You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

~Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 - 2005~

Today is Sunshine’s 6th birthday. Early this morning I tied a bouquet of balloons on their mailbox. Larisa said she was awakened by the sound of the alarm beep - indicating someone had opened an outside door. It was Sophie - heading out to get her balloon bouquet.

Sophie has such a unique personality. She is definitely her own person with a loving nature and a strong will. She is quite an athlete. She often makes multiple goals in her soccer games.

Sophie going ALL OUT playing soccer, Spring 2009

She’s an athlete, but she is also a girly-girl. She loves everything pink - and loves to have her nails painted. When she wants to be, she is the most dainty girl imaginable. WHEN she wants to be.

Sophie may be an all-out athlete, but she is also a girl girl!

So she has her athletic side, her girly-girl side, and she also has her tender and loving side. She is an expert cuddler, and has the sweetest smile in the world. Since her big sister, Lily, was diagnosed with lleukemia a few months ago, Sophie has shown maturity beyond her years in handling the challenges associated with Lily’s diagnosis. Her love for her sister is obvious to everyone.

Sophie shows her tender side by reading a book to Lily - soon after Lily was diagnosed with leukemia

Happy birthday, my precious Sophie.