“Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That’s what little girls are made of. ” ~Bethany Hamilton

You are all those things in my eyes.

You have shown me how to have courage, how to keep going when it is hard, when it is terrifying. You have led me through some of the deepest, darkest valleys I have ever encountered.

You are the epitome of determination and grit, always pushing through anything that seems to stand in the way. You know what you want and you will never settle for less.

You are fiercely committed to those you love, fiercely committed to your goals, fiercely committed to living the life you have always dreamed about. When you say something, you do it and there is never any question that you will make it happen.

And, my God, you are one tough woman. Every time I start to go through anything, I think of what you have had to endure in your lifetime, the things you have to go through on a daily basis, and I realize my challenges are small in comparison.

Your heart though. That’s where it all comes together. You are one of the kindest, most compassionate and loving people I have ever known. When you care about someone, there is no going back. When you love, it’s an all-in situation. You bring your heart to everything you do, you wear it out on your sleeve where people can see it. You bravely reveal yourself to others in order to help them do and be their very best.

And, of course, you are so very talented. Painting, athletics, academics, business. You have literally forced yourself to succeed at everything you have ever desired to do.

Guts. To live through what you have lived through in your short lifetime, you have to have guts. You take what most people would see as insurmountable odds, you face them and you conquer them. You never give up, no matter what.

So, that is what I am asking of you today. Don’t give up. Keep fighting. Muster up every ounce of those guts. Show me the tough woman you are. Remember that your kids need that beautiful heart to stick around a little while longer. Please. I need you in my world. I love you.