Broken Crayons

Dear Emma, 
There are days we might feel like the broken crayons in the bottom of the box. 

Broken crayons still color!! 

Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect. 

Don't ever give up

Dear Emma, 

Don't ever give up on yourself. 

Love, Dad

Pack. Write. Connect.

Be a voice

Dear Emma, 

Be a voice, not an echo. 

Love, Dad

Pack. Write. Connect. 

Morning Poem for Emma

A morning poem for Emma: 

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee
     Coffee, Coffee,
             Coffee.
   Everyone be quiet. 
             Coffee.

Pack. Write. Connect. 

Every Strike...

Dear Emma,

Every strike brings you closer to your next hit. Stay motivated and swing away.

Love, Dad

Pack. Write. Connect.

receiving help

Dear Emma, 

Receiving help doesn't make you any less awesome. 

Love, Dad

Pack. Write. Connect. 

It only takes one person

Dear Emma, 
It only takes one person to change your life: you. 
Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect. 

Happy Birthday

Emma's Birthday Napkin: 

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive that is you-er than you! -Dr Seuss

It's all about the presence. 

Love the giver more than the gift. -Brigham Young 

It's a new year. What new thing will you choose to learn/become? Start today and practice for 364 days! 

Pack. Write. Connect.

The Hero

Dear Emma, 
If you're not the hero of your own story, then what kind of story is it? 
Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect.

Ordinary Things

Dear Emma, 

You don't live an extraordinary life by doing ordinary things. 

Love, Dad

Pack. Write. Connect. 

don't

Dear Emma, 

There are going to be times you'll want to give up. Don't. 

Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect. 

We Get Up

We fall down but we get up, for a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up. 

Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect. 

False Identities

I am what I do. 
I am what I have. 
I am what other people say about me. 

Don't believe in false identities. 

Be yourself. 
Be who God made you. 

Love, Dad

You will never be happy...

Dear Emma, 
You will never be happy if you constantly worry about what others think about you. Be yourself! 
Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect. 

Time Flies

Dear Emma, 

Time flies. Be the pilot. 

Love, Dad

Pack. Write. Connect.

Life is getting up an hour early

Dear Emma, 
Life is getting up an hour early to live an hour more. Make the most of your hour. 
Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect. 

Backstory - Emma has been going to school an hour early since 9th grade. She takes an early-bird art class. She sacrifices an hour of sleep in order to create. I am so proud of her. 

Last Cup

Dear Emma, I love you so much I'd let you have the last cup of coffee. 

Love, Dad

Pack. Write. Connect.

Pass it on!

Dear Emma, 

You are awesome. Pass it on!

Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect.

Future Self

Dear Emma, 
Your future self is watching you through memories right now. Be awesome and make it something worth watching. 
Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect. 

Don't let the fear

Dear Emma, 
Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from swinging. 
Love, Dad 

Pack. Write. Connect.