Happy 15th Birthday Sissy Mom! (2014)

How the years fly by--this month Sissy Mom turned fifteen!  As is our tradition she chose a restaurant for dinner on the evening of her birthday, a great little Vietnamese place.  But it was closed that day so we went to her second choice, a Chinese buffet, where the family gave her birthday gifts.

A couple of weekends later we hosted a party for Sissy Mom and her friends at a local pizza place.  The girls dined on salad, pizza, and spaghetti.  For dessert we brought a birthday cake.

This little group of homeschooled girls has become 

affectionately known as the "Mixed Chicks"

Later that evening, the Mixed Chicks were invited to a birthday party for another homeschooled young lady's sixteenth birthday and the theme was The 80's.  I know, right?  These poor things knew nothing of the 80's but with the help of moms whose hey day was the 80's there were some pretty creative "costumes".  It was truly a party with homeschool flair because whole families attended--there were moms, dads, babies, grandmas, and lots of little brothers and sisters. Everyone had a great time--even if the music and decorations were largely unappreciated by everyone under the age of thirty-five.

 

With all of the festivities this year we didn't give Sissy Mom her birthday speeches but I'm happy to proclaim here 15 things we love about her:

1. Her diligence in daily Bible reading on her own in addition to our daily family readings.
2. Her enthusiasm for evangelism.  When most girls would have been embarrassed to go to the mall  at the height of Christmas shopping season and be seen handing out gospel tracts Sissy Mom was excited to go with Dad and others from our church to hand out tracts!
   
   3. Her  talent and skill in sewing, to wit this skirt and jacket she made this school year.
   
   
   
   4. The chili and cornbread she somehow makes better than me every Thursday night for dinner.
3. 5. How she always thinks of her siblings when she's spending her own gift money.
   6. Her amazing memory.  I have to borrow it sometimes.
   7. Her generous nature with family and friends.
   8. Her willingness to try new things, a girl after her dad's heart.
   9. Her initiative in the daily running of our home by doing prep work for meals without being asked or offering incentives for her siblings to get their chores done in a timely manner.
   10. Her critical thinking skills.
   11. Her knowledge of Creation Science. She's the first to have her nose in Dad's creation science magazines when they arrive!
   12. Her taste in music--hymns, classical, and anything from Frozen.
   13. Her quiet nature.  She's an excellent observer.
   14. Her drawing talent. Each of us can expect a handmade card from Sissy mom on our birthdays.
   15. Her tender loving care of her baby brother. When mom's not available, he goes to her.
   
   
   Thank you Lord for the gift of Sissy Mom these fifteen years!