Life has been anything but easy. Honestly, nothing has ever been easy or handed to your father and I before you three were even in this world. Then, the three of you were born and absolutely nothing has been easy for either of you.
One of many very important things I want you to each know is this: you work your ass off and earn where you are, what you've accomplished and what you've got. We have not taken any handouts, had "benefits", or donations. And we shouldn't. As others have gone through some tragedies and hardships and had everyone "fix" life for them, it's not the way it should be. We as a family, the five of us, are responsible for our lives and paying, learning, and growing to be stronger.
Life isn't always sunshine and butterflies. Sometimes life is hard and it sucks. That is reality. But what I want each of you to know is this, it's so worth it. The day you marry your best friend, the day you have children, watching them grow... it's so worth it. The day you know you have a purpose, that God is on your side no matter how many people aren't. There are more good days than bad.
So many people always ask your daddy and I if we have help, a big family, etc. The answer is always along the lines of "we do this alone". I'm not tootin' are own horns but loves, we've survived some hardships. We actually no what hard times are. We are not victims but victors! And while your daddy and I have gone through some really bad things with family and learning and growing individually, as a married couple, and spiritually, what the three of you have gone through and overcome is amazing. And while we want to teach you so many things about life, the three of you have taught and are teaching us more than you could ever know. Brody, little boy, you've taught us so much about really "seeing" things. The beauty of what this life really offers and the happiness it brings. Gracie, the light in your smile is our sign that God is with us. That angels are around us. Madilynn, your fearlessness pushes us to go out of our comfort zones and grow. Your lives alone have single handily changed our lives, deepened our faith, and makes us strive to be better people not for just ourselves but our family.
Days get long but go by so fast. In a blink of an eye your daddy and I have toddlers. The house is noisy, messy, and most of the time chaotic. There is no control, no planning. Your daddy and I run on low fuel most everyday because there isn't enough time to sleep, sit, think, gather our thoughts. BUT, we wouldn't trade one single day of this life, this hard, beautiful life! This is real. This is our life. We do fun things, we make wonderful memories, we love each other deeply but we are not perfect. I want each of you to have a firm grasp on reality. When you look back at these letters, I don't want you to think that things were picture perfect because there have been many hiccups. What I want you to know is that there has always been so much love within our family, and we've all worked so hard to be where we are and where we are going. The five of us. Having a spouse and being a parent are probably the two hardest things you'll ever do but both are so worth it! There is no other love like those relationships.
"For I know the plans I have for you... Plans to PROSPER you and not harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE" Jeremiah 29:11
All my love,
Mommy
Ricky,
You are so loved and very appreciated. We are stitched together and what love has tethered I pray we never undo. God gave me you.
I love you.
