I woke up from my nap today, to find these sitting on the kitchen counter. We have a deal at our house on Fast Sunday, if you fast, you can have whatever you want when it comes to be dinner time. Kenzie always picks pancakes, not just pancakes, but chocolate chip pancakes. When Kenzie makes the pancakes, I think they are actually more chocolate saucers than pancakes! I love that this child has started to stake her independence-some good, some scary! I have been thinking a lot about this child recently. She just turned 10, only a couple more years until Young Women's, and she seems to be very impressionable right now. I am finding I am making more mistakes than doing her good at this point. I have yet to really had a child in my home full time to really go through all the different phases that follow toddler/early childhood. So this is new for me!
I sat in church today knowing that I had to tell her she couldn't watch a show anymore that I had been letting her watch. I didn't think it was a big deal at first, but as time has gone by, and she has continued to watch this series, some of her actions and ideas of play have changed. I was really worried to talk to her about it, because I knew that it would upset her, but I also knew that this was something my Heavenly Father expected me to fix. I sat her down and told her how much I love her and how much I appreciate the child and big sister she is. I then went on to tell her that things that are dark are not of her Heavenly Father. He does not want us to be scared or sad or feel unhappy. He only wants light and happiness and love to be in our lives. She knew where I was going with this, and was a little sad, but I also saw in her an understanding that I was trying to protect young mind from things that will be with her forever. She asked me if I had seen things as a kid that I wish I hadn't, and I told her yes. I still have some insecurities in the dark because of some Twilight Zones and Tales of the Crypt shows that I saw at her age. I feel such a huge responsibility for her to grow up to be an amazing and strong daughter of God. I know some of it is because she is adopted and her Birth Mom and Heavenly Father chose us to raise this child and I want her to be the best her she can be. I just have to find that balance between letting her spread her wings and make some of her own choices about the things she likes and protecting her from things that are not good for her mind and her amazing spirit. I have decided that it is going to be a daily struggle for both of us. She is drawn to things that most 10 year olds are not so I am finding that I have to be more vigilant in explaining to her the good and bad in all things. I know she will be an amazing person. Her Spirit is strong and bright and her little testimony is amazing. I just hope that I can help her to let those things shine!
I took her, last month, to Grafton, just her and I . We had so much fun! I love taking one child at a time to do things. It is always amazing to me how much their little personalities come out when they get some alone time. She has such an amazing presence about her, it wasn't hard to get good shots pretty fast! I love that she likes me to take her pictures. I used to think when she was little that she had an allergic reaction to the camera, but I think we are over that. I am so grateful for the little lady she is becoming and am so excited to help her figure of what her path will be in life because I know it will be bright!
