February 5th.....The Best Day of 2001!

Today is your day.....the day you entered this world as our daughter....our precious gift from above. Today is a day to celebrate....another year together. Today is a day that brings great joy to my heart and a wonderful memory of my daddy.....you share his birthday....you were his greatest birthday present ever! Drew Michelle Payne is NINE years old today and for that I am so thankful and a little melancholy as I think back and realize how time goes by so quickly. You are more than our daughter....you are a treasured gift!

Drew is the most like me!

She is sensitive, a worrier.

She carries the weight of the world on her shoulders.

She is neat and tidy and organized.

She eats about anything and is not a huge fan of meat.

She is quiet and a little shy, but she will laugh out loudly if she thinks something is funny.

She is a deep thinker and takes things very personal!

Drew is a good friend and a peacemaker.

Drew would rather buy something used than new.

She loves garage sales, flea markets, second hand stores,

other people's junk, and a BARGAIN! She loves to create and always

praises her mama for anything I create!

I love how you spend so much time and detail

in writing letters to our Aids orphans that we sponsor.

I love how you call them your family, and I love how you spent so much time

trying to figure out which one to sponsor. I know if you could, you would sponsor them all.

I love how you're a bluejeans and sneakers kinda girl

but will dress up and look fabulous doing so!

I love that you never want to wear any sort of hairbow, or hairclip;

but you will gladly wear a hat!

I love to watch you play soccer and see how hard you play

and how much you love it! I love that I rarely have to remind you to

practice the piano, because you do it on your own.

I love that even though you're NINE, you still have such a sweet

innocent baby face!

I love that you are adventurous.....but not too adventurous....

and that you LOVE to be outside....no matter what the weather.

I love that you love being a big sister and love Elliot so very much.

I love that she is so much like you!

I love that you and Bryna are so different but

still have so much fun together. I love that you share a room

and that you are so encouraging and great at compromising with her.

I love that she looks up to you, and you are a good role model.

I love that Cal invites you into his room....his palace....and

asks you to play with him. But I love it more that you will go into his room....

his palace....and play with him. I love that you and he look so much alike!

I love and appreciate that you look out for him and defend him when he has been bullied!

I love that you would do that for anyone!

I love that you love your big sister, and that you

strive to be like her; but you also stay true to yourself.

I love that you have learned a lot from her and are now sharing

what you learned with Bryna and Elliot.

I love that you are bashful

but still love it when they sing

"Happy Birthday" to you at the restaurant.....

and will even sport the sombrero.

I love that you love your church and that you

are always excited to serve the church and others

in anyway you can!

I love that you LOVE to read.....especially The Bible!

I love that you LOVE animals and would

have as many as we will allow.

I love that you love camping with your daddy!

I love that you love fishing, the lake, the ocean,

building sandcastles, just being a kid.....in God's beautiful creation!

I love that even though you're the most serious child of my 5,

you will make a silly face if I ask you to!

I love that you love your brother and sisters and your family!

I love that you would rather spend time with your family than

do anything else.

I love that you want a house full of children when you grow up,

and you like being the "SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE CHILD".

I love that you love the simple things in life.

I love that you are an appreciative child, and that you try not to take

things for granted.

I love that you are content and realize how blessed and fortunate you are.

For you I am so thankful!

Someday when you're a mother, I know that you will be so thankful for your children.

I thank God daily for your existence, but I truly don't feel like I could ever thank Him enough for the gift He has given us in you!

Drew you are quiet and shy....

kind and generous....

concerned and a servant....

a big sister and a little sister....

beautiful on the inside and out....

a tomboy who "cleans up" nicely....

athletic and musical....

determined and organized....

efficient and prompt....

innocent and worldly....

thrifty and content

I love that you have an old soul!

I love that you appreciate hand me downs,

and treasures that belonged to your great grandparents.

I love that you always make sure we use Granny's salad bowl when we have salad for dinner.

I love that you love to REMEMBER and want to learn about your heritage.

I love that you love hearing stories about my childhood and your daddy's!

I love that you are sentimental like me!

I love that you are mine.....at least for a short time....and that I will see you in Heaven.

I ADORE YOU!!!

Love Mom!