The Daily Hailey

Happy Birthday, Hailey! 
This is the first year you have not written a blog on your birthday, and I thought it was really special that I had creative freedom for this post, so I went with it.

First of all, I want to say, I am SO happy to have somehow been adopted by you and your family, despite our night and day differences. The past three and a half years of knowing you have had a depth of loyalty and love I never knew could exist between friends.

Even among the most heart shattering events of this year, you have remained the most loyal person I’ve ever known. Watching you grow into this immensely strong, capable woman through your darkest fears and navigate your new role has been an honour to watch unfold. 

Yet, there are still so many things that haven’t changed! And I wanted to quickly remind you of them. 

You are the only person I’ve ever known who can do awkward SO smoothly. No one ever feels stupid when they talk to you because you are so conscious of your words. You can turn anything weird into something charming and fun. 

You make sarcasm humorous and innocent in a world that uses it for bitterness. It is the most refreshing thing to talk to you everyday. You are always coming up with new ways to laugh and share your light. 

You still underestimate yourself when it comes to your talents, but that’s okay! I think your voice is so precious and beautiful. You are starting to sing more again and it makes the house brighter. You have been crocheting like a mad man, and making truly creative and beautiful pieces. 

You are still you. Even with all the big scary changes and the unknowns ahead. You are still God’s masterpiece. You are still an award winning wife and mother who would die for her family. 

Now, a few others wanted to pass along some words of love for you on your special day. You have been through SO much this year and there are many people who care about you and want you to know how loved and precious you are. So, find a washroom to hide in with your coffee because there are some long, beautiful moments ahead!

Let’s start at the very beginning of our lovely Hailey, shall we? Who else knows better than Jeanne?
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Happy Birthday, Hailey …. sweet daughter of mine …. my dream come true! July 30th, 1988 was an excellent day for me. You, my darling Hailey Jeanne were born. So many people were anticipating your birth and you were sure taking your time. 🙂  So finally I made a sign to announce your birth before hand, and left a few blank spaces to be filled in after your arrival. I think it was a least 6 weeks after I got home with you, that we finally had a day when we didn’t have someone over to celebrate you. We were all so happy to meet you and be part of your life.nYou were in no hurry to leave the safety of your mommy’s womb, but I’ll tell you, my girl, I sure was eager to meet you face to face.

And then…. There. You. Were…. my tiny little girl…… bellowing your heart out, your body changing from a very intense colour of blue into a robust bright red. Your cord had been wrapped around your tiny body but we had that out of the way in no time at all. They put you in my arms, my beautiful baby, with your black hair and those gorgeous dark eyes.  

My heart was so very full! 

I was so so happy to be your mommy! What could be better than that? Well Hailey, getting to know you, being your mommy and then your mom, and witnessing your whole life has increased this fullness of joy in my heart abundantly, if that’s even possible. As a child your heart was light and you’d flit around, (walking was to hum-drum for you:-) ) with a song in your heart and on your lips; literally. So beautiful! This song in your heart has never had a finale. The music has kept playing, even through some of your darkest times of life. Even when anguish and pain have been heavy in and around you, you’ve carried on, with a hope and confidence in God.  You continue to sing; opening your heart and your arms to anyone who needs a soft place to land or someone to talk to or be with. You have always and still have such a generous love for others.That love is a  true reflection of the divine and awesome love that God has for everyone. 

You are exquisite, Hailey.

Today, as I write this birthday message to you, I am so honoured to call you my daughter and my friend! Thank you for this “ultimate gift’ that only a child can give to their parent. It’s been such an amazing blessing for me to have been able to witness your journey in detail and in colour. You’ve kept me close to your heart and shared your living and your great love, with me, your whole life.  I am so grateful to God and to you for this immeasurable blessing. 

These days, you include me in your own family, with your own husband, children and friends. You welcome me, seemingly without hesitation, with open arms, into your home, into your celebrations and even into your difficult times.   

Thank you , with all my heart,  for loving me and including me, the way that you do!

May God bless you with:

lots of laughter

a continued song in your heart… forever

a continuing strong and vibrant relationship with your husband, your daughters and sons

good health

and the desires of your heart

Psalm 20:1-5

In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.

    May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.

May He send you help from his sanctuary

    and strengthen you from Jerusalem.

May He remember all your gifts

    and look favorably on your burnt offerings.  

May He grant your heart’s desires

    and make all your plans succeed.

 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory

    and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.

May the Lord answer all your prayers.

I have always loved you, Hailey,  since I knew you were in the making. 🙂 

And I will always love you, sweetheart!

Your Mom

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My sweet friend, I hope your birthday is amazing like you are

You are such an inspiration to me.. and to many. You are so strong and faithful. God just knew how much you would love and bless your family. Your children have an amazing example to follow. You’re kindness and goodness is just the medicine Brady needs right now. God has such a great plan for your family. I’m so grateful to have met you and call you my friend. Love you, sweet Hailey. Happy birthday!! 
-Amy
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Hailey, I love you so much. You are a very special cousin to me! I have many cherished memories of time spent together as kids. Now you are an amazing mom and wife, and someone I’m glad to call friend. I am so in awe of the way you continue to show up to life each day, no matter how hard that may be. You are in my thoughts every single day. I hope that you feel special and loved today on your birthday. I love you! Love, Elise.
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A Dramatic Reading for Hailey’s Birthday

(adapted from a movie particularly meaningful to the birthday girl)

Oh, man. I am so wired.

More so than usual?

Way more.

I made a model of centennial last night complete with guests.

I stayed up all night.

I’ve got the entire thing

planned out, every detail.

you didn’t sleep?

you should have slept.

I’m a freak, aren’t I?

No, you’re just very… focused.

Exactly. So what do you think

of my mom’s red halter?

For your interview today?

It’s a little slutty.

Let me rephrase. What do you think

Brad’ll think of my mom’s red halter?

I think Brad has

better taste than that.

Really? Okay, see you in a minute.

Got milk?

Thanks a lot.  You’re a lifesaver.

You’re welcome.

Sorry about that.

It’s goat’s milk.

Uh-huh.

Dad, bring home the milk.

-fin-

Cheers to 33 years of sisterhood, and to the next 33!  Love you Hailey!

❤️Caity

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Happy birthday Hailey!  You were the sweetest little girl way back when my Mom babysat you.  You stole my heart back then and I feel blessed to have kept in contact with you, catered your wedding and now as you raise your own beautiful children.  You have been such an inspiration to me as a loving, supportive wife and mother.  I pray that God will bless you with joy, good health and all your dreams come true!  Love you girl!

-Jocelyn
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Happy Haileyday!   What a marvelous creation God concocted the day He came up with YOU.   

I don’t know if you know how much and how often I’ve marveled at your exceptional parenting.  Probably not, because I tend to rave about you to your Mom or to my sisters and seldom to you!   I’ve often wished I’d had you as a friend to observe when I was learning to be a parent.   Your kids are your resume.

And recently, I’ve been just as impressed with your wife-ing.   You are a wise, rational, compassionate woman in spite of the fit- and-spurts, spits-and-furts emotional blender you’ve been in.    Your struggle with the physical repercussions of high stress is surprising only in how far you’ve gone and how capable you’ve remained in the midst of it all.   I’m sad my own health keeps me at a distance, but I have to say, I’m grateful beyond words to have you in my life and to be a small part of your life.   

If you knew how pleasing you are to the Lord, you’d just get annoyingly conceited, so just as well you don’t.   But I hope, as a birthday gift,  you get a fresh glimmer of how He sees you  — that would have to give you immeasurable pleasure, strengthening, courage and affirmation.   I’m praying that He leads you into deeper discernment, to take every thought captive in obedience to Him, and to focus on the Lord, and whatever else is true, honest pure, lovely, of virtue, praiseworthy.   

I love you, dear Hailey.   💜💛🧡Willa

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Happy Birthday to our beautiful ‘next dork neighbor’ you are such a strong, loving, and thoughtful person, we’re wishing you all the happiness (and that you never run out of yarn mid project ) in the year ahead!! 

Love, the Starkells 

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Hailey, your friendship has been an unexpected and very sweet gift to me. Praying for strength & endurance for each moment of this crazy hard/amazingly blessed journey you are on with your family (and with your own health). I’m learning that it’s okay not to be okay…God wants to hear our sad and our happy. -Donalda

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Hailey you are an amazing lady! Always looking on the bright side, caring about everybody you love, you give so much to your family & friends. I know you and your family have been going though so much these last couple years, through it all you’ve shown that being kind to others, even when it’s the hardest, is something you’ll never stop doing. It shows so much to your personality. Teaching your children the same values really adds beauty to this world. I hope you know that’s exactly what you do. You are a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul, as result you add beautiful things to this world that will keep on being beautiful for years to come! I’m so happy to have met you, Keep being exactly YOU!

Lots of love Carlinna

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Hailey, happy birthday! Life has changed a lot for you in this last trip around the sun, there’s no denying it. You’ve faced some serious challenges and there are undoubtedly more to come. We’d like to spend a bunch of time now telling you how awesome you are (because it’s true!), and how great you are doing (which is entirely the case!), but we’re learning that we’re not nearly as awesome as we thought we were, and that, behind closed doors especially, we don’t always do that great. So what we want to share with you is a different thing we’re learning: that the hard times are special opportunities to trust God, even if you have next to zero legitimate faith to offer. Take it from us firstborns, who love to be in control of things: God insists he can handle things, and anytime we take him at his word, he does handle them, not often in a way that is easy necessarily, but in a good way that brings glory to him and unmistakably shows that he is truly a good, trustworthy, loving father. We would hope this for you and yours, more than anything; to be a part of God’s story – and you are! It’s happening to you right now. And we can’t think of a better birthday present – not the trials and struggles and tragedies of your life, of course, but the fact that, as you walk, you’re bringing glory to him. And no matter how many times you might trip or wander off in the wrong direction, his love for you stays the same. 

Well done, sis. Here’s to another year following after him!

Very much love,

Simon and Grace

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Hailey Born. Happy stinkin birthday! I can’t begin to tell you how incredible you are. You’re a phenomenal wife and mom, even though I’m sure it doesn’t feel like it, but you truly are. I know nothing is perfect, but your kids and marriage are a testament of how incredible you are. You put your all into your family, and it doesn’t go unseen. You are so beautiful, Hailey, inside and out. I’m in awe of how strong you are, even when it doesn’t feel like it. You are so, so loved. -A friend

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Hailey- I find myself looking over the past year and planning for the next on my birthdays. This past year has been a doozy for you and your family! You have survived it and helped Brady and the kids survive and flourish. May the next year be full of joy and accomplishments! I love you!
Rae

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….and of course I had to save the best for last…..

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Selfless love. That is what comes to mind when I think of Hailey. She is the most considerate, generous, selfless, patient person I’ve ever met. Instinctively, she’ll go out of her way to help people in distress, in pain, or even just discomfort. She’s thoughtful, ingenious, hardworking, and most of all, she loves her people. Endlessly. She will love and care for and comfort anyone who comes to her.

I genuinely consider myself to be the luckiest man in the world because she calls me her husband. We started out as kids and have grown up together and I have learned so, so much from her. She’s legit. Best ever. Top notch. She’s amazing and I adore her and  I’m lucky to be in her life. 

Hailey, I love you higher than I can jump! Further than I can run! I love you so much I can’t even stand it! 

Happy Birthday my dear!