Sweet 16!

The Princess. Pic courtesy of my Mom.

Another softball picture. That is the smile I love to see! Relaxed, kicked back and enjoying life! pic courtesy of my Mom

What a beautiful girl you are. Pic courtesy of some friend from school!

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him. Psalm 127:3 nlt

Today one of our gifts, The Princess, turns sixteen! And what a gift you are, Bess! I love you more than you will know until the day comes that you are a Mommy. I thank God for you every day, usually several times a day.

May 20, 1993...ahhh, I remember the day well. It was a Thursday and I was getting ready to go to work, but did not feel quite right. I called my doctor and explained my symptoms to him, he explained to me that labor was starting, don't go to work! I asked him if I should call my husband, who had already left for work, and have him come home. Doc said no, you will have a long time to wait. The doctor also told me to take it easy and call him back around lunch and let him know how things were going at that time. Being the obedient person that I am, I called the King any way and told him what was going on, but that he did not need to come home. He could work a full day, and by that time the doctor figured I would be ready to come into the hospital.

The King worked half a day and came home by me. My back was hurting pretty bad by now, but nothing unbearable. I called the doctor back around lunch time, told him how I was feeling and that my husband was coming home. Doctor N said as long as your husband is coming home early, you can just come into the hospital if you want. If I want? I have never done this before, I don't know if I want to or not! Some ladies in my family, some ladies I worked with at the bank and a few other ladies from the area told me to go to the hospital, they can make you more comfortable. Thankfully I listened that time.

The King got me to the hospital at 1:30 pm. The doctor checked me over and said I had a long way to go. Grrrrrr. Not what I wanted to hear! Another lady was in the room across the hall from us having a baby. She was hollering - loud - and saying not very nice things. I will spare you the words, but they were enough to scare me! The King got up and shut our door, helped some, but I could still hear her. By now I was in some severe pain, but everybody was with the other lady. After that baby girl was born, a nurse came and checked on me. "Oh!" she said, "You are ready to have a baby right now!" I was wheeled into the delivery room around 5:00 pm and our "gift from God" arrived at 5:20 pm, on 5/20 and weighed 5 lbs. Good thing the King came home early. If he had worked a full day, then drove home, he would have got home around 5:15pm!

What a gift you have been ever since. I am so proud of you and blessed to call you my daughter. Your caring and compassionate ways are unbelievable, especially for someone so young. I know many adults that are not as kind, caring, giving and compassionate as you are, Bess. I admire your drive and how you work for the things you want. Don't ever lose that. Pray lots, set your goals and work, you will accomplish much. Keep Christ as your top priority and keep showing his love to others by how you treat them.

I can't wait to see the godly woman He is making you into. I ask the Father in his great glory to give the Princess the power to be strong inwardly through his Spirit. I pray that Christ will live in the Princess's heart by faith and that her life will be strong in love and be built on love. I pray that she and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love - how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. I pray the Princess will be able to know that love. Ephesians 3:16-19 ncv

Dad and I love you a ton, kiddo!