Sweet 16

My sweet Madie turns 16 today.  I can't say enough good things about her.  A friend commented to me that she is a good kid.  She really is.  I was terrified when she was born.  My Mom and I did not do well during my teenage years, and I didn't want to repeat that era.  I was convinced that teenage girls and their mothers would always be at odds.  I was wrong.  Madie's only faults are probably the ones that she has picked up from me.  I find her espousing my opinions, and thinking, "ew, maybe I should not have said that so forcefully."

She is one of my "go to" kids.  If I need something done, and done well I can count on her to do it.  She has been driving for a few months now, which has taken a load off my shoulders.  She gives her sibling rides, she gets herself where she needs to be, and she has never asked for gas money.  For her birthday we asked her what she wanted to do.  She asked if Rick and I would take her out for a nice dinner.  How can you say no to that?  There have been many times when I have been shocked that she will stay home with us instead of going out with her friends.  She truly loves to be with her family, and that means the world to me.  (Although we are a ton of fun!)  We have actually asked her to go to her friend's houses on days when she has been doing more than her fair share at home.  Sometimes I can't figure out how she got to be such a wonderful person.  As I told my friend, she is so much better than I deserve.

I don't know what God has in Madie's future.  She has talked about doing mission work overseas, she has talked about marrying a pro football player and being a trophy wife, she has talked about doing physical therapy, she is still a kid, with all of her options open.  I just pray that she continues to be a wise, compassionate, funny, young lady.  God has blessed me with a precious gift in Mads, and I am so grateful for her.  She is one of my best friends, and I am glad that I get to spend so much time with her.  Happy Birthday Mads, you are tough act to follow.