Emma Joy, there are SO many things to say about you, and your amazing personality now turning three years old. Daddy and I joke that you are our “wild child” and that is true in many ways, but in a much bigger way what is true is that you are our leader child. You have so many opinions, (very strong opinions), that it is honestly amazing you are just now turning three! You’ve been this way since you were born. In fact, one of your first words you could communicate was “no” or if you disagreed in some way with the presented problem. It’s the way you know exactly what you want, when you want it, that gives away the leader in you.

MJ, you absolutely love pouring into others, making new friends, and meeting anyone and everyone you can! There has never been a person you’ve met you didn’t like. Your friendliness is contagious, and you have a very special way of bringing people from different groups together. It’s not the gift of harmony but the gift of inclusiveness that makes you exceptional. You care so deeply about people, and have so much empathy to give. Often, if you think Daddy or I look sad (read: tired, haven’t had any coffee, possibly actually sad), you immediately walk (read: run) over and tell us, “don’t get sad”.

One of your gifts is the ability to read people. I can’t wait to see how God uses this gift in you when you learn the power of ‘sharing is caring’ because it’s only going to get better from here. An immediate gift of yours is how well you love your friends, specifically Mabel. You refer to Mabel as “my Abel”, (Abel being what you call her), and oftentimes tell me and Daddy about the “Mabel dreams” you have at night. If you’re not Carol in your life, you want to be Mabel…Mabel is a VIP to you. Speaking of Carol, man do you love her. MJ, you think the absolute world of Carol. She is your favorite cow/lovey, and even I can’t imagine doing life without Carol because of how important she is to you. In fact, Carol is so important that one time when driving out of town and realizing she was accidentally left behind, you better believe our car turned around so we could go back for her. Carol is in fact, the only thing you are not asked to share with Hayden, or any future siblings – that is how much Mommy and Daddy also value Carol.

Right now, besides your Abel and Carol, you are very into Frozen. When asked what you would like from Santa Claus, you reply with, “Anna and Elsa”. Mommy and Daddy aren’t sure exactly what that means to you, but it’s all the details we’ve been able to acquire so far. In addition, you love “Puppy Pals”, wearing princess dresses every day, watching “Scooby Doo” with Daddy, going to the park, and music. On weekends, when we go to church, your favorite thing to do is run after service all the way to the front near the stage in the auditorium and wave to every member of the band still on stage between services.

One of Mommy’s favorite things about you is the way you cut off the first letter of words you love most. For example, you call the dogs (Lola and Moose) by “Ola” and “Oose”. We’ve already mentioned “Abel” and your word for milk is “gilk”, which used to be “gook” when you were under 2 – 2 1/2 years old. One of Daddy’s favorite things about you is your attitude and spunkiness. He admires the way you immediately know what you want and just go for it. MJ, you are a kid like no other and Mommy and Daddy are so glad you are OUR kid, because we think you’re the best! God really gave us the jackpot when He gave us you. You are loved, valued, and celebrated every single day in our lives and hearts, and we are both thrilled to see how God keeps shaping you. Your life has gone by in the blink of an eye, an unbelievably quick three years. Happy birthday, our big three year old, and please stop growing up!