Dear Momma Bear,

As I look at the photo of me on my first birthday with dad holding my little fingers helping me learn to walk in the cutest little red and white checkered dress, with cherries on it and family surrounding me with huge bright smiles, it brings back memories. Memories that I can not even remember, but some how I do because you took the time to take photos of me and place them in a scrapbook. You taking the time and effort to do this is something I cherish and love.

Now I look at the photo of our family at the top of Pikes Peak, bright blue Mountains upon Mountains surrounding us with clouds at eye level, it is possibly the most beautiful and breathtaking sight I have ever seen. Right now I remember that day like it was yesterday because we just went this summer, but in a few years I may not be able to remember that day as well but because you have taken me there and taken photos of us I will be able to remember that sight for the rest of my life.

Now I see the photo of us on the plane getting ready to go to Florida sitting side-by-side, ready to go soak up the sun and make some more precious memoires. I see why people say we look like twins. We both have that brown curly hair, that cheesy grin grandma says we have, and basically the same nose and eyes that makes a whole face of similarities. But I hope when people say we look alike they mean more than the physical. I see how you are so helpful, giving, passionate and how you always want to see people do there best. You always tell me I did fantastic at my lacrosse games even when I did not do so good and you always think of others before yourself. In the future I hope people think of me in those same ways. You are a great example to the kind of woman I hope to become.. When people look at me and say, “Gosh you look like your mother” I take it as a complement and are proud to have had you as a mother.

Now I see all the photos of Nic and I while visiting at Wildwood Park when I was probably about 4 years old. I have this green and black plaid skit on with a green cardigan that has red flowers sown on it with green ankle socks. Nic is wearing a cardigan with light blue pants, and we both look pretty nice I have to say. We are both hugging each other harder than I have ever hugged anyone. In this moment I see the love that we share. Most people say they don’t like there brother or sister but I can look at this and see that we have always had a good relationship and nothing about that will ever change and that is something I need to thank you and dad for. Anyways getting back to the beginning of this story, when I said I see ALL the photos of Nic and I, there are many of them in this scrapbook and I appreciate them now more than ever but I don’t think I did so much when I was younger. I think I got really annoyed when you would take literally hundreds upon hundreds of photos of us. I hated it then but I love it so much now. When I take pictures for people now, I make them smile for me even if they don’t want their picture taken. I honestly I don’t care because I know that after the photo is taken they will have that memory forever. So when I’m really old and at the end of my life I will know I will still have some photos that are symbols of what life was like a long time ago, and this is where I will get to thank you one more time for putting a camera in my hand and telling me to go for it and take as many photos as I wanted.

Thank you.

I love you very much

XOXOXO

love Emily Rose