These are words from the song Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof.  I have been humming this song in my head for the last week. 

 

When did she get to be a beauty,
When did she grow to be so tall?

  

The reason this has been on my mind is because three of my favorite young ladies are each entering a new phase in their lives.  One is my great-niece, my sister’s granddaughter and the other two are my nieces on my husband’s side.

 

My great-niece shown here at 2-1/2 to 3-years-old is entering junior high this next school year. Whoa…slow down please. 

  

 

I have never lived close enough to her to take in all that she is involved in but I know she is a fashionista.  She is into fashion and at the age of two told some lady, after looking her up and down, she had “cute shoes”.

 

As you can see in the picture below,  she is now a graceful ballerina but also a tough cookie on the soccer field, volleyball court and basketball court.  I got to see her last year in the Houston Ballet’s Nutcracker as one of  Clara’s clowns.  So exciting.  I hope to see her again this year if she gets selected to perform.  Her Mimi told me she was going to try out again.  

 

 

It’s a fun time but also a very confusing time for pre-teens.  Not only their physical appearance but their emotions, etc change at such a rapid pace within the next few years, you are literally afraid to blink.  She is going to make an amazing young lady but it’s happening way too fast.

 

This next young lady is graduating from High School this week and the reason for the tee-shirt quilt.  Where has time gone?  It was only a day or so ago when she moved to Georgia at 6 months old, wasn’t it?  I was there when she took her first bite of salsa and she never looked back.  Also, I remember holding her in my lap while we watched fireworks on the 4th of July when she was about 3.  She had my arms wrapped around her so, so tight.  

 

This picture was taken when she was somewhere around 3.  Notice the pose.

 

 

Who would have ever believed that she would grow up to be 5 ft. 9 in. tall and a total knockout.   She is an amazing young lady and just entering into the real world.  She’s always a fashion plate and has a terrific future ahead.  Notice the pose in this picture.  Watch out world!  Go get ’em girl!!

 

 

Last but certainly not least is her sister.  This young lady was about 4 when she moved to Atlanta.  I can’t believe she is in her last year of college and getting married in June.

 

Look at this picture!  Does she look old enough to get married?

 

 

She was a great little soccer player and artist.  We have some of her drawings that she did for us when she would visit us on the weekends.  They lived fairly close and would come over sometime during the weekend to watch movies or go fishing in the lake behind out house.  She loved to fish and could put her little fishing pole in the water and would pull out little sun perch.  So cute!  She is still very creative and is taking after her Dad when it comes to photography.

 

This picture shows you what a beautiful young woman she has become along with her future hubby and will make the most beautiful bride.  Best wishes and may your marriage be as wonderful as you are.

    

I know these young ladies will be amazing throughout their lives.  They are so very special to me and my family and I wish them the very best in this next phase of life. 

 

I love y’all.

 

……..I don’t remember growing older…..When did they?