5 years old!

                 Can this really be the face of the scared little girl we first met 16 months ago? Her 5th birthday was a huge success. Although Annie Kate still seemed a bit confused and slightly stressed at all the attention and people, especially all these kids that were touching and playing with her toys.                                                  When it came time for the piñata I handed out little baggies for the kids to gather up their candy. I held onto Annie Kate's baggie until she pulled her pink string for her attempt to  open the piñata.( no violent waiving of wooden sticks and blind folds any more) As another child's turn caused the candy to start flying I heard Daniel calling my name. As the kids all scrambled for the treats I looked at Daniel. He was trying to tell me to give Annie Kate her bag. In a panic, I was thinking how could she scoop up the candy with one hand and no place to put any of the sweets. As my eyes found Annie Kate she had managed to collect and retain as much if not more candy than any of the, many older, kids.
               This child's language can make you cry with her sentimental words and laugh with her correct usage of anything she may have heard even once. Last weekend after repeatedly stating that her "nappy-kin" had fallen on the floor she agitatedly said: " Trust me... my nappy-kin feld on da floor!"
Saturday afternoon after her party had ended, her dear friend and sitter Marissa pulled into the driveway. Running out to greet her Annie Kate informed her sadly, " You missed-ed da party. Is all ober now. I am very truly sorry."
                 Last week's "church school" assignment was for the child to state their prayer for the world as the teacher ( Marissa) wrote it on the paper next to the picture of the world Annie Kate had colored. Annie Kate's prayer for the world: " that everyone has families that love them just like mine does." She then pointed that the blue color was "da o-seen" the brown was China and the green was "her home!" When we came home from church school and talked about her prayer she said: " I finks my fiends in China wans a family dat loves dem too."
               Her attitude shocks us at times. On the way home from Fl a few weeks ago she announced:  "Mommy I finks is good idea I's has a pecial hand."
                "Why?": I replied
                 " A cuz if i'd have two pecial hands den I not be ables to open fings or writes my name, or do's my homeworks. Is good I goes one pecial hand annd one udder hand right?"
               When I heard Molly gasp and say, "Mom, did you hear what she said?" I knew I had heard her correctly. She is amazing!
                 I can melt on the spot when Annie Kate will say: " Mommy, yous is my bestest fiend, we wills be togetter for eber and eber. I wills neber, eber yeave you! You is da bestest Mommy in da wholed wold!"
          For over a year we have continued to ask, what did we do to deserve this gift called Annie Kate!