Dear Tyler,

Hi my sweet son! How are you doing on this Monday afternoon? Mom has been having a good day for the 1st time in many months considering Mom didn't really sleep well last night because Mark was up & couldn't sleep. We did get a few hours sleep & woke up at 8:30 am. Mom got right up, fed the pups, made coffee, got ready, took the pups for a walk & then left to run errands for the day. We got home at 3 pm & now Mark is playing a video game & Mom is writing to you. It really is nice to have Mark on vacation for a couple weeks. We will be doing a few things during the day time to get out & just enjoy the time together & then other days we will really be doing nothing at all. Mark has a few things he has to do & Mom will have to get in some study time while he is occupied. All in all it will be a couple of good weeks. 
 Not much really for updates for you other than I spoke to Meme & Grandpa last night & spoke to my friend, Christina today on the phone. Mom is quite worried about her as she is having surgery in October again. They will be removing 8 to 10 lymph nodes from her neck area & having them biopsied. She is stressed out & rightfully so. Mom will be saying prayers for her. She is a two-time Cancer Survivor. She is sweet. You met her a few times but not sure if you would remember her or not. She has been one of the friends that have been there for Mom through it all. She has been here to visit a few times as well. She is one of the only friends besides Uncle Chris that still checks in on me & has time for me as others are always saying they are really busy, etc.... I had that conversation today with Charlie as a matter of fact. We got into it because it has been 4 months since I have seen or heard from him & Marion & it has been a year since they have been here to visit. He said that they have been extra busy this summer. I called bullsh*t  because if people matter to you in your life then you will make time for them & not excuses. I don't think he liked that at all but Mom was not going to sugar-coat anything & I was just being honest. The way I feel is if someone doesn't want me to answer them with being honest than don't ask me at all. I told him that it really hurt at first but after a month or so I slowly got over it & now I just don't care. That is the truth. I don't think about it at all anymore. Mom goes on day to day. If anyone wants to talk to me than they can call Mom as friendship is a two-way street & not just a one-way. I think my actions are speaking really loudly to that now. I have stuck to my guns & not caved in. I am proud of myself & I am sure that you are proud of Mom as well. Lastly, the days are coming to the point where Mark & I have to make a decision to if we are going to resign our lease here or if we are going to move come the first of the year. We are waiting to hear from the office to what our new lease will say before we make that decision. We love it here but it is getting to the point where it is getting too costly to live in the city. We have been here almost 4 years now. It is the longest place we have lived since leaving NH. we were in Oklahoma for 6 months, Texas for 18 months & now here. It is crazy to think of moving but if that is the best choice for us then that is what we will do. Ever since that issues we had at the beginning of September, Mark & Mom have done so much talking & working on things. We are getting along better & it is more like when we first got together almost 6 years ago! Things happen for reasons. We are both learning from it all. 
 That is all I have for you today but here is a prayer for you:  No matter what you're going through, may you remember that your identity is secure in Christ; it's not up for grabs or changeable with popular opinion. Jesus is sold on the idea of you and loves how He made you! May you trust Him to guide, provide, correct, and redirect you along the way. May you love people, but keep your hope in the Lord. May you see with eyes of faith even when you can't find a reason for hope. Seasons come and seasons go, but God's love for you is abundant, profound, and amazingly real, right here, right now. Walk like you're loved, because you are, beyond your wildest dreams
 Here is a saying for the day as well: Never, ever settle. You may think you aren't gorgeous, smart & have too many insecurities to count, but there is going to be someone in the world who truly loves you for you. Don't ever think that you've got to put up with some boy's/ girls's sh*t because he/ she is the first one in a long time to show some interest. You are beautiful in your own individual way so never lower your standards!
 That saying is so true! Mom wishes that I knew about this when I was growing up. every one has beauty.... just not everyone sees it. Mom never judges a person for their looks, beliefs, actions as I have not walked in their shoes. I treat everyone equal & with the utmost respect. That is how i was brought up & that is how I brought you up. 
 Mom can't believe that this day flew by. It is already 4:45 pm & I need to get dinner going for Mark & I & feed the pups. Mark has a call with his brother in about an hour so I must get going. I will whisper to you later tonight. Smile & Mom will smile back. I hope your evening will be all that you want it to be. Come visit Mom if you can while I sleep tonight. I miss you like crazy & love you to the moon & back & all the way around the world. You are forever my hero & the wind beneath my wings. You live inside my heart, mind, body & soul. Mom will be back tomorrow with another letter to you so until then.... goodnight & sweet dreams my sweet precious son. You are my shining star!
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

P.S. Just a few more days of the " wishes " pictures & then the month of October will be a different Jack picture for you until Halloween. Mom has some cool ones that you will love! My thoughts & prayers still are with all the hurricane victims & their families. Many blessings to them all & to all who read my letters.