Brooke Turns fifteen-years old

 Brooke, 

You are fifteen-years old!!! Your birthday is Feb.15th, and I have always loved you came right near Valentine's Day because of the representation of love that day is, and how much I love you. I have always loved that my birthday is near Mother's Day, because I love being your Mother! 

It's an understatement to say that we wanted to make sure you felt fabulous the weekend you would turn fifteen, and the fact that only a few weeks before your birthday you asked if you could sell your furniture to pay for us to go on a trip to Disney World, and then we took you without making you sell your furniture, was going to make the actual birthday this year, hard to beat, after a trip to Disney; Besides the fact that the day we came home from Disney I was teaching classes and you took apart your bed by yourself and talked your Dad into getting you a triple bunk bed to replace it. Which was also hard to beat in gifting for your birthday.

Despite the truth that you have received so much, I still know that there is nothing I could give you that would be as valuable as lasting relationships; and so...

We brought your cousin Tru, to town to celebrate the 1-5 with us. 

I think it was just as special for you as the other recent gifts, and to me.....that's a gift of reminder of what kind of spirit that you have, which is good and loves her family. 

Some times I get accused of making spoiled children Brooke; 

     But, the thing is, that it is only me who sees your inner struggles and desires to be patient and do good; and who you are, is deserving of all the spoiling in the world.

You are often refered to as the " one student in a class who did their homework " or the " girl who is a grade younger than everyone else in her class, but gets the 100% on a test ". The times we check to see if your counselor has an appointment to talk about your school schedule, I hear back from the counselor that your appointment is made, and you have taken such initiative to be on top of your educational goals; down to the number of credits of each class, and which college accepts your AP classes as college credit. 

I like hearing your silly ideas and let you do them, like sending live ladybugs in the mail to your cousins, and I know it's special that you aren't ungrateful for the more eternal things, along with the temporary things that I try to give you. 

Just when I feel I am tired or might need help; I know the Lord loves you and allows you to be His hand because you look at me and say, " Thank you for taking us to church Mom. " or you give me a note that says, " I am grateful for what you do for us Mom. " 

You are going to slip quickly into many circumstances where the Lord will use you in your life; and I know this because I know you, and I know our God. 

Brooke, You are brilliant and beautiful, and yes you are blonde because of me, since I talked you into that for the past few years, but you will be just as beautiful with pink or purple or brown hair, which is a common topic of the household, and I really have nothing to say except that you can do what you'd like because I know you will always do those things that are good; and follow Jesus Christ; because I have seen you do that time and time again, and there is a sensitive and kind spirit that is constantly witnessing you are a special chosen daughter of Heavenly Father in these last days, to be a leader in His church. 

Many people at church tell me after you give talks, especially for the youth before they go to the temple, That the spirit showed them you are strong and have the spirit. 

I am never surprised at how wonderful you do at anything you want to do Brooke, because you have always been extraordinary! 

It was most fun at Disney World seeing you so excited for roller coasters, because you are so afraid of being high on the mountain when skiing! 

The sweetest thing you did on your birthday celebration weekend, was come home with your cousin Tru having purchased Will a gift with your own money, while you were walking to the store as an adventure by yourself with your cousin. 

Congratulations on being in the 90th percentile of the nation on the pre-SAT and more so, for valuing things that last with me; like reading and learning and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I love you my princess. Happy 15th Birthday Brooke!!!

Love- Mommy💝

You laughed hysterically at these birds in Disney World at one-year old, so I took a photo of you feeding them at fifteen-years old as I remembered you as a baby. 

Brooke Babe

 Brooke, 

You are exceptional at so many things and beautiful, and interesting! When you read my notes to you as you grow up I know then you will see how amazing you are to me; and I want you to know that I have always thought that about you. From the moment you came home from the hospital and I had no idea it would be so hard to have a new born ( painful physically ) I thought, " I would do anything for this baby girl. " I had some people tell me it's no big deal if I didn't nurse you and gave you a bottle, but I thought that there is no way that a child of mine will not get the very best of everything that I can give, and so I lived through the pain til it didn't feel painful, and then when people told me that I needed to just let you be hungry all night if you didn't eat, I thought there is no way my child will feel hungry, scared, or not have all the best. So, it motivated me to give you the best things in prayer, and I was determined you would know every single letter and scripture by the time you were 4, and you did, but it wasn't because of me; you were just really smart, and you were just worth the efforts I made to give you what I thought was best. I know that I can't always make it so you aren't scared, or sad, or feeling like you aren't getting the best, but that's why we are here on earth; to know the difference, so we can have our own choice of what we want, and come to know for ourselves what kind of an incredible Father we have in Heaven, and Jesus Christ our Savior. We never would have been able to see how much they love us, if we didn't know what it was like without Them, and to feel Their love from a place in Heaven allows us to feel the power that They want to give us; since we can feel that power in spirit even when They aren't beside us physically. 

I have seen you come to know you have Their help in moments you open up; like last week when I was so excited to deliver couches to people with no furniture, after I shared the Lord told me that furniture was for Them and go take it as it is free; you told me you had been helped on a test after you had prayed for help on it in your mind. You told me you saw an answer and it jumped out to you, even though you didn't know if it was the answer. You said you chose that answer on the test and it was right and you got a 100%. You told me you knew that the spirit told you, because you prayed. 

You have a lot of wild ideas about delivering postal boxes by the hundreds to your cousins, and teaching your brother to make prank calls, but it all comes with your creativity and brilliant mind, that I am so grateful to be a part of your development into the chosen daughter of God you are. 

I love you, 

Mommy 💝