When Brian and I learned we were expecting our very first child, we began a very sweet tradition. Brian and I wrote little notes in a journal for Julia. Every anniversary we would take our stack of journals and write a little note about special moments in the past year.

I kept the journal in a fireproof safe and loved looking over those notes each year. When we started the tradition, I couldn’t imagine actually giving the journal to her. Eighteen years seemed so far away. And today, I handed it over.

I handed her my history as her caretaker, memory maker, derby pie baker, and temperature taker.

I leaned back and smiled as she carefully read a few entries, surrounded by siblings just wanting to be close to her. My heart burst when she took the journal to dinner and continued reading it.

How is it possible that my oldest became an adult today? I am blessed abundantly.