Today, you are 17. You are the youngest of three girls and the oldest cousin in your grouping of cousins. You are constantly searching and longing. You are naturally full of beauty, created in a life of adventure, charm, competition and pain. You have experienced the apex of joy and the tunnels of dark sadness. These last few years have created depths of heartache and overwhelming sadness for the loss of what could have been. While many of us will try and feel a void, a deep canyon and the largest foot print of personality and love this world has ever seen – we will never replace the majesty of your mother.

While I sit here, and as I have pondered all day – what would she want to say to you today. Here is my best guess….

• Don’t be so hard on yourself. Relax – you are doing amazing with all you have been given.
• Easter is coming – make sure you curl your hair and smile for real in pictures.
• Always cuddle in Kayla and Karlie’s beds – they are very experienced in that area, I trained them well.
• Live your life the way the Lord wants – no one else.
• Be genuine. You are definitely enough.
• Go to UT Knoxville (okay, well, maybe that is Heather talking)
• Go easy on the Chickfila 🙂
• Sing loud in the car! Top of your lungs!
• Take those naps – adulthood comes soon enough.
• Gibbs Volleyball is totally going to state this year.
• Never stop giving Uncle Scott a hard time – I know he misses picking on me.
• Watch out after your dad – he loves you, and I am sure struggling to show and understand you.
• Stay close to the Lord. Stay in church.
• Linger with family longer. Linger with friends too.
• Speak your heart – share your burdens with those who can help you carry them.
• Make more space for the things that matter.
• Put your phone down.
• Live loud. Laugh always. Love hard.
• You are beautiful. Never forget it.
• Remind Heather to laugh – and keep her up on the gossip. Lord knows she will never know it.
• Be strong, little girl. You are going to be just fine!

Happy birthday, you. Embrace each day to the fullest.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8