8

Fall has fallen and my little girl just had her 8^th birthday.  Amazing.

I have to admit, I’m not sure what the future will hold, but so far, ages 6, 7, and 8 are my favorites.  Maybe it’s going to school, maybe it’s getting older and more independent, or the combination of multiple factors, but Meredith is so smart, fun, funny, sweet and sassy, and able to make connections which are surprisingly sophisticated while also being childlike at the same time.  I told this story on Facebook, but it illustrates what I mean:

Conversation with Meredith as I was tucking her in: "Mommy, said she didn't believe in God. I told her God is real. Santa Claus I'm not so sure, so definitely believe in God."

She then goes on to say, "Does God bring all the presents? He owns everything, so he has all the money, but I don't think he likes money. I think God's money is people."

She amazes me and lately these words from singer/songwriter Cheryl Wheeler just ring true to me for her:

"I must have been Gandhi, Buddha or someone like that. I must have saved lives by the hundreds everywhere I went. I must have brought rest to the restless and fed the hungry too. I must have done something great to get to have you"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxQrUotsIj4

Happy Birthday Meredith!

Oh, and if you didn’t catch it from the above story, the Santa gig is up.  If you know me, you know I’m not at all sad about this.  It’s been a fun little secret for us actually as she’s figuring out what goes on behind the curtain of parenting.