Eleven Years Ago...

Eleven years ago today my daughter, Shariah Dawn, was born after a traumatic labor, to a naive young mother, who didn't know what she didn't know...

Thankfully, truly by God's grace and nothing else, we both survived. Shariah inherited my grandmother's beautiful strawberry blond locks along with my blue eyes and stubborn will. The nurse looked her over and pointed out how with her lovely long fingers she would be able to do anything in life. So true.

I've been reading this book called "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. In it, when he talks about living with people, he says that when he was alone he really believed his life was a movie and he was the star, after all, he was in every single scene. (I'll tell you more about the book later...)

But I think that's why I consider the experience of bringing my firstborn daughter into this world the beginning of my story. At least it's the part where my story gets good. (If you're wondering I had my daughter before meeting my husband).

Not to say anything about teenage girls in general, but me? I was pretty shallow and self-centered! I was all about living for the moment and the day, having fun, regardless of consequences. I knew barely anything of love, friendship, sacrifice, loyalty or self-control.

My story begins with my daughter because I realized very quickly that my life is about those around me. They are the characters of the deeper story.

* * *

Today for Shariah's birthday I decided to style her hair. I cut her bangs shorter and gave her the flower clip, which I won from Amber at Coupon Connections NW, put on some sheer lip gloss (cuz she's 11). Everyone at school loved the clip, but a couple of boys made fun of her bangs and told her she looked weird...

I'm sorry girl, welcome to full blown adolescence...I'd consider skipping those years personally!

The funny/not so funny thing is, when I turned 11 I wore my pink flowery pants, baby pink shirt, with a matching flowery collar. I swept my hair mostly over to one side and completed the look with a baby pink barrette and shimmery pink lip gloss.

And a girl told me I looked weird!

Now I feel bad. I should have remembered that experience, which I'm sure I carried on my sensitive shoulders throughout middle school.

Hopefully my daughter will surpass me greatly in strength, beauty, wisdom and grace. Happy Birthday Shariah!

Sigh...

Some Summer Fun

Ruby is saying "Yee-Hawwww"

Shariah and her friend Dani scaring Mom. After this I let them continue jumping from the trampolene into the pool, only one at a time!

Brayden (the little prince of our brood) chillin while Grandma pushes him gently around the pool.

My girls

We've been hanging out at the beach a lot lately with all this nice weather. Luckily I've been remembering to bring my camera. When we went we brought a huge back of delicious cherries. I would have also taken some pictures of Emma and Ruby if they didn't look like this...

And Brayden wouldn't get off his "horse" the whole time.

What's in a name?

Ten years ago I first held my baby girl in my arms. I became a single mother a week after my 19th birthday and thinking back I was like many new mothers, not knowing what was to come. And not knowing what I didn't know.

I did know some things though. I knew I wanted life for my baby. I knew I wanted a fresh start. I knew that every decision I would make from that day forward affected not only me, but this precious baby as well.

Shariah means "freedom" or "to sing". I learned that after she was named and wasn't sure how those Hebrew meanings went together. Then I came across some interesting passages of scripture where they listed people going into battle. Do you know who was on the front lines? Who walked ahead of the warriors? Singers and musicians. They sang of Israel's deliverance on the way into battle. That was how sure they were in their God! Shariah means "Jahovah is my deliverer".

Her middle name is Dawn and was taken from Isaiah 58:8, "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard."