Letter To Savy

11/12/11
Dear Savy,

You are just shy of your 8th birthday, an excellent student and second grader at Rosehill Christian School and a joy to everyone around you. You love pink, furry dolls and play teacher all the time. You don't mind getting your hands dirty, enjoy the outdoors and even sitting in a deer blind with your daddy. Your momma and I could not be more proud of you.

I am writing you so that you can read this when you are older, and get a sense of just how much love you have given to your daddy, momma and baby brother.

On 11/3/11, momma had Cash unexpectedly. He was 4 months early, but we have been waiting on him since we had you. We all were to have a long road to getting him home and could never have been prepared for the difficulties and trials we would face to do so. In the first few days since he was born, you have been an angel, and I think its just a glimpse of what is to come as you grow older.

The night Cash was born, our first concern was for his and momma's safety, but we quickly realized that you could not be forgotten, so we called on your uncles Louis and Marty to take care of you for the night, get you ready for the next day and keep you from dealing with the emergency in the delivery room. They did an excellent job, though by all accounts you were a trooper, even not complaining about your accomodations on the floor. Thank you. We needed to focus on Cash for the night.

That next morning we decided to skip school and bring you to the hospital where momma was. Both of you needed each other. I was on my way home from TCH when you arrived to see momma, but your smiling face gave your uncle and momma a sigh of relief. I wish I could have seen you do your "little brother" dance when she told you Cash was here.

Since Cash has been born, you have kept up your studies, hugged us when we needed it, and made us laugh more than we thought we could in this difficult time. We always wondered why we were blessed with such a smart, fun, happy and responsible little girl and now we know. God gave us you, the perfect child to help us through this test he had planned for us. You even passed on a birthday party that "everyone" was going to, so you could be with your baby brother and mommy. You said, "Momma, its cool, there will be lots of birthday parties I can go to, but how many times will I get to spend the day with you and read to baby Cash?!" I swear, we were stunned to hear that this morning.
And when you asked about Rice University while we drove through the village, you were so matter of fact in your answer as to how hard it is to get into the school, "Straight A's huh, I can do that; I'm going to write my own ticket." Amazing.

Savanah Grace, your middle name defines your mother, and it is proving to be a great choice for you as well. Your strength, happy demeanor and clever thoughts never cease to amaze us. We are so blessed to have such a beautiful, sweet and intelligent little girl. Cash will definitely learn how lucky he is one day, when he sees the videos and pictures of you reading bible stories to him while he grew stronger. Your selfless acts of kindness, from folding clothes to skipping birthdays and even doing homework late at night so we could visit your little brother, prove to us that you truly understand the situation we are in and the title of big sister.

We also are impressed by your complete devotion to your Christian beliefs. We have done our best to pass along the love of the Lord we have, but your understanding and acceptance of Jesus is precious to see. Your nightly prayers at the dinner table with us, your encouraging words to go to church when we didn't hop out of bed to do so and your charitable attitude are a blessing. We also cannot wait to see you play Mary in this years Christmas play at Rosehill Methodist Church.

I also wanted to tell you how much you remind me of your mother. Smart, quick, fair, firm and hard working are all traits she gave you. I give you the funny faces and goofy antics, some creativity and your love for music, but momma gives you all the stuff that matters most. You are lucky to have such a great role model, and you are following in her footsteps well. You will be successful in anything you do, and you will make many friends along the way. You also look a lot like your momma, and thats a great thing. Your beautiful eyes, thick wavy hair, flawless skin all come from her. I gave you left handedness and a temper. I'm sorry.

Last, I wanted you to know how loved you are, and by so many. Your grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins love you dearly. Your teachers and friends hug you with love. The phone calls we get about some comment you made never end or dissapoint, and they always tell us about some sweet nothing you did recently. That is saying something. Thank you so much for what you have given to us and Cash, we will need more in the months that come.

In closing: Never lose your zeal for life, and always go head on into something you believe in. Keep your faith and never give cause for another to doubt your word. Always be an example of someone walking in the light, and never dishonor your family. God and family are first. Smile. Help. Love.

You will never know how much you mean to us, and you will always be our baby girl. You are a big sister, the oldest child and grandchild on both sides of the family. You will need big shoulders for your responsibilities, but you have proven perfect for the job.

I love you Savy G, and am forever indebted to you.

Love Always,

Daddy