Happy Birthday, Claire!

and then there were three....teenagers.

On this very morning, as of 4:56 a.m., this girl became a teenager.

Making 3 out of 4 people in this photo teenagers.

(consequently sending me to my knees in prayer)

In keeping with birthday tradition in our house, she got to choose her birthday breakfast.  Her favorite cake...angel food with strawberries.

No surprises here.

Which is unlike the story of her birth...which she likes to hear every. year.

Claire was due on the 19th of the month; I had a scheduled c-section set for the 11th; water broke on the 6th; she was born on the 7th.  And she has been cutting her own path in life ever since.

Last night as I was tucking in my 12-year-old for the last time we chatted about how special it was to be a teenager and some of the important things to remember during these years.  We talked about when she was little and how she used to say that when she grew up she wanted to live in a camper in my driveway with her two adopted daughters.  We talked about what she was going to wear for school on her birthday.  We talked about her friends.  We talked about her.  And I might have said something like this:

Dear Claire~
Now that you are a teenager, it is important for you to know a few things.
I know that you know this, but it bears mentioning...deodorant is a necessity, not an option. Personal hygiene and taking good care of you is important because...
You are special.
Probably more special than you even know...but I know these things and I need to tell you.  Again.  And again.
You are special.
It is important for you to always remember this.  You need to treat yourself as the special person you are.  The best person that you want to be is the way you should treat yourself.
Do not ever talk badly about you.
Do not think badly about you.
You are a daughter of the most high King.
That makes you a princess.
Remember that and treat yourself and others accordingly.
And on the same note...don't let anyone else treat you in a way that you do not want them to.
Some may say things or act in ways that hurt your feelings or are unworthy of a princess.
It is okay to stand up for yourself.
There is no reason for you to believe or follow the world if it is not fitting for you.
Because
You are special.
And you have many sisters who are also princesses.
Remember that and stand up for and by your sisters in Christ.
It's okay to cry.
And eat cake for breakfast on occasion.
It's okay to reach out and ask for help.
And even though you have been blazing your own trail in life since before your first appearance on earth,
Know this one thing....
"3-fingers-and-a-pinch"
the "okay" sign
Our code for
"I love you this much"
the 3 fingers meaning "i love you" and the pinch being "all the way around the world and back to where we are"
and if there is another thing I can add to this...
as you grow up, I know you no longer aspire to grow up and live in a camper close to my house so we can always be together....
....
but as you grow up, I can honestly say that my proverbial camper is always  parked outside of wherever you are....praying for you no matter where you are.

  Happy Birthday, teenager!
 Love, Mama