Happy Birthday to You!!!

Today my oldest daughter is 24. I really can't believe it! How has 24 yrs gone by so quickly?!

I don't know if she'll ever see this and that's ok. I have decided to come here every year on December 16 to wish her a Happy Birthday and to share my memories of her. And I have such wonderful memories!

One memory that is fresh on my mind is due to Facebook and the memory they reminded me of. It was the end of 2011 and she hijacked my fb account because I had left it open and said such sweet words.

I believe it was her 4th birthday. Her daddy and I threw her a birthday party and we spent hours working on her cake. We made it all from scratch and frosted it with pink frosting and decorated it all princess like and flowery. She loved it. We had so much fun! The best part was seeing her face light up when she saw her cake!

Another memory was at almost 5. We were in MT for my friend's college graduation. We had decided to head out to eat with my friend and her mom. While sitting in the booth next to M she stood up and it was then my friend's mom let me know she had no underwear on with her dress, which wasn't very long. LOL! M had decided that she wasn't going to wear any underwear! I was so embarrassed at the time but now I just laugh. She was such a fun little lady! She had her own mind from the very beginning!

When M was 6 she dropped her hot dog in the snow and mud outside. So to be able to eat it as instructed by her daddy she washed it off in the bathroom, bun and all! :)

As a little girl she couldn't get her coat on by herself so she figured out a way she could do it without any help. She would lay her coat out on the floor and then lay down on it putting her arms in and then standing up. All done!

M was such a good helper. She was always willing to lend me a hand with her siblings. One of her favorite things to do was cook. Her first meal was macaroni and cheese. She did great too!

As a young adult she was such an encourager. When I had been hurt or wounded she was the first to encourage me and give me a big hug! She would remind me how much she loved me and of who I really was.  I valued her so very much!

I remember also as she was a young woman here in our home I would just look at her often, without her knowing I was doing so and think to myself how blessed I was to have her as my daughter. I was always hoping that I could love Jesus as much as she did, to encourage like she did, to be like her in so many ways. She had a light that just shined so brightly!

I will cherish the last note she wrote to me the day before she left. It said how much she loved me and how I would always be her hero. What she doesn't know is that she was my Hero! She was my best friend, confidant and my daughter! She was a blessing and gift. She was gracious and beautiful! She was giving and kind. I admired her so much!

As a baby M was always so happy. Everyone would comment on her cheery personality! At night to get her to sleep I would lay her down in her crib and play music for her. She loved it and would fall asleep within minutes.

She went everywhere with me. I remember sitting at the mall with her. Giggling over her laughter and cooing. She was a joy!

Her Daddy and I enjoyed listening to her and reading her stories as a little girl. She had a great imagination. I still have her school work and poem and stories she wrote! We will cherish them always!

Daddy was so proud of her. He would tell me often how smart she was and how amazing she would be as a grown woman. He believed in her ability to be a famous author someday and still talks about it today. Maybe one day we will see her name on a book she has written!

So many beautiful memories! I could go on and on but I will write again of them next December 16th.
If you ever read this M, you are loved and valued. You are not forgotten. You are our daughter and nothing will ever change that. We are always praying for you and always leaving the light on for you. Here in our hearts and at home.
Love you M.

Happy Birthday!! May your new path be blessed and may you find love, peace and hope.