December 18

I came downstairs a little while ago and happened upon this scene in the family room. That, right there on the left, is a high school freshman studying for her first-ever batch of final exams. And she belongs to me.

It's insanity that she's already 14. Of course a lot has happened over her lifetime thus far --lots of good and, unfortunately, a really hefty dose of bad-- but I'm thankful that she's here next to me on the couch reviewing math because it means she's still growing and thriving.