Dear Ciara, they say, “A daughter is the sunshine of her mother’s life.” I completely agree.

In mom terms you are 366 months, or 1461 weeks, or 10,227 days old. It’s hard to believe this, but I have loved you longer than that. From the moment you became a thought you have been loved. I could not imagine what an amazing person you would become. You have tested me almost all your life, but in a good way. You have taught me so much as a mother and as a person. You never cease to amaze me with your strength, love and compassion. I love telling stories about you… “Did I tell you Ciara did…”

As a child you were always so loving. We would dance around the living room as I would sing, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.” You would ask me to spin you around and around until I became so dizzy I couldn’t see straight. I loved that you wore dresses with your purple Doc Martins and carried a purse full of rocks. You had a phase where you only wanted to wear your red sparkly shoes with everything. It did not matter if they matched or not, they were princess shoes so they had to be worn. I loved your imagination as you would play in your room by yourself and seemed ok with your alone time.

As a teenager we had moments of not so good, but overall you were great. I loved your confidence and that you told me most things. Now that you are an adult, some of the stories you have told me make me shake my head and thank God I didn’t know it all, but thankful I kept you covered in prayer. One of my favorite things you ever told me was, “I am not Caleb. I will go to parties and probably drink. I will not get in the car with someone who’s been drinking and I will always let you know where I am.” You were very strong in who you were. I always appreciated the times you would text and tell me what was going on, from sneaking out to walk around the lake, to going to someone else’s house instead of where you were planning to go. I never worried that I couldn’t find you.

As an adult I think I had more challenges with you in college than any other time. I guess it was more worry than challenges. You were grown-ish and I needed to trust you would do the right things. Not going to lie, I loved that you hated your roommate so you moved back home. I felt we grew closer at that time. I know moving to California was hard on you and making friends was a challenge, but I loved the time I got with you.

Watching you become a wife and mother does things to my heart that I cannot explain. You were the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. I will always be grateful that I was there when DJ was born. I was nervous at times watching you in so much pain, wishing I could take it away. I’m thankful you did a home birth so that you had your things around you that gave you comfort. Also thankful in knowing you come from a long line of strong, stubborn women who will set their minds to things and make it happen.

I wish I could sit here and tell all the Ciara stories, but I can’t. Maybe one day. For now, I will hold you in my heart, pray for you always and wish one of the funniest, kindest, loving , loyal, compassionate, beautiful, inside and out people I know Happy Birthday. If I wasn’t your mom, I would want to be your friend. But lucky me, I get to be both. Here is to an amazing year of love, laughter and always Finding The Good In Your Life.