20!

I just can't believe that Alyssa is 20!!  What an amazing young woman she is growing into!! She is motivated, hard-working, responsible, ethical, goofy beyond anything you could imagine, a fiery little stress ball, a bit short-tempered, artistic, musical, caring, spiritual,  practical, sensitive, grateful, thoughtful, creative, charismatic and with a heart of pure gold!  I am so proud at how hard she works, at how seriously she takes her responsibilities, but how much she enjoys it also...and the fact that when I am taking life too seriously, she is the one to come at me with everything she's got until I lighten up.  

I don't claim to always understand her....the tea thing....and especially the bubble tea....and the candle obsesssion....it all escapes me.  She says that what she loves about tea is that it can not be consumed on the run...it makes you slow down and take a moment to breathe and relax.  As I think about it....I think candles also are relaxing and soothing....and maybe these things are necessary for her to center herself when her stress starts taking on a life of it's own.

She isn't exactly sure where she wants to head in life...but I know that given her way with people and her determined attitude...she will eventually get exactly where she needs to be.  I think back to her as a child...she was the one that could make us just stop in our tracks and laugh until we cried...without even meaning to.  She had this free spirit and wonderful sense of humor.  I see that in her still, but it is tempered by the stresses, responsibilities and weight of adult life.  I hope she always holds onto that zest for life...that ability to stop people in their tracks and put a smile on their face....because just as she needs tea to make her stop and pause....so too, do we need Alyssa...to stop and make us remember that there is joy in life!!

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!!

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” 

~ A.A. Milne