Dearest Tatum,
We have had an incredible journey together this first year of your life. You have brought me more blessings than I can even express, and this is through you just being who you are! You are my gift from God: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) You never have to prove anything to me; you never have to make me love you; you never have to worry about doing anything that would change the way I feel about you: It is a truly unconditional love. You may wonder how that is possible because you’ll mess up and make mistakes and you’ll wonder: Will Mommy still love me? Will mommy still be there for me? The answer is YES.
You see, I was raised with this from my mom. But, more importantly, I learned that as a human we are fallible and make many mistakes! God showed me this true unconditional love that never fails or lessens. This is how I learned about true love and acceptance. HE taught me this and He is this. Now, as your mommy, I can show you this kind of love. This is the confidence you need to make you continue to persevere through the journey of life’s ups and downs.
Tatum, you are going to have an amazing life. I did not say it was an easy life; in fact, it will be difficult and at times, painful. BUT, take heart! You will overcome and succeed! You will make it because you will have help, you will have support, and you will have the biggest cheerleader in me and MANY others!!! You will and do have God’s arms to surround you and hold you up when you feel completely weak and defeated.
I want you to know that you are made by God and designed by Him for HIS pleasure and for good works! David said this in Psalms, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:13-16 )
Finally, Tatum, God said you were made to do wonderful things which we can discover together and it’s because God loves you so much!!! “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:8-9)
Let’s enjoy the blessings of life! Let’s savor each day together and make the most of each day or as they say, “Carpe Diem!” I love you with all my heart and will make sure you never forget that.
Goodbye 2013!
Hello 2014! 
Love,
Mommy
I love you so much 