To My Not-So-Little Darling, Ever-Changing

This, to you, my not-so-little darling;
My poetically framed love letter
To an ever-changing young woman in the making.

Oh, my, how quickly time is flying by...
Sometimes I cannot believe how you have grown,
Are growing--right in front of my eyes.

You are beautiful, you.
Darling Girl, with perfect smile
And laugh and spirit. I adore you.

There are moments that I stare at you--
For as long as I dare without your noticing--
And I realize, even as I do, that you have changed again.

Again?! Oh, Time, please slow for me!
Just even a moment here and there,
So I can breathe and pray and give thanks--

For these moments, so swiftly they race by--
I cannot hold onto one! (Though I'll die trying.)
You are precious to me, dear one. I love you with ALL of me.

Looking 13...Already...

You are looking so GROWN UP lately, I've noticed. And it's both delightful and frightening to me, your adoring mother.

I love seeing your style develop--you love wearing your hair straight, lip gloss, your cute red pants and long sleeved shirt. This and your sparkly black UGG boots you were wearing as you left the house for school today.

You're everything I'd ever hoped for in a daughter. You're sweet and smart and sassy and you love Jesus with all of your heart.

You remind me of me and your daddy in ways, and, with your love for fashion and hair, I see you emulating your big sisters. But though you are, in some ways, like all of us, you are uniquely your own.

Already I can see the Lord working in you. I can see His hand upon you, His presence is already with you.

I guess what I wanted most to say this morning is that I adore you, love you, darling. I'm so very proud of you and who you are becoming.

And I'm so thankful to God for giving me YOU.

Mommy loves you, darling, always and forever,

Me.