Monday, June 8, 2009

My Wish

Many years ago someone shared this quote with me, "When I look at my daughter I see myself, only better." For me, this has been true from the moment I laid eyes on my newborn baby girl. 1988.


Yesterday was my daughter1's 21st birthday and we spent the weekend with her in South Carolina. I wanted to post yesterday but we were traveling and there were delays upon delays so by the time we got back to our 'home away from home' in NJ I was too tired. She knows me so she'll understand. In honor of her special day, here are

21 Things I love about my Daughter

1. She is kind. Perhaps kinder than any person I've ever known. She has a soft heart and cries for lonely people, for hurting people, at cruelty in the world...she wants to make the world a better place.



2. She is gentle. She has always had an instinct about people. She knows when you need a hug, a laugh, a kind word, a thoughtful gesture, or quiet. Being around her soothes my soul.




3. Her sister is her best friend and has been since the day they met. She was 2 years old, took one look at the baby girl in the bassinet beside me and said, "Gimme dat". It was love at first sight. They have been like two peas in a pod all their lives and it makes my heart happier than I can say.






4. She has a deep and growing faith.

5. She used to be 'fraidy-scared' of pretty much everything but at about the age of 14 her father's genes kicked in and she is now my adventure lover.


6. She sings beautifully. Again, she can thank her father for that.


7. She is my beach baby...sun, sand, surf....they are her favorite things and the place she is the happiest.



8. She is a volunteer Young Life leader and loves the time she spends playing her guitar for club each week, performing in silly skits, and sharing her faith with her group of highschool girls.


9. She is petite. In the extreme.


10. She takes beautiful pictures and loves photography.

11. She loves beauty...art, music, nature, sunshine, clouds, the great outdoors.


12. She loves to read...anything from Rob Bell to Historical English novels She is a great one to take to English Castles because she can always tell us who is related to whom and how.

13. She causes people to have hair envy.



14. She plays the guitar...there may be just a bit of the flower child in her too. She loves all kinds of music and has everything from country to Tchaikovsky, from David Crowder to The Beatles on her ipod.

15. She has the travel bug. Big time. She has been to at least 16 different countries and countless cities and towns in those countries.


16. She is a natural born ballerina.


17. She likes to cook.

18. She loves to ski.

19. She has a soft spot in her heart for her Daddy.


20. She used to hate change...moving to England at the age of 15 after 9 years in the same house, town and school system were hard for her. But she survived. Not only did she survive, she thrived. In fact, she more than thrived. She fell in love with something different and new. She has friends all around the globe. She loves to discover new cities, new foods, new cultures. She discovered that she can do something hard and she can like it. She can love it. That doing something hard can make her life better and give her a sense of independence and confidence, and most especially a sureness that God is with her wherever in the world she goes. This she may not have learned any other way.


21. She has brought more joy into my life than I ever imagined possible.

And to my daughter... in the words of Rascall Flatts... "I hope you never look back, but you never forget, All the ones who love you, in the place you left, I hope you always forgive, and you never regret, And you help somebody every chance you get, Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake, And you always give more then you take.... and more than anything, My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to, your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small, You never need to carry more then you can hold, And while you're out there getting where you're getting to, I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too, Yeah, this, is my wish.
Happy birthday my sweet girl!

10 comments:

  1. Y'all have a beautiful daughter! Sometime I would like to hear from you about raising her as a teen in this environment vs. being in the states...how did she do in school, peers, etc. :)

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  2. What a beautiful post about your equally beautiful daughter on her 21st birthday!!!!!
    You are so blessed to have 2 wonderful and sweet daughters who have brought such joy to your life. From your description of her, she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside! She is definitely the daughter of the King and His Princess!!!! My daughters are 5 years apart, but have also been so close to each other as friends/sisters. Thanks for sharing about your precious daughter. She does have such gorgeous hair!! Love the picture of her in the dryer. Take care and have a great day. Love & blessings from NC!

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  3. Wow! What a beautiful post for a very beautiful, deserving, talented, sweet and gracious young lady. She sounds like a gem and, Joyce, I'm sure you had everything to do with that. God has given you such a tender heart for your children and husband. It is inspiring to read your words of love to her.

    Happy Birthday to your sweet 21 year old girl1.

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  4. Your girls are so beautiful! What a great way to celebrate her. This is so sweet!!!

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  5. Oh Joyce! That was beautiful!
    They grow up so fast. All we can do is enjoy every day and hope they continue on for decades to come.
    I was sitting behind a car this morning at a stop light. It had one of those "In memory of" stickers on it. I don't usually like those, I Mean, it just seems kind of weird to see that on a car. But this Woman's was in memory of her son Brandon who was born in 1985 and died in 2007.
    WHAM! It felt like a truck hit me. I have a son Brandon who was born in 1985. So I was instantly on the phone to him just to say "I love you." He laughed. I love his laugh.
    I loved your post. You did just a beautiful, beautiful job describing your daughter.
    Big hugs! Karen

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  6. What a great tribute to your daughter. Happy Birthday to her.

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  7. Beautiful tribute! If I didn't already know and love her, I would want to meet this amazing young lady. You and T have been blessed with 2 wonderful girls. See you soon!

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  8. Happy birthday to your beautiful daughter. What a great tribute to her. I can tell you are very proud of her, but I am sure you are one of the reasons she is the way she is.

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  9. What a lovely post on your daughter! Pass the puffs please...precious, just precious. I pray she contines to love life and use all her wonderful gifts for His glory. Happy Birthday beautiful girl.

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  10. Absolutely lovely Joyce. Shannon is so lucky to have such an adoring Mom(or is it Mum?). Both your girls are such treasures. Lucky indeed are they, and you and Tim, to have each other.
    Welcome back home,
    Love,
    Sheila

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