Anya… 
A little history into our journey into woman hood…
One of my close friends, Diana Pemelton, is a crazy, fellow “breeder”, as she calls us. I met her many years ago. I met her at church. She was doing a church women’s retreat. I needed friends! We met, over the next few years we became close friends.
She has a study that she does called “And God Made Woman”. It is an amazing 16-week study on women. Quite the bonding experience with the other women in the group! I have made some amazing friendships through this.
About 6 or so years ago, she and I were in her basement talking. We were discussing raising daughters. She has 2 and I have 3.
Her 3 oldest are boys.
I am the 1st to raise a daughter.
She is writing a study for girls/teens called “Daughter’s of the King”. We were discussing men and women and how our American culture lacks ceremonies guiding them through the pivotal ages in their lives. I was telling her that I want to have a ceremony for Anya, when she “becomes a woman”. Tom had read, “Raising a modern day Knight”, and She and Bret have already implemented several of the ceremonies with their sons. Tom had his first ceremony with Taylor, another story…
When Anya started her period, I went to her and told her that I wanted to have a celebration for her, for this next journey into adulthood/womanhood. I was going to have a slumber party for her. She was so excited; she couldn’t wait to invite her friends. There was a catch. It wasn’t for her friends; it was women that I chose. Mentors. Women that I trusted, that would be there for her. Women that she could talk to, if she couldn’t talk to me. Like minded women. I didn’t need to be privy to their conversations, unless she was threatening harm. Those were the rules.
It took me a few months, as I had to fly some of them in from out of town. We planned our weekend. I booked a hotel, got a few rooms, with an indoor pool. We brought food, junk food, soda, she did make-overs on some of us, it was her night.
I didn’t tell Anya of my ceremonial idea. I had each woman buy a charm that represented HER, not Anya, but them. They then presented their charm to her and told her what it was and what it meant to them, and why they chose it. 
It was the coolest!
I bought her a bracelet for her to put them on. When she wears it, or sees it, she is reminded of this circle of women in her life that love her, are praying for her, are there for her in any way she may need them.
It was one of the most moving ceremonies of our lives.
I don’t know if Anya grasped the whole concept at such a young age, but those of us there giving the charms sure did. It was amazing to be a part of the power of these women, the power and oneness when we were together.
It was all about Anya. 
We had this celebration so she would not look at this new season of her life as a curse, but as a blessing, welcoming her, in a beautiful loving way, into womanhood. It was a beautiful night. 
