I think we've created a monster...

...a pink, fru-fru, princess monster. 

I think it all began with all the fuss over the royal wedding of William and Kate. That's when Abby discovered that princesses weren't just animated creations of Disney.  There was a real, honest-to-goodness princess on t.v. and she wasn't a cartoon.  Since then, she's asked me several times if she could be a princess when she gets bigger.That's what she wants to be when she grows up.  Not a doctor or a writer or even a mommy. A princess. Great.

Not that there's anything wrong with being a princess.  She is, in fact, pretty good at it already.  She loves to dress up in frilly clothes and boss her royal subject (aka her little brother) around. She even had the opportunity to practice recently at the birthday party of her sweet friend, Ashlyn.  At the party, all the little girls got to dress up as princesses and put on make-up, sip tea, have a fashion show and even a parade around town.  Too cute, too cute...

She was a natural, sipping tea and making pleasant conversation with her friends...

 ...and she was scarily good at her "princess wave", complete with a flip of the hair and a blown kiss:

Now, I'm all about supporting my little girl in her goals and aspirations, however I'm not exactly planning on encouraging her to hunt down and marry some real-life prince just so she can have her own kingdom one day. Unfortunately, chances are extremely slim of her becoming a real princess one day. But before I completely crush my little girl's dreams with a dose of reality, a friend reminded me that little Abby is indeed already a princess.  As a child of God our King, she will be inheriting the  kingdom of Heaven one day. That makes her a real, honest-to-goodness princess - not by earthly standards, perhaps - but I'd take Heaven over any old European castle anyday.  No offense to the Queen of England.

So just remember this, my sweet Princess Abby: when the world tells you you're not good enough, or pretty enough, or worth much of anything at all, you think about just how special you are to God.  He loves you so much He has an entire kingdom waiting for you. 

Now, THERE'S a reason to get all dressed up in your frilliest pink and celebrate:)