Today you turn 13. You are officially a teenager! It has gone by so fast!
You were the first to call me mommy. You were the first to show me the unconditional love and bond between a mother and her child. You were the first to show me how to keep my cool when you cut your own hair at 5 years old. You were the first to sass me when I wouldn't let you scratch your chicken pox. You were the first to bring me to tears when you started to cry because your easy bake oven burnt the cookies. You were and are and will always be the first to teach us how to dive into each new stage of life with our children.
You are so independent and strong! You are mature for your age and wise beyond your years. You're an "old soul" and I love that about you! You love your vinyl records and vintage clothes and you're easily the coolest 13 year old I have ever met! I love that you don't like to be like everyone else. I love that you stand up for yourself and you aren't afraid to speak your mind, even when your opinion is not the "popular" one. I love that you haven't decided you are too old to snuggle with your momma. I love that you laugh at yourself. I love your heart and how you genuinely care about others. I love that you take the time and have the patience to teach your siblings how to do something new. I LOVE YOU AND EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU.
My advice to you as you continue to grow into the amazing woman I know you will be is to keep being YOU. Love The Lord. Accept & Love others. Use your talents to please the Lord and to bring Glory to His name. Always take the high road. Believe in yourself. Know that you are beautiful. Continue to be a good example for these little people who call you their big sister. Love unconditionally, forgive easily, & pray often, baby girl.
There will be so many more memories for us to make with you and so many more first experiences. Soon enough, you will learn to drive, maybe get your first job, go to high school, college, and maybe even fall in love. We will be here, every step of the way. For every heartache, every victory, every concert, every school play, every scraped knee...just trust and know that we are here. There is never a secret too big that would make our love less for you.
Above all, Hold on tight to your faith and don't let anyone come between you and your relationship with The Lord.
Happy Birthday my sweet, intelligent, strong, independent, beautiful first born. I love you most =.
