Leah with violin
Today is our youngest daughter Leah’s 20th birthday. So hard to believe ~ where did the years go? It seems like yesterday she was a baby in a pink gown. You can read the story about the pink gown here.
Today IĀ baked her a yellow cake with chocolate frosting.Ā I found this arrow in the art section of the store, and bought it as her cake topper decoration.
arrow for direction this year for Leah
Since Leah isn’t sure yet what she wants to do with her life, Ray and I have been praying for God’s wisdom and direction for Leah since she graduated in 2012.Ā I believe the arrow is prophetic and symbolic of God giving her direction this year, and of her choosing to go the right way, to follow Jesus.
It’s also cute and can be used as wall art for her bedroom. The arrow is actually a chalkboard – how creative!
The arrow chalkboard reminded me of Leah’s creativity. She is multi-gifted. Leah takes violin lessons and plays the violin beautifully: classical music like Bach, hymns, Irish jigs, and she’s even written a couple of her own songs on the violin. She is teaching herself how to play the mandolin and the guitar.
She is also an amazing, self-taught artist.
She draws by hand and draws daily on the graphic art tablet Ray bought her several years ago. Here’s one sample of her incredible graphic art:
Copyright 2014 Leah Jones
Here’s another sample which is my favorite.
Copyright 2012 Leah Jones
She was embarrassed when we sang happy birthday for her. We always light the candles and have our kids make a wish and blow out the candles on their birthday cake.
Leah was embarrassed when we sang to her
Ray also bought her and him an ice cream waffle cone today.
Ice cream waffle cone
One of her birthday gifts is the Sims 4 video game, which she requested for herĀ present.
Sims 4 video game
Another gift that Ray and I gave her today is a cubic zirconia sterling silver heart necklace. She liked it and said it is pretty. Leah likes “shiny” things.
Leah’s sterling silver heart necklace
Ā Here is a picture of Leah with me, Ray and Heather last year.
Me, Leah, Ray & Heather
Ā Here’s a picture of me and Leah together at my Cinderella women’s conference this year.
Me with Leah
Ā Here’s Leah with her sisterĀ Heather at Leah’s homeschool graduation.
Leah’s graduation – her sister Heather and Leah
Here’s Leah with her sister Eden.
Leah at her graduation with her sister Eden
Here are Heather, Eden, and Leah together.
Heather, Eden, and Leah
Leah is a beautiful, spiritually gifted, musically and artistically gifted, talented, highly intelligent, loving, balanced, funny, young woman. Ray and I are proud of her.
Some people don’t understand Leah because she is so quiet. Ray and I used to be the same way; we were both incredibly shy, but grew out of it. I believe Leah will grow out of her shyness, too, one day. Some friends shared that they believe Leah is like a late-blooming flower. They bloom late in the season, but when they bloom, it’s like they spring up overnight.Ā
Leah is very shy and finds it hard to talk with people, and has just a few close friends, but she’s a wonderful person to get to know. If you’re not her friend, you are really missing out!
Here is Leah with her friends at the bowling alley.
Leah and friends
And another pic with friends at the bowling alley. (Annabelle too)
Leah at bowling alley with friends
These are her friends from small group on Sundays.
Leah & friends
Leah and her friend David Christian at the bowling alley.
Leah & David Christian at bowling alley
Here’s her friends from small group acting goofy.
Small group
She loves her friends.
She also loves her iPhone cell phone. She has a piano app on it that she plays all the time and her games.Ā
Leah loves her iPhone
And she loves animals, especially cats.
Leah and cat
Leah also lovesĀ horses. She used to take riding lessons and competed in English horse riding shows. She won a blue ribbon first place prize in her 3rd show! This year she was able to ride on a horse again for the first time in years. I’m praying for us both to be able to ride again soon.
Our daughter Leah on Ace
God has great plans for Ā Leah’s life. I can’t wait to see them unfold.
“I will bless you with a future filled with hopeāa future of success, not of suffering.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11, CEV
Leah, we love you so much. You are precious to God, others, and many other people.
Your life is a beautiful gift to me, and I’m so thankful for you. Happy 20th.Ā
