Thursday, July 28, 2011

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Tell me I'm dreaming...  tell me that it's really your 1st Birthday.....




and NOT your 17th...



cue the waterworks.



for this momentus occasion... I'm going to list 17 things I love about you, my daughter, Christen: 


I love: 

your heart for Jesus.  you teach ME lessons in faith and being devoted, thank you. 

your heart for kids, even though sometimes you won't admit you have a heart for kids....  

your heart for the elderly, again, even though sometimes you won't admit you have a heart for the eldery...  actions speak louder than words...

the love you have for your friends and your willingness to do anything for them

your sense of adventure...  doing things I never would have dreamed of, like going across the world without any family and not knowing a soul...  and coming back home with life long friends and great accomplishments.

your smile!  all the way from your toothless, tongue stuck out smile as a baby, to your beautiful "grown up" smile of today...  you light a room with your smile and you surely light up my heart...

the way you call me out when I need it...  even when I'm aggravated at the time, you don't hesitate (normally)...  you've got my back, but you also know when to show me the truth..

your sense of humor...  even when it's not appropriate! haha 

how you know what you want to do with your life and how you're making your plans to reach your goals. 

your amazing atheletic skills...  from the time you could sit up, I knew you were going to be way better at sports than me, thank goodness!  If it involves a ball, you can master it.  Even hitting a pitched softball 5xs out of 10 when you were just 3 years old. 

the way you don't let anyone hold you back from doing what you love: soccer.  You've proven that little ol' Tifton is not the end-all, be-all, kingdom of soccer.  You don't let anyone tell you that you "can't". 

the way you're becoming more responsible.  I used to worry, a lot...  and I still do, just not as much.  you're growing up!  that part isn't cool...  but little by little, I realize you are going to be an awesome adult and you'll be able to handle whatever comes your way.

your ability to laugh at yourself.  that's so important in life, really it is. 

that you'll still hold my hand...  not all the time I know...  but you will, sometimes..  I can't tell you how much that means to me..  and that you still tell me you love me and you'll hug me...  even in front of PEOPLE!  gasp!  ;o)

how you will talk to me...  really talk to me, about what's going on in your life.  I know we don't talk as much as we used to, but I hope you know I'm always here for you and always will be....

how you aren't like most teenagers...  you don't stay locked away in your room...  you want to be with us...

and finally, I love that you are YOU...  there's no one else like you and I thank God every day for you. 

So, Happy 17th Birthday Baby Girl!  I love you!

7 comments:

Rosalind said...

Happy Birthday!

and yes I cried

stephanie said...

beautiful post, happy birthday sugar!

nic said...

oh, happy birthday to your beautiful, gifted, God-adoring girl. i loved every last bit of this post, and i can't wait to see how God will continue to work in and through christen's life.

Karen Hossink said...

Cue the waterworks.
Yep.
This is a beautiful tribute to your beautiful girl. :o)

Jim Duggan said...

OK. Now you are about to make ME cry. LOL. Over the last almost 3 years I have seen these qualities really shine. I still remember that 2 of the first people we met @ TTFBC on the weekend we came down were you and Christen. Y'all painted Bekah's face at the Fall Festival.

These last 2 summers on the mission trip I have especially seen Christen shine for Jesus. Let's just say I can surely give testimony to 1-6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16, and 17 on your list. You have raised quite the young lady.

AiringMyLaundry said...

What a sweet post!

Becky said...

I teared up and she isn't even mine...you have such a way with words.. And she is an amazing daughter.. you are lucky to have her..