Dear Emmalee 13 years

 Dear Emmalee, 

My goodness! Are you really 13? Are you really a teenager? I think of those words and can't believe I got to live to see them come true. I wonder if other parents view their kids' birthdays with the awe of getting to see them as I do. I was only going to see your third birthday. Getting to see you go into your first teenage year is a miracle for me. It was a miracle for both of us to make it to this birthday with our relationship intact. Baby, we had our ups and downs. I was not expecting the influx of hormones to have the personality change it had on you. For a moment there, I didn't recognize you. I had to understand that the physical changes you were experiencing were not something you knew how to cope with. It was scary. I wish I could have been better prepared. I wish I could have been more understanding of how you were feeling at the time. I hope I wasn't too tough on you. I am so grateful that acclimating didn't take too long either. It was probably some four months of getting in tune with your cycle. Now, when the change happens, your parents are better prepared for it. You are better prepared for it. And now that your sister will soon go through the same change, we are all better prepared. Sorry that, as always, you are our guinea pig. I will always apologize while at the same time reminding you that your father and I are also the older siblings and guinea pigs of our parents, so we don't feel too bad for you. 

My favorite thing has been watching you mature. I remember how much my life changed when I turned 12. I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and began living purposely for Him. I remember my 12th year being a pivotal year for my spiritual and personal growth. While I wanted that year to be meaningful for you too, I didn't put any pressure on you. But it was so beautiful watching you mature on your own. You have made mistakes, but you have used those mistakes to grow in character and mettle. You made being trustworthy one of your personal goals and became very zealous about making your parents feel and know we could trust you. You did this by being open, honest, vulnerable, accountable, and accessible. Not something parents of teens could easily say. It is still very painful to say that I am a teen's mom, but I am so incredibly proud of my teen girl. 

I don't think you realize the power you wield. I don't think you understand how influential you are to everything that happens around you. You are looked up to by your sister and peers. You tried to escape the "bossy" label, but you can't escape your leadership abilities. People just instinctively want to follow you. The fact that you lead without even realizing it is so fun to watch. Your friends take cues from you on how to act and react. They know your presence can make or break a gathering. You have no clue. I am proud of that because that way you get to lead through example and with humility. You are a powerful force, and I can't wait to see the ways the Lord will use all those talents. We already have 5 of your classmates coming to Crossfire. I don't think anyone at CCA ever had that pull. 

Your beauty is as mesmerizing as ever. I was watching you at the beach playing volleyball and couldn't believe my daughter was that perfect. I love that you don't realize just how beautiful you are too. You don't show off. You dress style is relaxed and baggy. I love to take you shopping. You know what you want, but can't find the cloth pieces to achieve it. Somehow, I can always pick what you are looking for. I loved hearing that you trust me with getting your style right. That is struggle with our generational differences. I thought we would love the same movies and tv shows. We did get to enjoy season 5 of Stranger Things together, but more and more we drift farther in the things we enjoy watching. I guess some things can't be helped. You do sneak to watch Brooklyn 99 and the Office when I don't notice you are watching with me behind my back. I don't mind as much as I should, hehehe. 

I love you, my girl. You are amazing through and through. 

Mom

Emmalee with the cake I made to sing at her school.

She was blessed to have her grandparents Lyla, Abuela Martha, and Abuelo Rodolfo join her this year.

An uncharacteristicly girly cake for Emmalee. 

\Glad she liked it.

Lyla got her a strawberry chocolate cake at Emmalee's request for her dinner party. 

We ate at Napoli, of course, as is tradition!