Lucky 7

Dear Sophie,
Another year has zipped by faster than we could even breathe. The same as us humans, it seems the older you get, the faster it goes.
You had an eventful year, though, and gave another year of support, protection, balance, and safety. You just can't know how much I love and appreciate you.
Let's see ... what have you accomplished this year? You fell in love with a lion and a rabbit, learned how to pick up the telephone, and had your first surgery. Because I exercised a little common sense, you didn't get to pick up any new states to add to your been-there list, but you took your first train ride on the Phoenix light rail.
And two weeks ago you hit a milestone that, even though I've taken you through them all, still amazes me ... your 50th airplane flight! It was fun, wasn't it? The whole crew signed a certificate for you, and you got a really cool pink sport bottle with the US Airways logo on it, and a model of an Airbus 321 to put up on a shelf in your corner.
So you're a seven-year-old now! So far you haven't shown any signs of slowing down or leaning toward retirement, so we'll keep working and playing together, learning new things, and thanking God for every minute we get to spend together.
Happy Birthday, Sophie! May this coming year be your best yet, filled with all your favorite things ... balls on a strap, towels to play with, peanut butter, string cheese, and maybe even a new adventure or two. I love you, Big Girl!