Letter to my Daughters

My Dear Precious Girls,

You are unique.  You've all been given opportunities that aren't normal.  Most girls can't say they've been to six different countries in one year, walked roads that allowed one foot in Austria and another in Slovenia, spent the night with an African, eaten dinner with an Asian family who makes their own Kimchi, ridden the subway by yourself way too many times to count, know how to navigate any major international city, walked the Acropolis, served the poor in Bosnia, and maintained "Friday Night in the Big Town" nacho and movie night in Vienna. You, my dears, are odd.

Most girls can't say they know how it feels to spend Christmas in another country - without their Father - and among strangers, cried over saying a final goodbye to a Grandfather in your own way thousands of miles away, wished they could sit at their Grandmothers' breakfast table eating canned biscuits and weak coffee, given away most everything they owned,  said goodbye to everything that identifies you with being American, lost the normal rituals that make you a teenager, or forfeited celebrating Thanksgiving with real green bean casserole.  You, my dears, are "different".

These things have shaped who you are, but don't let them define you.  Every human that walks planet earth will kick up dust.  Their dust may come from experiences that seem very limited to you, but it's their dust.  Your dust may come from soil strange and unfamiliar to those around you, but it's your dust.  Either way, all dust settles.  When it settles, you are left with the imprint of where it came from ... just like those around you.  You are not better or worse, just different.

Live your life well, nonjudgemental, and passionate to find where others' dust comes from.  Be eager to share your dust yet realize many may not understand or be interested.  That's OK.  You've been trusted with an experience that has been designed for you by a Perfect Author.  This is all His plan for Your life ... Your Unique Life!

I am proud to be called Mom ... and watch your lives unfold.

Go kick up dust ... and watch it settle ... and tell the stories well.

Watching,
Mom