eleven

alternate title: i hope you dance

 

Karsen, 6 weeks old

Eleven!

someone just had a birthday and is all of a sudden eleven

how can that be possible?

eleven sounds so much older than 10!

or is it just me?

 

2 years old

Karsen, you came roaring into our life over 11 years ago,

and you truly completed our family.

I often joke that you literally cried the first year of your life

(because you did!)

and you also did not sleep through the night until about 20 months old

(!!!)

looking back, i can say it was a tough year

but it went by so fast

(too fast)

and then after that

came the years where you literally clung to me all the time.

you went from nursing around the clock

to just clinging around the clock.

like a little monkey,

 a very particular child,

that did not like to be very far away from Mommy.

 

 

i think about that now and the words

"it won't be long" always come to mind.

everytime i tuck you in

i think, it won't be long and you won't need me to do that anymore

 

everytime we are walking and you slip your hand in mine

i think, it won't be long and it will be the last time you do that

everytime you say "i love you, Mommy"

i think, it won't be long and those teenage hormones

will change how you see your Mommy

 

everytime i look at you i see you growing and changing

and i think, it won't be long and you will be big decisions without me

it won't be long.

 

i can tell that you are getting to the age

where doubts can start creeping in.

 

i hope you always keep that light inside of you

that you are strong enough to do anything you set your mind to doing.

this song brings to mind everything i hope for you

 

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
 hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking
Loving might be a mistake, but it's worth making
Don't let some hurting heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance" ~Lee Ann Womack

 

Karsen Grace, 11 years old, Happy Birthday, sweet girl.

Keep dancing, keep singing, keep shining!

We love you with all our hearts.