Dear Samantha…

Hey you! You’re now 35…what a great age. Your mom always said that each year gets better and better. :)

I know it seems as if your first year teaching was ages ago, but I hope you haven’t forgotten the passion that you had for education. Teaching brings you so much more joy than you could have imagined. Know that you will have days where you’re completely overwhelmed and stressed. But don’t let those days steal your love of being in the classroom. Remember in college when you dreamed of the day that you would have your very own classroom full of munchkins? Remember that passion always! Never stop learning. Laugh with your kids. Be their biggest encourager. But most of all, love on your kids. Invest your time in each child…even the ones that challenge you the most. You may be their only example of Jesus.

Be sure to love on your own kids every single day! Remember that you don’t want to just be a mother, but a mama. There’s big difference. Rock them to sleep when they’re little and cover them with kisses. Notice how they change and grow. Play with your kids. Dance in the living room. Run around the backyard. Tell them every day that you love them more than they’ll ever know. Tuck them in at night and pray over them. Discipline them. Know that they’ll frustrate you and make life messy, but you wouldn’t want it any other way. Be an example of a woman that seeks the Lord…they will learn from you. May they see a vibrant relationship and not a pious religion.

Whenever your husband gets home, greet him with a kiss that makes your kids embarrassed! Remember how you longed for the day that he would enter your life? Remember how you so longed to know his heart? To know his passions. To know his voice and his laugh. To know the light in his eyes as he talked about the Lord. Well, don’t take any of that for granted now that he is a part of your everyday life! Pray for him…that he continues to love the Lord more than he loves you. Pray for him as he leads your family. Oh, may you still be giddy when he kisses your forehead and feel so secure when he wraps his hand around yours. Let him hold you always. Kiss him lots! Be silly with him. Remember how he made your stomach do somersaults (in the best way possible)?  Tell him that you respect him. Remember how important your words are! Know that you won’t always agree...you will have arguments. He will make you mad and disappoint you, but you will do the same to him. Set aside time for just the two of you…have date nights. May you cherish and honor this man that holds your heart.

Be sure to call your parents often! They mean the absolute world to you, and love you more than you could ever know. Spend time with just your mom. She is one of your best friends and you’ve always had a special relationship with her. She has always been your biggest supporter!. Be sure to go on daddy-daughter dates. Your dad loves you so much more than you realize…cherish the relationship you have with him. I can only imagine the proud grandparents they’ve become!

Most important of all, may you seek the Lord each day! Remember that you’re the bride pursued and get to live daily in the greatest romance of all. Pursue intimacy with Him. He will be found when you seek Him wholeheartedly. Read through some of your old journals to be reminded of His faithfulness in your life. Know that the Word is your lifeline. Spend time in His presence. Remember you can’t give out what you don’t have yourself. Remember that He isn’t a stoic God that is far off, but a God of intimacy that is present at all times.

Be intentional about the relationships God has placed in your life. Be the best teacher you can be. Love your own kids fiercely. Grow more and more in love with your best friend. Seek to live with the attitude that all glory belongs to Him. Don’t rush away your days.

Update: I'm using this post I wrote over a month ago to link up with Harley & Jane for their journal prompt series.