fourteen...

Well sister girl, you are fourteen! 

I could pinch myself at how lucky I am to be your mom.  You are one special girl! 

You were born in the busiest time of year which is appropriate because you are the busiest girl!  Sometimes your birthday gets celebrated later or multiple times (which is more the norm) because it’s so crazy busy in May.  For this reason, you have learned to enjoy multiple cakes because there are plenty of gatherings with multiple people and we call them all your birthday party.  May you always figure out a way to be celebrated.

You’ve always been free spirit and free range is your favorite - with no schedule, no shoes, and preferably with some sort of music playing in the background, or Gilmore Girls.  EXCEPT when it’s a trip - then you’re the first one packed and in the car.  That’s why summer is your jam.  You are a lover of snacks - especially cheese balls, M&Ms, and white cheese dip, and believe (as do I) that dessert should probably come first and maybe should just be the meal.  

You are a list lover and a calendar keeper, and an alarm setter - one will not do, you must have multiple dinging alarms for each activity.  You are a pen collector, a letter maker, a lover of office supplies, and a maker of all the things.  You are a get the job done girl and not super interested in doing a whole lot extra unless it’s something musical or creative.  I value that.  You’ll do exactly what needs to be done and then you’re just fine to call it off and move on.  But, you will do what needs to be done very well, so that’s the part that matters.  

I have always also said that you were an executer more than an explainer.  Even when you were very tiny, you always had a plan, we just mostly didn’t know it until you executed that plan.  I would often find you jumping like Tarzan from the swing off the play set, or perched on the bathroom counter with your toes curled over the cabinet doors to turn on the water upstairs.  You are also a performer and have apparently been practicing this for a very long time according to the videos you have saved on my iPad from when you were little.  Thanks for that - they are hilarious to watch and that tiny voice is just too much.  

You are a girl who sees opportunities and not obstacles which is mostly a good thing.  You also were the smallest of the pack of friends we were with and very determined not to be left in the dust - you’ve got the big kids to thank.  It has made you tough as nails and probably even more determined than you are genetically predisposed to be, which is saying a lot.  Look out world! 

This year was kind of a milestone I guess - or at least we had enough ceremonies in May to make it one.  You have successfully completed middle school which means that so have I - for the third and final time.  No one is looking back on that!   Eighth grade brought actual school as opposed to the sometimes school so that was a real bonus.  We basically spent this year slowly breaking ALL THE RULES that were set the year before.  This year also brought back ALL THE ACTIVITIES and I have spent a fair amount of time driving you around to all of them - there’s nothing I’d rather be doing!  You’ve managed to navigate the middle school waters gracefully, and while there’s lots of parts that weren’t necessarily your favorite (or mine for that matter) you’ll hopefully be better for it.  Probably the most important middle school lessons (and life in general) is learning how to treat other people and how to speak up for yourself and for others who can’t speak for themselves.  I pray that you will always treat people how you want to be treated. 

You managed to fill your year with a lot of running, some singing, and even squeezed in a theatrical performance somehow - It was an impressive schedule of events.  And for the record, you managed to do them all really well.   

Cross country season was just the most fun to watch - you worked so very hard and you and your team stuck together.  It is still just the most fun to see you coming up that hill to the finish with that determined look on your face -  it never gets old.  And there was so much winning!  You set goals and achieved those goals and set some more.  All that winning meant you also really took me on some adventures, like that state track meet with the carpeted mall and the school bus I had to ride from some parking lot to get to the actual meet.  I never knew that some of my most exciting days would be spent in random fields in the middle of nowhere.  I also never knew how many trips to Starbucks I’d make after those races, but you’re worth it.  

Track season was equally as exciting - you finally got that mile under six minutes and ended with a 5:54 PR and individual qualifier for State - and somehow one less running shoe (oops).  I was pretty sure you had every intention of qualifying based on the meet’s proximity to Nashville because road trip - I’m no fool.  But, you sure showed up and ran some great races against some really tough competition.  And I sure didn’t mind one bit letting you skip school and spending the day in Green Hills with you.  Bring it on Shake Shack and Zara. 

You shine like a new penny on the stage when you get to sing and it is such a pleasure to sit in the audience and watch it all happen.  You sang the best little rendition of mini Michael’s  “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” to close out your Christmas show.  And my mercy, you as Mrs. Andrew in Mary Poppins was something to see for sure.  I am most proud of you for taking that role that you were’t so sure about and working so hard to make it the very best you could. It was awesome.  Your tiny friends that you made thought so too - you had a pretty big fan club considering you played such a meanie pants.  I’m always your biggest fan, though.  There’s no where else I’d rather be than a spectator in your life.  And all those self recorded performance videos when you were four have really paid off.  

We also got really good at road trips this year - especially last summer.  I feel like we just kept hopping in the car or on a plane.  You are an excellent snack packer, music player, and restaurant and coffee finder.  I learned a lot of Broadway music and you learned a lot about google maps, which led to more road trips using google maps to see Broadway musicals.  I hope we just keep seeing more.  We also accidentally went camping and accidentally had a good time doing it, but we really like hotels and we’re sticking to it, or at least I am.  You are also an excellent shopper with a good eye.  One of my proudest moments was when you appeared with the matching boot that I sent you in search of at the Last Chance Nordstrom.  Way to persevere, my girl.  I know it was because you were ready to leave, but whatever, it will serve you well.  For the record, Martha would be proud too. 

That’s the cool thing about you getting older - we get to do all the fun stuff together.  I have loved every age but also I love every age even more.  You are my mini BFF now and we like so many of the same things. MAYBE if I brainwash you enough you’ll like plants and antique stores too.  You’re also mostly all in on my projects or at least supportive but have no problem telling me that’s a bad idea.  I also like how we’re not the same and you teach me things.  You have for sure taught me to stand back and watch because you have it covered.  And I like how you are like my mother without even really knowing it.  Funny how that works.  

You generally have no problem at all saying what you think.  You are one of the most decisive people I know and always have been.  If you say yes, it’s yes.  If you say no, it’s not “I’ll think about it or maybe.”  Occasionally I have to push you to reconsider but mostly you’re pretty good at calling it and not easily influenced by what or who is around you.  

My girl, you bring us so much joy.  You are the perfect mixture of all of us and came at exactly the right time fourteen years ago when we all needed a little joy - probably a lot of joy.  You have no idea how much your little life (and your brother’s) kept me going because there was no way I was missing any of it.  Your busy little self never gave me time to think much about my own self which worked out pretty well actually.  It’s pretty great how God works those things out.  

I have had the pleasure of loving you for fourteen years and even longer if you count all the years you were just a thought in my head.  You and your brother are better than I could ever imagine - definitely my greatest adventure.   

This next year will bring high school and a whole new set of adventures.  I pray that you love Jesus and love people.  I pray you choose kindness always and stick to your gut because that seems to be working pretty well for you.  I am incredibly proud of the ways you show up in life and I am most incredibly proud to call you mine.  You are my very best girl.  

I love you Martha Katherine Jessop.  

Happy 14th birthday - a little late, because you were born in May. 

Mom.