This sassy little fashionista just left the teenage years and entered into the "twenty-somethings".
It's so hard for me to believe. It seems like just a few years ago Greg and I brought her home from the hospital and into our first home--a 780 square foot house. (Yes! It's true. It was just the right size for a family of three back then.)
Kelsey was a beautiful baby from the beginning and everyone that knew her fell madly in love with her. She loved people and was really such a delight to be around. Kelsey was kindhearted as a child and that incredible quality has continued to be a part of her character for 20 years. (Well, except for that time she stuffed her 3 week old sister's mouth full of playdoh.)
I have loved being her mom in every stage along the way. Don't get me wrong--she wasn't and still isn't a perfect child. But, I'm not a perfect mom either, so we fit together just right.
Here some things that she has taught me over the past 20 years--
Believe the best in your friends.
Her friends have no idea how wholeheartedly loyal Kelsey is to them. She trusts them, believes in them and really, really wants what is best for them--even when it is painful to her. This past year, one of her very best friends, Emma, made the decision to transfer from Samford University to Appalachian State University. It was such a sad moment. The night Kelsey told me, I could tell how much she was hurting. But, in spite of her own pain, she was cheering Emma on. She said to me, "Mom, I know that God is leading Emma to ASU, so I am really excited for her."
Be yourself.
It's so easy to get caught up with trying to be like everyone else. I love the way that Kelsey has chosen to just be exactly who God has created her to be. She has great style--but it's not like anyone else's style. She's always dressed modestly--even when other girls her age were following fashion trends that were less than modest. (As our little friend, Nia, taught us--Modest is Hottest!) I remember being in high school and being so concerned about trying to make sure I was dressing like the other girls so that I would fit in. I wish I had spent a lot more time and energy just being me instead of them. I am so glad that my daughter has made the better choice.
Love your sibling.
She and her sister have their ugly moments, believe me. But, the VAST majority of the time, they are the best of friends. It has always been that way. I wish that I had been a better big sister to my brother when we were growing up. I'm crazy about him now, but I wasted a lot of years not enjoying the kind of relationship we could have had. Kelsey recognizes that God gave her a best friend and she lives right down the hall.
There's a song for anything.
When Kelsey's around, you can bet she'll be breaking out in song at any moment. We call her the "walking musical". And where there is music, there is joy. We all need a little more joy in our lives.
Laugh loud and laugh often.
Having Kelsey around, makes any place a happy place.
