Dear Tyler,

Hi my sweet son! How are you doing on this Saturday afternoon? Mom is doing well but I have to say that I am extremely exhausted today. I am sorry for such a short and vague letter to you yesterday but Mom was running super late because I was trying to help a friend out. My night last night consisted of making dinner, cleaning the dishes, cleaning up after the pups and then talking to Grandpa briefly and then from 9 pm to 12:45 am this morning I was talking to my friend that needed someone to listen to her. She would have continued talking but Mom told her that after almost 4 hours I needed to go to bed and get some sleep. I felt bad about it but Mom is hoping that with the conversation that we did have she is doing better today in some small way. She has a lot going on right now in her life... relationship, personal, family issues that are not easy in the least. Mom tried telling her to focus on the positives instead of her wanting to focus on the negatives. Most of these things she can not control and she has to accept that and move forward. There are a couple things that she can control and she needs to really focus on those two things more than the others. I reached out to her this morning to make sure she was okay. She said that is was but the things that I talked to her about were really hard at this time. Mom gets that. I really do but unfortunately some of these issues that she is experiencing she brought on herself. Mom was straight forward with her on them too. I pulled no punches or sugar coated anything because I feel that there is no need. We are both adults. I was by no means mean about it but I needed her to see the signs that were left. Mom told her that I would be here for her if she needed to talk again and that I could be someone she trusted and I am. what she told me was in confidence. It is not my story to tell. If she wants people to know than she will say something but I will not! Anyways... enough of that... Mom just wanted to tell you why I was vague yesterday.
 Today is Saturday the 29th and there are 2 more days left in 2018 and then it will be another New Year. Mark and Mom were going to go celebrate our Anniversary finally today but with Mom staying up until she did, I am just exhausted and not in the mood to go out. We will celebrate it tomorrow by going shopping and then going to dinner. Mark never got home on Thursday (our actual Anniversary) until after midnight. He worked a 20 hour day. The good news was that they were able to do it in one day and they didn't have to go back yesterday. That was the right thing because he was so tired and out of it all day...rightfully so. Thank you for watching over him for Mom so that he made it home safely and also for watching over me and the pups. It meant a lot to me my sweet precious son! Today will be a day to relax for the most part but at 4:15 pm we will be skyping in on his niece's wedding that will be taking place in Kentucky...the one where we were suppose to be at but couldn't. His brother is doing the leg work for us to be skyped in so we can be a part of it at least. That is making Mark and I happy. The wedding will be short and sweet and then it will be the reception. We are not sure if we will be skyped into that or not but that is okay. Mom will fill you in tomorrow. I will call Grandpa later this evening to see how they are doing. They went shopping today to use their gift cards that they got. Mom will see what kind of goodies that they picked out with them. I will also call Meme later too. I need to touch base with Aunt Beck as well so I will call and leave her a message for her to call me when she has time. Mom is sure to have some updates for you very soon. 
 This afternoon I will light the candle for you and whisper to you like I always do. Be sure to send me a smile and a sign. I love getting them. Thank you for the beautiful sunset on our Anniversary. I saw it and it was beautiful. I loved your painting in the sky for Mom. I will be back tomorrow afternoon with another letter to you so make sure to have fun tonight while I am sleeping. Come visit if you can. I miss you bunches and I love you to the moon and back and all the way around the world. You are my hero and the wind beneath my wings. Forever you are inside my heart, mind, body and soul. Mom needs to get going so that I can do a couple things around the apartment before the skype into the wedding. I have less than 2 hours to do these things...lol. Until tomorrow comes.... good night and sweet dreams later. 
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

Here is the prayer for the day:

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1, NIV

Dear Father in heaven, whose might is over all the earth, we thank you for all the love you show us. We also thank you for everything that seems hard, but which you change into help and strength. We want to thank you in life and in death, in joy and in sorrow, for you are the great and mighty God, who calls us to life again and again, who leads us to fuller life. You have given us great love in Jesus Christ, our Savior. He shall always be before our eyes and remain in our hearts. Through him we can cry out in joy, "Abba, dear Father!" Amen.