Saturday, August 21, 2010

the gift

somedays when i look into those big brown eyes of yours
 i still see you as this little girl

yet today
as i look in those big brown eyes
this is the beautiful young woman i see



its hard for me to believe
that you went from my angel baby



to the captain of the cheerleading squad
in the blink of an eye



from this contemplative little girl



to this contemplative young woman








i want to share some thoughts
that i actually wrote last year..

so today i do have a cosmic question
there might not be an answer
per say
& i don't know that i even need an answer



you see
i have a daughter
who loves many
& is loved by many

she is perpetually happy
& cheerful


she sees the good in all people
& gives the endless benefit of the doubt
to everyone
{something, i must sadly admit she did not inherit from me}

she is loyal
crazy loyal


for several years she looked just like the character that played Lucy Pevensie
in "The Chronicles of Narnia"
( she had the same bob & that precious round face)
not only one of my most favorite stories in literature
but undoubtedly
my favorite literary character

just like Lucy in Narnia, that's my Emily Austin

forgiving
innocent minded
&
trusting


so how do i teach a child to truly see the good
& trust people
to forgive

yet
at the same time
teach her that she can not blindly trust everyone

to see her loyalty as a priceless gift she chooses to give to another

how do i encourage her to be a friend to the friendless
yet
be careful because sometimes those friends
might not be good friends


that being loyal to her friends
might include asking adults to help
if that friend
that needs her loyalty
also needs some help
that might just be out of her league

as a innocent minded sweet 14 year old girl
how do i teach her to do
just as she has learned from scripture
to turn the other cheek
to do unto others as she would have them do unto her
&
yet
be careful
because not everyone will treat her
as the precious child she still is

there are people who will
take advantage of her loyalty
who will abuse her forgiveness

she has  strengths that are noble
i just want her to be careful



i don't want to come across as the jaded adult
or even just the realist that i am
its so hard....
letting them
be brave
when the bravery
is in the
giving
of
their
heart.....
















dear emi
i truly believe you were the gift given to me
just weeks before your daddy passed away

the gift sent to remind me
that life would go on
it would need to go on

the gift sent to remind me to laugh
to really laugh

to love others
& have fun

my angel baby

i thank the lord for the gift of YOU

happy birthday sweet child
i love you more than you'll ever know


38 comments:

Leslie said...

I am a true believer that God sends people into our lives at just the right time. She is your gift from Heaven. What a beautiful young lady! I know a 15 year old young man who would love to meet your family :)!!!!

SoSoBella said...

oh paige, what a beautiful post/letter to your sweet girl. i have tears welling up in my eyes. happy birthday to her. she is beautiful. and from what it sounds like just as beautiful on the inside as the outside. good job mama.

HisFireFly said...

Amazing beauty..

in her face, her heart and in your words!

Farmgirl Paints said...

It is such a gift having children. I see so much in my daughter's that I wish I possessed. It makes me just beam with pride. You write so beautifully Paige. I always love seeing your children through your eyes. What a sweet momma. Chokes me up a bit to see how fast she's growing. I know that that will be mine soon...yikes!!!!!

Love Being A Nonny said...

I think you and emmi have the same heart....what a precious pair!

Privet and Holly said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Privet and Holly said...

My oldest is 15 and
the only wisdom I
can impart is that
they learn so much
from what we model as
well as just the bumps
in the road as they
make their journey. My
heart has rejoiced over
the ups with mine and
cried in solidarity with
hers during the downs.
What a beautiful tribute
you have written! The apple
doesn't fall far from the tree : )
Happy Birthday to your
lovely girl and kudos to
you, too, Paige!
xx Suzanne

Shannan Martin said...

Just beautiful. And I understand all of your questions here, but she has a really smart, loving Mama to help ground her. I believe that you are teaching her everything she needs to know.

1 Funky Woman said...

Well this sure brought tears to my eyes. This was so beautifully written and I hope you print a copy for her to cherish. She is so beautiful and I do believe her daddy would be proud! What a gift!

Anne Lorys said...

Dearest Paige,
I don't have the answers for you, but I do know that your love and Godly influence will surely serve your beautiful daughter well.

You've done a fine job, mama. :-)

Hugs,
Anne

Shannon said...

Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter. It sounds like you have already raised an amazing young lady!

Between You and Me said...

crying. what a sweet gift she is to you..given to you for so many reasons that confirm God's sweet love and kindness to us.

i love that your girls allow you to photograph them...

my girl loves for me to take pics of her, too.

but those boys...oh, they're a different story. I have to capture moments when they aren't paying a bit of attention.

happy saturday sweet friend.

Amber said...

She's beautiful and you are beautiful inside and out too! I love reading your posts, especially about your children. I know they are your world, but they are blessed with an amazing mama!

Faded Plains said...

Amazing and beautiful post.

Suzanne said...

Sweet Paige...your love for your children is so beautiful. I don't know how many blogs I'll get to today, so I am beyond happy I didn't miss this beautiful post.

Happy Birthday to your precious Emily. I think she will learn these life lessons in her way. I have a 15 year old just like her. Sometimes when she has been wronged, I get so mad...and she calms me. Teaches me the lessons I taught her. (I often joke when I grow up, I want to be like her. Your Emily sounds like the kind of person we should all strive to be.) Part of me will always worry she will get taken advantage of or not appreciated. We just have to trust God to hold our girls in his hand, right?

Remember I told you, it was one of your birthday posts that inspired me to start a blog. I will be forever grateful to you for that!
Hugs, Suzanne

Anonymous said...

I love this post! I could relate to every word as a mother!!

Nancy said...

Beautiful! I remember reading that letter you wrote to Emily last year and cried. Happy Birthday to your sweet, precious Emily. I love the way you love your girls. Paige, you are such an inspiration. Enjoy this beautiful weekend!

Julie said...

happy birthday to your sweet girl!

your post is so beautiful. I've wondered those same things about my girls. Especially my oldest... just not as eloquently. ;)

enjoy the weekend.
xo

Tammy said...

Paige-
I'm always so moved by your posts. Your photos are so beautiful,the words are precious and make me cry.
Wish I had been half the Mom you are!!
Tammy :-)

{oc cottage} said...

She MUST be quite wonderful to share my birthday! ;} You're a blessed mom!!!

m ^..^

Jerri said...

Aww so sweet Paige! I love a mother who can relate to the crazy love we have for our children! Happy Birthday to your beautiful, sweet Emily!

Jboo said...

Beautiful post to your beautiful girl! Hope she has a magical birthday and fabulous year! I have no doubt that she will! She is amazing and so are you!

Janet

cathypentonatelier said...

Oh Paige you make me cry every time...I have an open heart and sometimes it does get trampled on but I promise I wouldn't change it because at least you get to feel all the feelings that a heart has to offer...I hope this makes sense...Loven you sweetest friend of mine....c xxxxxx

Blessed Names said...

oh boy am i glad that i haven't put makeup on yet today...you are so incredibly insightful into the hearts and lives of your girls...oh to have the wisdom that you do...i am so glad that we are friends...happy birthday EMK

Anonymous said...

hey girlie...i can't find your email...and i can't remember if i already told you this about the idea swapping of digi-photo stuff...but the images i used on my blog post are from a scrapbooking kit from shabby mis jenn designs. it is from the "french attic" collection. she has a website too...i think i have almost every one of her kits...you mentioned flickr....can you give me a search word or place to look??? if it was free, i would love to have a copy of one of the overlay things...

beautiful post, btw....as always....you have so many gifts they are hard to list individually...but i'm gonna think about that in my mind and see what kinda list i come up with...

; )

Tina said...

Happiest of birthdays to your beautiful blossom, Paige. I hope you all had a lovely birthday celebration for your sweet girl. Wishing you a wonderful week ~ Tina x

Rie said...

that was so very touching. just beautiful. thanks for sharing.

Michelle said...

Just beautiful. This post made me cry - not in a sad way - but in that struggle that I think we Mommies all feel. Love this post!

Michelle said...

OH, and btw, your sweet daughter is just precious...beautiful young lady!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday....she is a beauty.

xo,

annie

just ask beth said...

WOW! Paige your words are so eloquently written. I too, have an Emi, so trusting to a fault.. I wish you were my next door neighbor, so we could share coffee together everyday!! BTW! You and your girls have FABULOUS LEGS!!

traci said...

she is so beautiful. inside and out. your girls are so lucky to have this blog and your words to visit often. if they are ever struggling, even just a little bit, they can come here and see just how much they are loved.

i want her hair!!!!!!!

Martha said...

Oh Paige...she is just beautiful and your words about are are just beautiful...from the inside out she is...
I loved you showing her pictures from a young child to now...

PCovi said...

I didn't come here to cry LOL!
She is a cutie and I can't read all these comments but I'll say to pray for her (I know you do) and trust the God who already knows how faithful the two of you are!
Now what did I want? Oh yeah...if you sew :) I'm having a little doll quilt show and need participants :)

christina said...

she is a beautiful gift. i have to thank you both, it was these very words you wrote her, that gave me courage to write you and tell you, from one mother to another... yep, me too.
happy birthday to your angel.
xo

Dawn said...

oh, true beauty.
her.
you.
words.
photos.
... and such a precious gift. thanks for hsaring this glimpse of soul.

Kelli said...

You are truly raising some beautiful, well-rounded young ladies. What a blessing you all are to have each other. Great flashback photos.

Seizing My Day said...

Paige you express your thoughts so beautifully! You are a wonderful mama and you are raising amazing young ladies!! You beam with love for them!! ;)