Little Girl Gone

This morning I watched my "not so little" girl grow up a little right before my eyes. It happened in a split second and if I hadn't been watching I would have missed it. Our school here in Florida held a small graduation ceremony for all the outgoing 5th graders. It was just a little something they did to recognize all their hard work and celebrate the first class to graduate from this new school. The kids ate it up and participated as well. They presented the school with a really well done mosiac and put together a time capsule that will be opened in 20 years. As each of the 5th grade students was called, they walked across the stage and were handed a diploma from their teachers and shook the hands of the principles. As my daughter did so she stopped being a kid and transformed into a young woman. Where did that little girl go that I walked behind as she wobbled out her first steps? Where was the the little baby I would sit up with at night to help feed? Where was the toddler that always wanted daddy to kiss her boo-boos? She's gone, just sweet memories in her daddys heart. And as proud of her as I am, and I am incredibly proud, my heart aches for the times that have quickly vanished and the realization that I don't have her much longer. Each new day brings that moment of leaving terrifingly closer. I stop and ask myself "Where did all the time go and how much faster is it going to speed up"? But I am also very thankful. I'm thankful for the blessing that she is in our lives, how she brightens up our days, how she makes everyone feel as if they're the most important person in the room, how she makes her brother laugh, how she loves people, the servant leader that she's becoming, how status means nothing to her, they way she treats people and how she continues to stand up for the little guy. She is turning into this amazing young woman right before us. Her heart breaks for those left out and she does something about it. I remember that right after the Joplin tornado she decided to make coasters for people to raise money and you know what? She did! She ended up raising hundrends of dollars from coasters and we were able to present that check to a local organization that helped put people back on their feet. That's just the kind of kid she is. I've realized that I'm very guilty of letting the everyday get in the way of living those everyday's to the full. Far too many of her childhood hours have slipped through my fingers with me noticing. So my wife and I have been living our new adventure here in Florida with intention. Trips to the beach, making home movies with the kids, epic water fights, with the occasional melt down mixed in there...but the point is that we are trying to really live life with our kids. Not everyday is going to be some grand masterpiece that will rock their world but everyday is going to spent showing them love, it's going to be spent guiding them and playing with them and discipling them and correcting them and coaching them on how to live life. I miss my little princess intensely. The absence of that giggling girl is felt deeply in my heart. But the great thing about whatching your children grow up is seeing that little one missed, turn into the big one you can't believe is yours!