Tuesday, September 14, 2010

She's 23, Seriously??!?!?!



Happy Birthday sounds so very insignificant, especially when I'm wishing you more than just a HAPPY birthday. I want you to have the kind of birthday that is the kind where you fall over drunk from sugar rush and from over eating Monkey Bread. I want you to wake up with a smile on your face and go to sleep with a smile on your face just because you are celebrating you! We're celebrating you too!

My world has never been the same since you were placed in my arms 23 years ago. I remember the awe of what it felt like to be a mom. No longer would I define myself as just a wife but a wife and a mom. Your presence signified to me that I would never ever live the life I used to live and I haven't - all because of you.



The very first time you made my heart stop when you swallowed the nickel, to the time you talked endlessly about going to school, only to cry every day for two weeks straight because you missed your mommy will always be treasured memories.

Others lives have also been changed because of you. I'm sure you were the very first three year old that memorized the eye chart. The doctor thought you had 20/20 vision until you said, "I didn't see it, I memorized it." I'm sure new methods were born from that very experience.



Your addiction to gum of every sort was a blessing in disguise. It was often used as a method of bribery. Priceless! (I'm shocked you didn't marry the shareholder of Bubble Tape).

You dreamed simple dreams, made up beautiful songs, wrote wonderful stories and always made me smile. (You still do.)

When asked what you wanted to be when you grew up, your answer remained the same for years and years. "I want to be a singer, dancer and princess." Well, one of those three came true. You ARE a princess. You have taken the world head on and shown people that you are your own person, creating your own brand and seeing beauty through your own eyes.



Even better yet, you've been the greatest big sister a little sister could ever hope for. From the time your baby sister could recognize truly what a hero was, you were it. She walked in your footsteps, gave you her gum (sometimes unwillingly), watched Annie 10 billion times, listened to you sing Tomorrow, 8 Quadrillion times, humored you when you made her green eggs and would threaten to beat up anyone that hurt her big sister. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for still being her hero and more.




Even now, being so far away from you, you've been our biggest cheerleader, encouraging us to go for it. I just know that you wouldn't have encouraged us so much unless the biggest surprise yet was that you and my son in law were moving here to Oregon along with us. (Sorry if I spoiled your Christmas surprise...but we'll pretend to be surprised.)

When you blow out the candles on your birthday cake, remember how loved and cherished you are. We WILL celebrate your birthday when you are here with us, promise!!



I love you, Baby! Happy Birthday to my first baby girl.

18 comments:

Mari said...

Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter! She's obviously very smart as well, if she memorized the eye chart at three. That is amazing, but it also gave me a laugh this morning. :)

MissKris said...

What an absolutly lovely young woman! And wasn't it just yesterday she was that little girl?! I dunno about you, but my two will be 32 and 34 this year and it just doesn't seem possible. The years are definitely fleeting....

Kwana said...

Aww what a lovely young woman. Happy Birthday!

Saranne said...

Happy birthday to your lovely daughter...my daughter is 27....where do the years go? She's blessed to have such a wonderful mother who helped to shape and mold her to be as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside! OX

Deidra said...

Oh man! This was beautiful! Memorizing the eye chart? Why didn't I thin of that?!?!?

Deidra said...

Because I can't spell, that's why.
*think ;)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Here's sendin' your beautiful baby girl a giant HAPPY BIRTHDAY from the Ozark hills. Oh, sweetie she is just gorgeous.

I loved your tribute to your very creative kiddo! Heeehehehe, ya gave me a good laugh this morn.

My BD was yesterday...I've had better...My daddy who has battled leukemia for over 30 years is not doin' well. Please say a little prayer for him if ya get a chance.

God bless and have a marvelous day celebratin' your girl. I sure hope it involves cake and mounds of icing!!! :o)

Debby@Just Breathe said...

She is gorgeous! Hope her birthday is fantastic. (I got a quarter stuck in my throat when I was little)

Diva's Thoughts said...

She's beautiful. My God son is also 23 and has 2 children so I am a God grandmother!! Yikes I feel old.

Happy birthday to your daughter!

Unknown said...

what a beautiful way to express your love and pride for Ev'Yan. I can only wish for my mom to express it as eloquently as you did.

Unknown said...

I am an avid reader of Ev'Yan's blog Apricot Tea. Can I just say that every now and then I get smacked in the face at how mature and well rounded Ev'Yan is, (I am 35). Your little grown up girl is definitely special. The world would be a much better place if we all learnt to have such wide and encompassing hearts as Ev'Yan's.

What an absolutely blinding job you did as a parent. It could be worth bottling some of your parental anecdotes in a book- if you haven't already.

Buckeroomama said...

Oh, happy birthday to your September girl! I always could so feel the love whenever you write about your girls. :)

Z and she might have something in common: Z also wants to be a princess and she now belts out Tomorrow like there's no tomorrow! :)

Elle Bee said...

AH! Happy birthday!! What sweet baby pictures and beautiful young woman she's turned into!

Mandy said...

She's beautiful and courageous and inspiring.... just like her mama! Happy Birthday to her and Congrats to you all!

Lin said...

Oh, Happy Day to the day you both share! She is beautiful, Simone!!! And what a surprise that she is coming to be with you. :)

Happy Birthday to a lovely young woman! :)

Heart2Heart said...

Simone,

She is simply beautiful in all that God has created her to be and more. The best part about being a parent is seeing things from God's perspective so much more.

May she continue to have many many more happy blessings on her birthdays and every day in between.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Joanna Jenkins said...

Hey Simone, I'm sorry I'm late to the party. Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter! I hope her celebration was fantastic and that the coming year is absolutely fantastic!
xoxo jj

Veronica Lee said...

Your daughter is beautiful, just like you.

 

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