Happy Birthday Love

She's the girl that made me a Momma!

She's already taller than me, with long dark hair and deep brown eyes...

We don't look much alike, and never really have, but I did carry her and went through a fairly long labor to bring her into this world...

She gave us a run for our money with her sleepless nights and constant crying...but she made up for it in her compliant and sweet nature, even as a toddler. 

She's a typical firstborn, which is probably why, out of all my girls, she and I butt heads the most...and at the same time, we "get" each other pretty well too. 

I'm so, so thankful for her daddy's parenting skills when it comes to navigating these teenage years...

We only have 3.5 years left with her, before we send her out on her own...

these are the training years...the moments when she learns what she's truly made of, who & what she's going to stand up for, what Truth is she going to follow...

all the while becoming more and more independent...

it's been our goal and challenge all along, for each of our daughters...

In my head I want to protect her from every bad thing...to shield her...to punch the living daylights out of anyone that would mess with her...to take away hurt...

but, my heart knows that God has such an incredible purpose for this girl...

it's bigger than she or I could ever dream...

and her job is to continue to do the next right thing...to love Him with all her heart...to love others, even when it's hard...

she knows that she's going to fail...and she's learning that true friends grant her grace & forgiveness...she's learning that she is brave and that can still mean that she's nervous or scared, but it also means that she doesn't back down...

she expects much out of herself, and we're working on pouring truth into her...that her identity isn't wrapped up in her GPA or her mistakes or what her peers think...

I know I'm probably biased...I'm her mom...I can't help it...

but for all our mistakes and occasional "drama" she still has a most beautiful, and amazing heart

and I love her very much!

Happy 15th Birthday Sweets!