Hey Kiddos:
Every time I go home and see you guys, I am painfully
reminded how fast time flies. It seems as though I was just racing to the
hospital to be with the family as your mothers joyfully gave birth to you. I
remember each and every day of your births, just as if it were yesterday.
Now, here you are running, walking, talking, starting
school, and growing up so remarkably fast right in front of my eyes! As much as
I want to hug you guys and keep you little forever, I know that is not
possible. I wish I could sit you down and tell you so many things but I know
you are still too little to understand. Instead, I’ll write you this letter and
hope that one day when you can read and understand a little better you can read
it and hopefully feel something.
I wish that someone would have reminded me how important it
is to stay as young as possible- for as long as possible, even if it’s just in
your heart. I remember being your age and anxiously looking forward to each milestone
in life. When I was young, I couldn’t wait to be in high school. Then it was
college, then it was getting married, and so on. I was always looking onto the
next stage of life; always thinking life would be so much better once I got
there. Nobody told me that I would look back on all those years with such
nostalgia. Dreaming, wishing, giving anything to go back.
You are learning so much more than we could have ever
imagined. With all the resources available to you these days, remember that no
dream is too small. Dream as big as you can for as long as you can. You can
literally do anything and you will always have people backing you up and
supporting you. Don’t even think you aren’t good enough. Just because you come
from a small town, small school doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to
being small forever. Dream bigger, do bigger, and believe bigger.
But, with all these new available resources and technology
it will be easy to be tempted and see things that are bad. Don’t lose your
innocence. Don’t give in to things you know in your heart are wrong because
others are doing it. Stay true to yourself. I know, I know it’s way easier said
than done. But, trust me in the end it will all be worth it to know that you
became what you dreamt of by remaining true to yourself.
Never get too old to call your parents. Never get too old to
tell anyone how much you love them. Never get too old to kiss your Dad goodnight;
he’ll love it every time, I promise. Never forget where you came from and equally important, never
lose sight of where you are going. Your path may become blurry at times- but
the map is there in your heart. And finally, never forget how much I love you, think and want the world for you. Never be afraid to call home, it's there where you will find open arms and hearts full of love.
Xo.