Guys, She's Nine.

This beautiful girl is nine years old today!  Shes NINE! And shes amazing.  Like full on amazing cool kid who has her own voice, her own joy, and her own mind.  This girl is INCREDIBLE.  To give you an idea of how amazing she is, I was editing the pic at the bottom of this post and attempting to smooth out my "fresh off the gym face" when Lily walks in and says, "I don't know why anyone would want to change themselves.  I love me!"

That a girl!!!

Lily has got such maturity these days and is really becoming an emotionally intelligent young woman.  She can comfort a sad heart, and always seems to know when someone needs a hug.  She is strong, body, mind, and spirit.  Her depth has depth and the kid feels all the feels.

She loves her sister....even when she doesn't, and Evie is the one person who just has her number.  She is an incredible big sister though, and Evie loves her.  Evie trusts her and Evie desperately wants to do what her sister can do.  Lily is worth imitating and Evie knows it.  

 

This little girl is so very much like her Father, and I love it.  I love her father with my whole being and knowing that we made such an incredible kid who share's parts of us so equally is nothing short of Divine.  In stature she's tall and strong like Daddy, in spirit she is strong, full of character, and bold, and in heart she is love.  That all in, be friends with everyone love with all the love.  I married her Father for many of these reasons..........

Lily's energy is limitless and she shares love of the nights with her Daddy.  The Bee and I catch the early bird, but those two like to party with the owls.  Its perfect and its special.  

My first baby has become a young woman and we are beginning that beautiful sprouting of a budding friendship.  This kid is deep and will ask questions that make me stop and marvel at the amazing creature both fearfully and wonderfully made and mine.

I am more aware this year that this baby girl belongs to a King who has great purpose and plans beyond my wildest dreams.  I may have carried her and birthed her, but every day I get to know her and like her more and more.  Her light is shining and Bob and I are just over here stoking the fire.  

My Lily,

You, dear girl, will always be the baby of my dreams.  You are incredible, and beautiful, and smart, and kind.  You are the daughter of the King and you are His light in this world.  Keep growing, and loving others, keep changing your world.  Be a light on a hill and don't ever let this world dim your sparkle. I am grateful for you.  I thank God everyday for you.  You were the baby I prayed and cried for.  You are one of the best things I ever did in my life. Live boldly, live wildly, and keep showing the world Jesus.

Happy Birthday girlie.

Mom

Don't Call Me "Too Little!"

Hey Bee, 

Mom here.  

I have been wanting to write this little blog to you for a while now.  I have been thinking a lot about it ever since you were told this summer at the public pool that you were "too little" to jump off the high dive.  

They don't know you Bee, but I do, and it drove me nuts watching you be told you can't do something you are fully capable of doing merely because you don't fit a size requirement.  Watching your spirit sink whenever people would call you "too little" and the conversations we would have with you wishing you were bigger. Girly I am gonna stop right now and tell you something.

Being little in stature and weight is NOT a bad thing.  Its not a negative, its not a downside.  Quite honestly, its one of your many superpowers little one and I just want to take a moment and say it out loud. You are incredible.  You are amazing. You are one of the most capable and strong little girls I know.  And your value can't be determined by size or whether or not you are big enough.

Bee, don't ever let the world dim your sparkle.  Don't let rules or limitations make you any less sure of who you are.  Like I always say, know your truths, and say them over and over and over.  Even when you are walking down the stairs to the big pool slide, past all the "big kids," because you were told you were "too little." Hold your head high little one.....Mom knows you aren't afraid.

Jesus knows too.....

He made you......absolutely perfectly the way that you are and if you let Him use you, you will be the biggest light in this world. Maybe said another way, your little self has a BIG shining light.

Remember I told you little was a superpower?  Well, one day Bee you are going to meet someone who has been told that they can't. Someone who is undervalued and unjustly limited, and you my little warrior are going love them, and lead them, and remind them of what is true.  Jesus is going to use you.......

So promise me that you will not let the words "Evie is too little" ever take away your joy.  Take it as a compliment. I wouldn't change one thing about you and coming from your Momma (who's an IRONMAN) being little is pretty sweet.

Go do big things little girl

All my love

Mom