Hi Sweet Pea…it’s daddy=). Having one of those so-so days as I think about your 16th birthday coming up on April 8th. It will be the 4th time we have celebrated “you” without you being here. Such a bummer. I dreamed of taking you to get your drivers license on your 16th birthday. I know mommy dreamed of talking to you about being a 16 year old girl. I know Shaya dreamed of wanting to share her life with you. I know JT would be loving you just like he always did.
Guess what? Your amazing big sister is planning everything for your 16th birthday celebration. She has become an incredible party planner. She planned her own 18th birthday celebration with 18 of her friends. You should have seen it. I’m sure it would have won awards for incredible decorations and exquisite details. I’m sure your Sweet 16th will be full of lots of special decorations and love-filled details too. You sister misses you so much. She just loves going into children’s hospitals and sharing about you. I love this picture of the two of you.
This Saturday is our 4th annual NEGU Gala and Shaya is going to be sharing in the program. I wanted to add some much needed beautify to the stage so I have her and mommy sharing. We are a family dedicated to helping kids fighting cancer NEGU so it just feels right. I know they will do a great job sharing about you and the rest of the courageous kids we have attending.
Someone asked me the over day why do I write to you. He really seemed like a nice man so I said…because I LOVE my daughter more than words could ever describe. Love is such a powerful thing. What I wanted to tell him was…
Love causes someone to find joy in the midst of severe pain.
Love causes someone to find hope in the midst of lost.
Love causes someone to look above the daily chaos of life and let those closest to them know they are top priority.
Love causes a family bruised by cancer look for ways to bless others.
Love causes countless people to donate their hard earned money to help kids smile.
Love causes a once career driven man to focus more on their family than ever before.
Love causes a sister to talk proudly about her little sister.
Love causes a little brother to make sure his big sister is never forgotten.
Love causes a mothers broken heart to heal over time.
Love causes a child fighting cancer to think about all of the other kids fighting.
Love causes people to give more than they receive.
Love causes priorities to be reprioritized.
Love causes a family to draw close when the forces of life try to pull them apart.
Love causes a dad to make sure he says “I love you” to his kids more than before.
Love causes a family to hug and hold on to each other like never before.
Love causes the word “sacrifice” to be refined as “normal” in ones life.
Love causes the word “death” to be removed from ones vocabulary.
Most of all…love never fails, never stops and never really costs anything if you really want to give it.
I love you so much Jessie and know deep down in the cupboards of my soul you will always LOVE me too. Can’t wait to see you….
xoxo,
daddy