It's been a long time......

I wish I could say that things have been so gloriously good and that is why I haven't written...but that would be a lie! But that isn't what today's post is about. I will save you all the gory details of the drama of the last few months for another post on another day. Today instead, is about my oldest daughter, Brenna.

Brenna will be 10 on Saturday. I simply cannot believe it.

Was she not the most beautiful baby?!?!? I know I am biased, but I don't think there is a single one of you that can look at that picture and not say she was a gorgeous child. Not only is she beautiful to look at, but she has become a beautiful person with more determination and compassion than I could have ever instilled in her.

Brenna had her banquet with East Celebrity Elite last night. I walked in there thinking how amazingly proud I was of Brenna this year. Although it was not her first year as a cheerleader, it was her first year at a gym of this caliber. She walked through the doors of ECE last May not knowing a soul and only having a tumbling skill of a cartwheel and a roundoff. She competed nationally and her team placed 3rd in the Nation at the UCA Nationals in Orlando this past March. She learned what hard work really was and also that if you put your mind to something, anything you want can happen.

The last few years have been anything but easy for Brenna. Growing up the oldest child of a large family is a job in and of itself. Being the oldest girl in a family with a child with severe medical issues is another story. Brenna has learned to rise to the occasion. She is wonderful with Brigitte. Her patience is that of a saint (she does not get this from me!!!) and her grace is something we should all strive to acheive. She has always been a good girl and my dad is right when he says that she is always happy. She truly is. She has become quite the little comedian and I am finding that she is developing a bit of my, ummmmm, sarcasm! It has been nothing but sheer joy to watch her grow over the last few years.

Last night, though, I saw her change in front of me instantly. The banquet consisted of the owners of the gym, coaches from various teams, parents and of course all the girls on the mini and junior level teams. Each set of coaches from each team got up and said something about each girl on the team and then had a few "specialty" awards to give out. One of them was the unsung hero award. As they were describing this cheerleader, they said "she is a girl who always did what we asked of her," "she is a girl who never complained if she were in the back row," "she volunteered to fill a void whenever we needed her to," "quietly one day this girl said "I can do my double backhandspring, want to see it?"....and then landed it perfectly. The Unsung Hero for Junior 3 is........Brenna Kaiser.

I was in a room full of people and just wanted to cry. I have never been so proud, with the exception of the day I gave birth to her.

The definition of an Unsung Hero is: a person who makes a substantive yet unrecognized contribution; a person whose bravery is unknown or unacknowledged

Reading this definition this morning, I realized that this award couldn't have been more fitting. Brenna certainly did her share and earned that award all on her own. But she is the unsung hero of our household as well. She has taken a backseat over the last four and a half years. She has sacrificed and been brave far beyond any 10 year old I have ever met. She never asks for anything, never complains and yet, just when I think I am going to lose it on Brigitte some days, Brenna walks around the corner and takes her by the hand to the other room and plays with her. She does all of this and yet NEVER, EVER asks for any recognition. None.

She is amazing. She is beautiful. She is smart. She has worked to land backhandsprings and tucks. She has a wonderful imagination. She is determined. She is compassionate. She is my daughter. And I am the luckiest mom in the world to have her.

Happy 10th Birthday Brenna!! I love you with all of my heart. You make me so proud every, single day.