Happy 15th Birthday Natalie!

Oh where do the years go? FIFTEEN! I so remember being in the hospital (for a very long time) and then hearing Jenna and Lauren's cute little voices right outside the door with Grandma when Natalie was born. She had a whole head full of hair, but unlike the other kids, she had long thick, blonde hair! All the nurses commented that they hardly ever saw that! She was such a content baby, always happy and satisfied, never demanding.
 
Skip forward a very short fifteen years....She still has that thick blond hair, and is happy most of the time, but can't call her content any more.

She was a few days old in both of these pictures.  You know, you have to catch them in those precious few minutes when they have their eyes open. Her big sisters seem pretty happy too....They didn't forget her today, either.  They made sure her gift was here waiting for her.

So tonight, she played in the Freshman BB tourney where they played Celina.  Both teams were undefeated.  Regretfully, Celina won.  My heart was pounding a few times.  Within the first two minutes, Natalie was thrown on the ground and stayed there for a few minutes holding her ankle.  Visions of a lost track season quickly entered (and left) my mind.  In the 3rd quarter, she was driving to the basket, and got hit pretty hard in the chest....she was down again...a little longer this time.  Mom and Dad went onto the court.  She must've had the wind knocked out of her, because she wouldn't even answer me. She did end up playing again, but not quite her usual self.

So, another year, another birthday, another season over.  They grow up and just when you think you measure your children's lives by their birthday's, you realize how short that time frame really is.  Instead, I've learned to measure the little things that happen every day.  Like, that my opinion still matters through the "Hey Mom, does this sweater look right with this scarf?" or the picture of her engrained in my head of the slight smile on her face sitting in the gym after the State Cross country race, oblivious to everyone around her, just sucking in the moment.  The memories are vivid now, but the key though is to tuck those memories into your heart for later.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Missy Boo!

I LOVE YOU!