Celebrating Erin

Seven years ago our third-born threatened an attempt to make an early appearance. Then at four weeks she taught us great lessons in faith as we watched her suffer from spinal meningitis and other health issues. Today Erin shows no negative effects from her jumpy start to life. On the contrary, she is full of bounce and life. Here are some of the things she enjoys about life and that we enjoy about her:

When Erin laughs it is contagious. She is capable of having such a riotous giggle that you can’t help but join in. Her smile lights up a room.

Erin loves to be in the kitchen and I love having her help me. She is quick to volunteer for anything of the culinary nature which makes me wish I was a better cook who could offer her a broader set of experiences. Oh well, she’s happy to settle for enjoying making baked goodies and breads (especially if they’re “Sister Dunford rolls”!)

Erin is a determined little girl and can accomplish anything she sets her mind to. The dilemma….setting her mind to it. Being in the middle has its challenges especially when you’ve put yourself in the footsteps of an older brother and sister. Erin has been blessed with an abundance of ability. She uses this to quietly overcome challenges. She is a very bright girl who has, by nature of our situation, been thrust into an educational upheaval. Though there were several days of tears, she managed to smile and push through. It’s difficult as a parent to watch your child grow through adversity. There have been times I have just wanted to remove her from the frustrations and home-school her. She finished out the school year quite well with glowing praise from her teachers and headmaster and was awarded one of three awards handed out at her grade – person with the best influence. We’re anxious to see what second grade holds in store for this little one.

Erin is a delightfully talented artist who loves to write stories, create pictures, and engage in all forms of creativity. At a recent visit to a ceramics gallery, Erin showed her gentle, patient touch by creating a clay pot thrown on a wheel. She has been improving her knitting skills, having been taught by Kennedy and my mother, and is making a wonderfully beautiful washcloth for the baby. I am amazed at how even and tight her stitches are. She is truly naturally gifted.

Erin is a true friend. She values her friendships and relationships with her peers. She is quick to notice someone left out. She is also capable of recognizing false friends, a characteristic I just recently learned about her; a trait which will serve her well throughout her life. She has taken the age-old adage to heart: to have a friend you must be a friend.

Erin is a super sister. She loves to do quiet, kind deeds for her brother and sisters. As Abby is getting older she is seeing this wonderful friend in her sister, Erin and loves to play with her. Most recently it has been music to my ears to hear her little voice call out “Ewiiiiiinnn!” As a middle child, Erin has always shared a room with Kennedy or Ethan. I love hearing the nighttime giggling between her and either of these siblings. Whether she’s role playing or just girl-talking with Kennedy or building secret forts with Ethan, Erin is a fun girl to share a room with. While we were back in Ohio this summer I think there were more nights of them wanting to all sleep together than in their respective rooms. I asked Dano why we even have separate bedrooms for them. We just need to modify what we have to make one huge bedroom for all the kids!

Erin loves little children. It has been sweet to watch recently as Erin will approach a little child at church or a park or in any setting and get down on their level and talk to them. It really makes her seem older. She is so anxiously excited about this new baby, she can hardly stand it. I know it will be just as sweet to watch her interact with and care for her new sister.

Erin is a great athlete. Again, any sport Erin attempts, she succeeds. She has been blessed with terrific speed and coordination. She has been a beautiful dancer, a soccer star, and most recently is enjoying perfecting her jumproping skills and tricks. When her year played an interhouse basketball game, it was great to watch Erin be able to shoot baskets as well as be aware of her teammates and opportunities to pass to them. She is very agile in the water and loves to swim. Watching her, I don’t know where she gets that set of lungs!

Erin is a great blessing to our little family. She fills our lives with her wonderful piano playing and beautiful singing. I am anxious to watch the next seven years unfold and mold her into an even more terrific girl.