Dear Tyler,

Hi my sweet son! How are you doing on this Wednesday afternoon? It is 3:08 pm and the weather is cold and windy. The sun is peeking out every once in a while through the clouds. Mom has been up since 6:45 am and I got the pups fed and then climbed back into bed for a bit. I did get up around 9:30 am and I automatically came right in my office and started studying. I was able to finish up my final exam in my last course. It is not official until my grade is posted and I get my overall grade but I am FINALLY DONE!!!!!!! Mom has literally finished up all my courses for my associate degree in medical specialties. I believe that my final exam grade will be between an 86-88 and my overall grade in that course will be a 93. Another A in the books! I also think that my numeric grade will be a 91 now and my GPA will finish up at a 3.92. Not bad at all. I was 8/10ths from a 4.0 but I am okay with it all. I ended everything with a solid A. I will definitely let you know when I get all the correct numbers. That should be tomorrow or Friday! Mom is so happy and excited but I am not sure that it really has hit me quite yet. I am sure it will when that last grade posts! Now I am needing to do my CEUs for my CMRS. I am able to do 15 free webinars for this and if I do 2 a day then I will be able to get these done in a week and still have 3 weeks to spare before my time expired. I am so happy about that because that was a tough certification to get. It was a lot of time, hard work and lots of money! I am so dang proud of myself. Mark said he was proud of me too. I know our family is and I definitely know you are jumping for joy for Mom right now as well. Did you know that on Grandpa's side no one went to college and on Meme's side only Uncle Dick did? That means I am the second one in both sides of our family to get a degree! Mom is literally in tears right now because I am just that happy. 
 Mom and Mark are going to celebrate tonight with having a nice dinner and a celebratory glass of wine. We will all celebrate more when everyone comes down next weekend. Mom will be sure to call everyone to let them know though. I just tried calling Grandpa but he is not home and he has his cell phone shut off. I will try again later and I will call Meme tonight as well. I am not going to post anything on social media at this time. Not until the final grade gets posted and it is again real and then I can announce I am a graduated! I made my goal, Tyler. I stuck to it and I did it. It feels really good. I am so sorry that Mom is just rambling on and on. I will stop now.....lol!
 Last night was a very quiet night here. No one called again and the phone never rang one time. Mark and Mom had dinner and then he went down to his office and played his game with his brother until 9 pm while Mom watched some of her shows that were taped. I was able to get through 4 or 5 of them. We don't watch as much TV as we have in the past. It really does feel good to have to come up with other things to do. Keeps things interesting and makes our brains think more which is always a good thing. Mom has no updates for you at all. I am waiting to hear when Uncle Chris' Dads services are. Mom needs to go to them and support him during this time. He is doing okay if you ask him but I know that he is hurting and sad. Rightfully so. Now both his parents are with you in heaven. He lost his Mom several years ago to cancer. Uncle Chris and I have been friends since 1989. I met him through your Dad. They were friends before we were. No on hears from your Dad at all. I haven't heard from him in about 4 years now. He would check in with me from time to time after you passed away but that stopped fairly soon. I sure hope that he is doing alright. I am sure the kids... Orion and Emma are big now. I haven't seen pictures of them in a very long time. I don't even know how old they are. Mom is sure you are watching over them and making sure they are well. Please continue to watch over me and Mark plus the rest of our family. Thank you my sweet precious son. 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 will light the candle for you in a bit and I will whisper to you as I always do each and every night. Smile for me and I will smile for you. I hope that your evening will be filled with all the things you want and need to do. If you can, come visit Mom in my dreams tonight. Thanks pumpkin! 
 Mom will be back tomorrow with another letter to you but for now I must get ready. I know it is after 3:30 pm but I got right up and went to finish my final exam so I never took a shower. I need to now though and then it will be time for prepping dinner and feeding the pups. The sun will be setting soon. I sure hope that I get to see a beautiful painting in the sky tonight...hint hint! 
 Until tomorrow comes, Tyler. Good night and sweet dreams. Keep lighting that path for me my bright shining star. I miss you beyond words....forever!
 Always, Mommy xoxoxo. Muah!

Here is the prayer for the day:

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Psalm 96:7–9, NIV

Lord our God, you are our help and our comfort. We look to you and to your promises. Grant that we may remain full of courage, also in our personal concerns, so that we do not complain like fretful children, but cheerfully wait for your great victory on earth. May we become your people. Grant your Spirit to your people, not only to a few but eventually to many. Lord our God, we pray that your will may be done on earth among the nations; may your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Amen.