Baylee's birthday

My daughter just turned 9. Where in the world does the time go? Seems like yesterday she was born & I wrapped her up in her little pink blankie and brought her home. She has been independent from day one. It was kinda like she said (in her sweetest baby voice) "thanks for the ride Mom, I got it from here"! She is so full of life and love. She teaches me so much about creativity, being silly, and being yourself. She is her own person for sure. I have no doubt she will blaze a trail no matter where she goes in life or what she does.

I look at my little 9 yr old girl with such a thankful heart that God allowed me to be her mother. He took this 24 yr old, scared to death, immature, young woman and gave her a daughter to love. I was so scared to have a girl. How do I protect her, how do I show her how to be a woman when my own mother walked out, how do I teach her about fashion when I'm such a tomboy myself? God took all those fears and walked me through a long, sometimes dark, always twisted, road of faith. Faith in myself that I had within me what it takes to raise a young girl and guide her into womanhood. Faith in him, that he loves her, cares for her, smiles at her personality, laughs at her charm, marvels at her wisdom. Watching God love her has taught me that he loved me that way too. When I was just a little girl, scared and alone, sometimes lost, sometimes hiding, always fearful....he loved me. He laughed when I would climb trees and hide from the world. He marveled at my ability to have compassion on other people, even though my own world was falling apart.

Listening to God direct Baylee, love her, guide her... has taught me so much about who he is and how he loves all of us. More than anything, it has helped heal my heart. Opening my heart to allow that kind of love inside removes so much scar tissue left over from all those times in my own little girl childhood when I had to hide & be afraid. That kind of love shines light into some very dark places in my past. It reminds me of this David Crowder song "oh how he loves us". Its so true. How can I regret anything in my past, present, future....when I understand and invite light and love into my heart.

So Happy Birthday to my daughter, Baylee Marie. Next year we start double digits...and even though the fashion war has already started, I have a feeling it only gets worse from here :)