thankful thursday

things that i am thankful for:

that smile. these days i never quite know whether an encounter with you will end with a grin or a groan. in light of that uncertainty, i'm always sure to take note of the smiles, and tuck them away inside my memory and my heart for safekeeping.

your 'ocean eyes.' they swim and swirl with the depth of emotion and complexity of thought that already characterize you, at a mere 5 years old. (or, as you would correct me: 5 & 3/4 years old!)

your nonconformity. the confidence with which you combine color, and revel in being 'mismatched.' may you always march to the beat of your own drum, refuse to shrink to others' underwhelming expectations, and assert your individuality unapologetically.

your strength of spirit. some would call you stubborn. i would argue that point. while your intense and ferocious temperament can be an enormous challenge at this age, it is also what gives me ultimate confidence in the quality of woman you are becoming.

your theatrics. once upon a time, before you were born and when mommy and daddy lived in "music city," a stranger took your daddy aside to inform him that he looked like he possessed the 'soul of a songwriter.' perhaps what they saw inside of him was the little kernel of creativity that would come to life in you. your soulful songs and dramatic dances, your works of art, your vivid imagination (and even your feats of engineering genius) constantly amaze and inspire me, and cause my heart to swell with pride.

i am so thankful to be YOUR mama.


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