The first thing Julia does when she gets home from school is hold Mary Alice. The last thing she does before she goes to bed is also hold Mary Alice.
Julia’s 15th birthday came just days after her birth and what did she ask for? A family day.
We ordered take out for breakfast (I-HOP… because I have pancake making issues, which is another post for another time) and dinner (Outback) and watched Sound of Music together. It really was the perfect day. Brian cared for Mary Alice while I took Julia shopping for an hour. It was my first outing without Mary Alice and I loved being able to give Julia my full attention. We ordered starbucks and found a cute new lamp for her room and looked for a new, more grown up bedspread.
When we got back, I sat in the driveway and told Julia how proud I am of her.
I told her that she made me the mother that I am today. I told her that she made me fall in love with my family. I told her that she is teaching me beautiful things about my faith.
I cried and told her that I already know that I am going to miss her so much when she goes to college, but that I can’t wait to see how her life unfolds. That I will always be her biggest cheerleader and that I will always be proud of her, no matter what.
Julia plays organ for church at Daily Mass and she has been so careful about practicing and not waking up Mary Alice when she is sleeping. Brian surprised her with a keyboard (and headphones) so that she can practice anytime! I think she truly loved it! (Great job, dad).
We love you so much Julia and wish you the happiest year!
Beautiful family! Julia sounds like an amazing young lady (not unlike her mama).
I had a keyboard with headphones in Bangkok, and it proved such a blessing as a coping mechanism for me and a “safe” way to practice without bothering the neighbors around our apartment. I pray it greatly blesses Julia and your family, too. (The feel should be a lot closer to an organ than it was for me to a piano.)
So much to celebrate with your family these days! Your joy, dear friend, gives me joy.
What a wonderful gift. 1)jewel for her family to cherish.2) parents who heard a heart’s cry.3)a reminder the gift of time is more precious than anything else.