I wrote her a letter and mailed it to her, but I'm afraid that it has not made it there in time, so here it is.
My Dearest Briony,
I know that I have said this before
(perhaps in different words, perhaps in these exact words), but it
warrants being said again, as a reminder.
The day that I became your mother was
the greatest day of my life. I was so worried about becoming a
step-mother, I read books and articles and researched so hard the
months before I moved to Leicester. I wanted to do it right, and I
wanted us to be a family. It took us some time, but that's exactly
what we did become. The day that you first called me Mom, sitting in
the car at the grocery store, asking “Mom, what's for dinner?”
filled my heart with so much joy. I was so afraid that I had heard
you wrong, so I pretended I didn't hear until you asked again.
You (and Cale) are the best blessings
I've ever been given. Though there are things about the last eight
years that I would change, becoming your mother is not one of them.
Things have not always been easy, but that's life, everyone has hard
times. The important things is that we came out the other side
stronger than before.
I am so glad that I made the decision
to move to Laramie. The year we had living together again was so much
better than our weekly Sunday phone calls and Spring and Summer
breaks in Virginia. We will always have our geocaching day trips, our
cuddle time with Bearette, and our family dinners every Sunday with
Cale. I wish that you were not so far away, but I have hope that we
will see each other again for the important events in our lives.
Because that's what family does, no matter the distance.
I love you more than words can express,
and more than my heart can bear it sometimes. I am a better person
with you in my life, a better person than I thought I could be. Being
your Mother has been the most satisfying (and stressful and chaotic
and terrifying) time of my life, but I wouldn't trade in this life
for any other.
Love Always,
Mom.
XOXO.
