Dear LaRee,

I was going to write this on your birthday, but as you see, that plan didn't quite materialize.

What a lovely young woman your are becoming. What I love is that you are lovely on the inside too. You are developing your talents and your love of reading has developed your mind and intellect in wonderful ways! You trust your parents to know what is best for you and your relationship with your dad must be the envy of every girl who wishes she had the same. You're not afraid to be yourself and you are confident in the things you like to do and not afraid to learn things in which most girls have no interest. You love your brother and sisters and are just the kind of big sister they can look up to and admire.

When my parents divorced, I didn't get to see my dad very often and even though my mother had other men in her life, none of them took the place of my dad. By the time I went to live with my dad and my stepmother, I had missed some years during which we might have developed a closer relationship and I was always afraid to be too affectionate with him for fear he might not like it. I guess that is why I am so happy that you and many of my grandchildren have good relationships with their dads. Be thankful every day that Heavenly Father gave you such a great earthly father and mother! Not every child is so fortunate, but I think the children in our family all have wonderful parents!

You are entering a time of life when Satan's influences will be more obvious and you will have to make many decisions between good and bad, right and wrong. Trust the counsel you've been given by your parents and church leaders. They love you and always want what is best for you even though you may occasionally question that at the time they are giving you that counsel. When in doubt, let the Holy Ghost guide you and you will always be safe and happy.

I am so grateful to be one of your grandmothers. I think Heavenly Father must love me very much to have sent me so many amazing children and grandchildren. Thank you for being one of them!

I love you a ton, LaRee.

Mama