Happy 14th Birthday!!!

  You've always been more mature than other girls your age. So although it blows my mind that you're turning fourteen today, in some ways it seems like you've been a teenager for a long time... Thank God you decided a while ago that "middle school relationships are stupid." So, you refused to be just another boycrazy girl. And it has probably saved you from a lot of heartache.

It's a beautiful spring afternoon, and you will be arrive soon with Mariah now driving, and Ashlyn in the backseat. You don't know this, but I have working hard on trying to set up a surprise FaceTime call from the Bucket List Family!!! Hopefully we can make it happen. Fingers crossed they will call tonight. You also requested Teresa to make your favorite dinner (fondue) and dessert (Angel Food Cake)! Then we'll catch up on each other's lives and maybe watch a movie of your choosing. 

It's so hard for me not be able to see you every day, so we make up for it in the short windows of time that we have. Our roots go deep, and we value quality over quantity. We really focus on meaningful and deep conversations, often challenging each other to think about something in a different way. You are so opinionated, and your political views are widely shaped by your peers and what you see on Social Media. I hope that as you grow, you'll reflect on the things that I've taught you and learn to pray through difficult decisions. 

So happy birthday, Ambria. "May the best of your todays be the worst of your tomorrows," (a quote by Jay-Z)., I pray that you will always stay close to me, as we walk up the hill together...

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