New Beginnings

So I this day seemed ages away for me...but it is here and I am full of emotions. Savannah was invited to participate in New Beginnings, it is a program to welcome all the young girls that will be turning 12 this year into Young Womens, a program set up for girls 12-18 in our church. It is an amazing program that teaches the girls to Stand up for their beliefs and acquire and work to obtain and hold fast to certain values; faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity and virtue. I am so excited for Savannah to embark on this journey of Young Womanhood, but I am sad that it arrived so soon. I mourn for her little baby face and hands, and her sweet little lisp...but I look forward to relating to her on a whole new level. I will always be her mother but I look forward to seeing Sav on a deeper level and nurturing our emotional relationship.

During this meeting the mothers were asked to read something they wrote about their daughter. This is what I wrote to my Savannah:

Beauty is found in a newborn baby with eyes as blue as the sky.

Beauty is found in a toddler of one with a constant smile and contagious laugh

Beauty is found in a toddler of two with trusting eyes as she runs at full speed into the arms of her daddy.

Beauty is found in a child of three with a brain as big as the world. She memorizes anything and is already reading as she gathers information she eagerly shares it with everyone.

Beauty is found in a child of four with the sweet seeds of faith already planted she begins to recognize the Spirit when she reads scriptures with her mom and dad and bears testimony for the first time.

Beauty is found in a child of five with a love for animals that can’t be matched. As she begins riding a horse for the first time her eyes light up and even the smell holds her fancy and she knows from then on that her place in this world is riding on top of a beautiful mare.

Beauty is found in a child of six with bravery as she makes her way out of her comfort zone into the new world of Japan. She steps inside a bus to ride 45 minutes each way to a new school in one of the world’s largest cities. Knowing not a single soul she bravely waves goodbye to her mom and it is then that her mom realizes she is no ordinary child.

Beauty is found in a child of seven with an obvious love for her siblings. As one day her mom in search of her baby brother finds him nestled up against his big sister while she was taking a nap. His love for her genuine and he didn’t want to leave her side so there he stayed until she woke up.

Beauty is found in a child of eight with a uniquness that she treasures. She now resides in England and realizes she loves being different. She relishes in her American accent and her American ways.

Beauty is found in a child of nine with strength of spirit as she makes her 9^th move. As her mom watches her struggle to say goodbye to her best friend in England and strives to be brave and strong as she flies to her new home in America, to a new school, to meet new friends; she realizes once again that she is an extraordinary child.

Beauty is found in a child of ten with a compassionate heart she befriends kids at school who have none. She stays true to herself as she tries to find the friends that have common interests and morals as she does.

Beauty is found in a young woman of eleven with eyes as blue as the sky, a constant smile and a contagious laugh, with trusting eyes and a brain as big as the world. Her testimony is strong as her seed of faith continues to grow, and a love for animals that is unique to any child I have ever known. Her bravery is astounding as she time and time again has to deal with change and adjust her life and her surroundings. Her love is deep and obvious for her family, her uniqueness a treasure. Her Spirit is tenacious as she is tested in life’s trials and passes with flying colors. Her heart is compassionate, never wanting to do wrong and always wanting to make others happy.

This child is beautiful and this child is mine. My sweet Savannah