To My College Graduate

I am so proud of you, how exciting to be a college graduate!

I love that you love your life and that you find the lovely, humorous and tender moments in this world.

I loved watching you shop for your freshman dorm room. It was so fun to buy pink hangers, shoe organizers and baskets and help you set up your room. I'm so glad that you and Kyra color coordinated everything. What could be more cheerful than a lime green and neon pink dorm room? I remember driving away that year and being so excited for you and so sad for me.

I love that you love yourself. I love that you love others and that you have found a direction in your life that allows you to serve others and also brings you so much joy.

I love that you went to Paris. Standing in airport as we said goodbye, tears filled our eyes and there was a slight hesitation, but I'm so glad you turned and got into that security line and then had a wonderful time abroad. I'm so glad you learned so much, ate too much and made lifelong friends. I love that we could Skype while you were away and that it made my daily life so joyful to see and hear you.

I'm glad that you share your funny and oops moments on your blog. I still love the snail story, it makes me laugh every time I think about it.

I love that after Paris, you came home and spent the summer with me. I love that you went to every baseball game that your 3 brothers played in that spring and that we had time together as mother and daughter again.

I love that when you are home there is always a batch of No-Bake cookies on the cupboard.

I love that you found Ben. I think you are the luckiest girl in the whole world.

I have loved that when you walk across campus between classes, you call me and tell me about your day.

I love that you love Utah. I think it's a pretty great place too.

I love that you spent time with my sisters - slept on their couches, ate their food, and went to their children's birthday parties, baptisms and other gatherings.

I love that you don't like Utah winters, because Merced has really nice winters.

I hope you dance all your life.

I love you.