Dear Grace,
You turned 9 this past weekend. That, apparently, qualifies you as a tween (shaking my head in disbelief). There’s certainly that ever present parental sadness that the time goes by so quickly, but I can honestly say I love every stage of motherhood with you as my daughter. You’re a pure joy to witness – you truly are the sunshine in my life.
I feel it press on my heart more and more as time speeds up to humbly but firmly teach you what I know about how to navigate through this complicated life. Does it seem sometimes like I’m a little hard on you my sweet girl? Here’s why…
One of my favorite lines from an Emily Dickenson poem says “We never know how high we are, till we are asked to rise”. It strikes a chord with me because sometimes the expectations that we have for ourselves is just not enough. We need those who love us and know what we are capable of to expect more from us, to call us to rise. This is why I say “you can do better, try again”. It’s a role that sometimes is difficult as a parent because it literally aches to see you ache, we want to protect you from pain and see you only full of joy. But this is a false hope because only through challenges do we grow stronger and wiser, only those who step out bravely and faithfully experience the full and wildly beautiful life God has prepared for us.
So I’m going to challenge you. I’ll push you to grow and become the incredible person that you were created to be. Surround yourself with people who see and bring out the best in you. Never stop learning, never stop giving and don’t shy away from something because it seems impossible. I assure you, “God is within you, you will not fail” (Psalms 46:5)
I love you so.
Here you are in all your beauty (with a little bit of that goofball thrown in).
Happy birthday Gracie girl.
Please don’t make me cry. I was just looking at pictures of us holding her at the “old” house when she was our baby girl. I live to enjoy the moments with her as she is a delight. Very curious, full of the dickens, always helpful and most of all my loving girl friend. I love the pictures that capture her true spirit. Happy Birthday Miss Grace Faris. You are loved.
Amazing! Grace is gorgeous and amazing and you are too.
Let me get my Kleenex….. so beautiful ? great pictures Jen, I’m sure it wasn’t hard to catch a beautiful picture of grace-she is a beauty inside and out ?
What a beautiful young woman. I love the silly faces mixed in with the more serious <3
What a GORGEOUSLY written blog post and beautiful Daughter!!! Happy Birthday, Grace!!
She is a great model all ready! My daughter is only 2 but it makes me think how fast time flies. Don’t blink!
Thank you so much for sharing your heart! You sound like an amazing mother, really pushing her to success! Such a beautiful birthday session!
You not only captured beautiful artistic imagery, you also captured her personality. Beautiful photoshoot.
I absolutely love this– and these are gorgeous photos!! I feel you– I have twin boys that will be 7 this year…and it’s quite heart wrenching, scary, beautiful and like nothing else to be a parent!
These are truly special portraits. I wish I had some like this of myself when I was young to look back on!
I am so glad that you are writing again. It brings joy to my face because I hear your voice when you are describing all that you love. Gracie is beautiful inside and out. I can’t believe how grown up she looks. May she become everything you wish. Love you!
Those details…sensual!
Love the goofball shots especially! What a sweet session for your baby, no matter how old she gets!