To my baby girl who is graduating so very soon…
I wrote a letter to Bailee when she graduated so I wanted to write one to you and Alex for your graduation. I just reread my letter to Bailee before I sat down to write this one. One thing I told her in her letter was that I promised to pour into you and your brother during your high school years the same way I poured into her. I have tried very hard to keep that promise and I hope you have felt that from me.
I first want to tell you that I think you are absolutely one of the coolest people I know. I feel like I have a front row seat to your coolness and the backstage edition as well. There are so many layers to you that only a handful of people on this earth have been privileged to know and I am glad to say I am one of them. There is one thing that makes me a little sad….too many people haven’t had the opportunity to know you…like really know you. What an unfortunate life for them to not have been a good friend of yours!
Let me tell you the things I love so much about your various layers. I LOVE that “you don’t care”! You don’t care what everybody else is doing or wearing or posting or watching or listening to. You walk to the beat of your own drum and do things your way. There just aren’t many teenagers like that. How you can put a thrifted outfit together that consists of things that probably came out of an 80 year old woman’s closet and make them look cute seriously never ceases to amaze me. How you love to watch the movie Sunday School Musical at the age of 18 the same as you did when you were 8 years old and share it with your friends is so great to me. I love how everybody else is listening to hip hop or country music or Top 40 and you know every single lyric to Broadway musicals I have never heard of.
Another layer I love is a deep one. It is one that someone who doesn’t know you well would never know about you. It is how deeply you care and love your friends. You never want to hurt someone else’s feelings or have any conflict going on…almost to a fault. The anxiety it gives you when you think you may have made someone upset is honestly crippling for you…people have no idea. If they only knew the big heart that lies beneath that tough skin they’d be shocked.
The layer of creativity and talent that God has given you is one of my favorites. I literally check Tik Tok every day to see if you have posted a new song because I love hearing your original lyrics and your amazing voice so much. I love how seriously humble you are about your talent as well. Your passion for your music and your thankfulness for the gift God has given you overrides any self glory or self praise. I hope and pray you will ALWAYS be that way! Always give God the glory for every blessing and gift he bestows on you and the blessings will overflow.
There is so much more I could write about, but just know this…I love you more than you could ever imagine…Every. Single. Layer. God has really showed up with the doors He has opened for you and your future. I cannot promise your next chapter is going to be easy, but I can promise that if you lean on Him and trust Him with every step He will not steer you wrong. He sometimes puts bumps and curves on our path so that we have no choice but to lean on Him…so always remember that when things are tough. Also, when things are going great and awesome….don’t forget to praise Him and thank Him…He has everything to do with those times as well.
You, my daughter, are absolutely amazing. I cannot wait to see the next chapter in your life unfold. Dad, Bailee, Alex, Josh, Sunny and I will be cheering you on every step of the way! Peel away your layers one at a time and let others in…don’t deny anyone the blessing of knowing Anna Kate Simmons because their lives will be blessed once they do!
Congratulations and I love you with all my heart and soul!
Mom
Photo credits to Inspiration4110 Photography for the first two pictures, Cindy Nicholas for the majorette picture and Magnolia Photography for the last two pictures.
Words of Heart 