This is my 500th post and it's all about......

Brenley.  Yes, it may be Beau's birthday, but I am waiting for the weekend to get over before I blog about him. But Brenley, you see, is 8 1/2 years old today. Her half birthday. Reason to celebrate, right?

Well, what I really wanted to capture was a little bit about her summer.  I don't know what it's like to stutter, but I know what it's like to get teased.......and be insecure because you are not like other kids.....and well, my Brenley takes it all in stride.  She is so brave and so strong.  I'm not kidding. She makes me want to be a better person.

This summer she was facing a rather "different" summer. One with a lot more free time, one with random camps where she knew no one, not even the teacher.  She was even facing a camp at a college university with all boys, up to four years older than her........and she never whimpered or stirred or cried.  She got up every day ready to face the day with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. Didn't matter which camp, or which day......she was ready.

She rocked her Fluency camp at Wichita State University putting the College Instructor's mind at ease the first day - making friends with all the studying pathologists.  And while she started the summer in a stutter slump......she is speaking so well right now.  Ordered breakfast this morning at a new restaurant like a boss. She is excited to maybe have a new school speech therapist this year - not ashamed at all that she gets extra help at school.

The other major thing Brenley did this summer is she is a now full fledged swimmer. Literally a month ago in San Antonio she was wearing a life jacket around the water park, barely dog paddling. Now she is jumping into the pool from the side, from diving boards, sliding from slides.......and then swimming laps back and forth and back floating like a champ.  All less than a month with just a little help from a woman at the Y that wouldn't let her do anything but be a swimmer

Believe in this little girl and she is going to move mountains some day. I just know it. She is so smart. She absorbs EVERYTHING.  We are constantly amazed at her mind.

We love you so much Brenley May Grant.  Here's to a big year of 3rd grade my sweetness. Mommy is so proud of the summer you have had. xoxo