My Oldest is 15 - July 23, 2009

Today, at 5:24 AM, my oldest daughter, Allie, turned 15. Most of you reading this know her. She is the one whom some of you can tease endlessly and others of you can depend on for help. She is beautiful, shy and fierce. She is loyal beyond loyal and if you do her wrong once, she will forgive. But if you keep it up, she will be done with you. She takes her time in deciding what her heart and mind want, then she goes for it. She is growing up into her own woman.

When Allie was little, she was a quiet girl who cried every day. Not always did I know why, but she did. I guess she just had to get that emotion out and the only way she could was to shed tears. It took a long time for her to see that she didn't have to always cry, and now, like most teens, she only cries occasionally. She doesn't bow to peer pressure and feels a responsibility to let others see how to live.

Being fiercely loyal is something that I admire in Allie. She reminds me of Jonathan, the son of Saul, friend of David. Jonathan was fiercely loyal to David, and when he found out his father wanted to kill him, he did what was right and helped David escape.

1 Samuel 18:1-4 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

Allie is that kind of friend. She will do anything for her friend. It is one of her greatest attributes. Mike and I are very proud of our daughter. She brings us joy and new adventures. We couldn't ask for a better daughter.