There were many signs of aging around here last week. Here are a few examples:
1. I received a prescription for bifocals. {Sigh…}
2. Robert and I paid our first of many Baylor tuition bills. {Only by God’s provision.}
3. I bought a MacBook {Another amazing provision.}, and registered for a class at the Apple store, just like my almost-75-year-old Dad who loves to tote his DESKTOP to the store on a regular basis.
4. Our youngest child became a teenager!
And since my aging is not nearly as exciting and certainly not as CUTE as my new 13 year-old daughter’s, the rest of this post will be about her.
We began the day like all birthdays around here with a special breakfast-to-order on the red plate and gift opening. She got her much desired typewriter and two new pairs of shoes to add to her already-rather-large shoe collection. Oh, and not-real-nerd-glasses ~ a must have for typewriting. For several days I’ve been hearing what I thought to be light hammering coming from her room, but it is only Kayla pecking away at the manual keys of her new gift ~ writing letters, stories, and more.
This birthday marks the end of Kayla’s “Quest.” When she turned 12 she was given a list of challenges to complete before turning 13. She is almost finished! One of the requirements was to hike the Seven Sisters in the Mt. Holyoke range, and so last Thursday we did just that.
It was the perfect day for hiking ~ cool and a bit overcast, but clear for scenic views. We packed a lunch, and a couple of the books she’s working on, and made the trek to the peak in about 3 hours stopping along the way to eat and read and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. I think
Beautiful Girlhood is such a wonderful book for girls this age. We read two chapters during our time together: “The Strength of Obedience” and “Making Herself Beautiful.” Originally published in 1922, I’m astonished at how timeless are the unique struggles of women. You can
read it for free here, and here’s an excerpt from one of the chapters we read on our hike:
“A desire to be beautiful is not unwomanly. A woman who is not beautiful cannot properly fill her place. But, mark you, true beauty is not of the face, but of the soul. There is a beauty so deep and lasting that it will shine out of the homeliest face and make it comely. This is the beauty to be first sought and admired. It is a quality of the mind and heart that is manifested in word and deed. A happy heart, a smiling face, loving words, and kind deeds, and a desire to be of service will make any girl beautiful.”
Robert met us at the top and drove us home after taking this picture. 3 hours of semi-steep hiking is challenge enough. We were thankful for the lift home!
We’ll be celebrating the completion of Kayla’s Quest with a few special older women as well as a few of Kayla’s closest friends in a couple of weeks. Until then, she’s working hard to complete a few last requirements, and evidently having quite a lot of fun this summer…
Attending youth camp with friends and hanging out at the beach {and Starbucks, and Pinkberry…}
Being treated to dinner and silliness by a long-time friend…
Performing in two numbers at a dance recital ~ acrobatics and hip hop. She did great!
Really proud of the young woman this little girl is becoming.
Came across this verse a few weeks back, and have been praying it for my now BIG kiddos:
For I will pour out water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants; and they will spring up among the grass like poplars by streams of water. This one will say, “I am the Lord’s,” and that one will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, “Belonging to the Lord,” and will name Israel’s name with honor.
Isaiah 44: 3-5
Yes, growing girls here for sure. Praying that this new teenager and blossoming young woman will be “like a poplar by streams of water…belonging to the Lord.”
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Happy Birthday, Kayla! Love,K&J