We are snuggled up tight on the couch, the chick flick that I had voted for was shot down. They all wanted to watch a marvel movie. I had spent the week prior sitting and listening to the 4 of them debate with passion and a deep knowing, the order of movies we should be watching the ENTIRE Marvel series in…this is my life…4 daughters and what do I find myself experiencing? Marvel marathons over Jane Austin marathons.

She is there, in between my legs, head resting on my chest and her little body giving me extra warmth. There is never a question of whether or not I am her favorite. We ALL know who I am. It doesn’t matter if dad is asking or if she is in a room full of college kids doing introductions, she will say with abandon, “MOM!”, when asked who her favorite is.

I don’t know if it’s her assurance in her proclamation or the look in her eyes when she looks at her dad that makes me smile.

There are no excuses with her, she owns it all.

I find myself zoning off, how many marvel movies can one person watch?!?

Suddenly there is a loud explosion, my eyes and attention back on the TV screen, shots are fired and Princess Diana of Themyscira it walking through the battle scene unscathed…

Its then I hear the little soul pipe up.

“THAT’s why you don’t make a girl mad” (giggle giggle).

If only I could be paid for each time someone who has spent a little time with her told me, she is JUST like you…

Veil doesn’t hold back. But she also doesn’t give in right away either. Her side eyes crack me up when someone is trying to earn her trust and she is studying them. You will have to do more than just say hi or say a nice complement more than once. She waiting to feel you out…see if you are going to be consistent before she lets you in.

But once you’re in, you’re in.

She will hug you like you have been separated from her for too long.

She will dance like no one is watching and when she sees someone watching, she shrugs her shoulders and goes right back to dancing.

She will mock you in ways that make the teenagers and their friends’ jaws drop when they are around her.

She will sit through an entire play, legs crossed and sitting up straight, like the little lady she is.

She will never miss an opportunity to get dressed up and do her makeup with her older sisters.

She finds a way to never have to carry her stuff or wields her invisible power to make people in the home do her bidding.

She will hold your hand and tell you she loves you when your heart is heavy, its almost like she does that so she can absorb some of the heaviness you carry.

She will eat candy everyday till the grave if you let her, how else would one stay SO sweet all day long?!?

She will beat you at a game of Manits or Garbage any day of the week, but will let you win if you have had a hard day.

She will pout about doing ANY sort of outdoorsy stuff and lets you know when you are outside with her, that she just isn’t cut out for the “roughing it” type of settings.

She will let you know when your attitude stinks by asking you “do you need a nap?”

She will remind you to slow down when you are rushing through dinner prep when she shows up in her own apron, hands washed and stool in hand, even when she is told “not today”.

She will order a Shirley Temple at the restaurant, looking the waiter in the eyes, like any classy young woman would do (without asking her parents of course…because what family our size has money to buy everyone drinks?!?)

She will cry when she falls and still needs band-aids to heal any scrape or bump she gets and needs to be held, like every tiny 7 year would need.

I don’t know how she is 7 years old today. Our caboose is entering the 2^nd grade and as I have told each of her teachers at the start of school “you haven’t seen a Harney like her yet”, I will be saying it again, with even more understanding that she knows who she is more than most adult women do.

Happy birthday Bean!!!

You make life full of laughter, honesty, snuggles and joy

I am praying that your strength the Lord knit in you would move the mountains He needs you to move.  I am praying that your desire for honesty will release prisoners stuck in lies.  I am praying that your snuggles you crave from me is where you get your battery recharged and not turn to the world.  I am praying that the joy you so easily find will be something you continue to share with those blessed enough to be in your orbit.

Happy birthday Veil Eden Harney