This is a week late but....Yikes! Has it really been that long? It seems like yesterday I brought her home from the hospital... There was so much drama surrounding her birth. My dear sweet grandma passed away the day before Jayden was due. Although she was living with us at the time her funeral was in Arkansas. Of course everyone in my family was heading for the funeral. Everyone that is but me. I was not allowed to attend. I was terrified that I would go into labor while my parents were gone and I would be left alone to deliever Jayden by myself. But instead the very day my parents came home I went into labor. I ended up being in labor for a very long time and had her early in the morning on January 3. The next day we came home with a voicemail message letting us know that my mom's oldest sister passed away. My mom left again and went to her funeral as well. My grandma was such an inspirational person in my life and I truely believe that she and Jayden spent that 10 extra days in heaven together. Jayden's birth could not have had a better timeline and I know that our Heavenly Father sent her at that exact moment.
Sometimes it is hard to remember all the good things about a teenager but some things I don't want to forget about my 14 year old Jayden:
1. She is full of life. Anyone who knows her knows that she is bubbly, boisterious, and the life of the party. You always know when she walks into the room. To know Jayden is to love her. She has an infectious laugh and uses it often.
2. She puts everyone at ease. She is great about helping people feel comfortable.
3. She has a wacky sense of style. She can wear zebra, with polka dots, and bright pink and still pull it off.
4. She makes friends easily. (See both one and two.)
5. She has a great smile and laughs constantly. She laughs constantly even in the face of adversity. She has learned to fake a smile until it becomes real.
6. She is a great example to her siblings. She is a great peace maker. She is constantly helping me referee fights between Coleman and Chloe.
7. She is a great example of faith. She goes faithfully to church each Sunday. Even though there are very few young women in our ward she goes to all her meetings even if she is the only one.
8. She wants to do what is right. Her testimony is growing so rapidly and it is so heartwarming to listen to her testimony as she shares bits and pieces with me or her friends or her siblings.
9. On that same note, she is willing to take her problems to the Lord. She is willing to truely pray and fast about problems or questions she has and do all that she can to find the answer to that which she is seeking.
10. She almost always does what she is asked and without too much grumbling.
11. She talks freely to me about friends, boyfriends, school, etc. I know she doesn't tell me everything but I appreciate that she does talk to me about most things. I like that we have a fairly open line of communication.
I love Jayden with all my heart. Without her, I would not be the person I am today. I look back at who I was when I was pregnant and who I am today and they are two totally different people. We are so similiar in so many ways and many times I catch myself feeling like she is the better version of me. I pray that as she grows we will continue to remain close. Happy Birthday to the best 14 year old on the planet!!!
