thankful, day 16 ...

what happened to my little photogenic girl?

these days I get bored, silly, or annoyed looks ... open eyes optional - LOL!!!

I am thankful for this beautiful young lady!

to say it like that is crazy ... I can't really believe that Annicka will be 13 soon ...

not even "soon" - she's gonna be 13 this week.  it's a matter of days.

I'm about to have a teenager.  scary.

I am so thankful for you, Annicka - the little baby that made me a mama!

you and I are very different and sometimes it is hard for me to relate to you - and that

only gets more challenging as you get older.  but, I try.  I really do.

one day you will read this, maybe you'll be a mom by the time you do ... or maybe

you'll re-read this as a mom, and you'll understand!  being a parent is not

for wimps.  you have always ... "kept me on my toes" - so to say!

I pray you keep your strength ... though it makes parenting you a bit overwhelming

at times (you may have heard the term "strong willed") ... I know it 

can and will come in handy for you in your life.

I love that you make up your mind about something ... and that's that.

again, this way of thinking could come in very handy for you as a growing girl!

I am trying to be careful about what I say here - as it is out there

for anyone to view.  I only share to be truthful and to show you (some day) just

how far you have come!  I still remember the little girl who would

throw herself on the floor -in the middle of the store, mind you- when I wouldn't

buy you what you wanted.  yah.  that happened.  more than once.

but look how far you've grown, even in just seven years.

I can't imagine another five years, you being 18 and me thinking back to these

days ... 12/13 is a difficult time.  so much is going on and so much

is changing.  I am so glad to have you at home with me.

I know that homeschooling has been extremely challenging - for both of us ...

I know that it is something you want to continue ...

I pray that you truly realize that it takes effort and self discipline,

if we can get that (both of us) steadily, then we're golden!!!

I feel like I'm just rambling.

I think I have about a thousand thoughts racing around, jumping over each other,

doing back hand springs in my brain - lol.

but, the important thing so say is:

I am so thankful for you.

I am thankful for you how you are and thankful for who you are ...

and I am thankful that I have you and that I get to watch

you grow into a young woman (even though it makes me want to cry)!