Hello gorgeous,

I'm just writing to tell you how wonderful of a person you are and how much I love you. In case you didn't already know, you have a heart of gold and that's why everyone loves you so much. I can't begin to explain how much I appreciate everything you've done for me in the past 21 years of my life. I thank you for being my mom's best friend. I thank you for being the shoulder I could cry on, the person who never fails to make me laugh and the person who calls me every New Year's (even if we haven't talked in a while). Plus, you are one of the few that still call me Beaner.

I wish everyone could understand how great of a person you are. I really don't think I can stress that enough. You're a great mother, wife, friend, sister, grandma and all those other rewarding positions you hold in people's lives. I want you to always remember how much of a ray of sunshine you are. You're always so willing to open your home and heart to people that you don't even know, and that's something you don't see very often. When my Nanny died, you opened your home to my whole family, and you and your husband did everything to make sure we were as comfortable as possible in a time of grieving.

I know I already said that you were a wonderful mother, but you seriously are. Look where your kids are today; they're both happily married with a child or two. Your son is in the Army and your daughter holds a successful career while they both maintain a strong family life, as well as your step-son who's off doing great things for himself. I can't tell you how many people I know that haven't grown to be even half of the people your kids are. The things like that prove how much of a great mother you have been. You taught them how to love unconditionally and to do everything they can to make their families happy and healthy. I'm so glad to call you and them my family.

I don't keep in touch with my godfather that much, but I'm thankful for being in such close contact with you. You are a wonderful godmother and know that I would be safe if I ever needed a place to go. So I thank you again. I'm eternally grateful for you and the love, compassion, and friendship you've shown to not only me but my mother as well. I don't really know what life would be like without you in it, but I'm glad I'll never have to know. I love knowing that you're here to stay because without you, we'd be missing that sunshine that we so desperately need in this world. Keep being you, and never forget the impact that you've had on all of our lives.

I love you with all my heart.