Hope

 Words fail when it comes to describing Hope. I could say that she's kind-hearted, adventurous, and sunny but that doesn't come close to explaining it. With the exception of the rare moments of tween angst over something Grant does that she finds unjust, she is just about as angelic a person as you'd ever hope to meet.

 But she isn't sickeningly sweet like a flat "good girl" character in a cliché book. She cracks up over potty humor, she wrestles with right and wrong, she prefers mountain biking and karate to any of the sports and activities her friends are into. She likes to try new things, go to new places, and explore.

Her laugh is musical, her hair and skin look like they were imported from Heaven, she always considers how other people are feeling, and she rises to challenges. Her bedroom has always been messy and cluttered and disorganized, but she's been working very hard this fall to keep it picked up and organized. It doesn't come naturally to her, so I'm very proud of her effort!

Hope has a tender heart for anyone who is hurting, and is always quick to offer help. She's been praying heartfelt prayers for a local girl with terminal brain cancer for a year now, and I expected she'd tire of that after a week or two. She's never met this girl, but hears that she's making slow and steady progress and has already improved beyond any hope the doctors ever gave her - so Hope keeps saying those prayers. And I hope her faith continues to grow as she does!

 She doesn't love reading, but she's a great reader and will sometimes gets sucked into a book. She likes fantasies the most, but has had to explore all kinds of genres for school. She's a math whiz, a good writer, and every teacher she's ever had says she's a pleasure to have in the classroom. Which I fully believe, because Hope is more of a pleasure to be around than just about anyone in the world!