A look back at Lydia

It is my little sweet hearts birthday today. I love, love, love this girl so much. 

She has lived a good life so far and I have loved watching her grow from her first days as a baby, into a toddler and now as a little girl. 

She is still our water baby, when we go to the beach or the pool she is typically the first one in the water and the last one out. 

Lydia loves to dress up and she's already planning her costume for this upcoming Halloween. 

She is learning to do her own hair, she has mastered the pony tail but that is about all. 

She is very curious about the world, she loves nature, animals and being outside hiking. 

Her testimony is of the gospel is growing stronger. She has born it in church a handful of times and it is very simple and precious. 

Her favorite color is still yellow....if yellow is an option whether its paint, a souvenir or a new toothbrush, yellow it is. 

She is my lover of music. She loves to learn new songs at home and at church. She enjoys putting on little shows for us or making music videos. 

I think she is going to forget what the cold and snow feel like before too long. 

Lydia is our little island girl. 

Lydia is the best traveler. We enjoyed taking her to Japan with us earlier this year and we are looking forward to another trip coming up soon. 

Another costume. She can really make anything look good....even an orphan.

She enjoyed Fest Pac about as much as I did. After each performance she wanted to go up and talk to the delegates. 

She also wandered off after Stake Conference, I assumed to go and get Johne's wheelchair in the hallway, and a few days later I saw this photo on The Church's official Facebook page. She went up to Elder Cook and got to meet him. 

Lydia loves to snorkel. She still hasn't seen a sea turtle, but we are both determined that she does. 

I have loved watching Lydia learn to surf since we moved to Guam. Just two weeks ago her Dad took her to the ocean to try out the waves and it was tricky but she got up. 

My favorite development I have seen in Lydia this year is her Christlike love for this guy right here. 

She spends so much of her day serving Johne, day in and day out. I don't think she even realizes all she does for him. Her legs are his, her hands are his, she runs to his aid whenever he needs something, helps him reach for everything that he can't get, she ties his shoes, helps with buttons, fixes his food........clears his dishes after each meal...... pushes his chair, entertains him, loves him and obviously they drive each other crazy at times too. 

I can't wait to see what life has in store for her this year. 

PS. And in case you were wondering, she has chosen to be baptized and confirmed. She is waiting for one of her best friends, Mason to turn 8 at the end of the month and they can do it together.