A Decade for Vera

Last night tears welled up in Vera's eyes as she mourned growing older.  She didn't want to be a two-digit number; she didn't want to take another step advancing childhood.  Oh my daughter, how I felt the same when I was your age.  Feel free, my girl, to hold on to childhood as long as your heart desires.  Mommy and Daddy are kids at heart in so many ways.

Vera had an eventful year with a ruptured appendix.  She handled it with such perseverance, though it was sad to see the spring in her step diminish for a few months.

Once that naughty appendix got removed, she could return to her love of running and climbing!

Vera continues to be industrious and creative.  She has enjoyed whittling a few pieces of wood with tools she got for Christmas.  Her Daddy got her some Native American cookbooks for her birthday, and she can't wait to find some cattails to make flour out of them!  She also wants to make moss jelly, but since she has chosen to be a vegetarian for the past 6 months, she is going to pass on the raccoon stew.  What an adventurous spirit this girl has!

If there is a puddle to play in, Vera is sitting in it. 

If there is a tree to climb, she is climbing its branches.

Should there be a welcoming worn log 'bed,' she is lying on it.

If there is a friendly carpenter ant passing by, she's letting it crawl up her arm.

Vera cherishes her dear friends.  She has carried some sadness the last few weeks as she realized that because of COVID-19 she can't have a party with her friends.  She hopes to have them all over when she turns 10 1/2.  Today we opened gifts during Daddy's work break, played a game of Horseopoly, and she got to talk to one of her closest friends on Facetime for about an hour (it warms my heart hearing them chat and laugh in the other room).  We will make an angel food cake in a bit.

Vera has loved participating in Freebird Farm School this year (William enjoyed it too!).  It is a one day a week program where the kids help take care of the animals and study science and English/Literature (and get assignments for those courses for the week).  Before they made the switch to online meetings, she was cuddling a baby goat in her lap on pajama day while learning lessons.  Can it get better than that!?  She misses seeing those classmates in person and taking care of the animals (too bad you can't feed the ducks and cows through Zoom).  Fingers crossed that all will be well enough to go care for the goats and pigs again in the Fall.

 Vera loves board games, outside, soccer, horses... she is studious, takes her time, plays the piano sweetly.  She is there helping me plant things in the yard and prefers that I relinquish pancake flipping to her.  She loves a good book.

 Vera loves her brothers (but also loves breaks away from them when things get too rowdy).

Such a sweet sister she is!
Click here to see Vera's 9-year-old birthday interview.

Vera's 10-year-old interview:
What do you want to do when you grow up?

I want to be a Ninja Warrior, a professional soccer player, a paleontologist, and a farmer.

What's your favorite color?

Light greenish turquoise

What do you like to do?

Play outside, ride horses, go on bike rides, play board games, and play with friends.

What do you like to eat?

Raw sweet potatoes, blueberry pancakes, vegetables, and broccoli cheddar soup.

Who is your favorite character?

Dove Kit and Squirrel Flight from the Warriors book series.

What is your favorite song?

Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace"

What is your favorite thing about school?

Math and writing stories for Farm School (and going to Farm School when we could)

What is your favorite show?

America Ninja Warrior

What is your favorite book?

The Warrior Series, Sugar Creek Gang, and Winnie the Pooh