letters to lyza

Lyza 5 years old.

I chose this picture to represent Lyza this year because this picture says it all.

Lyza loves and cares for this little man every day.

When I look at this picture I see Lyza teaching Seth, and the pure joy she has for her little "Scrubbie."

Dear Lyza,

I couldn’t believe it this morning as I laid in my bed and thought of you on your special day. The day that you had been waiting for and counting down to had finally arrived! You were still asleep, but I knew the moment you woke up and realized it was your “big day” that I would hear you calling to us instantly.

While I waited for you to wake up, I caught myself thinking back to the morning you were born. That beautiful April morning that was now 5 year ago. (How did that happen?) It was a long and painful morning if I am being completely honest. You had proven already (even in the womb) that no one was going to force you to do anything you didn’t want to do. Everything was going to be in your time frame. Even during that beautiful morning of labor it was clear that “you” were in control of the situation.

It was ironic to me as I laid there thinking about you, thinking about this past year of your life, about how these leadership characteristics have come pouring out of you this past year. I will never forget how you are the one who constantly reminds me of things I need to do. What other mother makes sure they tell their 5 year old daughter things she wants to make sure to remember. Well you are looking at one of those mothers. Your responsibility level, even at 4 at 5 years old, is so remarkable Lyza. In fact you came to me just the other day and said, “Mom, I noticed that your jar that you keep your cotton balls in was empty. So I went to the hall closet and refilled it for you.” What?? Are you serious? Those are the kinds of things you do all of the time. You are very concerned for other and their well being. I love that Lyza. Never lose that quality.

This past year Lyza you have fallen in love with “Musicals” and “Plays” even more. (If that was possible.) Your dad and I took you to every High School and City play or musical we could get our hands on. You sat through (without moving a muscles might I add) Aida, Noises Off, and Thoroughly Modern Millie just to name a few. However, I think the best day of your life came when your Aunt Shar suggested you watch a little DVD called, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Your life, and the entire families’ life, has never been the same. You ate that show up and have watched it at least 2 or 3 times a week since. The soundtrack is constantly on in our car and even little Seth knows all the words because we have listened to it for so long. Your love for “Joseph and the “Tecmiculor” Dreamcoat”, as you call it, has also spurred on a love and infatuation with Donny Osmond. I believe I can say with confidence, that you are the only 5 year old that wants to be a member of his fan club. The clincher was the other day when you were out drawing at the kitchen counter. After you were done you said, “Mom, do you like my picture? It is a picture of Donny Osmond.” I knew then that you were smitten. An even funnier story happened a couple of months ago when we happened upon a song from “Mulan” while listening to music in the car. The song was “I’ll make a man out of you.” As we were listening to it you said from the backseat of the car, “Mom, this sounds like Donny Osmond singing.” As I looked down at the iPod to see who the artist was I instantly started laughing. You were completely right! There on the iPod screen were the words “Donny Osmond” under the title of the song. We all laughed together at how you could even pick out his voice. You are amazing Lyz.

To say that you are dramatic and that you say the funniest things is an understatement. This year I actually started carrying around a little note book with me so I could write down all of the hilarious things you say. When I tell people about the things that come out of your mouth, half the time I don’t think they believe me. They probably think I am embellishing the story or making it up. But those people that actually know you know that it is nothing but the real Lyza.

For example, the other day you were in the doctors for your Kindergarten check up. You are deathly afraid of shots and kept reminding me and every nurse that entered the room that you had gotten your Kindergarten shots last year, so none were needed this year. The nurses agreed but said that they would need to prick your finger and get a blood sample. Lyza, you should have seen your face when the nurse told you. You went very white and quiet for a second. You asked the nurse if it would hurt and she replied “Just a little bit.” To which you looked her square in the eyes and said, “Ok, but first I’m going to need a minute.” The nurse started to laugh and looked over at me for an answer and all I could tell her was, “I guess she is going to need a minute.” We were all trying hard not to laugh while you “took your minute” and we could move on with the procedure. As we were waiting you whispered a little pep talk to yourself, “Come on Lyza be brave, don’t cry.” Then you sat up and told the nurse you were ready. You were so brave during the prick you didn’t even cry. After it was over you were beaming with pride! And if you would have looked over at me you would have seen that I was beaming with pride too.

The best way to sum up this last year of your life would be to say that I was proud. Proud to be your mother, proud of the decisions you made, and proud of your accomplishments. This year you became an excellent reader and also memorized 12 of the 13 Articles of Faith. You can actually remember them better then mom or dad. We are currently working on the 13th and final Article of Faith and should be done shortly.

This year you bore your testimony in Sacrament meeting all by yourself. You told both dad and I that you didn’t want us to come up with you. We actually tried to talk you out of doing it (bad parents) but in the end you won out. You marched yourself right up on that stand and waited for your turn. Dad and I were so nervous in the back of the room. We didn’t know what you would say or if you would just get up there, get scared and not be able to say anything. But as always, you had everything under control. When it was your turn you stood up, spoke clearly in the microphone, and gave your sweet testimony. After you were done dad and I had both beads of sweat on our foreheads and tears in our eyes. You had just taken another step on this journey of “growing up” that you are so determined to conquer.

Lyza, your dad and I are so proud of you and can’t believe we were chosen to be your parents. Daddy and I always talk about how we can’t believe we were lucky enough to get you and Seth. We know that Heavenly Father knew how much we needed you so he blessed us with your love.

So as your big day has finally arrived, I look forward with anticipation to the joy you will feel now that you have turned 5. I wish time would slow down and give me just a little more time with my baby, but it doesn’t seem likely that will happen. So for now I am just enjoying the short time I am given and basking in the beauty of your life.

Happy 5th Birthday Ly Ly,

Love you more, more

Mom