13

At exactly, 12:15 a.m. my girl child turned thirteen. Since she was born, I have left the corporate world and entered into the ministry, went from no college education to working on my doctorate, went from being married to being divorced, went from being a non-Christian to being Christian.

We have grown up together (which is a sad commentary on where I was before she was born). God has truly blessed me and I truly believe that even when she is having a very grouchy morning like yesterday. I never expected to have children...the doctor's said that I wouldn't. So she was a surprise and filled me with sheer terror. I had never even changed a diaper before she was born.

I had, however, raised and trained dogs for most of my life. I never knew how much that influenced my raising of Ryss until one day when she was just learning to walk. I wanted her to follow me and I slapped my thigh and said, "Come" while making the kissy noise that calls dogs. Now before you crucify me, I don't think that is an altogether bad thing. Raising/training dogs and raising children call for some similar components....consistency, discipline, your time, and most of all love.

Her birthday party is Saturday and I took her to buy her birthday clothes on Monday (she is very, very picky about what she wears). So tonight it will be just the two of us (which it has been since she was 18 month's old), I am making Cornish hens for dinner. Plus, I got up at 5:30 to make her favorite breakfast--pancakes.

I still feel sheer terror sometimes and an overwhelming love all the time. Frustration occasionally, irritation more often and exhaustion on a regular basis but I am so very glad that the doctor's were wrong because this has been a wonderful thirteen years.