Stops and Starts

Dear Zoey,
We’ve travelled miles to get to this major milestone.
There were many starts and stops along the way.

10 years ago was the start of the most amazing chapter in my life.
We named you Zoey which means life and sure enough, it gave a new meaning to mine.

8 years ago, you were the reason why I gathered up the courage to stop living on the sidelines and start living a life full of authenticity, purpose and faith.
You had already taken your first step when I took my very own.
I remember sitting in front of the computer, staring at the screen about to post my first blog entry.
Filled with a mix of excitement and fear, I hit Publish.

By this time, you were running and I was just learning to walk again.
It was a rocky start, but with two left feet I eventually found my stride.

Then just like that. It was a start of another beautiful chapter when you officially became a beautifully jealous big sister.
Everything that I had started had come to a halt and it felt like I was starting all over again.

6 years ago was a year of many starts.
You started school, you lost your first tooth, you started making new friends and you once again became a big sister with an even bigger beautifully jealous heart.

The walk wasn’t easy. Taking care of my growing business, our growing family, while making sure I was growing too.
Some days it felt like I was crawling.
In my mind, it was easier just to stop.

That is until 5 years ago, you were that light at just the right time.
The whole time you had grown into my little cheerleader from the sidelines and reminded me why I had started this journey.
I will always remember your words to me “Mommy, I love you and I will never ever stop.”
While you were growing, I was so in awe of watching you grow, along the way I somehow forgot I needed to grow too.

Watching you grow through the years has taught me that you never stop. Life keeps moving.
Before I knew it, you were turning 6, 7, 8, 9 and there was no stopping you.
You started riding a bicycle, swimming and wearing braces.
You started gymnastics, art lessons and French Immersion.

You soon learned that French was not your strength and we made the decision to stop which made you excel in the things you were made to do.
Even though you are my artsy lefty with two left feet, you’ve discovered your own groove to your most favourite tunes.
With a few stumbles and stops here and there, you’re starting to find your stride and are becoming the unstoppable Zoey you were made to be.

Starts and stops.
Our walk is filled with them.
They don’t define us, but show us what we’re made of.
Pushing us to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Which brings us to today. 10,000 starts and stops later. You are 10.
Happy 10th Birthday, Zoey. You bring me life and you give me light.

We won’t always know what our next 10 or 10,000 steps will look like.
Where it will begin and when it will end.
But one thing is for certain.
I will never stop being your mommy, front and center, while being your biggest cheerleader from the sidelines.

Remember, when a chapter ends, never stop turning to the next page, never stop putting one foot in front of the other, never stop dancing even when the music stops, and never stop growing just as you have already gracefully done so.

Stops don’t mean that our stories are finished, but that it’s a start of a beautiful new chapter, full of even more scenic stops.

“Zoey, I’ve loved you from the start and I will never ever stop.”

Here’s to the end of a blessed decade and to more new beautiful beginnings.

J