As a young mother of one three year old son, I was pretty convinced that I didn’t want girls. I kind of grew up a Tom Boy. Didn’t wear make up til I was 21, and didn’t think I had what it took to conquer the world of pink, Barbie’s, and Tu Tu’s. Almost 23 years ago around this time of the year I was very pregnant with a baby that was bound and determined to not reveal it’s sex during the ultrasound. My husband and I were trying to prepare for baby number two clueless of whether to invest in pink supplies or reuse the blue. I took my son to a local park one afternoon to let him have some time out of our apartment. While there I looked across the park, and I saw a young mom with her cute little girl. There’s been a few times in my life when I have heard God clearly. That day was one. When I looked across the park, I heard Him say, “You’re going to have a girl, and it’s going to be ok.”

I’ve hesitated to talk much about that day, because I didn’t want to appear spooky, or weird. But through the years those words have been an anchor to a mom who has felt a little lacking in the femininity skills. After 23 years of tea parties, pink everything, Barbie’s being traded in for the One Direction boy band crush, training bras, prom dresses, sleep overs with girl friends, high school, college, moving out, meeting her fiancé etc. I quickly learned the girl mom ropes and loved the moments that this little girl and her younger sister have brought for me. God was right, I did have a girl, (two in fact) and it has been more than ok.

Times have not always been easy in our 23 years together as mother daughter. There have been disappointments, losses, hurts… Things we both learned a lot from and some stuff I’m sure we both would agree we would never want to repeat. But God has been faithful to us both when we walked through the hard stuff for a daughter go through and a momma to cry and pray a lot during.

This Saturday we will celebrate the uniting of my girl that God gave to me 23 years ago to a special young man that I’m sure is God’s gift to her and to our family. It’s been a long road that has brought us to this point. The trip hasn’t always been easy, but where we have come is a beautiful place to be, and I am grateful that God is faithful and His promises are true. I did have a girl, now a woman, and everything is beautifully ok.

There’s a song this girl likes to play when she wants to make her momma cry sentimental tears. She usually waits until we drive to Sonic on a particularly hard day and try to drown our sorrows in a Strawberry Limeade. It’s called “The Best Day” by Taylor Swift. It’s a love song from a daughter to her mom. It says:

“And now I know why the trees change in the fall. I know you were by my side even when I was wrong. And I love you for giving me your eyes. Staying back and watching me shine and I didn’t know if you knew So I’m taking this chance to say that I had the best day with you today.”

Laura, I wanted to make sure and say that through it all and I’m sure on your wedding day these words will ring true. You are my sunshine, and I have had the best day with you today.

Love you!

Mom