Ella, 

I feel so blessed to call you my sister.

You have brightened my life since the very first day i held you in my arms.

I love how we have become best friends.

I hope you know how much i love you, and how happy you make me every day. 

I really can't believe how fast you are growing up. I just want you to stay little.

You and I have so many amazing memories, and i look forward to making so many more.

You are the sweetest, cutest, funniest little girl I've ever met.

I hope you had the best birthday ever.

I pray for you every day that you will continue to fall more and more in love with Jesus.

You are beautiful, and I love you so much. 

Tonight, you fell asleep on the couch with my phone in your hand, waiting for your mommy to call you back.  You were trying so hard to stay awake, but you just couldn't keep those eyes open. Right then, one of our favorite songs came on the radio, Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift. I was so ready to cry. I just love you so much, Ella. Don't you ever grow up. :)

Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And, it's so quiet in the world tonight
You're little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So, I tuck you in
Turn on your favorite night light
To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I had, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
It can stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And, you're mortified
Your mom's dropping you off
At fourteen, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But, don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your PJ's getting ready
for school

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
It can stay this simple

And no one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone

So, here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So, I tucked myself in and turned my night light on
Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up
Wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up
Wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even though you want to
Please, try to never grow up 

Happy 4th Birthday, Ella. I love you. 

 





















 In Christ,

 ❤Hailey