Shine On

I remember like it was yesterday, the first day the nurses placed Kayleigh in my clumsy little arms. What would I do with this little person? How would I take care of her? One day earlier, she was just a thought inside my belly, but that day I was holding a hopeful new little life right there in my own tiny hands. How scary and wonderful all at the same time.

I can’t tell you how quickly the last few years have been ripped out from underneath me. Where does the time go? We spend so much time and energy rushing to get to the next phase that we forget to pause long enough to take it all in.

There I was Sunday, standing behind my daughter of almost 15 years, watching her study herself in the 3 way mirror at the mall. We were shopping for a dress for a very special dance disagreeing about what she would wear. Then she came out in this dress, smile on her face, beaming with excitement. She was beautiful. The way she looked at herself, I knew she saw herself the way I saw her too. A vision of confidence and poise and inner beauty that found a way to shine itself out. She is my little sparkle, full of herself, bubbling over with personality, and more importantly than anything else, a portrait of happiness. In a world where kids seem so lost and unsure and unhappy, I am blessed to have this little beam of light as my daughter. Oh and that great big open mouth smile is like a contagious disease, spread it everywhere you go. Shine on pretty girl and like the saying goes, “Never let anyone dull your sparkle”. I am so blessed!