A Full Decade

I am thankful to be here, sitting at a large dining room table thinking about this decade. This time between the arrival, ten minutes shy of midnight, of Francesca into the world and tonight, warm in so many ways.
At one her smiles came easy and she slept like an angel.
At two she wore red boots even on hot summer days and learned to write her name.
At three her hair curled a thousand ways to reflect the sun, she danced for hours and arranged wild flower bouquets, one for each room in the house.
At four she rode a palomino horse named cowboy, wore jeweled sandals to town and became her older sister's best sidekick.
At five she lost that sister, stopped dancing and quit praying for miracles.
At six she listened to and watched: she waited on and wondered about the idea that is Life.
At seven she sold dozens of fresh eggs to neighbors and built a house under weeping willows. She played long and saved her brother from fears; she told him "Good always wins."
At eight she learned to swim hard and fast, changed her baby sister's diaper and played the piano with both hands.
At nine she loved History and Science, memorized long, complicated poems and learned to surf.
Today she is ten and my heart swells with gratitude for her and I know I will always feel this way about my dear girl.