Sweet Shelly Anna



photo by Denise

 Sweet little Shelly Pie (yes I call her that, yes she hates it), today my little girl is five. I am continually amazed by her thoughtfulness, her generosity. Of course she argues with her brother over toys, of course she argues and wants to get her way, she sometimes is unbearably dramatic when things don't go the way she'd like. But there's this too sweet little side to her, a side that amazes me and makes me so profoundly grateful that I get to have her in my life.

Today we were grocery shopping and as we came to the end of an aisle, she turned to look at something hanging right at eye level. "What is that?" Pez. Two dozen different kinds of Pez Dispensers, all right there staring us in the face. I explained what it was, she seemed satisfied. She didn't ask, she didn't say, "I wish I could have that," nothing. I stood there a moment longer, and then said to her, "You know, you've been so good in the store. Its your birthday. Do you want one?" Her face lit up, she carefully considered the options, and chose a Princess Pez. "Ok great, let's go," but she stopped me. "Mom? Do you think maybe Archer would like one?" Of course we then had to pick out another, which Shelly clung to for the rest of the shopping trip, the entire way home, and though the door, until she could open up her package, load the candy, and test it out.

When we got home, Shelly couldn't help but continually tell me how excited she was to open her presents. She stood in front of the stack of gifts on the counter, touching the paper, telling me again and again that she just couldn't wait. I finally told her that its exciting that its her birthday, and we're happy for her, but no one else is getting any presents so its not nice to keep talking about her own presents. Well, the seed was planted. She took Archer's Pez Dispenser and wrapped it up as a gift. She took some extra Pez candy and put it in a little box, and asked me to put a bow on top, this is Dad's gift. She told me I could share Dad's gift, and wrapped up something else for E. On her birthday, giving.

When I asked her what she wanted for supper she said Chinese, and when I asked her what she wanted to order she said, "Two packs of crab rangoons." (Because one is never enough anymore.) "I know other people like egg rolls," she told me. But you don't like them, Shelly, you want me to order them?" "What, I know other people like egg rolls in this family." And there it is, she keeps thinking about what other people want. At the end of her food order she mentioned fortune cookies, and wanted to make sure there would be enough for all of us. Probably because she didn't want to share :)

My sweet sweet not-so-little Shelly Bell. I tried to forbid her from getting older, told her she wasn't allowed, she got so serious with me and said, "I can't stop it! Its just going to happen!" and I had to laugh and give her a big hug. I told her today that even though I didn't want her to get older, I was so proud of her, my Five Year Old big girl. And I thank God for her in our family, we wouldn't be complete without her.

Archer grandly presenting the cake to his sister

Elijah patienty waiting for his piece