Dear Keaton

Dear Keaton,

I wanted to write you a little note to let you know how proud I am to be your mom. I can't believe that it has been eight years. Eight whole years of laughing, giggling, and smiling. It hasn't always been easy, but it has always been great. You are a great kid. I love how passionate you are about anything you put your mind to, whether it is the latest project you are working on or cleaning your room. I love how creative you are and how ginormous your imagination is. There has not been one day that you have been alive that I haven't smiled because of you, and I have laughed with you just about as many of those days. You are amazing in so many ways....I'm so proud of you.

I was very proud of you last week when you stood up for what our family believes. Not all kids would be brave enough to do what you did. But you knew what would make me and Daddy upset, and you were strong enough to let your teacher know about it. I've seen lots of kids who knew what the right thing to do was, but were way too scared to ever say anything. But, not you. You did it! That is amazing! There are going to be so many times in your life that you are going to be faced with choices and decisions that are tough ones. Ones that will force you to choose right or wrong. In already mustering up the courage to stand up for what we believe in now, you are well on your way to being very prepared to handle yourself when you are older. You did a great job, kiddo! So proud of you.

I was very proud of you today when you told me that you wanted to be President of the USA one day. I thought you were just saying that because that is all you hear grown-ups talk about these days, but when you kept talking...I knew it had nothing to do with the Presidential race going on right now. You told me that you wanted to be President so that you could "change the world." Wow! That is big stuff. You told me that you wanted everyone to stop fighting with eachother; that you wanted everyone to stop trashing our planet; and that you wanted a law to be made so that no one would be allowed to use bad words. You've got it all figured out, man. I know that you will change the world one day. If you make it to the White House, you will be the best President this country has ever seen. If you don't make it all the way to Pennsylvania Avenue, that's okay...you will be too busy changing the world in other ways to mess with being Commander and Chief anyways! By the way...I'd vote for you, for sure!

Keaton, there is not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for giving you to me. He could have given you to any other family that He wanted, but He didn't. He chose me and Daddy. I'm so grateful that He did. He knew we needed you. He knew that you would change us forever....for the better.

I love you kiddo. You are my hero.

Love you to the stars and back,

Mama