Have you ever met a woman with a plan- and everyone else needs to get out of the way while she makes it happen? Meet Charlotte Rose.

Charlotte is the baby of our family. Although she’s small, the soul of a strong woman is wriggling away inside of her! Unlike her older brother, Bruce (the previous baby of the family and always agreeable to the day’s plans), Charlotte has clear expectations and assumes that life will align with her ideas.

Since she’s the baby, who can resist those giant blue eyes and bouncy, wriggly walk? Jack and Clara and Bruce and Daddy usually give the lady what she wants.

There’s only one Non-Conformist in Miss Charlotte’s perfect little life- the person with different plans.

Any guesses? It’s me.

You see, I am also a woman who also has specific outcomes in my mind, and I daily find myself in conflict with this much younger, smaller Version of Me.

However, the little me has more energy and, in God’s special way, He designed her with an extra scoop of legendary Stephens stubbornness to make things a little more exciting. (The Richardsons aren’t stubborn- we see resistance and quickly dart down a different trail before it makes eye contact). Not the Stephens family! They sink their boots into the dirt, cross their arms and calmly prepare to resist. While this is a truly lovely quality in matters of national security and theology, in matters of wardrobe- ehh, not so much.

Charlotte insists on dressing herself every day. Usually I let her, because she’s the fourth kid and life is short and I have no desire to waste it arguing with a toddler. I only intervene when she’s not dressed appropriately for the weather.

Fortunately for me, today’s outfit was pleasantly photogenic. A black t-shirt that used to be Clara’s, black leggings, and a trench coat that’s been handed down through every kid since firstborn Jack. Pus her favorite green boots.

She does this ONE THING, every time, to her leggings. She pulls them up to her knees! Without fail. Even if it’s 30° outside. I’ve asked her they itch, if they’re too tight; and she won’t reply other than, “I like it like this.”

So here’s Miss I-Like-It-Like-This, in her knee-length leggings, hanging out at work with her momma. Two women and we both have plans.

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