I’ve been thinking about everything we’ve been talking about this month—character, who you are, and how you live—and I want to take it a step deeper. I want you to understand what grounds me when things get hard.

There have been times in my life where I felt overwhelmed, unsure, and like I didn’t have everything together. In those moments, I’ve had to turn to something bigger than myself. My faith has been what brings me back and reminds me I’m not carrying everything on my own.

When I think about how I want to live, I keep coming back to this question—what would it look like to respond like Jesus? To stay patient, show grace, and keep doing what’s right even when it’s hard. That’s what I try to come back to, not perfectly, but consistently.

I want you to know there will be hard moments in your life, and you won’t always have the answers. But you don’t have to go through it alone. I just want you to have something that grounds you, something you can turn to, and something that brings you back to who you want to be.

SHOW NOTES

• A letter to all three kids
• Faith and character connection
• What grounds you in hard times
• Responding with patience and grace
• A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about you lately, Gavin, and something you do all the time stands out to me. The way you care about people. It’s natural for you, and I want you to know how much that matters.

I see how quick you are to help. Whether it’s at home or with someone else, you don’t hesitate. You don’t overthink it. You just step in and do what needs to be done, and that says a lot about the kind of person you are.

Not everyone does that. Some people wait, some people hope someone else will handle it, but you don’t. You notice, you care, and you act. And over time, that becomes part of who you are.

I want you to keep being that person. Keep helping, keep caring, and keep showing up for others. The world needs more people like you, and I’m proud of you for that.

SHOW NOTES

• A letter to Gavin
• Kindness and helping others
• Showing up without hesitation
• Character through small actions
• A message from Dad

I’ve been watching you lately, Carter, and I want you to hear this clearly—I’m proud of you. I see the way you’ve been stepping up, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. There’s a steadiness in you right now that tells me you’re growing into more responsibility.

You’ve got more on your plate than you used to. More expectations, more things to manage, more decisions to make. And I see how you’re handling it—with sports, with school, with driving, with everything you’re balancing. You’re showing up, even when it would be easier not to.

What stands out to me is that you’re not taking shortcuts. You’re not avoiding things or letting them slide. You’re choosing to handle what’s in front of you, and that’s what it looks like to do what’s right—not what’s easy.

I want you to keep building on that. Keep showing up, keep taking responsibility, and keep doing what’s right even when no one is pushing you. That’s who you’re becoming, and I want you to know I see it and I’m proud of you for it.

SHOW NOTES

• A letter to Carter
• Responsibility and growth
• Stepping up
• Doing what’s right
• A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about you lately, Mya, and the way you’ve been handling things with other people. I see something in you that matters, and I want you to know that I notice it.

I know it’s not always easy, especially with other girls. There can be pressure to join in, to go along with things that don’t feel right, or to build yourself up by putting someone else down.

But I’ve seen you choose differently. I’ve seen you avoid that kind of drama and stay true to who you are. And that says a lot about you.

I’m proud of you for that. Just keep being that person—the one who treats people right, stands on her own character, and doesn’t need to tear others down to belong.

SHOW NOTES

• A letter to Mya
• Character and kindness
• Avoiding drama and negativity
• Standing apart from the crowd
• A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about something that doesn’t always show up in one moment—the kind of person you choose to be over time. I want you to understand that this is built through your choices, your words, and how you treat people every day.

I think back to a moment when I was younger, when I said something that didn’t reflect who I wanted to be. I remember the feeling right after—the kind of feeling where you know you didn’t show up the right way.

That moment stayed with me because it made me realize something. You don’t just become a certain kind of person one day. You become that person through the choices you make over and over again.

You’re going to have moments where you mess up. What matters is what you do after. Learn from it, take responsibility, and choose to be better. That’s how you become the person you want to be.

SHOW NOTES

• A letter to all three kids
• Character and personal choices
• Learning from mistakes
• Growth over time
• A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about something that shows up every single day—how you treat people. It sounds simple, but it matters more than you think, and I want you to understand why that’s stayed with me.

I think back to a time in high school when I had a teacher who felt hard on me. I remember feeling frustrated and thinking it wasn’t fair. But my mom reminded me that I didn’t know what that teacher might be going through.

Later, I found out she was battling cancer, and that stuck with me. It changed how I think about people. You don’t always see what someone else is carrying, but the way you treat them still matters.

I want you to remember that. Pause before you react. Lead with patience, kindness, and grace. Because how you treat people leaves a mark, and you get to decide that every single day.

SHOW NOTES

• A letter to all three kids
• How you treat people
• Empathy and understanding
• Leading with kindness and grace
• A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about something that sounds simple but isn’t always easy—doing the right thing, especially when no one is watching. This is something that’s stayed with me for a long time, and I want you to understand why it matters so much to me.

I’m thankful for how I was raised. Your grandparents taught me to care about people, to speak up, and to not just look the other way. There have been moments in my life where it would have been easier to stay quiet, to ignore something, or to tell myself it wasn’t my problem—but that doesn’t make it right.

I think about times growing up, seeing people treated unfairly, and even now in my life. And I think about your Uncle Tim and the challenges he’s faced. Those experiences shape how you see the world and remind you that doing the right thing isn’t about what you get back—it’s about who you are.

I want you to remember that there will be moments where you feel that pull—where you know what’s right but it would be easier to stay quiet. That’s the moment that matters. Just choose to care, choose to step in, and choose to do what’s right—even when no one is watching.

SHOW NOTES

• A letter to all three kids
• Doing the right thing
• Speaking up for others
• Advocacy and character
• A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about something lately, and I want you to understand what really guides me. Not just what I say, but how I try to live my life day to day. This is something that matters to me, and I want you to hear it clearly.

I’m thankful for my faith. It’s something I come back to, especially when I don’t get things right or when life feels off. There are times I fall short, times I wish I handled things differently, but my faith reminds me who I want to be and helps me reset.

When I think about it, I keep coming back to this idea—what would it look like to live more like Jesus? To love people, show kindness, have patience, forgive, and care about others. I don’t do that perfectly, not even close, but it gives me something to come back to again and again.

I want you to know what guides me and why it matters to me. And as you grow, I hope you find something that helps guide you too—something that brings you back to who you want to be and helps you live the kind of life that really matters.

SHOW NOTES

• A letter to all three kids
• Faith and what guides life
• Grace and forgiveness
• Living with purpose
• A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about you lately, Gavin, and there’s something about you that stands out. You bring a kind of energy that makes people smile. I see it in the way you react to things, the way you get excited, and the way you just enjoy moments.

I love how curious you are. You notice things, you ask questions, and you find excitement in both big and small moments. That’s something special.

As you grow up, I want you to hold on to that. Don’t lose your curiosity. Don’t lose your energy. The way you are right now matters, and I’m proud of you for it.

SHOW NOTES

1. A letter to Gavin
2. Curiosity and personality
3. Bringing joy into a room
4. Staying true to who you are
5. A message from Dad

I’ve been noticing something about you lately—your confidence is growing. Not in a loud way, but in a steady, real way. I see it in how you carry yourself and in the decisions you’re starting to make.

These moments—driving, making choices, figuring out what matters to you—they might not feel huge, but they are. They show that you’re starting to take ownership of your life.

Confidence isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about being willing to make decisions and stand by them, even when you’re unsure. You don’t have to follow everyone else—you get to decide who you are.

I’m proud of the way you’re growing. Just keep trusting yourself and being you.

SHOW NOTES

1. A letter to Carter
2. Confidence and decision-making
3. Taking ownership of your life
4. Being yourself, even when it’s hard
5. A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately, especially after watching you get ready for your first prom. It was one of those moments that just hits you—you’re not a little kid anymore. You’re growing up right in front of me.

I’ve been noticing the small things—the way you carry yourself, the way you think, and how you treat people. I see strength and kindness in you, and that matters more than you probably realize.

I know growing up can feel confusing at times. Part of you still feels like a kid, and part of you is stepping into something new. But you don’t have to have everything figured out right now. You just need to keep being yourself.

I’m proud of who you’re becoming. Not because you’re perfect, but because of the person I see you turning into. Just keep going, trust yourself, and don’t rush what’s ahead of you.

SHOW NOTES

1. A letter to Mya
2. Watching you grow up
3. Confidence and identity
4. You don’t need to have it all figured out
5. A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about gratitude and how easy it is to overlook it in the middle of busy days. It’s not just about saying thank you—it’s about actually noticing what you have while you’re living it.

There are days where I get caught up in what’s next or what isn’t going right. But then something small happens, like a moment with my kids, and it reminds me what really matters.

Right now, I’m thankful for them and the stage of life we’re in. I know these moments won’t last forever, and that makes them even more meaningful.

I want them to learn to notice their lives while they’re in them. Gratitude isn’t about everything being perfect—it’s about choosing to see what still matters, even when things aren’t easy.

SHOW NOTES

1. A letter about gratitude
2. Slowing down to notice life
3. Appreciating everyday moments
4. Gratitude during hard times
5. A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking about love and what it actually looks like in real life. Not the kind you see in movies, but the kind that shows up in everyday moments. The kind that stays steady, even when things aren’t easy.

I’ve noticed that in your mom. There have been days when I wasn’t at my best, and she still showed patience, care, and consistency. Not in big ways, but in the small, everyday choices that matter most.

That’s what love really is. It’s not just a feeling—it’s a choice. It’s how you treat people, how you respond when things are hard, and how you show up when no one else is watching.

As you grow up, I want you to recognize that kind of love and be that kind of person. Someone who doesn’t just say they care, but proves it through how they live every single day.

SHOW NOTES

1. A letter about real love
2. Love is shown through actions
3. Learning from Mom
4. Patience and consistency matter
5. A message from Dad

I’ve been thinking a lot about time lately—how fast it moves and how easy it is to assume there will always be more of it. I catch myself thinking I’ll say something later, have that conversation another day, or make sure my kids know what I’m thinking someday.

But the truth is, I’ve missed moments. Real ones. Times where I noticed something good, something meaningful, and didn’t say it out loud. And those moments stick with me more than I expected.

I’m starting to understand that the small, everyday moments are actually the big ones. Those quick chances to speak pride, encouragement, or love—they matter more than we realize. And I don’t want to keep letting those pass by.

So this is me choosing to say it now. To slow things down, be intentional, and make sure my kids hear what matters most. Not perfectly, not scripted—just real, honest, and from the heart.

SHOW NOTES

• Why these letters began
• A message about time and presence
• Don’t wait to say what matters
• Small moments carry big meaning
• A message from Dad