Dear Ava...

Dear Ava, I love you so very much. I remember the day you were born. You opened one eye and grabbed my pinky with your little hand. I cried more than I had ever to that point. Emotion welled in me. So I am writing this letter and you are getting ready to go into Middle School next year. I cannot believe how fast you are growing. When you read this letter you will be on the verge of graduation from High School. Right now you act like you hate your brother Luke and he acts like he hates you. I hope as you read this you and your brother are closer these days. I hope he protects you from boys and that you protect him from bad girls. My hope is that you and Luke will be close as you get older. I love you both more than you ever could understand (when you have kids you will get it). I am sitting in my office at Overlea High School Listening to Country top 10 countdown from the week April 28, 2014 on Youtube. Do you remember all the silly stuff you did at this age? Do you remember Hanni and her Tutus? Do you remember how great your mom is? My dearest daughter my hope for you is that you will have found God by the time you read this letter. I know that I have been trying my best to find him and I hope you have a relationship with him by now. I hope that you now realize that money doesn't grow on trees, that sometimes the answer is no, and that failure is only failure if you don't get back up. Anyway I know that I will be so proud of you as you are almost ready to graduate in a few weeks. Just know that I love you, I will always love you, and that you and your brother have always been my entire life. Love Always, Daddy