14 years ago....

14 years ago my precious baby girl was born...

Her arrival into the world wasn't what we thought it would be,
and ours was never going to be the same again...

I could spend hours sharing photos from her childhood..
but I will spare you the details and share just a few.

Here's a flashback

about 12 hours old

3 wks old with Oma, who ended up coming down and living with us to take care of Sam when I went back to teaching.

2 yrs old... and too adorable for words.

Sam on her 3rd bday... with Emma and me

3rd birthday party crowns & cupcakes

First day of school at MG - 6 years old.

11 years old.

This past fall - 13 years old.

Josh and I are blessed beyond measure with such a beautiful daughter on the inside and out.

always the big sister...

Scenes from today...

Sabbath School
Church
a fabulous lunch with friends
an ASB movie night at the school...

a birthday cake...
that fell apart last night... 

the birthday girl :)  Wearing her new Tim Tebow T-shirt.
(She had a Tebow Birthday Board this morning when she woke)

great story to go along with it... something about me not wanting to bring the cake I made because parts of it fell apart... and their were going to be two "martha's" at lunch... but I swallowed my pride and brought the lemon pound cake crumbles and all... it actually tasted pretty darn good.

God has blessed our family for the last 14 years with a beautiful & kind daughter.  Sometimes when I watch her leading out with a worship service, stepping up with something regarding our family or her friends, her organization, and her ability to exceed whatever is placed in front of her, I can't believe she is my daughter!  I can't wait to see what God has in store for her during her 14th year and I pray for the ability to be the exact type of mother that she needs.

Happy Birthday Samantha!
I love you, and I am so proud of how you are growing day by day!