Dear Reagan,
Twelve years old already.
You are growing up so fast and so beautifully. It’s amazing and inspiring to see you become
more and more “you” every single day.
Here’s what life is like right now.
You are still, and will likely always be, my responsible
one. We let you babysit your siblings
for an hour or two here or there and you do great. Rules are a big deal for you and you try your
best to follow them. I anticipated this
first year of middle school to be a tough one, but you have adjusted so easily
that it’s a bit unnerving. You don’t
need to be tell you to do your homework or to study for a test. You know what you need to do and you just do
it. It’s a wonderful quality in
you! You seem to be a little better at
finding balance, too. You don’t seem to
pressure yourself too much the way you used to and I am so proud of you for
learning how to steady yourself.
You are a wise young woman.
Frequently you see how words could or do make someone feel and you
adjust accordingly. We’ve had great
discussions about things that have happened at school or elsewhere and I love
to see that you are processing all of these things with a kind, but
truth-seeking heart. I trust your
decision-making and applaud the way you think things through.
You are still a great big sister. I know it’s not easy to be the oldest. We’re making all of our mistakes on you. Ha!
Just kidding. But seriously, you
are blazing a trail and I am so glad for the steps you are taking and the path
that your siblings can watch and learn from.
You aren’t perfect, but you are a good kid and I am glad for the example
you set. You love to read to
Hunter. You play cars or trucks or farm
with him all the time and he loves you for it.
You and Maddie are super close and super different, but you are still
good to her. I love that you play
together still. Hearing the two of you
giggle when you have sleepovers (every night) is a sweet joy of mine even if it
does drive your Dad crazy.
You have this natural ability with music that still stuns
me. You have sung with me on praise team
several times and never seemed intimidated.
You can play just about anything you want to on the piano, it
seems. Same goes for trumpet. It is not at all uncommon for me to be
getting ready in my bathroom and hear you playing a song from The Greatest
Showman on the piano or trumpet. You
have this wonderful ear for music and can pick out a tune so quickly. You also have an amazing high soprano voice –
higher than mine. You just get
music. It’s a language you speak easily
and fluently and I am so proud of the way you so faithfully build that talent.
You are not the boy-crazy type of girl. You think that it is embarrassing and
hilarious if a boy “likes” you. You
shake your head in bewilderment at kids in your class who are boyfriend and
girlfriend. All of that is a bit beyond
you. And yet, you love reading
age-appropriate romances. You are caught
in this strange in-between stage. Sometimes
you play and sometimes you tire of toys.
Sometimes you want to wear the comfy easy clothes and sometimes you want
to dress up. No matter what way you are
leaning on a given day, it isn’t a battle with you and I am thankful for that.
One of my favorite qualities about you is your
contentment. You never seem to really be
wanting things or clothes or experiences or stuff. You are happy to just be comfortable with
what you have. I rarely hear you
complain. I hope you can keep that in
your heart for your whole life.
I’m loving these preteen years and I didn’t really expect
to. I thought we would have more
disagreements and conflict. Some people
tell me that is coming and maybe it is.
I don’t know. But that isn’t
really your personality either. We get
along really well, you and I. You are
super logical and it is easy to reason with you. You feel things deeply and more often than
not I have to watch my words that I don’t unintentionally wound you. You are very level-headed and not a
roller coaster of emotion. You surprise
me with the way you take risks I never thought you would take, the bravery you
show when I would think you would be too shy, and your willingness to try new
things that would scare me. 
I see so much in you that can only come from one place –
Jesus. God has given you so many
wonderful qualities of His own – qualities that I struggle to exhibit. I know He is teaching you and shaping you and
guiding you in His own perfect way. I watch
the promises He made in your baptism come true each and every day. Maybe, the world won’t always notice or applaud
the quiet, reasonable, wise girl that you are.
What you have isn’t the kind of showmanship that normally gets a lot of
attention. But Reagan girl, I see
you. I see the bright beautiful person
that God has designed you to be shining through. There may be times when you doubt that down
the road, but I want you to know I am always looking for the best and brightest
parts of you and they are never hard for me to find. You are so very loved by Him and by all of
us. I am indescribably proud to be your
Mom and so grateful that I get to celebrate YOU on this Thanksgiving day.
Happy Birthday Reagan.
I love you so.
Love,
Mom
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