Dear Marlie,
It has been nearly a year since I last wrote you on this blog. And so much has happened since then. I think about you all of the time and today is no different. So, I decided to write you on our blog.
Where do I even begin? It has been a wonderful year for us and our family. Crystal, Chloe and I get to see you ALL of the time now and that makes ALL of us REALLY happy. There is nothing, and I mean nothing that I love more than when all of us are together and we are so blessed that it happens more often now. There for a little while I had to wait a bit longer before I saw your face because mommy's friends and daddy's friends had to come to some agreements. Thankfully, that is all behind us and we get to be with you so, so much.
A lot has changed over the last year. But one thing that hasn't changed is that you are such a happy little girl. From the moment you wake up (you are a morning person like Daddy) to the time we lay you down for sleep, you are smiling and laughing and singing and dancing. You have such a wonderful personality (you get that from Daddy, too ;) and are so outgoing. In fact, one of the first things your teacher at your new school said about you was, "She is not shy." No, ma'am. She sure isn't. And I think that is wonderful.
A couple of weeks ago, your mommy and I went to a meeting with your teacher where they evaluated your progress in the classroom. You are progressing wonderfully (you just have a hard time focusing on one thing for too long, but, hello....you are my daughter). But, Marlie girl, throughout your entire life you are going to be evaluated on things that have nothing to do with the classroom. You are going to be sized up, judged, criticized and more and, well, that's just life. As tough as it is for me to fathom, you are going to go through times when people are going to make you feel small. They are going to make you question your own value and intelligence and beauty...and what I fear most...they may make you forget that you are a child of God before you are even a child of ours.
But I won't let you forget long.
You are brilliant.
You are beautiful.
You are charismatic.
You are kind.
And, yes. Most importantly, you are God's child. And, sweetie, that is all...ALL that will ever matter. I won't ever let you think otherwise.
I was taking you to school this morning and, like you often do, you demanded that I put what you call "Don't Worry" on the radio (Three Little Birds is what you will eventually know the song as). Some times you would sing along and sometimes I would catch you just staring out the back window (you insisted we play it 4 times), seemingly lost in thought as the bright morning sun was shining upon your face. I wonder what you think about in those times. And it's in those times that I get lost in thought about how in love with you I am and how proud and thankful I am that you are my little girl.
Jesus chose me to be your daddy. He chose me. Of ALL of the other daddy's that he could have blessed, he blessed me with you. I am not certain you will ever understand how that makes me feel. Moves me to tears just to think of it.
Marlie, thank you so much for being you. Thank you so much for loving me and bringing so much joy to mine and Crystal's life. I've said it before, it wasn't until you came that I understood Jesus' love for me. And for that, I am forever indebted.
Anyway, I will see you again on Monday. You AND Crystal left me this weekend, so it's just me and Chloe. We will miss you until then, daughter. And I hope you had just a fabulous day at school.
I love you, Marlie. From here to Pluto.
Love,
Daddy
