Yesterday was our niece Caroline’s 6th Birthday. We have a wedding today and will not be able to be at her party. So we wanted to make her actual birthday special. She started kindergarten this year and we knew she would be getting off the bus at 3 pm. We raced with all of our errands that we had yesterday and made it to the Flowers’ home by 2:47, whew! Then we walked to the front of their neighborhood and waited for the bus to arrive. The all too familiar sound of the large diesel engine roaring came over the hill and we saw the yellow school bus heading towards us. Then the stop sign was pushed out, and the accordion doors opened with a snap. Then from across the road came the most adorable rosy-cheeked little angel. Caroline turned the corner as she saw us. I saw her eyes light up and I don’t know that I have a more precious memory of her. Without a care in the world of the other kids on the bus she ran towards us with arms out stretched and pure delight on her face. I scooped her up and held on to her with all of my life. As she has started school she seems so much older and we can have conversations and she can read books and big words to us everywhere she goes. This moment was different. She seemed to be three again and showed us that we had made her day and all she wanted was to be held in our arms. It truly melted my heart and I never want to forget the pure genuine abandon that she ran to us with. I hope to approach life in this same way. We love you Caroline, Happy Birthday.
These pictures were from her birthday dinner last night.
Oh Katie…I just sobbed reading your post. You should consider printing this and putting it away for keepsake. Sweet Caroline will treasure these precious words always.
Reading that made me cry!!! My little girl is four soon to be five and your description just encompassed all the feelings I have of my own little girl growing up. it’s such a bitter sweet time…