To my dearest daughter,

13 years! It’s been 13 years of having the absolute privilege and honor of you being in my life. It is an unbelievable joy to watch you grow and blossom into the amazing person you are. Life is sweeter because you’re in it. You are an incredible delight to parent, and I am so thankful you’re mine. You’re more than anyone could ever dream to have in a daughter.

I genuinely enjoy our time together and you are seriously such a cool kid! I love hearing your ideas about life, and I value your input and thoughts about everything. Our conversations are some of my most favorite parts of each day. Just being with you is food for my soul. You’re my right-hand gal and I can always depend on you to pitch in when needed. You love others so well (even when you don’t want to!) and you are such a precious daughter, sister, and friend.

I love that you are confident in knowing who you are. You’re a 4-wheeling, chicken-wrangling, nature-hiking, football-throwing, flashlight-tagging, splashing-in-the-creek, gone-fishing, book-reading, fire-pit-hanging, black-belt-wearing, piano-playing, music-listening country girl. You are confident, strong, brave, independent, beautiful, and incredibly smart. You have an awesome sense of humor. You are wise beyond your years, and I love that you get our sarcastic comments and are “in” on so many inside jokes. I especially love that, above all, you value relationship with others. You are always up for any opportunity to spend time together, even if it means doing nothing at all. I absolutely love this about you. Never, ever lose the desire to pursue others. It’s exactly how Jesus designed us to be, and He pursues us in the same way.

Daddy and I see the amazing person you are, and cannot wait to watch your life unfold. No matter what paths you choose to take, remember that your identity isn’t in listening to country music, or 4-wheeling, or football throwing, or chicken wrangling, or Tae Kwon Do, or even being an excellent student. These are all things you like to do and are good at, but they aren’t who you are. Your true identity rests only in Jesus, as a daughter of your Heavenly Father. In fact, you were His daughter long before you were mine. Jesus knows every intimate detail of your life. He knows you better than you know yourself, and He loves you immensely, just as you are. You don’t have to do anything to earn His love, it’s there simply because you’re you. He is proud of you, no matter what you do, and He is always waiting with open arms. Jesus chose you intentionally. You have been custom-made by God for a specific destiny and a purpose! I pray that you always remember that and allow Him to lead your path.

As you walk these next years and wrestle with figuring out what your life will be, Daddy and I will walk beside you proudly. These will be some great years, but remember that there is even greater still to come. You’ll do some awesome stuff in your teen years, make some great friends, and maybe even fall in love. You’ll also make some mistakes along the way, and that’s to be expected. Know that this time doesn’t define you as a person and it’s just a small part of your life. Having said that though, enjoy it! Have fun, make new friends, be silly, and laugh lots. Do stuff you love with people who you want to be with! Make loads of memories and take lots of pictures!

I love you so very much and I’m so incredibly proud of you. You are growing into an amazing young woman and I know you’ll do amazing things in your life! Happy birthday, my sweet girl!

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

“Do not be conformed by this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

(I wrote this letter to my daughter to add into a book of letters we gifted her for her birthday.  It was filled with words from the people dearest to her.  HERE is another one of those notes from my dear friend, Kelly, at My Overthinking.)