Personal: Happy Birthday McKenna

Today I started thinking back to when you were learning to walk. I remembered how you began to pull yourself up to the coffee table, how you'd toddle around the edge, afraid to let go. One day, you looked across the room at me. I knew you were about to let go and come my way, taking your first independent steps. I have to remind myself of how you reached out for my hand, but I had to keep it just far enough away to encourage you to reach further. I'll never forget when you let go of that table and started towards me, I stood back and cheered you on! Even when I knew you might fall, I didn't try to stop you because I was so excited to see you walking on your own.



Today is your 13th birthday and here we are again. I didn’t think the years would go by so quickly, but unfortunately Time is never late. As you enter these teenage years and start taking steps out into this scary world, I will again have to trust you to go independently and cheer you down the right path. However; I won't be far away, because I know you might fall. So I'll be there to pick you up, brush you off and help you try again.

*Photographed by Amanda Rae

Love you forever and ever,
Big Sis