Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday to my sweet daughter who turns 20 today. I hope your day is as amazing as you are. And as Jessica at wonderoak.com mentions in one of her social media posts, it is also my #i-birthed-day and I look forward to celebrating this special day with you. You are my firstborn. A gift that I have cherished since the day you were born and will continue to cherish for the rest of my life.

Today, I have visions of the videos and pictures that I’ve taken of you throughout the past 20 years. Pictures from the day you were born up to now as a 20-year-old amazing woman you’ve become. One of those pictures I have in mind is the look on your face when you tried an orange for the first time. And then there’s the video from when I followed you around while you were crawling around under the kitchen table and you started screaming because you hit your head and was stuck under one of the chairs. Also, your Aunt Pam and I will always cherish the memories of watching you and Bailey becoming best friends. You were hugging her one minute then playing in a bounce house and pushing her out the next. The next picture I have in mind is when you were helping your baby sister climb steps to a small slide in our backyard. I think it shows a little uneasiness on her face when she’s at the top of the slide then it changes to a huge smile and pure joy once she’s safe in your arms as you catch her at the bottom of the slide in the next picture.

More pictures come to mind such as karaoke at your 9th birthday party. Picture of you riding your bike in Cedar then my thoughts turn to how you learned how to drive in Cedar. Picture of you posing proudly in front of your Camaro. Picture of you with the deer you shot while hunting with Dad. The truly beautiful genuine smile in the pictures you take with Kegan.

I am so proud of you and want you to know how much you are loved. On this special day and every day, you are loved. You have been through hard things, you can continue to do hard things. Don’t forget that God will help you through whatever you are going through. Phillipians 4:13 ESV comes to mind: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”