In the Middle

Today our middle daughter, Bailey, celebrates her 17th birthday. My beautiful, soft-hearted girl is blossoming into a delightful young woman even as I struggle somewhat with how grown she is. While I wouldn't change anything about this phase of life, I look back over her early childhood with great fondness too. Our conversations have changed and the depth of what we discuss is greater, but many parts of her personality remain the same. 

Bailey has always been wonderfully sweet, greatly compassionate, and sensitive to others. Her emotions have always been transparent and she cares deeply for the people in her life. Bailey is a great comforter and also hates to disappoint you. She is my most "huggy" child and will greet me lovingly when I come home after being gone a week or even ten minutes. She is a deep thinker and will contentedly spend hours by herself. Bailey is tougher than her soft demeanor might cause you to believe and sees things others may not. She is incredibly goofy and loves to laugh and have us laugh with her. Most importantly, she is pursuing Christ and is passionate about what He is doing in her life.

Like all of my girls she is uniquely herself and I wouldn't have it any other way. She fits perfectly in the middle of our family. 

Hey 16

Our middle daughter turned 16 today and she has been counting down the days on our refrigerator whiteboard for a while now. Even as we said goodnight last night it was with the phrase of "last goodnight as a 15 year old!" The truth is that birthdays are a big deal at our house-especially for the four lovely ladies I am blessed to share my life with. They are certainly worth honoring more than just on the anniversary of their birth, but this day in particular is special.

I don't know that I could accurately describe my Bailey (or Boo as we affectionately call her) with simple words. We often just say that Bailey is Bailey and that sums her up well. She is her own wonderfully unique young woman that loves people close to her deeply. She is soft-hearted, affectionate, and wears her emotions on her sleeve. I love everything about her and the unique bond that we share. I know that our family life would be incomplete without her wonderful smile and love. I pray daily for that big heart of hers and for God to protect her from anyone who would take advantage of her great love. It encourages me to know that her deep capacity to love also leads her to love God deeply and I pray that her devotion to Him will continue as she grows.

She asked me this morning at our traditional dad-and-daughter birthday breakfast why it is called, "Sweet 16." Even as I explained it I fell short of the real answer. The truth is that she fits that description perfectly.

Our Sweet Bailey

My sweet Bailey, our middle daughter, turned 15 today. While I am perfectly comfortable with their

growing up and the stage of life we are blessed to be in, I sometimes still can't believe how quickly they are maturing. My girl Bailey is incredibly sweet and kind-hearted and our most sensitive girl by far. She loves her family deeply & passionately and she is incredibly loyal. I love how she will sit and stare off into the distance deep in thought and is perfectly content to be by herself. She is her very own independent, unique young woman and I am proud of who she is becoming. I love this girl and all of her special quirks of personality. I'm not ready to let her go & I am forever grateful that I don't have to do that just yet. Happy birthday my girl-I'm grateful everyday for the gift you are to us.

In the Middle

Today my beautiful, blonde, blue-eyed, middle daughter turned 14. We have several friends who have commented on how they can't believe that she is this old & when I stop to think about it I admit it's a struggle for me too.

The time that we have with her under our roof is quickly growing short and I know that there is still so much that we need to do to prepare her for what comes next. It's a daunting responsibility and my wife & I want to do our very best to guide her down God's path. She is already making so many good choices and we want to do what we can to help her determine how to keep choosing wisdom. Bailey is most definitely a daddy's girl (even my wife says so) and I don't take lightly the trust that I have to protect her heart. She is genuinely sweet and hates to think that you might be upset with her. I constantly pray for the protection of her innocence and for the maturity she will need to keep herself safe in her decisions.

I love this girl with all my heart and can't wait to see the woman she will become. I just pray it doesn't happen too quickly.

My Bailey Boo

Today my middle daughter turns 13 and we have already started her day of honor with our traditional daddy-daughter breakfast. As we ate and talked with each other I could see just how much she is growing-not just physically, but maturing in her thoughts and desires. It's hard as a parent to reconcile the image of that tiny baby with big blue eyes that would stare up at me with the young lady that was sitting and drinking her coffee. So much of her is changing and yet she still possesses the innocence of heart that I pray will always be part of who she is. I hope that she will always exclaim loudly and gleefully at surprises. I treasure her excitement at seeing me come home as she runs to my car with her sisters to get hugs & kisses and dread the day it ceases to happen. She will always be my deep-thinker and dreamer-just as content to sit alone and stare at the water as she is with other people. She is uniquely and wonderfully Bailey and it warms my heart to see her love for others and her excitement for life.

I'm proud of you my girl. God is doing incredible things in and through you and He's not done yet. I'm more grateful than you could ever know for the gift that you are to us.