Happy Birthday Dear Rebecca, Happy Birthday To You

There is one thing that my friend Lucky and I have both been really Lucky (sorry Lucky) about: each having one daughter. I have a life with so much to be grateful for that if I started to make a list, I couldn't finish it. Each time I would think I was done another item would pop into my head. So because my only child, my only little girl, who is more precious to me than I could also ever really share, is35 years old today, this entry is about her.

I warned her this might happen and she ever so kindly told me it would be OK, even that I didn't have to send my intended thoughts to her for being checked out first. She did though, try again to show me where to put those bloody parenthesis that show ownership or contractions. I pretend they're typos. Rebecca helps me with that sort of thing. Writing. When someones' birthday is about to be coming along. Stuff that normally a mom would remind a kid.

Rebecca took over that job when she was about 8. In a serious way. What can I say? She was very protective of me, smarter, more conservative, and had more common sense than any ten adults I knew. And I was very very protective of her, and the Lord made me strong and smarter than a fox when it came to taking care of my little girl.

Rebecca Rebecca, what can I say.... 35 years old, and in every one of them, i can only watch you grow more mature and gentle and sweet and dear and good and kind and loving and strong and all the more than that.... could your daughters be teaching you and opening up your heart as you did to me? It is a beautiful process, what our children give us.

You have given me confidence, maturity, a few white hairs, none to speak of. You've given me so much to be proud of, and I admire all of your achievements. You are so modest, you don't let me gush often, so now on your birthday, I am taking advantage of the ocassion to tell the world how special you are.

Your birthday is my gift. For the first of your gifts this year, please accept this portrait of yourself, wearing puffy slippers. These are kitty slippers and I couldn't find a real pair to buy for you anywhere to go with the painting. Too bad, but that was the original idea.

I love you forever, and think you have been my daughter for at least 35 lifetimes to have evolved into such a high level paragon of daughterhood. Thank you for being all that you are. I bless the day you were born, and thank heavens for our family.