To My Daughter on Her Twelfth Birthday

Dear Lucy,

It's not every day you turn 12. Guess what?  I feel like you are old enough to handle some of the truths that you will face as you grow older.  So I thought I would share them with you for your birthday.

Truth #1:  No matter what the news tells you, there are good people everywhere.

Truth #2:  You can do hard things. 

Truth #3: Kindness matters.

Truth #4:  So does grammar.  Especially misplaced apostrophe's apostrophes.  :)

Truth #5: When hard times come (and they will come sometime in your life), you know enough to CHOOSE faith.

Truth #6: When you choose faith, knowledge will follow.

Truth # 7: Mistakes happen.  That is what the Atonement is for.

Truth #8: Families aren't just important.  They are the whole point.

Truth #9: You are exactly where you need to be right now to learn what you need to learn.

Truth #10: The media and Photoshop lie.  There is NO ideal figure/smile/body size.  Your body is just right for you.

Truth #11: It's okay to have just a plain rotten day every once in awhile.

Truth #12: Some parts of fairy tales are actually real.  You ARE a princess, the daughter of a King.  NEVER FORGET THAT!

Love you, Lu!

Mom