Because Listening to Country Music Makes Me Sappy...

10 Things I Am Thankful For, In No Particular Order

Number 2: My daughter. She is my shadow.

Today I decided to straighten my hair for no particular reason, other than being out of gel/mousse. I tried scrunching it yesterday with my straightening gel, and that really confused my poor tresses, leaving it in a frizzy, half-curly, half-straight mess. I couldn't deal with another day like that, so I decided to take the time to straighten. No small feat with a two year old. However, Madders entertained herself by smearing my makeup all over her cheeks in war-paint fashion. When I showed her her work in the mirror, she seemed quite satisfied with the results. And later, when I stealthily tried to wipe her face, she squealed, "Mommy, NO! Don't wash off my MAKEUP!!" I can hardly imagine how her teenage years are going to be.

Anyways, I was straightening my hair. Madalyn eventually tired of the makeup, and wandered to the living room to play with toys. By the time I finished, the little Miss was a stinky make-up artist, so I laid her back to change her diaper. Really seeing me for the first time since I finished getting ready, she said,

"Mama! You are a princess!" and then proceeded to reverently touch my hair as if she were a remote jungle child seeing blonde hair for the first time. It got me thinking that maybe I should straighten more often.

And that I love my daughter. After her bath, she wanted me to blow dry her hair, and make it look straight and smooth. Which is perfect, because it plays beautifully into my master plan to be able to blow dry and curl it for Christmas portraits. Yeah, I know that's a big dream. Especially since half-way to dry, she declared, "O-kay, Mama. That's good. I look like a princess. Can I go watch a movie?" When I told her she still had wet strands she said, "Oh no, Mommy. They aren't wet, they're just warm." Right.

But before we went to watch a movie, I clipped her fingernails and toenails. I know, very uneventful. Very everyday. Yet she was sitting on my lap, warm, dry, and quiet, and it was just one of those moments. There are days I go a bit stir-crazy. I fight to see what's ahead, where we are going. I plead with God to lead us, to give us a chance to do right by Him in our one chance we have to walk through life. I look forward.

So country music makes me sappy. Right now I am watching the CMA awards. I am writing, and had paused in the middle of that last paragraph, not sure where I was headed. Then I knew. Because Trace Atkins just started singing this song. In summary, I am thankful for my daughter. Where she is right now. Where we are right now. And that God is here...right now.

"You're Gonna Miss This"

By Trace Adkins

She was staring out the window of their SUV

Complaining, saying "I can't wait to turn 18"

She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules"

Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school

Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you"

You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it, she's a brand new bride

In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by

He tells her "It's a nice place"

She says "It'll do for now"

Starts talking about babies and buying a house

Daddy shakes his head and says "Baby, just slow down"

Cause you're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater

Dog's barkin', phone's ringin' One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'

And she keeps apologizin'

He says "They don't bother me. I've got 2 babies of my own. One's 36, one's 23.

Huh, it's hard to believe, but...

You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this"