I’m not sure what scares me more….that my daughter woke up this morning as a 12 year old, which means teen years are that much closer….or that I am the mother of a 12 year old, which makes me feel, well, quite old.

This week the theme over here has been “journey,” and our 12 years with our first born has certainly been one of it’s own. Thinking back to this day 12 years ago, I see a young girl, laboring, completely unaware of how life would never be the same. In just a few more hours her life would be dedicated to another little human to care for. Her parents’ lives would be so much richer with her in them.

Priya was born at 6:35 in the evening. She arrived with strength and a complete mind of her own from moment one. I just remember thinking she was the most beautiful baby I’d ever seen, but I thought something was wrong because she didn’t want to be swaddled or held tight, unless she felt like it. She wanted space. This has not changed.

At midnight last night Brett and I were laying in bed and thinking about our Priya Izabella. How incredibly blessed we are to have her in our lives. We thanked the Lord for 12 years of wonderful health, learning, growing together, messing up and changing things around….We have tried and sometimes failed, sometimes succeeded with her, and I’m very certain she has taught us as much as we have her. She has always challenged us from day one, and I know God had a great purpose in giving her to us first. I’m so thankful for her abundance of love, her quirky ways, her abstract view on things, and the way she loves her family. Brett and I prayed for her future. If the next 12 years even come close to being as wonderful as the past 12, we would be overwhelmingly thankful.

Priya, you are such a delight to our lives. One of the qualities we admire most about you is the way you are not afraid to be who you are. This is a rare gift that many people try to acquire with time and maturity. I pray you hold on to this tightly as you go through these next few vulnerable years. Also, we admire the way you help your brothers and accept your part in our family, with rarely a complaint. You are such a gift to us.

So thankful for you sweet girl. We couldn’t possibly imagine life without you in it.

mama & baba