get you here and how excited we were for you to finally join our family. You are such a special girl and make such a great Daughter and big sister. You’ve had a lot of responsibility your whole life and one day, if you’re willing, I promise that you’ll recognized how it’s been a blessing and you’ll be so grateful for the lessons you learned helping in our home and helping to raise this family.
You’re your own little person, with your own personality, sense of humor and style. You are almost always kind and friendly to others and it makes you so happy to make others feel good. Even at this very moment as I’m writing this letter, and Rosie was getting fussy while I’m focused, you stopped by walking through to check on her and make her smile and help her to be happy. I love how much you love to sing and dance, you’re quite the little performer and you love to entertain. You are also so smart and a great student. You are a leader in your classes in how you behave as well as how you treat others Don’t ever give in to the temptation to be unkind because someone else is or because your “friends” don’t want to be nice to others.
Be an example and always do what you know is right, especially when it comes to kindness. It will be hard at times and you’ll wish you could just do whatever you wanted, but your Mom and I both know how you feel and know that the chances that we have to help others feel loved and respected is one of the greatest opportunities we have in life, even as children. We remember how lonely it was at times doing the right thing and playing with someone that no one else wanted to play with, talking to those who no one else wanted to talk to.
Brooklyn, as you grow older and look back on your life, I hope you’ll always remember the whispering and witnesses you’ve received from he Holy Ghost. He is real, as real as you and me, and he testifies of Jesus Christ. You’ll remember times that you’ve felt his warmth, joy and kindness in your heart. If you’re being honest with yourself, you’ll recognize that he’s been your companion and helped you to know when something is wrong and helped to keep you safe. You’ll recognize that you’ve have good thoughts throughout your life, some that may have certainly been a thought of your own, but many that he’s helped you to see, feel, or hear.
Brooklyn, every good thing comes from Christ. In other words, if you have a thought or feeling to do a good thing, you don’t have to wonder if it’s the Holy Ghost or just an idea. Just do it anyway and you’ll see you’re never wrong. Brooklyn, pray for your own testimony, and the Holy Ghost will testify to you in your heart and mind, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that the Book of Mormon is true. If you’ll read the Book of Mormon, you’ll receive this answer, I promise you. I’ve received it myself, many times.
I remember reading the Book of Mormon with my parents growing up and believing it’s words, but I still remember several experiences, where I felt the Holy Ghost as I read the words, and I knew that they were true. Do not doubt it, rather, have faith and believe, and you’ll know not only by the Spirit, but by the good things in your life. Knowing the truth though doesn’t mean that bad things won’t ever happen to you. It doesn’t mean your life will be easy. It just means that you’ll know to who you can look for help and support. To our Savior Jesus Christ.
Brooklyn, your Mom and I have both had difficult times in our lives, and we’ll have some more still, where we felt the love and support of our Savior. I have felt His Presence through His Spirit, and I have felt his Love. He loves you so so much! We love you so so much. Trust Him and Trust Us and you’ll always be okay. Don’t worry too much, everything will work out in your life in the end.
Remember these two things Brookie Jayde. In every moment of your life. In times of difficulty and hardship, loneliness or pain, remember that Jesus Christ loves you and is there for you. Always! And remember that Mom and I are here for you and love you! Always!
Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!
Love,
Dad
