Birthday Wishes to our Girl

Seventeen years ago today we became what we'd never been before. We moved from being just a couple to becoming a Mom and a Dad. And this adorable little one is who made it so that I could take upon ourselves that title and privelage. And we've never looked back.

You're the first born to us, your loving parents. Your the first to break in these newbies to parenting. You bought a joy into our lives that we'd never known before. Everything was now measured not to satisfy us but as to what was best for you. You changed our lives for the better in ways that you will never know until you have your first.

(Unfortunately, when you were first born our camera was the pits so until you were 3 months so all the early shots of you have a blurry edge if they were close up or if we focused you were a little picture in a great big background. We finally just splurged and went a bought another camera and we haven't stopped clicking since!)

I love this picture of you. It just shows your personality off a bit. Plus, it is probably the only time we will ever see you in so much lace and poufiness. You've developed your own taste now and it definitely does not include lace nylons and frou frou dresses. Although, my girl, notice it was your mother who started you on your love of high tops. Back then saddle shoes, now Converse shoes, in every color under the sun. Except of course, pink.



You've made us so proud over the years. You were such an intense little babe and would look at things just absorbing them. It took us 3 months to make you laugh and then we had to literally stand on our heads. You've taken that intenseness and focused it on school, where you've always made us proud with your grades. You've taken that intenseness and focused it on the sports you love, basketball and rugby, and worked hard to develop your skills. You've used that intenseness when you choreograph & perform dances that tell the story of God reaching out to a lost world, that tell of God's love or of praise to the Lord. And you've also developed a fun sense of humor. It is much easier to make you laugh now! Your interests and talents are varied and we know that as you lay them before the Lord, He will use them to minister to both the lost and God's people. You grown from a beautiful babe to wonderful young lady whom we are so proud of!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BASKETBALL GIRL!