Labor of love

13 years ago tonight I was in labor waiting for our precious daughter to be born.  I never dreamed 13 years could go so fast.  It seems like yesterday I was just meeting her for the first time.  I never thought I could have more love in my heart for her than on that day when Mel first put her in my arms, but my love for her has grown with each day of her life.  The people who know her and love her, and those who have taken the time to get to know her, adore her.  She is a true gift from God.  I know as sure as I will take my next breath that Nicole would NEVER hurt anyone, and is very repentant if she thinks she has.  Some people may think that I think she is perfect, and she is in the respect that she is a perfect creation from God.  I know that her behavior or attitude are not always perfect, but then whose is.

She loves her family and friends fiercely and with all of her heart.  She bubbles over with love for her family, her friends and her pets.  She loves animals, which I am sure she gets from me.  She has the easygoing nature and spirit that her daddy had.  She has his long legs too, and she often reminds me that soon she will be taller than me.  She loves her nanny and papa with a love that is great.  Her nanny (my mom) was with her dad and I for her delivery.  It was so special to me having my husband on one side of me and my mom on the other side of me.  It is magical watching the woman who gave birth to me, watching me give birth to our baby.  It was a wonderful night and next morning.  Nicole was born at a little after 7:00 a.m. on April 19, 1999. 

Nicole shines with the light of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  She loves Him with all of her heart.  She loves to read her bible and memorize scripture.  She prays for every need that she hears about.  If an ambulance or police car goes by we all pray for those officers and the people they are going to help. She leads a bible study for the kids of the women's bible study I attend every Tuesday.  She reads them bible stories and has pictures for them to color and tells them about Jesus.

Nicole is generous to a fault.  If she has money to spend, she will most of the time spend more on others than she will on herself.  She is very generous with Daniel.  She adores her brother and spoils him with treats and little gifts every chance she gets.

I feel sad for the people who know her that don't see her sweet spirit, her lovings ways and her genuine kindness for others.  I think anyone who does not sense her inner kindness and sweetness is someone who has no concept of a Spirit filled, Jesus serving young girl, and a girl with a pure heart.  Again, I know she is not perfect, but she will admit when she has done wrong and is very honest and true.  I know I am supposed to feel this way because I am her mom, but I know a lot of other people who feel the same way.  Her daddy and I have always been so very proud of her.

I feel sad for all that she lost in her young life.  I feel sad that I haven't been able to "fix" these things for her.  All I can do is love her, listen to her and protect her from people who are judgmental or unkind towards her.  Her life has been forever changed by watching her daddy grow ill from cancer and ultimately dying in our home, but I also know that her life is forever changed by the love her daddy gave her while he was on this earth.  He adored her, and she him.  He bought her her first diamond.  He bought her a heart pendant for Christmas several years ago that has a diamond in it and told me that he wanted to be the first man to ever give her diamond.  He knew how important it was for a little girl to fall in love with her daddy.  I know that he set such a good example to her of how a husband should love his wife and family that she will be ready for the prince God has already chosen for her to spend her life with.

So Happy Birthday Nicole, my colie bug, my precious and beautiful daughter, Daddy's little girl and Daniel's big sissy.  We all love you so much.