Happy Birthday Penny

This photo was taken when Penny was only seven. She and I were going on a trip to Pantages to see the Wizard of Oz!

Today a Grandma's Girl is 12. Twelve is a significant year in a girl's life. It's when she decides what's important to her in life and when she will discover much about life. She'll probably begin to have some political views, she'll wonder about the mysteries in life, like how an eagle flies, or how God designed us to be different from one another. She'll think about boys and she'll develop very deep friendships with her girlfriends that, if she's very careful, will influence her in positive ways that will last and sustain her throughout her lifetime. She'll discover that friendships with boys really don't last, because girls are so much more mature than boys during these next few years of her life. She will learn that she is very unique to her Mom, her Dad, her Grandma, her brother, and her girlfriends. That her individuality is what will help her take a stand when she believes something isn't right; and her uniqueness may cause her to clash with others now and then. But this uniqueness is part of who she is and what God has been shaping from the moment she was born.

Yes, my little Penny will grow up this year. And this Grandma is standing in Penny's balcony, ready to cheer her on, and watch her become the unique and lovely young woman that God has been making plans for from before she was even conceived. My prayer is that Penny will take the Lord Jesus with her wherever she goes as she stretches those wings and begins to fly.

I love you sweet girl,
Grandma (Proverbs 3:5-6)