My Favorite Girl:
I blinked.
Your 20th birthday is this week, and I’m wondering exactly where the years have gone. The saying really is true when you’re raising kids that the days are long, but the years are so very short. If you blink, you’ll miss so many amazing moments and miss out on the memories.
I’m so blessed that I’ve been present for so much, but in so many ways, I feel like I blinked.
It seems like it was just yesterday, I was holding on to the hope you might one day come into existence, and then I blinked, and you were here. Your presence has been better than my wildest dreams. You not only have given my life purpose and meaning, but you have given me the determination to pursue my childhood dreams. Because of you, my sweet girl, so many of my dreams have come true.
Raising you has been the honor of my life. You’ve taught me patience, love, understanding, and how to laugh at myself and life. You’ve shown me miracles really do exist because you are a miracle.
I had to learn how to be your mommy, and we had to grow up together. We’ve learned to navigate this world, and while doing so, we’ve built a bond that can never, ever be broken. We don’t lie to each other, you know I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine. Always.
I blinked, and one day you were headed off to school, making new friends and facing the harsh reality that people are not always kind. It hurt me to see you hurt, but it gave me hope to see how you always found a way to bounce back, and you continue to let your joy for life and others shine through. My heart rejoiced when you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and I love your continued thirst to know Him for yourself.
I blinked, and you were ten, picking out your own clothes and speaking your mind. You introduced me to new ideas and new ways of thinking. You’ve helped me expand my horizons and try new things, explore new places, have new adventures, and chase new opportunities.
One day, without my permission, I blinked, and you were a teenager. I was blessed that we didn’t experience the terrible teens. You’ve always been a good kid, and you have turned into an amazing young woman. I’ve watched you set goals and crush them, fall down and get back up—literally and figuratively. Your dad taught you how to drive, and with my heart in my throat, I watched your world expand with new friends, jobs and so many other amazing opportunities. We’ve made it through a pandemic, prom, pomp and circumstance, and so many other seasons.
College came sooner than I expected. I blinked, and you were out of the nest, living her best life in New Orleans. For so many years, I’ve been “Jess’ mom.” Our lives have always been in sync, but I had to figure out my new normal without you under my roof. I’m blessed that we still talk and text pretty much every single day and that you still share so much of your life with me. I feel like I instilled everything in you I could before you left for school and that you were well equipped for this new phase of life. Me. Not so much, but every day, I’m putting one foot in front of the other, determined to continue to make you proud.
Now here we are, mere days away from you turning 20, and although I’ve been present every step of the way, I’m wondering how I blinked and all these years just flew by. How is it my baby is now this amazing young woman who has hopes and dreams of her own? How is it the little girl whose hand I once held is now holding mine? How is it after all these years, my love for you has deepened and that the joy and pride I felt when I held you in my arms for the very first time has multiplied? How is it this little girl who I told the entire time she was growing up that I wasn’t her friend has now become one of my very best friends? How is it that my little girl is and will always be my girl for life? How is it God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams in the form of you?
God only knows what the future holds as you enter this next season of life, my darling. I pray it’s filled with God’s most amazing lessons and blessings, knowledge that I always have your back, courage to soar without fear of failure, overwhelming joy, learning to love and know yourself for yourself, love beyond your wildest dreams, experiences and people who make this life worth living, and that you don’t blink so you can savor it all.
Happy 20th Birthday, My Sweet Girl.
Love Always,
Mommy
