Daddy's Birthday Letter to Tori

Dear Tori,

When we brought you home on August 5, 2002, we knew God was entrusting us with a very special one of His children. We knew that you would be loved by everyone in our family. We knew that you would love everyone in our family. We knew we could provide a loving home for you, and hoped we could offer you some opportunities you may not have gotten otherwise. What we did not know was how much you would give back to us! Jesus said in Matthew 5:9 during His Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Children of God." Tori, you truly have been blessed with the gift of peacemaking. You have a servant’s heart, much like our Savior modeled for us. You love to do things for other people, and you do not like to stir up trouble. You are naturally a peacemaker. The beautiful thing about this is that Jesus says because you are a peacemaker, you will be called a “Child of God." Seeing as how you came into this world through another mother and now call us “Mommy” and “Daddy”, I can’t think of a better term for you than that one! Daily, I pray that I can be the type of earthly father to you that our Heavenly Father desires for me to be.

Your servant spirit and peaceful heart will take you a long way in life. Besides just being the right way – and the way Jesus taught us – you will have many doors opened for you in life that would not exist for just anyone. So keep serving others, Tori. If you do, God will work miracles in you, through you and around you that will show everyone how mighty He is! You have faced more challenges in your earthly body than most other little girls, but what I’ve learned in watching you over the years is that your spirit is unshakable. God shows me everyday how powerful He is through you. As you grow, continue to love Him, love others and love yourself, and the sky’s the limit to what you can do!

Happy 8th Birthday, my princess girl! You’ve been counting this one down for the last few months, and I love that enthusiasm about your birthday. Keep being excited about your birthday, even into adulthood, for it is definitely worth celebrating. Never forget that YOU are a miracle! We are so blessed God that brought you into our lives, Tori, and I can’t wait to see the great things He will do in your life in the many years to come!

I love you!

Love,
Daddy