Dear Ruth,


You are 2 years old!! In your last 2 years you have traveled the world and back again. You were born at a very exciting time in your parents life and also in the state of the world. We now live in the world of iStuff, video calls, Facebook and the ability to jump on a airplane and be across the world in just a couple days. 

Can you believe there was a time that if someone wanted to travel from Africa to Hawaii like we did for your Auntie Nicole's wedding it would have taken months if not YEARS, and it just took us a mere 60 hours... and we thought that was long! 

I can only imagine what the world will be like when you are my age.

But alas instead of looking to the future lets reflect on the past, you have done a lot in the last year. Just before your first birthday we traveled to Canada from Congo, just you and I, for your God parents wedding, your Papa met up with us later, but was quite sick with Malaria. I'm not going to lie it was a rough trip traveling with you by myself but we did it, even though all the crying. Then after that most of your second year of life was spent preparing for your little brother to come and for your Dad to step into his new job. So to do that we spent about 7 months of the year in Canada and the USA, where you got to hang out with some cool baby sitters, Aunties, Uncles, cousins, Grandmas, Grandpas, puppies and many others. You grew so much during that time and went from saying Mama, Papa, Baby and Uh Oh to being able to put together 3 word sentences, always telling us interesting stories! You had 6 teeth come through all at the same time and you grew 3 inches in just 2 months! You had some sore moments but you are one tough girl! 

We all wondered how you would react when we brought your little brother home, but we were all pleasantly surprised when you just knew that this baby was different from all the rest and you have loved him with hugs and kisses ever since. It is so fun for me to see you carry your baby doll around the same way that I carry Pascal around and how cute you are when you lie down beside him and say 'Cuddle Pascal'. 

I am so excited for your next year of life, we have a busy year ahead of us but I am so excited to spend it with you watching you grow and learn. Though please give your Mama a little grace this year as I try to figure out how to take care of both you and Pascal ;-).
Talking about your brother, he is 2 months old now! I think that you and him look so much alike but there are lots of differences as well. I can imagine that one day you are going to be telling him to not be so serious and he will be telling you just the opposite, but I hope that you can be best of friends. He is gaining weight much faster then you did, he's only 2 months and already 17lbs and he still has blue eyes but those could still change.

Anyways my love, Happy Birthday I love you SO MUCH and I am so very proud of you! Heres to next year, may the God continue to show you the wonder of his goodness and when the trials of life come creeping in may you remember that Jesus tells us to"...take heart, I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33)