Within the first day after Nate's party, Paige started rehearsing the family list of upcoming birthdays. "Next is Daddy, then it's Mommy, then it's my 4 birthday!" She has been talking about her "4 birthday" since the day after her "3 birthday," and can't wait for it to come. She plans the party (which is another whole story entirely) and has a wish list of trinkets she wants to add to her collection. I love the excitement and anticipation she has for HER day! She knows it is special and she knows that we go all out for her!

The best part of all of this is her new phrase. To give you a little background, Paige is a princess in many ways! She is quite particular about what she wears, how her hair is done, what color her nails are painted, and especially about what she eats. These days when Paige is offered something new, whether it be food, clothes, etc., her response is ALWAYS, "No thanks! Maybe when I'm 4 Mama!" I laugh every time...partly because it just sounds so cute coming from her little voice, but also because I know that time will most likely not change her particularity. Then I realize that she is much like most of us. We have a thought to do something and decide we'll put it off until a later time, and then we rarely follow through. We think that when we are "older" and "more mature" maybe then will be the right time to make a big change. As I am encouraging Paige to attempt these things at 3, I am reminded that sometimes we as adults need to follow our same rules. Maybe the nudges I feel daily about different "changes" are nudges from God saying, "You're big enough and mature enough now and I will carry you! Take the step!" I think it sometimes, but find myself terrified to fully lay my foot on the ground. I am trusting that God will carry me until He shows me clearly it is time to complete the step. In the mean time, I am soaking up every day of Paige's almost 4-ness and each time she says, "Maybe when I'm 4 Mama," I remind myself that God calls us to follow Him NOW...every day in every way, not when we feel ready!