Happy 4th birthday, Jorja

An extract from Jorja's journal:

My dear Girl

In just a few hours we will celebrate you: Your life, your voice, your faces, your feelings, your character and your childhood.

We are far from home, but still find ourselves surrounded by family who love you. Your cousins, great Aunts and Uncles are getting to know you now and there's no doubt that they'll never be the same again!

This year, instead of the usual party in Cape Town, by God's grace we're on a family holiday overseas. What a way to start! Whether we dress up, or go out, bake a cake or sing happy birthday to you every hour on the hour, this will be a truly memorable day.

Every year at this time, I think back to the days leading up to and eventually your birthday on 5 June 2009. I'll never forget the entry you made nor the way I felt when I first realized that the little baby girl I held in my arms was real. Our gift.

Each birthday comes around so quickly and by then you've grown so much taller and learnt maybe 1000 more words. You do not tire!

In 2010 we piggy backed on the Fifa Soccer World Cup and had shared fun in the sun, with balls and bubbles. By 2011 you hosted your first tea party, complete with tiger-striped bicycle, xylophone, jelly cups and a pink velvet coat. For 2012 a home made set of ribbon armbands and flags kept you dancing and prancing to David Foster and Friends and a common caterpillar named Hermie helped you learn some good lessons... Seems like you've brought out the fun loving hippie in the previously tight lipped, straight line, control freak in me! The World thanks you.

This evening when we played catch outside and I heard you shriek with laughter (and helped the freshly cut grass roll into your hair), I thanked God for sending you into our World.

Dear Child, you are unique. There aren't enough colourful words around to fully describe all that you've shown us in just four years! My prayer for this year is that you will take time (in the midst of all the other things that you're always busy doing) to listen closely, sit quietly, speak confidently, sing loudly, follow willingly and continue to trust your Dad and I as we look after you. Our precious gift.

And as per our discussion - Heaven is real. Drinking a McD's milkshake too fast will give you a brain freeze. Not everybody has a Hello Kitty scooter and Jesus loves you.

Happy Birthday Jorja Sarah!