Dear Audrey,

Your dad and I kissed Sidney goodbye while she slept, gave Nani and Papi a hug and left our house in the very early morning hours of January 12, 2007. I don’t remember much about the 30-minute drive to the hospital or all of the pre surgical prep. What I can recall, like it was yesterday, is the feeling of the doctor lifting you from my body and the loudest cry we had ever heard echoing through the room. “You have a 10 pounder” Dr. Stockwell said (he was off by a few ounces) and in those next seconds the most angelic face appeared in front of me. It was as if God granted us the most beautiful baby ever made.

From the second you made your presence known you have graced us with such love. Anyone who spends even a minute with you is impacted by your big heart and your even bigger smile.

And now you are 18 and I am supposed to let you fly but I can’t help but want to hold on tighter.

It’s not that you aren’t ready. My head knows you are.

You are compassionate.

You are generous.

You are thoughtful.

You are smart.

You love your friends and your sisters in such a way that it makes them feel known and respected.

I really just don’t want to let you go because I don’t want to live each day without your radiating light.

You have some big decisions to make in the coming weeks.

Know that we trust your judgement and you need to make the choice that is written on your heart.

Your bedroom will be waiting for you when you come home.

Matt and I are so proud of you.

Daddy is upstairs cheering you on.

You are never alone.

All my love, forever and a day,

Momma

P.S. This one has been waiting for you.