My Lottie,
When I think about you turning 16 today, I truly don’t know
where the time has gone. It feels like yesterday that you were taking your
first wobbly steps or telling people that Dallas’s name was Buster Brown or
going to preschool to play with the baby dolls. Now you’re 16, and your whole
life is stretched out before you just waiting for you to fly.
In some ways, you haven’t really changed too much since you
were little. Your big, beautiful blue eyes see things with wonder. You have
always been curious, but now you’re just curious about different things.
Sometimes you come up with the goofiest questions, and other times you stun me
with your insight. I really don’t ever know what you’ll come up with next, and
it delights me to no end.
You are one of the most loyal people I have ever known. The
phrase “ride or die” was probably coined to describe you. You love with your
whole heart and soul; I know how difficult that can be because loving hard can
also mean big disappointment sometimes. Anyone who is lucky enough to have you
in their corner is getting a friend who will never let them down. High school
is a tough time for friendships and finding yourself, but you have remained the
calm in the eye of the storm.
Even though it is bittersweet to watch you grow up, I am
having so much fun seeing who you are becoming. You constantly amaze me with
your kindness not just to people you know but also complete strangers. Almost
every time we go somewhere, you offer to help someone carry something or you
compliment someone on their hair or outfit. You make people smile everywhere
you go. The wondrous thing to me is that all of that comes naturally to you;
you don’t think twice about engaging with people and making their days better.
I’m so proud of how hard you’re working at school, both in
academics and your extracurricular activities. I love that you are able to
share SDMT with Dad and that you genuinely enjoy it. It thrills me that you’re
not afraid to share your opinion, even if it’s not a popular one. You’re
learning important skills from both SDMT and choir that will transfer to
whatever career you choose in the future. You’re absorbing lessons daily, and
you’re maturing before my eyes.
Be that as it may, you’re still a goof. You make me laugh
every day whether you mean to be funny or not. Even when you’re not trying to
be funny, you have the rare ability to laugh at yourself. I feel like there is
no in between for you: you either take things very seriously or not seriously
at all. It’s always interesting to see which topics or happenings fit into
which category. One thing is for sure: you keep us on our toes.
I couldn’t be any prouder of who you are and who you’re
becoming. Stay true to yourself and don’t ever change for someone else. The
right people will always love you for you: your beauty, kindness, joy,
sensitivity, intelligence, humor, and light. You are one of my bestest things, and I love you the most.
All my love,
Mom
