I was scrolling through the folder on my laptop that holds all my pictures for different blog posts. I have Naomi birthday posts going back to “Naomi 11”. So much has changed in this sweet girl who is now taller than me and easily owns more pairs of shoes than anyone else in our family. She is staring down adulthood with equal parts aplomb and exuberance, and it is a delight to watch.
Little comments about how she is excited to do such-and-such adult task or mom job really make me feel calm as we move through this last year of high school. Naomi is going to be just fine tackling life as it comes.
My dad’s gift to her was to arrange a dagger making lesson with a friend of his who is an excellent blacksmith. She is having a blast and has one more day to finish it off. The rest of her birthday was a quiet affair as this year is an “Off” year for friend parties.

Naomi insisted on making her entire cake from the baking on up. And she has claimed every birthday cake from here on out. She did a great job and it was super tasty. Presents from everyone were loved and rejoiced over, and the birthday was declared a success.

Sigh. I love this girl and it is so fun to be able to step back more and more and let her just handle things. Her internship at the zoo was awesome, she is shadowing at our vet’s office so she can apply to the vet tech program and is driving everywhere. School is good and she is ranked 3rd in her class. But more than all that…she is so good at being a sister to her littles and her big one. She is learning about her faith and practicing being a mom every chance she gets. It’s that growth that brings me so much joy and peace about the woman she is becoming.