EIGHT!

And this is the story of how this adorable little baby girl

 with the yummiest cheeks and sweet little arched eyebrows

 who was loved in China and cared for by people who tenderly helped her grow and united her with us who adore and cherish her and love her beyond measure

{oh, look at how cute, cute, cute she is!}
grew up into this beautiful, vibrant eight year old girl

Smart, bright, a heart for Jesus, smile to light a room, energy and verve.
Our dear Anna Elaine Juan.

As of late, she's been trying on the name A.J.

And I can't reckon the fact that she is eight.

Eight!

 Big happenings for a big girl!  My parents gave her tickets to see Annie, which is playing at the Children's Theater in town.  I don't think you can see her happiness?

Just in case the smile from ear to ear didn't show it.  Although in this case, she is actually exclaiming over a gift from her Nana and Papa.  They know she loves her American Girl doll.  They also know she loves dogs.  And they really love dogs.  And so Coconut became a beloved member of Anna's doll family:

Lunch out!  Anna requested Perkins when I surprised her at school with a little special birthday outing.  I took Luke and Anna out of school for lunch with Emma and me....and then somehow the day was so nice and it was finally a beautiful day to be together outside...and so...well.  We skipped the rest of the school day, too!

There was biking, playground play, and other assorted sunshine activities.  The sprinkler made its inaugural debut and Anna taught Emma how to leap through the raining water!  It was a special afternoon together.

I'm so glad I did take that time to spend with Anna in the afternoon, because her birthday evening was devoted to the emergency room at the orthopedists office with her biggest brother and his wrist.

And so last, but certianly not least...here we are at Annie!

 It was an incredible performance.  SO fun.

 We are all torturing the boys in our house with endless renditions of "Hard-Knock Life" and "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow".  The girls giggled when I told them at bedtime that I was getting them up at 4am to scrub the stairs and wake their brothers up with song.  We didn't do that.

Gogo, my mom, came with us.  It was so special to all be together.  She recounted the time she took me to see "Cinderella" at the Children's Theatre when I was Anna's age.  

It was a wonderful birthday celebration marking eight years of Anna Elaine Juan.  A.J. has a big year ahead of her.  In addition to being an ace on her bike, she is starting third grade at a new school.  She has adjusted to being a big sister with such grace.  She is so good to Emma and is always quick to help and love on her little sister.  God surely made our Anna to be a big sister.  It is such a joy to see her walking in that role.  It is with great joy that we look ahead to her eighth year.

We pray God's best blessings for our Anna Juan.  That as He arises in her life and heart, she learns the joy and fullness of walking with Him.  And we pray especially for sweet new friends who love Him dearly at her new school, and the grand adventure of being a third grader.  There is gymnastics in store this summer for Anna, piano in the fall, and Chinese lessons once school starts.  She is so excited to embrace it all.  That zest for life is beautiful to behold!

Anna Elaine Juan, you are our sunshine!