kristiana.org

Sunday, September 15, 2002

Dear Krista and Sarah,

I just wanted to let you know how proud of you I am and how much I appreciate what fine young ladies you
are. I don't tell you that often enough, but I think it every day.

Last night when you were both out at activities with your friends, I thought how great it was that you both
belonged to great groups and had friends who cared about you. It also felt so great not to have to worry
about what you were doing! Most people worry more about their girls than their boys, because they figure
the guys can take care of themselves.

But that is not the case with us. Sure, we worry about what *other* people might do to cause problems for
you, but we never worry that you guys are going to do something dangerous or foolish that might mess up
your lives. You both have good heads on your shoulders and high standards of self-respect, and that is so
important in this crazy world.

We don't worry about how you're going to act when you're away from home. You are both considerate and
caring people who treat others with respect. We always know you are making a good impression on other
adults because your attitudes are so great and because you are more concerned about being nice to
people than in trying to impress them with what you have or do.

Believe me, as an adult who works with teenagers all the time, I know how much people appreciate kids
like you. You have enough maturity to treat adults as people with their own needs and problems rather
than just as someone who is there to give you what you want. People tell me all the time how much they
enjoy being around you, and I know why. You are just genuinely nice people, and it means more to others
than you will ever know to be treated kindly and with respect.

Sure, everyone has faults. None of us are perfect. We make mistakes every day. We get on each other's
nerves and we see the mistakes other people in the family make, and we see how far we still have to go. It
is easy to focus so much on the areas we still need to improve in that we forget to look back and see how
far we have come. You guys are doing a great job of becoming the kind of people who are able to make a
good life for themselves and be happy. That is all we want for you, and nothing would make us happier
than for you to be happy with yourselves.

After all the turmoil other people cause in our lives, your attitudes and personalities allow us some calm
and peace in our home. It is so wonderful not to have to give our energy every minute to keeping someone
out of trouble or trying to get them to take responsibility for themselves and stop causing so many
problems for the other people in their lives. We don't have to shower you with negative attention, and we
can give you the freedom to make some of your own choices and walk your own paths, because we know
that you will choose well.

That doesn't mean you will never make a mistake or make a bad choice. Everybody does that. But we
know you will make the best choices you can. If that doesn't turn out the way you wanted, then you can
choose something else and try again. That is part of growing up and part of being a human being. Our task
is to support you as you make your journeys and to love you through the good times and bad.

You are giving us the best gift any parents could have, and I just wanted to let you know how much we
appreciate it and how thankful we are to have such great human beings in our family. We are so very
proud of you.

I love you oodles and bunches and gobs!

Kim