The Best Seats for Such Sweet Surprises

You’ve been surprising us from day one … the only baby to come before the due date. You had the most precious little sweet face, and as the first baby girl, your daddy completely melted. You’ve always been our old soul, a natural leader, fully trustworthy. Watching you grow has been one of the greatest experiences as a parent.

When you were young, the toddler years and early elementary, you were our “princess and the pea” (the fairy tale about the princess who could feel a single pea under 20 mattresses and 20 feather beds) because you “felt” everything in a more extreme way than most people. As your mom it was a hard stage to watch you struggle with sounds, bright lights, textures, the SEAT BELT – oh my. I would research and try different strategies to help you cope with the things that bothered you. But as you got older I got to watch as you figured out your own ways to conquer. Determined not to let anything hold you back, you would push yourself. It was impressive. It still is impressive to watch. 

We decided to start homeschooling you kids when you were going into third grade. At first I wondered if you were a little behind in reading and writing because you would struggle to read out loud and when you wrote you would leave out words and it wouldn’t make sense. But getting to spend time watching you, I quickly learned that you were not behind at all! Your brain just went faster than your mouth or hands could go. I gave you a suggested reading list, and you just devoured it! You fell in love with classic children’s literature. I was so surprised at how quickly you would read books and how thoroughly you would narrate them to me, remembering every detail. 

I remember being so surprised when you fell in love with Shakespeare and A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a 4th grader! I think that was around the time you also became a passionate movie watcher, which started with being a Star Wars fan – the originals, not the new ones, and you would happily explain to anyone who would listen as to why.

It didn’t surprise us when you told us that you wanted to follow Jesus forever. You’ve always known and loved Jesus. Watching as you began to understand His sacrifice for you and your need for His forgiveness was so beautiful. Before you were baptized you wrote out your story to be read at church, and it did surprise me that you understood something that many grown adults don’t – that becoming a Christian and accepting Jesus as your Savior doesn’t just mean you will be with Him in heaven forever; it means you will be with Him now, here, and for eternity!

We got to watch as you and your siblings would create the most imaginative games or productions. We got to watch as you learned how to ride and jump horses, play the violin and piano, cook, and bake. I would just quietly smirk as you would elegantly defend yourself when someone would yet again ask you why you don’t play hockey like your siblings … or don’t you play any sports?

You don’t care what people think or how “most” people do things … all while still deeply caring about people. I love that about you. It shows such strength of character. 

The high school years have come and gone way too quickly and with lots of sweet surprises. Reading through the whole Bible and writing devotions, self publishing two historical fiction novels, starting a micro bakery business and a local dog sitting business, stepping out of your comfort zone talking to customers working at our local cafe and serving as a counselor in training at Camp Bethel. You surprised us by choosing Bodenseehof Bible School in Germany for the fall. You just graduated a year early from Liberty University Online Academy with a high school diploma and an Associates of Arts in Business as a 17 year old with an overall GPA of 4.45. WOW! You don’t look for or even want recognition or attention for those things … but I want to celebrate you. We are so proud of you and so excited for whatever and wherever God leads because I know you’re always going to try to follow Him and His will.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

I say that you’ve always surprised me, and that’s true … but I don’t know if I’ll keep being “surprised” anymore … blown away, yes, always, but not surprised … because I’ve learned watching you through the years that the sky is the limit. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. I’ve seen it. He shines through you Evie Layne. A precious daughter, an amazing sister to your siblings, a faithful follower and servant of Jesus ~ You are so loved.