Click on the link to watch Peepers become a beautiful woman.

http://apps.rockyou.com/rockyou.swf?instanceid=50854074

It’s been a little while since I’ve posted…but good news must be shared!

Nett-Nett, Peepers, even Cricket.  That’s what her family members know her as.   She’s just your every day young lady…oh, but she’s not.  This young lady is special.  At least, to me she is.   I’d like to say that she has grown into such an enchanting young lady on my efforts alone (big smile), but that would not be the truth.   Many have played an important roll in shaping and molding her into the wonderful lady she is today. 

Despite adversity in her life, she has grown into an adorable, loving, tender, gifted young lady whom I am proud and honored to call ….my daughter. 

As my peepers headed off into the big bad world at the age of 18, I feared for her safety.  I feared for her heart and her innocence.   I wanted to shout …RUN, HONEY!!!  Run to the land of Grandpa Lop!  Hide in Alice’s teacup!  I wanted to wrap her in mommy’s arms and carry her off to a “safe” place.  A place where “boogie monsters” couldn’t touch her.

But…I didn’t.  Instead, I said…”I love you honey” and walked away.  I left my daughter standing in her college dorm room.  With my back turned to her, I allowed my tears to flow, mourning the loss of my “little” girl.

The following is a framed letter I gave to my daughter that day.

I TRUST YOU'LL TREAT HER WELL

Dear World;

I bequeath to you today one little girl... in a crispy dress... with two blue eyes... and a happy laugh that ripples all day long... and a flash of light blond hair that bounces in the sun when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.
  She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine. Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.
  Now she'll learn to stand in lines... and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells... and deadlines... and she'll learn to giggle... and gossip... and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And, now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.
  No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things... like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friend is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.
  For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers... which is only right.
But, no longer will I be the smartest, greatest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time... she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group... with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.
  She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud... or kiss dogs... or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms... or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.
  Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.
  So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl... in a crispy dress... with two blue eyes... and a flash of light blond hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.
  I trust you'll treat her well.

I Love You,  Mom

.....The good news?  Oh, yes!  The good new is... that in just a few short weeks, this same “little girl” will become a mother to her own little girl.  And so... here I've come…full circle. 

Once again, I will be one of many that will play an important roll in shaping and molding a very special “little girl” into the lady she will become. 

Now…where did I store those dolls?

Today...is my son's 21st birthday!  My youngest, my only boy. 

Chad, 8 lbs. 0 oz, born 21 years ago today at 2:19 PM.

God sends us many precious gifts, but none that can compare with the magic and wonder of a child. 

I wrote my children several letters as they grew up.  This is one I wrote to my son.

Jan 10, 1987

“You started rolling all the way over today!  To your back, which you've been doing for 3 months now, and back to your stomach again. 

Honey, your so sweet!!  You just raised your little head high into the air and looked up at me with a beautiful smile that simply melts my heart.  You have me wrapped around your little finger.  I have a feeling you'll always have that power over me.

I love you so much honey!  When I see your daddy hold you in his big strong arms, you look so frail and innocent…not yet realizing the important roll this man, that you place your complete trust in, will play in your life.

I thank God for our little baby boy.  I pray that he will help us to be worthy of the trust in your little brown eyes.  He's placed in our hands...an innocent soul, so fresh from heaven.  I want so much to be humble before his gift...and realize in our difficult task, that we need to turn for help from the greatest teacher so that we may set your tiny feet in the right direction on the path of life.

Son, we'll make many mistakes in our journey.  All I ask,  is that when your grown, please remember that we have done our best.  Your father and I love you with all our hearts!”  XO  Mommy

It seems like no time at all since I bathed and dressed him in his jammies, smelled his sweet breath as he gave mommy kisses at night and tucked him into bed.  I would stand there, beside his crib, watching him breathe and praying that God would keep him safe... just one more day.

I cannot imagine him no longer a child, but I know the time has come.  I must release him.

I must release him completely into the a world that can be so cruel and ...stand there, beside his world, watching him breathe and praying that God would keep him safe....just one more day.

God Bless and keep you until I hold you in my arms again.

I love you...my son.

Happy Birthday,

XO  Mom