Veil Eden

Months have passed since you turned 10 years old.  This season of your family’s lives is a bit cray cray and I hope that when you look back on this season you will understand why I am just now writing your birthday letter in November…and yes, Kyrene’s upcoming birthday next week has now made this a priority on the to do list that seems unmanageable if I am honest.

Never the less – just know “tiny”, that I have been savoring the memories and the words that I want you to know when you look back on the year you entered the double digits!

There is one thing that we can count on and it’s always been people underestimating you.  It’s not because of ignorance, but simply put, your size.

When your vernacular exits your tiny body, followed with a mature composure well past your ears – that’s when my heart flutters and I can’t help but match the smile they have on their faces as they look at you.

“Princess” was a term Mello, our waiter on our recent family cruise called you.  You held your menu with ease and ordered your starters, main dish and dessert like a seasoned cultured adult.  I felt all our eyes and hearts stop our conversations as we watched you order.

Veil, there is this undeniable pull that you have on everyone around you.  Your smile and gentle eyes are intriguing, I have watched people wrapped up in deep conversations that quickly turn to laughter as they hear your honest wit and take on life. I have found myself sometimes holding my breath in preparation for the unknown that will come out of your mouth.  If we are ever in need of a mirror, we just need to come to you.

Your soul that makes others feel at home, has been such a blessing to not just me on the long days of work but also your father.  When we snuggle on the couch with you, it ministers to our tired souls.

You have garnered yourself as one of the most important people on the children’s ministry team.  Fussy babies that don’t want to leave their mamas, take naps in your arms.  Busy little bodies that don’t know how to sit still, crawl in your lap while you laugh at their curiosity.  Adults that wonder if their sacrifice of serving in kids’ ministry, walk away relieved that what they are doing matters.

And like anything in life, the other side of your gentle soul, is a firery little spark…when you have your mind made up and you stare at the mountain, I do believe in my heart your faith is bigger than any fears, because you CAN tell mountains to move!

We entered the theater life thanks to you and this dream we didn’t know you held.  After years of only being a sports family, we soon found out what it meant to balance tryouts, play practices, memorizing lines and the specific makeup that had to be purchased.  But when we were all in attendance, with the lights dimmed in the auditorium, it became apparent to us, that everyone deserves to see your light shine, cause baby, YOU shine bright!

A recent drive we got to hear the strength that God has put inside of you and how you won’t let others dim it.  You informed the car full of Harneys that when you get married you will not be taking your husband’s name, but instead he will have to choose to be a Harney.  As my eyes widened and I wanted to correct you, I heard the gentle whisper of our heavenly Father tell me “shhh Sarah, she is embracing her strength and she needs too”.

I have seen and experienced the frustration and verbal processing that happens to a tiny soul that is often misunderstood.  Being told you can’t do something because you’re too young or better yet too small has been a regular experience, thanks to your size and also being the youngest of 5 Harneys that are all super independent.  When yet again another water slide informed you that you were too small, as we all stood in solidarity with you (hoping they would let the finger width of discrepancy go) you took it in stride and tucked those tears in.  You let us all convince you that it wouldn’t be that fun and made the most of what we could do with you on the cruise.

Veil, truth be told, we all want you to do EVERYTHING your heart wants to do. We love seeing your self confidence grow and yes sometimes, when necessary, your siblings will humble you when you have outpaced your inner grace.  There is something about watching you do something hard and something that is bigger than you.  I think you inspire us in so many ways, because when we struggle with our own fears and then watch you do hard things, it reminds us that we all have what it takes.  Thank you for your tenacity that you boldly live in – it’s making us braver than we thought we could be.

Veil, you help us keep our childlike faith, you help us focus on the things that really matter, you invite us to play when the world demands performance.  There were plenty of moments traveling on our recent trip where we could have sat in bad moods or let the triggers of traveling with 8 people in small spaces with little sleep for 2 weeks get to us.  But you were there to help refocus us, to remind us that all that matters is: did we laugh that day? Did we play that day? Did we go and eat good food? And did we choose Joy?

Our lives our richer because of you, we see the world through Jesus’ eyes because of you and we laugh in ways that would make comedians die for.

Veil Eden, you have entered the double digit era and are trying to race to be the same age as your siblings, yet God in His goodness has kept parts of you so pure, innocent and protected.  I celebrate that God chose us to be your family.  I love you more than you could ever know…and don’t worry, everyone knows you’re my favorite 

Happy birthday 10th birthday bean