I know. The title says don't ever grow up, but I know that you are going to. The years ahead of you are going to be filled with laughter and tears. I love you more than you will ever know and as I watch you grow up, I only hope for the best. These are things that I wish for your life as you get older.

My wish for you is that...

1. You find happiness.

I hope your heart is full of laughter and light, and that you find true happiness. I want you to do what you enjoy. Remember, money can't buy happiness. I want you to smile all the time. When you go to sleep, I want you to think of 5 happy things that happened during that day.

2. You love yourself

You are beautiful and worthy of everyone's love, including your own. I want you to walk with confidence because I know that girls are mean and words can cut like a knife. God made you fearfully and wonderfully made. That is amazing. There is no one else like you!

3. ....and others.

Even though there are some people who will try to put you down, you never know what they are gong through. Loving others is just as important as loving yourself. Especially now. There is so much hate in this world and loving others is something that can start a ripple effect. Your love will shine in the darkness that surrounds us.

4. You stand firm in your beliefs.

Stand firm in your foundation. Your parents raised you a certain way for a reason. There are going to be people who will want to make you change your beliefs, but if you stand firm, you will not be moved. You're opinion may not always be the popular one, but that's okay. You aren't meant to be like EVERYONE else.

5. You always try your best.

While Edison was working on the lightbulb, he said, "I haven't failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won't work." If you fall nine times, stand up ten. Success isn't measured in how hard you failed, but in how hard you tried. If you are passionate about something, put your all into it. Don't be scared of what someone else is going to say.

6. You learn from your mistakes.

Life is difficult, and unfortunately, some things must be learned the hard way. You will fail and you will mess up. You are human, remember that, and everyone makes mistakes. The lessons you learn will stick with you for your entire life.

7. You stay kind.

Kindness will see you through any trial in life, be it personal, professional, or otherwise. A kind mind and a kind heart will only help you in life. You never know what someone is going through. That is why it is super important to always be kind to others. One nice word can turn someone's day around and lift their spirit.

8. You help others.

Helping others will keep you humble. No matter what you're going through, giving a helping hand to a friend or a stranger will show you that you are not the only one with difficulties. Help doesn't have to be something big. It can be something small that might seem insignificant. Either way, it is a selfless act that benefits not only the person you're helping, but also yourself.

9. You laugh at yourself.

When you trip and fall, laugh...then make sure you didn't break anything. Take that embarrassing selfie. Do the goofy thing. Life is way too short to be uptight and not have any fun. Be silly and carefree. Don't stress the little things.

10. You consider other peoples feelings.

There are times when you should put yourself first and times when you should not. Always be considerate of other peoples feelings. Your actions not only affect you, but everyone around you. It may not be immediate, but it will eventually happen.

11. You appreciate the little things.

Take time to unplug and just appreciate the small things in life. Take in nature. Enjoy a Coke in a glass bottle. Homemade cookies from your grandma. The smile on your little cousin's face. Small things are often overlooked and be so special. So take time to enjoy the world around you.

12. You dance as if no one is watching.

Lee Ann Womack's wish for her girls is one that I have for you. I hope that you have hope and you don't get scared of what lies ahead. Also, on a busy day it is perfectly okay to have a 30 second dance party to destress.

13. You sing as if no one is listening.

"Sing, sing a song. Sing out loud, sing out strong. Sing of good things not bad. Sing of happy not sad. Sing, sing a song. Make it simple to last your whole life long. Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear. Just sing, sing a song."-The Carpenters

14. You eat dessert first...

I would always ask my grandma what was for dessert and her answer typically was something that involved chocolate. Well, eat that piece of chocolate, have that candy bar, and gosh darn it, eat that ice cream. It is always good to indulge once in a while.

15. But also eat your supper.

Eating healthy is crucial, no matter your body image. As long as you are taking care of yourself, you should never feel guilty about fueling your body. Not only is it good for you, but it also makes you feel better!

16. You are adventurous

Living adventurously doesn't always have to be road tripping or international travel, it can be as simple as having the courage to go to school when you know you'll have to sit by yourself in the cafeteria. But you should still climb that mountain, go on that road trip or mission trip, and try things you haven't done before.

17. You take pictures of every memory.

"Instead of taking pictures, just live and soak up the memory." Soak up the memory and take pictures. One day your kids will want to see what you looked like and will want to see the things that you saw.

18. You always tell your parents you love them

You will always be their little girl. Nothing can take that away. Be sure that you also tell them thank you for everything that they have done. They will make more sacrifices than you know.

19. And know that they are there when you fail.

There will be tough times where you feel as if nothing is going right and you feel alone. Your parents will always be there for you though. They raised you and they love you unconditionally. They will love you through your moody teenage years. When your heart gets broken, they will be there.

20. You have lazy days.

It's okay to have days where you don't really want to do anything. On those days, i hope that you are as comfortable as the dog in this picture. Have a day to yourself, watch some Netflix, read a book, stay in bed all day. Do what you feel like doing.

21. And that you always follow your heart.

No dream is too big. Follow your heart and chase the dreams that you have. Somewhere Over The Rainbow is a great song about reaching for the stars and chasing your dreams. If bird fly over the rainbow, then why can't you?