We celebrated Lana's third birthday on Thursday, July 30!  I woke up so happy to celebrate her, but quite sad that time is passing by so quickly.  She is such a treasure to our family...we can see the Lord building into her some special gifts: she is a nurturer and encourager, and has the same gift of mercy that her Daddy does.  Oh, how excited I am to see what God does with her!

On the morning of her birthday, Dan got up early and went to Daylight Donuts.  He got her favorite kind of donut (chocolate covered with sprinkles), and when she woke up, we sang Happy Birthday to her and let her blow out candles on her birthday donut!  

Then we took her outside to see her birthday present: a battery powered red Mustang convertible!  Such an extravagant gift for a worthy little girl....we never could have given it to her if it weren't for the kindness of God and dear friends.  The Lyon's won this car at Bay Leaf's Toy Chest 2 Christmases ago, and their girls no longer have a place to ride it.  They have kept it in excellent condition, and they gave it to us to give to Lana for her birthday!!

After a ride in the 'stang, we took off for swimming lessons!  She did so well....although she's the youngest in her class, she's by far the most confident in her abilities, so she's having a lot of fun!  we hung out at the pool for a while after lessons, and then let her choose where to have her birthday lunch: CiCi's Pizza!  After nap time, our friends the Fowler's arrived, and we had a great time with them.

We had her Wake Forest birthday party at Holding Park again this year.  It was on Saturday, August 1 from 9:30-11:00.  We had cookie cake, popsicles, water and juice...and LOTS of friends!!

We are so blessed....as we left the park, Dan & I were overwhelmed with how rich our life here in Wake Forest is.  To spend the morning surrounded by so many whom we love dearly was an incredible reminder of the kindness of God in bringing us here.  Yes, it's hard to be away from family and friends in Alabama; yes, it's hard for Lana not to be with her grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins; yes, it's scary to think about having a baby so far away from my mom and mom-in-law; nonetheless, our blessings abound.