How can I begin to explain how even though the last 10 years of my life have been filled with my greatest heartaches, that they were still the best years of my life? The only way to answer that is simply: Aimee.

Being her mother has been my unparalleled privilege and joy. I sincerely do not believe that I knew true, conditional love until she was placed in my arms. And in that moment everything made sense, and nothing else mattered.

It’s amazing to me to see the young lady she has become and how her light touches so many lives. To be around her is to experience exhilaration. I am humbled by her and strive to be the best version of myself for her. When I count my blessings, I count her twice.

Aimee is an old soul and wise beyond her years. With her passion for reading, she’s a little girl constantly after my heart. She’s curious, compassionate, immensely intelligent, creative, wildly talented, artistic, brave, funny, thoughtful, kind and quite quirky – again, a little girl after my heart. There are times that even as her mother, I forget her age – because how can someone so astonishing only be a child?

But today, my baby girl has hit double digits and is a baby no more. So HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY Aimee! I love you more than words can ever express, but I’ll spend a lifetime showing you. I wish the rest of you can experience an ounce of her awesomeness, but I’m quite selfish and I don’t like to share.