To my daughter,

Although it may be years before I meet you, there are some things I want you to know. You are loved. You are so loved. There is nothing you could ever do that will tear the bond between you and me--no matter how many times you decide to make art out of the white carpet with red lipstick, no matter how many projects I have to drive to you because you forgot them at home, no matter how many times you act embarrassed of me in front of your friends, no matter how many times you forget to call, no matter how many times you sting me with a biting "I hate you." Nothing will ever lessen the love I have for you.

My daughter, you need to know that the little girl you are--whether you're a pink and frilly princess or a tough and muddy tomboy--is beautiful. And funny. And talented. And creative. And fun to be around. You make everyone around you, especially me, beam, smile from ear to ear and laugh until we cry. Life in these years is so carefree. You can do whatever you want to do and be whoever you want to be. You can come home from school, drop your book bag to the ground, and run around with your friends (real or imaginary) until the street lights come on. You can still live life one day at a time, free from the plans and worries of the future. I love hearing about your adventures and discoveries that you make in distant lands, outer space, and castles--all of which take place in the backyard. You are the most in touch with raw human emotion that you will ever be in your life. You love so deeply. You hurt so deeply. Everything is special to you, everything is important. You are important. Never lose that.

My daughter, you need to know that the middle-school, preteen you are is amazing. I know you will feel awkward sometimes (well OK, probably most of the time). You will spend hours picking out the best outfit that you later will look back on in six years and cringe at. You will want so badly to fit in. You will do almost anything for it. Please don't. Please don't give up the activities you enjoy, the things your'e passionate about, the people you love--just to fit in. I promise it's not worth it. Please humor me when I ask you how your day is, who that cute boy you were talking to in the car rider line is, how it made you feel when that girl said those mean things about you. Please let me show you that I care. When your friends start getting "boyfriends," please don't feel like you have to join in just to keep up with the others. I know that there will be times that you won't want me around, but I just want you to know that I will always be here for those rare times that you do.

My daughter, you need to know that the teenage you is enough. You will hear from every girl, boy, and social media platform that you are not enough. You're too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, too quiet, too loud, too nice, too mean...the list goes on and on. Don't listen. Ignore all these criticisms that the world throws your way. You will never please everybody, and you will never be perfect. But to me, you are altogether beautiful, altogether lovely, and altogether wonderful. I cannot wait to see the young woman that you are growing up to be. I hope and pray that you will be a woman of character and a woman of integrity. I hope that you will get to experience the joy of having friends who stick by you during the good and the bad. My beautiful girl, you need to know that you are worth the pursuit, respect, and love of a man who will treat you the way you deserve. Please never settle or compromise for some boy who won't appreciate you. But when you do get your heart broken, please know that it is not your fault--he is too immature to see the beautiful woman that you are and how blessed he is to have you. And please know that I will be here with ice cream, Kleenex, and a huge hug when you can't see that just yet. I will always be here.

My daughter,

I love you a bushel and a peck.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as you're living, my daughter you'll be.