My Firstborn.
Oh happy day. You make me happy when skies are gray. And all sorts of fun songs about love and joy. To you. For your birthday today. Am I supposed to mention that you are 32? Because I won’t if I shouldn’t. You should not hate it. Think of me – your mother!! If you are 32, then I am….
You were born to…
A novice, a clueless girl. A May day. The lilacs in full, fragrant glory. The sunshine. Green grass. No money. Uncertain times. A God who loved you and was already smiling at your life.
Fixed in the Galaxy
When you were a teenager, everything was stars. They were your “motif,” and all around you were oodles of doodles of stars and star design on your clothes and belongings and in presents you got. And you were nicknamed “Shooting Stara” and it was cute. But it was part of youth. It was part of a past and you have become a claassic woman of dignity, beauty, strength and grace now. Save, perhaps for when you are competing with great zeal on the kickball field or during a volleyball game. Becoming wise and deeply steadfast, though, has not changed or diminished your easy laugh and happy nature. No, it has only deepened it and made your personality even richer with joy-bringing treasure.
For your birthday, I think of the hallmarks of who you are and what you have always been known for. For me, of course, a gift. Thus the Barbra Streisand song, “The best Gift,” that Bill Tull and Mary Tiller sang for your dedication.
“Liquid joy,” Lisa Bierer called you,for you are a glass-is-half-full, big-smile, cheerleading, enCOURAGing, exhorting kind of person. Everybody in the room feels more loved and more happy when you have arrived.
At the Heaven Fest dinner Saturday night in Loveland
But then, there was the whole “star” phase. And as I thought about you and all you are and everything you are becoming and how, youthful and lighthearted as you remain, you embody even now the personality you did at 3 or 4 years of age. And as a teen. So, I could not forget the star part.
But what is different now, sweet daughter? Now, you need to know, you are not a shootingstar, just a brilliant flash of passing dazzle and fancy against a dark sky. You are a star hung steadfastly in the firmament declaring God’s glory. I still see the star in you (S)TARa. I see it. But now, it is as Daniel 12.3 says:
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
You have the wisdom of some years now. You are not just a pretty girl. You are a ravishing woman. And you are leading many to righteousness, like a cool drink of water on a hot, dusty day, by your life, by your example, by everything God created you to be and to do. That has given you a fixed place in the universe to shine. You shine, baby girl. You shine.
Happy Birthday, Tara. Here are my words, a few of them, to say I love you and I thank God for you.
Photo by Ellie Pickett, www.lilacphotography.com Taken last fall. It is the no-make-up session
Actually, ALL photos by www.lilacphotography.com :) Ellie is great!
Oh Tara, your mom, who knows you better than anyone else, described you perfectly. I love when you are around! Happy, Happy Birthday, precious girl.
Happy Birthday, my firstborn niece! Your mom started with “Oh happy day” and that reminded me of a time I broke out the cassette recorder to capture the new words you were learning as a toddler. You were repeating this word and that word and then I began running you through the names of our favorite TV shows. “Say Happy Days.” “Oppy dieee.” “Happy Days!” “Oppy dieee!” (I begin to chuckle) “Say Potsie?” “stopie?” “Potsie!” “stopie??” (I start really cracking up here – so cute!) While I’m having a good belly laugh, you just go on about your joyful business. “Oppy dieee! Oppy dieee!!” (You could see I couldn’t say anything so you just kept going) “Oppy dieee!!!” “Oppy dieee!” It WAS a happy day! You brought us many laughs and smiles even as an itty-bitty! What an honor to be a part of your life! I love you, darlin!
Happy Birthday, Tara! You are the perfect and right person to lead the siblings. God obviously knew what he was doing, by making you the first. He’s kind of like that…knows what He’s doing, I mean. I love you more than words can say! We’ve often talked about how different we are in personality and in general temperament and I love that about us. I love that you bring a dynamic to me that I can’t bring to myself. You are a shining example of what a good mother should be, of what a good wife should be and what a good sister IS. I hope you’re getting spoiled rotten today. I love you!
Oh momma! You are too sweet. Thank you always for your amazing words. I feel honored and loved once again. Your, Tara Jean
Yes, you are a beauty like your mother! The other day I was passing by a picture laying on the coffee table and out of the corner of my eye it registered, “oh, there is an old picture of Tara” and then I did a double take, and it was Hunter! It was the same expression that I remember when you were his age! And it took me back, back to your joyful and bubbly personality as a child, a trait that you still carry through to adulthood. Never lose the wonder, mischief or joy. I love you, honey. Happy Birthday!
xxoo
dad
And again, this one made me cry. But I’m at work so I have to be careful.
Sweety, you are the freakin’ COOLEST PERSON I’VE EVER MET!!!!! I absolutely LOVE being married to you! I love being your friend…. you are totally dreamy!!! :)
dp