Daughter

Parents hold their children’s hands for a while… and their hearts forever. — An Old Proverb

I want you to appreciate your uniqueness.
Acknowledge your talents and abilities.
Realize what a beautiful soul you have.
Understand the wonder within.

You impress me with all the things you have learned,
all the things you care about, and all the things you understand.

If I were given a chance to be anything I wanted to become, there is nothing I would rather be than your parent. And there is no one I would rather have as my daughter. We have shared so much together, you and I. I have spent more moments than you will ever know hoping, praying, worrying, wondering, reminiscing about the past, projecting into the future, and always feeling incredibly privileged that the gift of being your parent was given to someone as thankful as me. You are on my mind so often. I think about our joys, our tears, our talks, our hugs… our bond that has been with us from the very beginning and that continues on, loving and strong, to this day. I am thinking of you now, and remembering you back then, with wonder in my heart.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

I want you to know that I would gladly drop whatever I’m doing, at any time of the day, just to have a chance to give you a hug, and to say how much I care, and to share a few moments with you. I take comfort in knowing that the caring and closeness between us will never change, and that you will always be in my heart.

I am amazed at how the seasons have flown by, how you grew so quickly, right before my very eyes. When I look at you, I see someone I cherish. I see someone I love with every heartbeat, every remembered smile, every hope, every prayer, and every treasured memory. When I look at you, I also see someone who has so many paths yet to walk, opportunities to explore, and stars to keep reaching for. As the years go by, my prayers will travel beside you on all your journeys.

I love you so much. I want you to remember that every single day. I want you to know that these are the things I will always pray:
That the world will treat you fairly.
That God will give you favor in the eyes of those you meet and work with.
That you will be safe and smart and sure.
That you will make good choices on your journey through life.
That opportunities will come your way.
That your blessings will be many.
That life will be generous to you.
That you will always be patient with the problems of life.
Happiness. Whatever direction your path may take.
Serenity.
Wisdom.
Courage.
Strength.
Success.
Close and caring friends. The kind that keep getting better & better
Love that never ends. The kind that blesses you forever.
Present moments and Special memories.
A thankful heart.
May you hold on to your sense of humor.
May you brighten the lives of those who know you.
May you go beyond the ordinary steps and discover extraordinary results.
May you keep on trying.
May you meet every challenge
May you recognize every opportunity.
May you be blessed with the knowledge that you have the ability to make every day special.
May your needs be met.
Dreams. Strong enough to keep them alive.
Peace. Deep down in your soul.
Joy.
May you never lose that sense of wonder.
New beginnings.
May you always be gentle enough to understand.
Understanding.
The Abundant Life.

Your are a tremendously extraordinary person. All the different facets of your life—the ones you reveal to the rest of the world, and the ones known only to those you are close to—are precious and rare. As people look even deeper, I know they cannot help but see how intrinsically beautiful you are.

There are gifts that are far above priceless.
There are memories that are made of pure love.
There are special miracles that really do come true.

All my life, you will always be a wonderful gift, a treasure of memories, and an amazing miracle. What an honor it has been to watch you grow and then blossom into someone I admire and adore with all my heart. Thank you for enriching my life beyond imaginings. Thank you for the grace and the goodness, the hopes, the memories, and the joy. Thank you for bringing so many priceless gifts to me.