You are 7!

And you are on a roll!

Oh my god, Manya - you are 7. You are such a big girl now. I am thoroughly enjoying all our grown up conversations these days - errm - well mostly - I still shout back because I said so quite a few times don't I - when I know you want to know the inside and out of every why that could be possible. Well patience has not been my virtue and not really the greatest of your strengths either...;)

You know I have begun to imagine you reading these letters when you are all grown up and imagining your reactions to them. I hope I get to see you reading these at different points in your life. And I hope that each time you read them you recall the tender and the furious moments we have shared with love in your heart and joy in your soul. You are so loved - We are proud to have such an intelligent, caring, kind, (and sassy) but mostly very adorable daughter like you.

You wanted a rainbow themed birthday this year - and I think that is totally befitting! May you shine bright with all your colors, always.

I recently read this poem by Neil Gaiman and boy, could I have put in words better all the prayers and wishes that we have for you. So this one is for you my love. Happy 7th. Happy Every Day.

BLUEBERRY GIRL

by Neil Gaiman

Ladies of Light & Ladies of Darkness,
& Ladies of Never-You-Mind,
this is a prayer for a Blueberry Girl.
First, May you ladies be kind.

Keep her from spindles and sleeps at sixteen;
Let her stay waking and wise.
Nightmares at three, or bad husbands at thirty;
These will not trouble her eyes.

Dull days at forty, false friends at fifteen;
Let her have brave days and truth.
Let her go places that we’ve never been;
Trust and delight in her youth.

Ladies of Grace, and Ladies of Favour,
and Ladies of Merciful Night,
this is a prayer for a Blueberry Girl,
Grant her your clearness of sight.

Words can be worrisome, people complex;
Motives and manners unclear.
Grant her the wisdom to choose her path right,
Free from unkindness and fear.

Let her tell stories, and dance in the rain,
Somersault, tumble, and run;
Her joys must be high as her sorrows are deep,
Let her grow like a weed in the sun.

Ladies of Paradox, Ladies of Measure,
Ladies of Shadows-That-Fall;
this is a prayer for a Blueberry Girl,
Words written clear on a wall.

Help her to help herself, help her to stand,
Help her to lose, and to find.
Teach her we’re only as big as our dreams,
show her that fortune is blind.

Truth is a thing she must find for herself,
precious, and rare as a pearl;
Give her all these, and a little bit more,
Gifts for a Blueberry Girl.