Dear Lydia,
Sometimes we get lucky and we just happen to be blessed with amazing people in our lives. I seem to be really lucky because I have so many amazing people in my life, like you and daddy. But before you and before I knew I loved daddy, my life revolved around my friends. You see I was really close to my friends growing up, mostly because I was very different from my parents. You see being a teenager is hard stuff because you are really trying to figure out who you are and who you want to become. Your family is a huge factor in that. I really hope that I will always be considered one of your best friends but I also know that the mother daughter relationship can sometimes make that hard. I promise to always try to do what is best for you and to you. But the truth is that sometimes your friends will seem more important. I so so hope that your friends will be as good as my friends. In school i tried to make friends with any and everyone and that really helped me find some real gems. Let me tell you about one of them. Brynn Barton. Brynn and I started being friends in 7th grade when I would go hang out with the girls at the other jr. high because the girls at my jr. high were being a little to a lot over dramatic. ;) Ashley went to the other jr. high and I knew some of them from Elementary, we would all meet back up in High School. Brynn was one of the nicest most friendly people I knew growing up. I never once heard her say anything mean about anyone. She made you feel so welcome in her life and oh my goodness there are few people as fun as Brynn in this world. She made everything better. Here is a few things that stand out in my mind. A lot of our friends were on the drill team except me and Brynn, but we went to every drill performance throughout our high school days. Brynn threw a Miss America party like her mom and aunts had always done when they were young. We all got dressed up in 80's dresses and even our guy friends showed up to escort us to the door, but then they had to go. During the commercials we did little stunts like show swim suits off and such. Brynn and I were the only ones to do a talent. We were ridicules and we had so much fun. Skinny dipping. Brynn trying to drink coke out of a soda bong. (I will tell you what that is someday). There were so many good times.
A year ago today, Brynn was hit and killed while riding a bike. You came with me to her funeral via my belly. You were almost born on her birthday, November 8th. I really think Brynn had a lot to do with who I am today. She was a great example of how to treat others, a great example of charity. I always knew that I wanted to be like her in that way. Hopefully you will learn to be like her too.
Love Mom.
