To Julia:

I have known you forever! I have known you since before you were even born. How could this be? Because the moment that Tyler was placed into my arms for the very first time I began praying for him and for you. I knew you on the day he was born, and when I met you for the first time twenty-two years later I knew immediately that you were the one I had been praying for. So today… on your birthday sweet Julia… I wanted to share an open letter to my future daughter in law.

I knew when God gave me that precious little boy, the day would come when I would have to let him go. I’m not going to lie… this is hard for me. He was my first TRUE love. I will never forget the moment that he was born. He made me a mother for the very first time and I can’t put into words the feelings that rushed over me. It is unlike any love that you have ever experienced, and I pray for the day that you will get to experience that for yourself.

I have done the very best job that I think I could have done considering our circumstances while he was little. I was always on his side. I always wiped his tears with a loving hand. And I always kissed his boo boos. I protected him with every fiber of my being, and I raised him to be a smart, compassionate, loving human being. I truly believe that without the life we had at that time, he could have turned out much differently. I believe that God takes our circumstances and our pain, and He turns it into something beautiful that fits His will.

I never stopped praying. I prayed that Tyler would always have a heart for others. I prayed that he would accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I prayed that he would always love Christ more than he loves me or anyone else. I prayed that I would be able to raise him up to be a good man, an honest man… honorable, capable, mature, and loving. And I prayed that God would send him someone like you, who allows him to be himself and who can complete him in the work that God had already laid before him.

In just five short months you will be replacing me. This is such a bitter sweet moment for me. I would be lying if I didn’t admit to you that I am a little jealous. He doesn’t need me anymore. When you are a mother, especially if you are blessed with a son, you will understand what I mean by this. I used to be his entire world, and now his world revolves around you. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see him so happy, so in love, and so determined and certain about his future with you. This is every boy mom’s dream come true. Just know that it still stings a little, and even though he may no longer need me, I still need him.

My Promise To You

I want to make you a promise, right here, right now. You will always be just as important to me as he is. You will always be the most important girl in Tyler’s life which makes you very important to me. The day he proposed to you, you became family! You will always be respected, loved, cherished, and welcome by me. We will become great friends… friends that can talk about nothing, and friends that can talk about anything. I have always pictured my daughter in law being very close to me, and I promise that I will do my best to never overstep my boundaries and mess that up. I will probably always speak my heart, and sometimes that may not always be what you want to hear. But please know that when and if I ever do this, it comes from a place of undeniable love and adoration for you and the marriage that you and my son are about to embark upon.

There will be days that you and Tyler may not like each other very much, and that’s okay. Just always remember that tomorrow will be a new day and an opportunity for a do-over. No matter how angry or upset with him you get because he continues to leave his dirty socks on the floor, just know that he has always been a little messy, but his heart is bigger than any boy I have ever known. When you get a little upset with him for blowing too much money on his next fixation (like a motorcycle), just know that he is a problem solver and he can make everything right. When you get upset with him about anything, please know that the enemy will use that as an opportunity to creep into your marriage in an attempt to destroy it. You are not alone in this because you have a mother in law who has been praying since the day he was born, and I will not stop praying for your marriage until the day I die. I will be your prayer warrior!

You are taking my place. You are the one that he will go to when he is upset. You are the one who he will want to talk to when he is having a bad day. You are the one that he will come home to every day. I pray that you will always realize how important you are to him, even on the days that he forgets to show you. I raised my son to always be respectful to women, and he has made me proud! I believe that the way he treats you is the reason you fell in love with him… and lets face it, those beautiful blue eyes had a lot to do with it too. 🙂

I love you sweet girl! The day that you marry my son, you will become my daughter. My son will become your parents’ son as well. We all come from different walks of life. We all have our own personalities and differences. But we are now all family, and family is everything. I hope that today, your twentieth birthday, that you will have the best day ever… full of cupcakes with sprinkles, glitter wrapped presents, and a heart full of love on your wedding year! I am so blessed and honored to witness someone like you, someone that I have prayed for for so long, marrying my son.

Happy Birthday Julia!