My first memory is of you, laughter in your brown eyes as we chased fireflies in the night.

You were only a child yourself, sweet seventeen and so full of life.

You gave up your life to have me, to keep me, to cherish me, to give me life.

We walked hand in hand through so many storms, you taught me how to pray

how to be strong, how to depend without being dependent and how to forgive without being walked on.

You taught me to dream big and to never settle…