Dear

Taylor,I just want to let you know that I love...

...How when I asked you for a hug, you gave me one, and wouldn't let go.

...How when I tell you that I love you, you say that you love me more, even if I tell you that you that I love you more.

...How when I sit next to you, you cuddle up to me and rest your head on my shoulder.

...How when I am even a little bit sad, you rub my shoulder, flash me a smile, and tell me that everything will be okay.

...How you reach up and grab my hand so that you can hold it- even though I am in the front seat and you are in the back seat.

...How you try to give me your snack, just to make sure I am not hungry.

...How when you see me coming, you run and yell my name then greet me with the biggest hug known to man.

...How you tell me that I am your best friend.

But most of all, I love it that you love me...

...so please don't ever let go, I will always love you more, my shoulder will always be there to lean on, you always make me feel better, my hand is always here to hold, I will always have snacks to share, your welcome to greet me that way for eternity, and I will always be your best friend...

Because I love you to.

Mikayla,

I want to let you know that I love...

...how you ran off the field during your game just to give me a hug, and how you didn't want me to put you back down.

...how you pull me aside just to tell me silly little secrets that aren't really secrets at all.

...how you threatened to beat up the little boy who hit me with a ball just because he was not nice to me (even if we were playing a game)

...how as soon as I sit down you crawl up on my lap even though there are plenty of chairs available

...how you dressed up just to come to my house

...how you want me to carry you everywhere, even though you can walk

...how you make me laugh with the goofy songs and stories
...how you get mad because Taylor says I am her best friend, because I am yours as well.

But most of all, I love it that you love me...

..so I don't want to ever put you back down, I will always be here to listen to your secrets as well as those not really secrets, I will always fight for you as you had wanted to fight for me, you can always take a seat on my lap no matter how many chairs there are, you will always look cute whether you dress up or not, I will always be here to carry you, your goofy songs and stories can always make me laugh, and don't worry I will be your best friend to...

Because I love you to.

Love,

Just another reason why. Cedar Point part 2.

While forming the words to tell the story of our senior trip I decided to leave out one little part of the story. I decided to do it this way because I wanted this part to be less about the Senior trip and more about why I adore the certain person I am writing about. I wanted the focus to be turned on the person and not the event.

And just so that you know I am not writing this post for entertainment purposes. This is one of those special posts that I am writing so that when I look back on this thirty years from now I can see exactly how what happened made me feel and how truly thankful for this person I am. I am writing this so that the person I am writing about can look back on it and see exactly how much I adored the fact that she did this for me.

So now that you know that here's the back story:

Jodi hates roller coasters. Its not the speed, the non-secure feeling, the turns or anything like that, Its the height. Shes afraid of heights.

Now like I said, I love roller coasters. Love them. And when Jodi decided to go to cedar point I was very excited to have her as a riding buddy. (We had a group of 5 at the time and of course I was number 5) Now I knew she was scared of heights but we had talked previously and she said she might be able do get on them- depending on how she felt about it when she got there. I really wanted her to ride at least my favorite one with me and had been trying to convince her for awhile prior to the trip. Everyone was saying that there was no way that I would ever be able to do it. But I thought she would have fun (after getting over the height part) and still tried and tried.

I even continued trying as we waited in line (which I even had to convince her to do) for my favorite roller coaster:
The Millennium force: Only the second highest roller coaster in the world (which I neglected to tell her *wink*), second only to the dragster, which I have also ridden.

As we are standing in line she is still saying that she will not ride it as me and the rest of us are still trying to convince her - using about every excuse we could think of. When we got up to the gates I thought for sure that all of our convincing would fall short and she would choose to sit this one out since she was able to see how high this coaster really is.

Much to my surprise She files in the line for a seat right along with the rest of us. I then ask if she is actually going to do this because I will just have to ride with someone else if she won't. She answers by looking at me then says I need to get in first and she wants the back of the car. I am so proud of her!

And there we are. Extremely obvious elation on my face (can you tell I like roller coasters? Didn't think so lol.) And a look of...well I am not sure what to say about the expression on her face. She had her eyes closed the entire time- but is that a little hint of a smile i see? And then theirs Rochelle in the seat behind us- laughing? crying? scared? Not sure about that one either. lol.

Her reaction to the ride? She said she hated it - worst few minutes of her life (but if I was as stubborn about not liking it at all and then if I possibly did like it I would not admit it either so there is that possibility, but that's just my thoughts *smiles*) now she knows that any other type of high roller coaster is out of the picture,

BUT

she is glad she did it for me. And that's just another reason why I love her so dearly. I don't think I could ask for a better best friend..

So Jodi if you are reading this first of all, I really am sorry for bugging you about doing something you did not want to do. I feel very badly about it, I just thought you would have fun. And I am still hoping that you did but did not really want to admit it. Secondly, I am so proud of you! You are deathly afraid of heights but you went on the second tallest roller coaster in the world. That's something to be proud of! Even though you may never want to do that again at least you can say you faced your fear. I am so proud! Lastly, thank you for thinking high enough of me to do something like this just because I asked you to. For facing your fear because you just love me that much! (And for still saying I am your favorite after you got off the ride!) You certainly are the best and this is something I will never forget. You are certainly my favorite and I love you lots! Thanks for being a great friend.

Love,


PS- This is totally off topic but the cable guy just came a little bit ago and he was so cute! You know you expect these old guys so you just wear your sweats...or maybe that was just me? Poop. Missed a good one there....he even took off his shoes and played with my dog! I am thinking our cable might be broken again in the near future....*wink*

3 years ago today..

...I met two people who totally changed my life.

Three years ago I met you girls for the first time. It was just another babysitting job for me at that time, I chased an engergetic four year old and tried to comfort the crying one year old who just wanted her mom.

Little did I realize that soon enough, you two girls would become one of the biggest parts of my life. I did not even think that I would get so close to you, I would soon be asking and begging to babysit you girls. Little did I think that pretty soon, your smile would make me so much happier, your words would brighten my day and that your love would keep me going when all I wanted to do was go away and never come back.

Little did I think that I would end up loving you two so much. But It was only a matter of time I guess.

Three years ago today I didn't realize that my life would be forever changed by two little girls.
Taylor and Mikayla, I am so glad I met you. I am so glad God decided to grant me the gift of allowing you two to be in my life, so glad he happened to set my life path so that it crossed with yours. I don't think I could ask for anything better at this point.Having you girls around these last three years have made my life so much better. I love the both of you so much and wouldn't trade a minute of our time for anything in the world. You girls always seem to make me happy whether thats with a funny comment or the fact that you painted all my toes instead of just the nail. Everytime I am around you both I feel such happiness and all the worries of the day are forgotten: all that matters is whatever we are doing together. You girls have always been able to make me happy no matter what mood I am in. And the days I do happen to be upset, I know you both are there for me with extra hugs and you both telling me its ok (that "some people are just mean and I won't ever talk to her because its not nice that she was mean to you", and "sometimes parents have to be mad but don't worry because they just forget and they still love you").

You girls help me out more than the two of you will ever know, more than words can ever express. And I am so grateful. I truely do not know what I would do without either one of you. Taylor,
You are such an amazing girl. You are so kind and caring as well as loving. You have a big heart and you are so thoughtful towards others. You always know what to say to make me smile and I love it how you always tell me how much you love me. Your hugs are the best! You also act so much older than you are and its so cool to have you to talk with about how rough it is to be the oldest. But do not worry and hold in there sister, you'll make it through and you will eventually realize that having a little sister is pretty cool.

Mikayla,

You are an awesome kid. You are crazy and wild but at the same time you are still very loving and kind. Your always making me laugh with all the crazy things you say but your also pretty calm and always quick to help. You always say thank you and you always tell me you love me, which makes me feel very special coming from such a special girl. I love all the engery you have and how although you don't let anyone push you around you still listen when I tell you we can't do something.

These three years have gone by way to fast and I see you both growing up so quick right before my eyes. I wish I could just stop it and slow it down but it continues to grow and things continue to change. I do hope one thing stays the same though- I hope that I can be a part of your life until the day that I die. I hope that one day, I will get to take pictures for your senior prom, watch you toss your caps at graduation, blow bubbles or throw birdseed on you for your weddings, plan babyshowers for you when you have your own kids.

In other words, I will always be here for you. No matter what. You girls mean to much to me.

I am looking forward to continuing to watch you grow, look at the difference three years made...

Last but not least I want you to keep in mind that there is not enough words (and I am really bad at using them anways) to fully express how much I love you and how much I appericate you.




Oh and do not forget... I LOVE YOU!



Much love,