Dear Sweet Niece + Cousin Mckenna,
Your parents sent out your first birthday invites more than a month in advance, with specific instructions to write you a letter...which you will open and read on your 18th birthday. The idea is adorable and unique and perfect. Way to go, Mckenna's mom and dad! And here I am...your delinquent Aunt Mollie...writing your letter on December 4th.
Honestly...as fun as the idea is...it was hard for me to come up with something to write to a one-year-old (and future 18-year-old)! I'm sure you know this, but your parents are BUSY. They work full-time and your dad is in school and I am so proud of them for rocking this first year of your life in the midst of all of THAT craziness...but as a result, most of
my time spent with you has been right around your bedtime or via Instagram videos.
When we came to visit you in the hospital, I'll be honest, your cousin Maverick wasn't super interested. He ate Veggie Straws the whole time and I got to listen to your sweet parents talk about how exciting it was bringing you into the world. Your daddy is just
the cutest sometimes...I probably think that because he reminds me of your Uncle Josh and I think he's pretty cute. Anyway, Uncle Josh came to visit once you were home from the hospital and I will always remember how little you were in his arms when we were used to holding a big one-year-old! And how he has this high-squeaky voice he
only uses when he's holding the super tiny babies, 'hello little one!' He always says the same thing and it makes me laugh.
My favorite memory from your first year was the day your mommy and daddy went to watch the Iowa vs. Iowa State game in Ames. I had you to myself for the WHOLE day (7am to 4pm)! And you were the best, easiest, sweetest baby ever. Maverick was actually more of a handful because he wasn't too keen on the whole 'sharing' his toys AND his mom thing. You slept like a champion. You were content in your high chair for more than 30 minutes, mowing down anything I put in front of you. And I got to dress you in a cheerleader outfit, which was fun, even though it was a University of Iowa one (we cheered for ISU that day, don't tell your parents). It was the first day I ever
falsely believed two under two 'might not be
that hard.' You (and Mav!) took a 2+ hour afternoon nap AND pooped your brains out...proving you love it at Auntie's house.
Another family memory we all have is the *delight* (sarcasm font) you and your cousin Maverick were for family pictures this year. It was SOLIDARITY TODDLER all the way as you both cried and screamed and threw the longest fits I've ever seen. By the end me and your mom were stressed and sweating and frustrated but all we could do was laugh. We have toddlers but we have each other and we did the best we could. And someday we will look at those pictures and remember we survived those irrational teething toddlers. I love that we are first-time-mom's at the same time and get to do this parenting thing together. It looks different for both of us (I stay home with Mav and help your Uncle Josh!), but I appreciate how hard your mom works and how many things she balances while she does such good job being your mommy!
It's fun watching how much you grow and change every time we see you. Your personality is spunky and sassy and sweet...and watching you with your kitties always makes us laugh. I love that you look like a little Boersma baby, but for some reason you ended up with adorable chunky legs and a cute booty...which is so NOT a Boesma trait (please see: Papa + Uncle's
skinny legs). When you cry you look just like Maverick, so I usually accidentally laugh. We have
loved cousin sleepovers, visiting the orchard, and trick-or-treating with you! Sharing toys at Christmas this year might be interesting between you and Beau and Mav...but I know it will just keep getting more and more fun to watch the three of you little ones grow up together.
Every night at bedtime I end my prayer with Maverick, "and we pray that someday when Maverick gets bigger, he asks Jesus into his heart, Amen." Uncle Josh and I are praying the same thing for ALL of our nieces and nephews! Raising a baby in this world can be a scary thing, but we don't need to be scared because we can totally trust Jesus with our babies. You already belong to Jesus...each day we get you to ourselves is an undeserved blessing.
Thinking about you on your 18th birthday...As you read this letter, I pray you're a young woman who loves Jesus more than anything.
Anything, period. More than friends, popularity, approval, sports, boyfriends, hair/makeup/clothes. The things of this world are so temporary and unsatisfying when you compare them with the hope we have in eternal life with Jesus. The high school/college years seem to be the height of searching for satisfaction in all the wrong places, only to discover it was Jesus all along. My hope is that you avoid all that unnecessary, heartbreakingly painful searching.
Jesus alone will only ever be worth your full devotion.
Side note: I'm also praying you have your eyes set on attending a college that has a Salt Company because finding Jesus on your own in college is hard and you're going to need good Bible teachers and good friends. And bonus! It's where I found your Uncle Josh and now we know the rest was history. Don't worry, I'll probably spend the next 17 years of your life talking about it...and your parents and I are on the same page because they have one at Iowa, UNI, AND Iowa State...so take your pick. :)
We love you, baby girl!
Aunt Mollie, Uncle Josh, & Mav
