𝗢𝗵, 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆.
My Ever-flea. 
Your start into this world was not ideal. It was opposite of your sister’s arrival and Daddy and I were filled with many emotions with such a chaotic experience. But just as you would continue to be into the next years, you were absolutely unscathed by any of it! Much like your Daddy, you stayed cool and calm, and all smiles.
I really can’t believe you’re 5 today.
5 seems like such a short time; such a small number. Yet in many ways, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺.
You’ve known what you liked, and known quickly, for so long. BLUE. The color blue, for example, has always been YOUR color. It didn’t matter how many pink bows or blankets I tried to throw at you. Blue, was going to win, every time. And not because you threw a fit or demanded. Your sheer confidence and excitement had me wanting all things blue, too. We all did, and still do, see blue, and immediately know “that’s Everly”. And then came unicorns. Oh, the unicorns. 
Followed by your love of dates, that you beg for in oatmeal, every single morning. And how could I resist, when you exclaim, “𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗼𝗹’ 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀”! Or, “𝘆𝗲𝘀𝘀-𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘆𝘆𝘆𝘆𝘆”!
Your sweet, endearing explanations for things… your guitar songs… the stories others can’t even understand sometimes because you’re so excited to say them that your brain is moving faster than that little mouth… it is all such a special part of who you are. You have your Dad’s personality in many ways (you will go to bed first and rise first, opt for something that makes everyone happy to “keep the peace”, and let just about anything roll off your back) but one thing I hope you continue to share with me, is your 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 of 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, and your heart for others. You love people so much, and I just know one day you’ll somehow share your whit and wisdom, to better other peoples’ lives too.
You’ve had a lot to live up to, always one tiny step “behind” your sister, and I worried often that you’d feel “left out” or, be left out. But this year proved all my concerns to be silly. You have come right beside your sister in school, and even surpassed in some areas, and continue to show how much “you’ve got this” while somehow making it look easy. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, combined with such an “old soul” outlook on things, and I am grateful God chose me to be your Momma.
𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 “at home” while the country (and world) faces new territory. People are panicked and fear-filled; the news looks grim and concerns climb. We know God’s purpose will prevail, and today, baby girl, in your honor, on YOUR day, we will be sure to live the way you remind us to everyday; taking the day as it comes just as the Lord called us to do. You won’t be mad or upset that your birthday isn’t out somewhere or just like Abby’s, because you will make due with what’s in front of you and 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.
𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹.
You said you’d stay 4 forever, so 4, in my heart, I’ll remember.
Here’s to you, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, and the beautiful child you are! Celebrating you are a “whole hand old” now!
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲. 
