today is the day!!!

I’ve thought  about this day for a while now, and here it is!  July 3, 1991 was a remarkable day in the mattingly household!  For almost ten years, every baby born to us had been a boy.  We loved boys.  We could understand boys.  Boys were great!  However, on this day, 18 years ago, the baby born…… was a girl.  A beautiful, beautiful girl.  We were beyond thrilled.  When her brothers took a look at her – I realized how very much of a blessing she already was to us.  Oh, how they loved her!  How delicate she was, and soft, and so very tiny, especially compared to them.  Truly, the princess had been born!

Fast forward 18 years.  Today that princess is practically grown.  She is a total delight when she is happy. which is most of the time.  She is joyful, helpful, extremely gifted in many areas, and lives a life that glorifies God.  She loves children, and loves to play with them.  She would choose to spend time with some of her favorites over almost anything else. And has made that choice many times.

I’m so thankful I get to celebrate her this day!  However, I must just mention, I cannot fathom how time passed this quickly!  Honestly, I know when my children were little, older mothers would tell me “time passes so quickly”, and I would smile and thank them.  but it’s so true. I’m not sure what to tell you other than, I cannot believe my baby girl is 18 years old!!! I can, however, assure you, there has not been another 18 year old girl on the planet that I would trade mine for.  nope.  sure wouldn’t.  If given a choice, I’d choose her.  over and over again.  I remember sitting in that hospital room, holding her, promising to love her forever.  so far, so good.

Sara Amanda Mattingly – happy happy birthday, my favorite daughter!  May God bless you abundantly as you continue to pursue Him.  You are a total delight to this mother, and I am forever grateful to God for you.

Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”