Brynley has had, if I do say so myself, quite an incredible year. It isn't so much that she has a list of accomplishments I can rattle off to you; its who she is becoming that is truly impressive. As smart and confident as she looks in the above photo, these pictures can't begin to show you the sheer ability that radiates from this second child in our family.
Brynley spends a LOT of time in positions like the one above. She literally dances through her life. Not only does she spend 9 hours a week (plus time each day at school) dancing with companies and in classes, but she dances her way from the kitchen to her bedroom, and our sliding glass doors make pretty good mirrors for a dancer once the sun goes down. We find her staring at herself; her form, her artistic execution, often while we clean up from dinner, or as we wait for the sun to brighten the world outside in the mornings before school begins.
Bryn is growing up in many ways. She continues to work hard to be a great student, pulling straight A's so far in Jr. High. The reason Bryn is a good student is that Brynley is good at Learning. She knows how to listen. She reads directions. She follows through quickly with assignments and she asks questions to be sure she does thing right. She has been designated 'Student of the Month' by the faculty at the Jr. High. If we could only get her to apply her amazing abilities at the piano (or the guitar, which she dabbles in as well) we'd have a real musician on our hands. But in piano playing and Spanish language acquisition ( a challenge from mom and dad to all the kids in our household) Brynley has decided she would rather not apply herself, so she is able but not excelling in these few areas.
Brynley is a good friend. And she likes to be around her friends every chance she gets. She is fun and funny and she is kind to those around her, so her company is welcomed and even sought after. I - who spent most of Jr. High as a wall flower - continue to remind her that her smile, her word of encouragement and her complimentary words can brighten the life of many many girls...and she is beginning to take this to heart. But she feels best, most free and most happy, in the company of her compadres laughing, being silly and having good clean natured fun.
Brynley lives in sweats whenever she has the chance. Aside from a deep interest in the length and style of her hair, she is not preoccupied with her outward appearance (which makes her all the more beautiful). We love her unfussy nature and enjoy her beautiful smile and her casual comfortable style.
Brynley keeps us all on our toes. She has an acute ability to respond with sarcasm as well as a wonderful way to show compassion. She can joke and laugh and think seriously. One of her greatest accomplishments this year was earning her Young Women Personal Progress award. This requires many hours full of worthwhile projects as well as completing the Book of Mormon. Truly her reading of the Book of Mormon, which she concentrated on mostly this summer, brought a light and a lift to her life that was easily noticed by many. It seemed as if she was walking on air, and her ability to help at home and serve those around her showed us all what it is like to walk with the spirit of Christ in one's life. We love Brynley and are so glad she is walking with us as a Graham through this year and forever :)
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