Just had to go steal a kiss.....

A daughter is a gift of love. ~Author Unknown

A mother's treasure is her daughter. ~Catherine Pulsifer

There are times when I am simply overcome by my love of my Sugar Bear. As much as becoming a mother has lifted me up, it has striped me bare. It is humbling to know that I have changed so much in the past 5 years.

These photos were taken last August, when Sugar and I were on our annual girls trip. This year we stayed in a hotel for one night. Just us girls. It was the first time in about 3 years that we have done so, but it was the first time in Sugar's eyes. She was too young the first few times to remember. It was such a delight to see her relishing in the simple things. She couldn't wait to call her grandma and tell her all about our "fancy room!"

I learn so much from her EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!

One evening, after Sugar was asleep, my friend and I sat chatting in her beautiful living room late into the night. At one point, my companion shook her head with a giggle, and a smirk, and said, "You know what, Corey? You have changed so much in 15 years." Looking up at her, I was confident in the fact that she liked me THEN...and she likes me NOW....and she is so very right. I have evolved. I'm proud of who I am today, and I owe it all to the little lady featured on this blog, and who RIGHT NOW lies sleeping peacefully in her home. The home that I have nested for her. The home that I have made every effort in my being to make her safe place. The home she can freely be who she is meant to be. The home that nurtures her growth, and gives her the freedom to fly. I can give that to her, and I gladly do.

What she has given me, is so much more than that, however it is much the same. SHE is my home. SHE is my safe place. SHE has encouraged me to embrace who I am, and BECOME who I was meant to be. SHE has nurtured my growth, and set me free. Before, Sugar Bear, I was just Corey, a good person. Now....I'm Corey, a person who is deeply connected to humanity. A person who cares deeply, and empathizes profoundly. A person who not only cares how her own daughter is raised, but how the entire generation is being brought up. A person who no longer takes life for granted, and embraces each day. SHE has, without a doubt, made ME a better person.

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future. ~Author Unknown

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown

A daughter is a miracle that never ceases to be miraculous...full of beauty and forever beautiful...loving and caring and truly amazing.

~ Deanna Beisser

A daughter is a bundle of firsts that excite and delight, giggles that come from deep inside and are always contagious, everything wonderful and precious and your love for her knows no bounds.~ Barbara Cage

Please join me in continued prayers for little Gabriella. She is doing so wonderfully, a little over a week post stroke, but she has so very far to go. Don't let a day go by without being grateful for all you have, and letting those you know just how much they mean to you.