I Will Fight For You.

Dear Charlotte, 

You did not deserve this doll today.  

You are in the throes of two years old, and you have a scream of discontent that could shatter glass when you don't get your way. With the exception of myself, you are the most strong-willed creature I've ever encountered and you exhaust me. 

And what's funny is those are the exact same things that make me so in love with you. 

While your brother just wants people to be happy, you are always ready for a good fight. I pray that you win the important, righteous ones throughout your life. 

While your brother is hungry to learn and sees the world intellectually, you prioritize being pretty and silly. That's why I also pray that I always remember to have time for dish towel capes and gift wrap roll wands - you see the world as safe, fun and sparkly. Can I bottle up your perspective and keep it forever? Is there a way to make it into a serum that I can then administer to you when you're in middle school and discover math is really hard and friendships can be brutal? 

I love the way you help me, and genuinely believe that I can't get by without you . 

And you know, I think you may be right on that. You've only been in our lives for all of 33 months and yet it feels like forever. 

You've evened the teams in our house. 

You've taught me immeasurable patience.

You get more excited about hot pink toenails than anyone else in the universe. 

You are girly. You are a cuddle machine. You can be shockingly mean. And they are all parts that make up the little you I love so much. 

And because I love you, when you fight me, you won't win. When you hate your bath, you can splash all the water out of the tub in your tirade against cleanliness and I will still scrub every angry little curl coming out of your head. When you lament you don't need a nap, and you kick your blanket off, I will tuck you in tighter so you feel extra safe. 

You aren't going to get away from me, girl. You may grow up to be feisty, strong-willed and choose the difficult path, but you will always know you are loved. 

Which is probably why you got the doll today. It was honestly my idea - even when you are a crazy person, I have an innate desire to bless you. And because you're so little, you allow me to without question. 

You remind me daily what our relationship with our Heavenly Father should look like. Sometimes we fight Him, but we should always turn around in the end. And we can accept the blessings He loves to give. And ultimately, we can rest in His love, safe and secure, tucked in extra tight. 

Now where are Anna's pants?