Once Upon A Time...

 there was a little girl who was born to a mother and father who loved her more than anything in the world.  She was a beautiful baby, and grew into the cutest little toddler in piggy tails there ever was.  She loved to wrinkle up her nose as and giggle and laugh with her big brother, Taylor.  This little toddler ad the cutest little dimple on her left cheek that came out when she smiled.  She continued to grow into a bright little girl who loved school and her friends.  She played dress-up every day, loved to get messy with paints and art supplies to make beautiful creations for her mama, and also loved to play baseball the same little league team as her brother.  She was the cutest little 1st baseman ever, in her piggy tail braids and pink socks.  When she went up to bat, she could hit as good as the boys in her pink batting helmet and using her purple bat.  She was all princess with a lot of spunk and grit.  That little girl soon grew into a young woman, and continued to develop her many talents and to make many more friends.  She entered her teenage years, but never lost her pure pleasure in dressing up in princess gowns, and she never lost that spunk or determination to accomplish difficult things.

Rachel...this post is for you my dear, sweet daughter.  These pictures are of you on the night of your very first date dance, Mormon Prom.  A beautiful 16 year old girl in a dress that to me, perfectly fit who you are inside.  Absolutely beautiful, pure and clean, and full of promising color.  I am so proud of who you are, who you have become.  You are a Junior now, and 17 years old.  You're already taking the SAT and ACT in preparation for college entrance, you're talking about what you'd like to study in college with eagerness and excitement.  We are down to the last 18 months of having you in our home, and I'm so excited for you but at the same time, my heart is once again breaking at the thought of one of my children leaving the nest.  You are a complete joy to be around, so talented and so smart, and amazing athlete who has accomplished so much, a hard-working student taking difficult honor classes, a virtuous young woman holding two church callings and serving on the Stake Youth Council...but most of all, you are my beautiful daughter who can get grumpy with me but then laugh with me and share your dreams, and heartaches...a daughter I can snuggle with, watching sappy Hallmark movies and laughing at all the gooey parts, a friend who will tell me if what I'm wearing looks good or not, and who notices when I'm down and asks if I'm okay.  My daughter who even when surrounded by all of your friends isn't ashamed of me and lovingly calls me "mama."  I love you more than life itself, and I'm so very thankful that Heavenly Father let me be your mother.  I know that these next couple of years will be amazing ones in your life...many life decisions will be made, and I know that you'll be ready to make them.  You couldn't be any more perfect to me...except perhaps your bedroom.  That could use some work.  And your closet.  Yep, your bedroom and closet could use some work.  :)

Love you forever, and for always,
Mama