I See Her

My daughter is four. It seems like the next thing to say is, wow, it was just yesterday she was an infant in my arms, and I get that; but that's not what I would say.

Yes, there are times when it's hard to believe four years have already passed, but in all honesty, the little tiny baby memories aren't very frequent. Instead, I feel so engulfed by the growing little girl I have right in front of me. So much so, that it seems to be all I can think about.

This beautiful girl, so talkative, so bright, so full of four year old life.

Not only do I see this little girl standing before me, greeting me each morning with her messy hair and wrinkled pajamas, I see her in my student Ana. The one with the pink rimmed glasses who is always reading Harry Potter.

I see her in the awkward middle school girl I pass in the hall; with the layered hair cut and skinny jeans. The one who walks along side her girlfriends, trying to figure out this whole teenage thing.

I see her in one of my husband's high school students. The one who likes to stay after History class to continue talking about third party states and famous dictators.

I even see her in the girls I used to mentor in our church, who have now completed their junior year of college; as they navigate serious relationships and start to think about jobs and their plans after graduation.

I see her.

And the more I see her, the more she grows and becomes her own person, the prouder I feel. My chest puffs up, my eyes widen and my mouth forms a ridiculously oversized smile.

She is amazing, and brilliant, and powerful, and brave.

And I love her.

Happy 4th birthday, my girl.