It's Baffling...

...how quickly 20 years can go by.  Wasn't it just a year ago that I lay in bed at night, waiting to hear that little cry telling me it was time for a bottle?  I could not wait for Jordan to wake up just so I could see her, smell her, hold her.  I would sing hymns and Christmas songs to her because I did not know any lullabies as a first-time mother.

And wasn't it just 8 months ago that I bravely sent her off to that first day of school?  She had no problems, but my heart hated being without her all day long.

I believe it was just 6 months ago that I watched her slowly change into a young, awkward, lady.  I wiped her tears when a friend hurt her feelings and I tried my best to help her through many, many difficult times.  I did not always succeed, and I know I probably failed in many ways, but we worked through them together.

I know it was just a few months ago that Jordan got her first job, driver's license, and graduated from high school.  I remember how excited she was when she took that trip to China for two weeks to work with the orphans, traveling to the other side of the world all by herself.  I was so proud of her!

 

Graduation 2008

 

 

 

And today, my firstborn is 20 years old.  Happy Birthday, Sweet Jordan!  I have enjoyed every second of life with my daughter.  I loved watching her bake cupcakes with her sisters last night, and I loved the smile on her face this morning when she had ice cream and strawberry cupcakes for breakfast!

This is the necklace we bought her.  She spent 2 weeks in a rural village area of Nanchang in 2008 after her graduation.  I'm thinking of buying Ivy, Eva, and Joy each one for their 10th birthdays.  You can purchase them from here.