Sunday, January 25, 2009

When You Were Four

(This post was written for my daughter in honor of her fifth birthday, which is today, Jan. 25)


Dear Pumpkindoodle,


Last night, I crept into your bedroom to catch a final glimpse of my four-year-old girl. I did not want to disturb you, but on the eve of your fifth birthday nostalgia propelled me closer. Kneeling beside your bed, I gently brushed your cheek with the tips of my fingers. When I leaned forward to kiss you, as I did when first we met, your reaction evoked a wide smile from my lips. You nestled your head on my collarbone and sighed... and for just a twinkling, you my precious firstborn, became my newborn once again.


My mind then fast-forwarded to the events of this past year. The details of your birth and infancy are well recorded, so today I want to tell you about who you were when you were four-years-old.


When you were four, you were an artist. You viewed the world in full color and differentiated between aqua and blue...violet and purple...fuchsia and pink. While painting was your favorite medium of artistic expression, you also created masterpieces with chalk, crayons, beads, construction paper, paper plates, ribbon, and even remnants of fabric.


When you were four, you were a diplomat. During a parent-teacher conference I learned that you helped your classmates settle squabbles and negotiated many truces between peers who struggled with sharing.


When you were four, you were a trooper. Six months after your fourth birthday, we moved from South Carolina to Georgia. It was the you r fourth move to different state...the second move you remember. Although you missed your friends, church, and playground, you adapted well to your new surroundings. Yes, there were times of sadness and tears rolled down your sweet rosy cheeks, but you...without mommy's prodding, were quick to remind yourself that those friends you longed for would always live in your heart.


When you were four, you were a cheerleader. When your little brother took his first steps, you clapped so loud that he fell on his startled bottom. Whenever a friend needed encouragement, you responded enthusiastically. If you caught daddy in a rare moment of grumpiness, your hug and words of affirmation brightened his spirits. And when frustration loomed around me, you'd lift me up with a tender pep talk such as, “It's O.K. Mommy, sometimes things like washing machines just break, but you will always be a beautiful and wonderful mommy.”


When you were four, you were an ambassador of goodwill. Most children are bashful when entering a room full of strangers, but when you encountered such situations, you would smile and shout, “Look at all these new friends!” You enjoyed delivering homemade treats to our neighbors, and confidently greeted everyone you met with a gregarious grin.


When you were four, you were a little girl after the heart of God. I will never forget the day we sat together in your daddy's recliner and you asked Jesus to be first place in your life. You joined Awanas club at Life Church and learned your memory verses weekly. You openly shared your love of Jesus with others and without prompting prayed for those in need.

When you were four, you were deeply loved...just as you are today my precious girl, no mater where you are or how old you are. So now, I'm going to end my letter to you with borrowed words...words you once spoke to me...


“I love you all the way up to God and back...and you cannot love more than that.”





55 comments:

Karin said...

Precious thoughts! Very precious!

Sheryl said...

Oh what a precious post! Enjoy the birthday, all of you.

Also, thanks for having the button for the Maxey family. I was unaware of that and just spent time reading their entire blog. Also put the button on mine.

Anonymous said...

That is the sweetest letter! I hope that your little girl has the best birthday ever!

Unknown said...

WAAAAHHH!
Single most precious post EVER!!!
Happy Birthday Pumkindoodle!

(my "little" one just turned 5 in September.)

He & Me + 3 said...

What a sweet sweet post. I love it! She is going to love reading this someday soon. Happy Birthday to your little Pumpkindoodle. She is a cutie pie!

Amy said...

Sigh.

What a beautiful and sweet tribute to your baby girl.

Happy Birthday, Pumkindoodle!

God Bless,
Amy:)

Anonymous said...

Great. Make me cry first thing in the morning. :) That was beautiful; what a wonderful way to hold on to the memories of who she was at four.

Wendi@EveryDayMiracles said...

SO, so wonderful, poignant, and heat warming. ;) From another mommy's heart - I understand each emothion expressed in this one. :)

Xandra@Heart-of-Service said...

She will cherish this when she is older. Great idea!

Happy Birthday, Pumpkindoodle!

Xandra

sister sheri said...

I think precious is the word for the day! and especially for your Pumpkindoodle!

Unknown said...

Beautiful post! And what a wonderful way to remember a memorable year.
My son's birthday is today, too! He is turning 10 today.

Mocha with Linda said...

What a precious letter to a precious girl. Happy birthday to your sweet Pumpkindoodle!

mommy4life said...

what a sweet tribute!

Mary Moss said...

Just wonderful. Precious words for a precious little girl.

Kit Kat said...

That is such a sweet post! Happy birthday to your little girl!

Lucy Mills said...

How lovely - and such a great memento to look back on.

Mrs. H said...

Oh what a beautiful letter! Made me tear up! You've got a very special and beautiful little girl there! You are doing a wonderful job raising her!

Kelly said...

Special day! Happy Birthday Big Girl!

Heather of the EO said...

This is such a great way to chronicle the memories of the year for you both to always have. So sweet. Happy Birthday!

Larie Carlice Proverbs 27:19 said...

I can see this being a letter she will read many times, including to her own blessings. Awesome post Angela.

smooches,
Larie

Unknown said...

What a sweet letter...she will someday enjoy reading those special words. Great idea mom. Happy Birthday to both of you.

Tammy said...

What a beautiful post! Children grow-up so fast,enjoy them.

She one blessed child to have you as her mommy,who loves her so much.

Tales From the Eurovan said...

Sweet, sweet post! Hope she has a wonderful birthday! I can't believe she's five!
Take care,
JUlie

Cathy said...

How very very sweet!

Tonya said...

What a sweet post to your little girl! Happy 5th Birthday Pumkindoodle!

Ika Devita Susanti said...

She is really beautiful and cute! Happy birthday sweet girl!!

Unknown said...

How beautiful :)

Irma said...

What a sweet post! I've been thinking about writing a letter to my son on every birthday, this is great inspiration!

Jennifer said...

That was truly beautiful!!! Happy Birthday to your precious girl :)




Jen

Daphine said...

She is such BEAUTIFUL little girl!!! Great picture!! What precious thoughts! Happy Birthday to your Pumpkindoodle!

Rev. Peter Doodes said...

Diplomat, Trooper, Cheerleader, ambassador of goodwill, and a little girl after the heart of God.

Matthew 18:3 makes a lot of sense-

'And He said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven"'.

Blessings to you and your family Pumpkindoodle, especially on your birthday.

Tracy said...

What a precious tribute to your beautiful and very special Pumpkindoodle!

Penny said...

Precious.

Kelli said...

That was so beautiful! (sigh) I loved five. You will too.

Gretchen said...

Pumpkindoodle is such a sweetie pie. Thank you for this glimpse into her heart. She will c.h.e.r.i.s.h. her mommy's words forever. Every kid deserves to be loved as richly.

Ellen G said...

Oh my! What a precious post! Thanks for sharing. Happy Birthday to Pumpkindoodle!!!

Ronel said...

So so very sweet!!

megan said...

How sweet! Happy Birthday to your little one!! I always feel bittersweet on my kiddo's B-days!

Thank you for the compliment on my T-Shirt I made! =) It is always encouraging to hear that people like things I make.

Blessings!
Megan

RefreshMom said...

Beautiful! I may need to borrow this idea as my firstborn leaves 5 behind tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Pumpkindoodle.

Missy said...

Oh, my word, that was so beautiful. I am all teary.

And she sounds like a very, very special little girl!

Karen's Favorite Things said...

This is such a sweet message to your daughter. I know she will cherish it one day. It certainly reminds me that I need to write about my children more often. This is not a strong area for me but I would like to do better! Thanks for the inspiration.

MaryBeth said...

I love this... she will treasure it forever!

How are you permanantly recording your blog... blurb book, printing each post, something else? Seeing this post reminded me of how much I want my girls to have a copy of my blog and I had great intentions, but so far haven't found a way to make a hard copy that I like yet. Suggestions?

Vixbil said...

Beautiful....happy birthday pumpkindoodle
xx

Kimberly said...

What a cutie-pie! And what a sweet, sweet letter for her to treasure!

(Hey, I got my tea! It is delicious!!!! I'm going to get spoiled drinking this instead of my usual stuff!)

Love to you,
K :)

Alana said...

Happy Birthday to your sweet girl! That picture is adorable! Did she get those for her birthday?

Jamie said...

What a precious post and an adorable picture!!!

Amanda said...

Angela, this is so beautiful!! And touching! And thoughtful! And wonderful! I am so impressed with you and your writing ability and desire to share your heart with your baby girl.. this is just so precious!!!!

My little man is turning 4 in a couple weeks... would you mind if I wrote one similar to this for him?? (totally unique to him, but based on your AWESOME premise???)

Let me know if you would prefer not..

God bless yoU!
Amanda

Angela Nazworth said...

Thank you for all the sweet comments. Yes, any one of you who would like to take the When you were... concept for your blogs and make it your own are free to do so. If you could give a nod to this post though, that would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

stacey said...

Happy Birthday~ Pumpkindoodle!
That was so sweet~ I filled up while reading it! Your such an amazing mommy:)

Jenster said...

Such a sweet post. I've been going through old pictures and thinking back when my kids were four or five or eight or twelve... Now they're 14 and nearly 17 and still my two favorite kids ever.

misty said...

this is such a sweet sweet note!
you are going to read it to her, right? maybe even frame it to look at forever!!

happy 5th birthday!

Keeling said...

Beautiful! Love it! You've inspired me to write one of these poems for my kids. thank you!

Carol said...

Beautiful!!

Nell said...

I'm crying! Hope it was a very very sweet as sugar day for her and you.

:--) Nell
CasualFridayEveryday.com
Twitter.com/casualeveryday

Lisa-Jo Baker said...

This touched me profoundly because my little guy just turned four this year; I wrote him a similar letter. http://thegypsymama.com/2009/08/23/to-my-freshly-turned-four-year-old/ Parenting is the ultimate achey-breaky heart experience, isn't it?

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