Dear Emmy,

Well this letter is a bit late, but I will post-date it on my blog to your actual birthday, ha. But also it's okay I am late because we are actually doing your birthday dinner and cake tonight . . .

You, like Lucy, weren't home much on your birthday. Your big 18th! You went to seminary, school, I treated you (but wasn't not able to go myself) and Miles and Lucy to lunch, and then you came home and got ready to go up to Junction. Dad and I were working that day and so hardly saw you - if at all! You spent your evening in Juction with Aidan - going out to dinner, walking around, etc. He spoiled you with a few really nice gifts and so hopefully your first "adult birthday" wasn't as lame as most of them will be from here on out - haha. Kidding, but also not.

Your last year of being a kid was both sweet and sour - kind of like a lot of your life has gone (which is pretty much how most lives goes . . . ). You struggled with feeling good about school - hating it, feeling dumb, feeling left-out, etc. You struggled with doing as well as you wanted to at your gym meets. You struggled with your social life. BUT. You did always have a family that loved and supported you always and no matter what. You had gospel truths to guide and sustain you. You had a healthy body to keep you active and moving. 

And you had Aidan. Aidan was a great and uplifting part of your life this past year and we're all glad he was a part of it with you! We enjoyed his positive influence on you and always enjoyed having him in our home for Sunday dinners, etc. You loved watching him play his senior year of football - and he was so fun (because he was so good) to watch! We even all went up to his State Championship game in Fort Collins. 

While there have been some hard times in your life, there have been a lot of good, too. While you hated school, you did love your "teacher cadet" experience - especially the last semester where you got to team up with the great Mr. Warren (your P.E. teacher at Northside) and his Northside classes. You taught some lessons and loved the kids and the kids loved you. You thrived in that and it was fun to see.

While not quite an adult, you are maturing in very positive ways. You are stronger than you think. You are better than you think. You are able to do more and be more than you think. Keep going. Keep putting one step in front of the other and you will reach that beautiful potential that is all yours.

I love you.

Love,

mom