Keep Calm and Be Strong (Momma)!

My baby starts Kindergarten tomorrow...

My sweet, beautiful girl. 

She has grown into such a funny little thing. She'll talk and talk and talk my ear off.
She loves to sing, with serious expressions!
She is a monster on the soccer field, and a dynamic hitter on a softball field. 

She's dramatic- emotional, playful, sincere. 
Loves to play 'lion' and is great at giving 'high paws', playing fetch, and taking treats without biting.

My days with her are golden and will be with me forever. 

And as she grows, I try to remember. I want her to be confident. Brave. Stand up for others and what she knows is right.

I came across this awhile back, and wanted to be sure to share with my fellow blogging friends. I was saving it for something special, and I think the Night Before Kindergarten is pretty fitting. 

     Yes she's a Princess, she's my Princess.
But she's a curious, kind hearted, creative and strong Princess. 

And off she goes to Kindergarten in the morning. Be with Lord, and give her strength to be brave, wisdom to be to be kind, and an energy that is full of love. 

 
 

Lookin' Pretty

Today's post comes from the heart of my 5 year old daughter, The Princess. Talking in the truck the other day, she says, "Momma, you're so pretty when you wear a dress." So, I asked her, "If I was not wearing a dress, would I still be pretty?" Her reply was simple, "Yes, momma, you're always pretty." 

This just really got me thinking- what am I teaching my daughter when I tell her how pretty she is? Am I teaching her that it's important to look her best; or am I contradicting that and telling her that being pretty is the most important thing? I realized today just how often I look at her and tell her she's beautiful or cute or looks pretty (which of course, she is!). Before, I had always thought that was a positive thing- and I still do. I just need to make sure to balance that out with beauty from within. Teach her to be beautiful with her words and her actions. And where it is important to be confident and do your best, it's not the only thing that makes a person "pretty." I want to teach her to recognize the beauty in herself, but also the  beauty in others- to see how her brother helped her pick up her room without even being asked. To see the lady at McDonald's ask about her cute high heels and tell her a story about her favorite shoes. "Pretty" is every where around us. Let's start seeing it!

This commercial had me crying like a baby when I first saw it. I want you to read the words first, then watch the video. 

This is exactly the kind of princess I want my daughter to be. And also the kind of princess I hope I still am!

I hope this journey teaches me that although I do want to be wrinkle free and have gorgeously smooth skin and an even skintone without discoloration, it's not the end all be all. I'm a beautiful person on the inside- confident, kind, respectful, strong, funny, and sincere. I want to make sure everyday I'm "looking pretty," even without a dress on. =)