three months tomorrow. i am so proud of you elder bybee. i won't ever stop loving you. not even for a minute.

viva italia.

italy here i come. everyone cross your fingers for me that i will be accepted in the summer abroad dance program to italy. what a dream.

kicking my bum.

Dance is kicking my bum. but i know and understand that i am not the best. and maybe i will never obtain greatness to the worlds standards. but i can obtain greatness for me. i can be great just for me. i am here to learn. i am here to grow. i am not here to show off. or to trump someone else. so though dance is kicking my bum... i think i need it kicked. because that means i am learning something. which is what i'm spending all my money on. so thank you dance... and education. for kicking my bum and keeping me in line. i look forward to it... for the rest of my life.

flying away.

southern bird.

your wings have spread, and you are flying away.
away not alone but away together.

your life is new, as you are flying away.
no longer just a daughter, but also a wife.

things will be different, now that you're flying away.
but different good, change embraced.

you are still wonderful, though you are flying away.
and we still love you.

Your four little birds.

what matters most.

what. matters. most.

where do our hearts lie.

are they where they need to be.

or are where we want them to be.

what matters most?

is it your job

or your education

your religion

your family.

what is it that matters most.

it's different for everyone.

and i suggest you find what it
is for you.

because life is too short...

too not have your priorities straight.

power of the pen.

words on a sheet. make my heart melt. letters and numbers and symbols. written long hand, can change the world. making words, feeling emotion, all from a pen on a page. there is such power in the pen. a permanent mark on piece of parchment, a declaration, a treaty, a letter, a memoir. these are what should matter. not the keys, not the screens. but the pen on the paper. people don't write letters enough.

the wind is whipping your hair. and you feel like nothing will slow you down. your feet are light as you feel you could just fly. but then you don't. why? you lose your momentum and stop at the edge of the cliff.

what if my wings wont catch the air.
what if the winds are too much to bare.
what if i break and fall towards the ground.
what if i'm lost and cannot be found.

what if i make a mistake too big to take back
what if i fall off the right track.
what if my words hurt someone i love.
and what if my actions feel like a shove.

what if i'm wrong when i thought i was right.
what if i sit in the dark instead of the light.
what if.

i am scared to fly.

i will catch you.
you wont fall.
i will meet you halfway.
and i will love you anyway.
trust me little bird.

the wind is whipping your hair. and you feel like nothing will slow you down. your feet are light as you feel you could just fly.

and you do.