Happy Birthday, Wee One!

I maybe shouldn't call you, "Wee One" anymore; you're almost as tall as me. You're ELEVEN years old today. Happy Birthday, sweetie!

A friend calls you an "old soul". I don't think so, at all, although I can see where your personality would lead others to think that. You've been the same since labor. You took your time getting out into this world, but when you decided to finally show up, the "pushing" stage of labor lasted all of one minute. I see myself in you every day. You may look almost exactly like your Daddy, but your personality is just, ME.

An old soul is someone who has maybe seen more than they should have, lived through more than they should have at a young age. You come across as much more mature than girls your age. Well, you HAVE seen more and been through way more than I would ever have liked for you to see. I suppose to someone who doesn't live with you day in and day out you seem mature, because you have learned to patiently wait while others go through their problems, you have learned empathy and compassion. I remember when you were a baby, one of the most important things I wanted to instill in you were these qualities, and I can at last see that I did succeed. I've worked hard to raise a daughter that cares about others, cares about even the littlest animals, and you do. I see my mother in you every day, but when I'm really thinking about it, like now, I realize how similar you are to me. When I was a child, people always said *I* was an old soul, and it made me so mad. LOL No, I wasn't...I just had a lot to deal with and a lot of maturity pushed onto me ...just like you, sweet C.

You are the helper around the house. You are the comforter to others. You're slow to warm up to people...but once you decide they're safe you're all love. This is exactly how I wanted you to be. I didn't neccesarily want you to have to see many of the things you've had to see, but I'm glad you're not sheltered from reality. Life is hard, some people are not good, and much better to learn how to deal with that while still young and the person who loves you (and your sister!) more than anything else in this world can help you properly deal with issues. Just because life is tough doesn't mean it isn't great. Just because people are mean doesn't mean ALL people are. You've learned daily that promises are meant to be kept, honesty is the only way to go, and loved ones are meant to be cherished.

I also see the other side of you...you get silly, but not as silly as me yet. (Took me 23 years to get to where *I* could be silly around others.) You get mad and pouty when you're tired or embarrassed. You are NOT good at sharing, and while you've learned to cherish just about everyone else in our world, you have far to go on that with your younger sister. Unfortunately, this is also me. LOL You're sarcastic, which I love. You have an attitude big-time, and I don't think that's because you're approaching adolesence...considering you've always had it, and your mother may have just a tiny bit of an attitude,too. LOL I don't mind sarcasm and an attitude, as long as you can control them, and not abuse these qualities to harm people.

C....you're real, and honest, and have a big heart, and those are the most important things to have. I'm SO proud of you, and I love you SO much. Even though you're only eleven, you really are my best friend. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. May God continue blessing you as you enter another year on this world.