The Redhead Review: Katherine's 7th

My eldest is 7 . . . in some ways I cannot believe that it has gone by so quickly and yet it can seem like a very long time ago that I welcomed my first little baby into this world. Mary Katherine Grace Zeerip, born April 1, 2003. Her birthday was bit of a whirlwind this year. She shared the weekend with Easter and we also had her Denver cousins (and Uncle Justin and Aunt Lindsey) in town. The girls had a lovely tea party for her birthday celebration and then Aunt Lindsey painted all the girls' fingers and toes while they watched the old "Parent Trap." That would be 120 nails that Lindsey painted! Later that evening we opened presents and had cake with the whole family.

Some descriptives of Katherine: smart, capable, intense, creative, stubborn, protective, quirky, loyal, giving, and so very dear to our hearts. Her very personality has really defied too many "cutsy" nicknames for her. She is known as my mom's "Hot Tamale" and she used to be called "Katherine the Grape" after her love of grapes. But mostly she is stilled called Katherine, it hasn't even transitioned to Kate or Katie. She does sign her name in school as "Kate" but that is just because it is shorter to write.

There is an old poem about a little girl with a curl on her forehead who when she is good, is really, really good, and when she is bad, she is horrid. :-) That is my Katherine. She runs hot and cold, but never lukewarm.

Katherine already is an amazing help around the house. She likes to mop and she can sort laundry and make beds. She sometimes helps get the little ones dressed and can unload the dishwasher. Sometimes the mood strikes her and she goes through the house picking up anything and everything, putting it away until the house is in very decent order. She can be so protective of her siblings, taking care of them and comforting them. She entertains them well, too. She is doing very well in school, with beautiful handwriting and an amazing memory. She can be such a giver, giving away candy, artwork, toys, and time to bless others. She has a tender conscience, and when she is convicted of wrong-doing it is usually with tears that she confesses and repents. She has a clear voice and a good ear. I am hoping we can start some musical training in the near future.

She can also be quite a handful. Katherine has a very specific sense of style and no matter how awful it is at times, it is hers and she will not be convinced otherwise. She also is the Brain behind most the shenanigans that she and Jacob involve themselves in, like painting the house in mud this spring. Katherine is very intense and a bit of a perfectionist. Art is a good example of this as her own inability to do somthing "perfectly" usually reduces her to tears.

And I think that is a pretty accurate summary of our little-big Katherine Grace. She told us the other day that she wants to do two things when she grows up: dance and shop! But then she explained further that she wants to dance so beautifully that people pay her money for it and then she wants to take that money and buy things for needy people. She also said the other day that she wants 5 children when she grows up, 3 girls and 2 boys. Their names will be Belle, Cinderella, Odette, Derek, and Jonathan.

Katherine, may the Lord make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah. May He bless and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Happy Birthday.

All dressed up for tea.