twenty-one and some things...

As I look into those deep eyes of yours or watch you sleep or see that big beautiful smile, I can't help but pray for you to have the world. Here are 'twenty-one and some' things I want you to know baby girl:

1. I want you to know God. Pray to him and thank him whenever you can. You don't have to be in a church to speak to God. He is your best friend. Trust him and listen and then share His word and love.
2. Know that your dad and I love you more than the world. I cannot express the amount of love I have for you. My heart hurts I love you so, I miss you when you nap and your smile fills me with love. I would do anything for you. You will always be my baby. 
3. Choose your friends wisely: you will become like the 5 people you spend the most time with.
4. Your dad is one awesome man. He provides, protects, knows how to have fun, forgives, loves planning beautiful surprise gifts/ trips, and tells us we are beautiful everyday. Find someone like him to marry. Marry your best friend.
5. Be responsible and dependable but don't grow up too fast. Be a kid at heart always. Don't take life to serious. Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.
6. Be mindful of what you put in your body. Fuel it with whole real food from the earth. Drink plenty of water. God made you, take care of his work. But every now and then splurge on butter, ice cream and a really good brownie. Grandma June lived this way. Food should always be cooked with butter and love. 
7. When grocery shopping stay on the perimeter of the store. The aisles in the center are "fake food". Just because you can put it in your mouth, swallow it and poop it out doesn't mean it has any nutritional value. ;)
8. Stay active. Play in the garden, walk around the neighborhood, jump in the snow, dance in the kitchen, do yoga on a paddle board, hike to a waterfall, jump in the lake and pull weeds when your stressed. Just keep moving. 
9. Be proud to be a girl! We are hard workers, who can do much of anything we put our minds to; all while wearing killer heels ;). So fight like a girl, run like a girl, throw like a girl and win like a girl. (I will tell you a secret....girls really run the world (we are just so good at it that we make the boys 'think' that they do ;) 
10. Nothing good happens after midnight. Be home before then. 
11. Be yourself. There's only one YOU in this entire world. There will never be another copy. Everything about YOU is beautiful. 
12. Mistakes are when we learn to be better. Mistakes are okay. But if you do the same thing over and over and expect different results, that's a BIG mistake. Learn when a change is needed. 
13. Travel. Appreciate the world, the USA, the wilderness. It's ever changing and a gift from God. Stand there in it's vast wonderment and take it all in. Take care of the environment, God only gave us one world.
14. Work hard and be a team player. Take charge and then know when to take direction. 
15. Save. Put away money from each pay check and leave it there to grow.
16. Credit cards should never contribute to debt. If you can't afford it with cash don't put it on a credit card. Pay off your credit cards every month. We really don't need much to be happy. 
17. Give. Give your time. Give your love. 
18. Be strong in your opinions but always listen to others. You don't have to change the minds of everyone, you can share your beliefs and respect theirs. (they may come around one day to appreciate your thoughts and if not, that's ok. You might learn something from them or at least you can pray for them). 
19. Be happy now. Don't wait for the next morning, the next trip or break. Don't wait for Friday or for something new to happen. Enjoy life now, in the moment. 
20. Being classy and having confidence (while still being humble) is the most beautiful thing you can wear. 
21. Your education is the best investment you can do for yourself. Value it. Share your knowledge and then USE it! Never stop learning. 
22. Be wise about your choices in life. Think them through and ask questions. And when your make a poor choice or life doesn't go as planned, accept it, admit when your wrong, forgive yourself and try again. 
23. Always have a dog in your life. They become a huge part of your heart. I think God will judge us one day on how we treated children and animals. They are two of which I wish I could take all pain away from, that no child or animal could ever be hurt. Children and animals are the closest things to heaven on earth. They love unconditionally. 
24. I want you to continue to teach me to be better for you. Because each day I live is for you and our family and I want to be the best I can. I love you my girl. 

This list will probably grow and grow with you and I. But here's to the start of all things beautiful in life.