Dear Ree,

I wanted to send a letter home with you inside of your photo album because there is one very, very, very important thing that I forgot to tell you one last time: 

You are exquisite. 

Remember when you used to dress up in my high heels and try on makeup and wear goofy hats and dance in front of the mirror? Auntie Taylor taught you how to say, "My dear, you are exquisite." It is one of my favorite memories. You felt so special when we played dress up and danced in silly outfits. 

Exquisite means that you are SO special. It means that you are rare, that there will never be another Ree, ever. Exquisite means that you are super beautiful and fantastic, the very best and the most memorable. That is YOU! Your beauty, your charm, your excellence. You are honest and sweet and kind and talented. My dear, you are exquisite.

I know that things are getting confusing in your life right now. A lot of grown ups seem to be making decisions that sometimes might feel a little bit scary for you. Like when you came to stay at my house for three months. That decision was a fun one!

While you were with me we fixed 14 cavities in that tiny mouth of yours :) We continued going to talk to Ms. Cindy AND you started school! We also did SO MANY amazing things together. We painted pottery, went to a Bulls game, went swimming and to a water park. We ate sushi A LOT and we had play dates with friends and you took hip hop classes and drumming classes. We bought a goldfish, took Cash Money to the park, celebrated birthdays and St. Patrick's Day. You learned how to sleep in your own bed, dress yourself, and brush your teeth more than six times a day! You absolutely loved brushing your teeth :) We went to Target twice a week just for fun...because this mama loves her some Target. We saw Frozen in theater TWICE and went to jumpy house places to release your crazy energy. We went to the Children's Museum, Little Beans Cafe and even the Circus! In fact, when you got your face painted at the Circus you told Auntie Taylor, "I am exquisite."

I hope that you had a really fun time with me. You are my best friend and I hope I was able to show you that you are very loved. Life might get a little bit "weird" (as you would say) the next couple of months. I want you to remember that when you are mad or scared or hurt, that I am thinking about you and that someone deeply worries and cares for you. You are precious and you are special. I did not want for you to leave my house, but some very important adults, like a judge and case workers, make that decision for us. I had to do what they say because it is the law. They are making choices for you that they believe are the best ones to keep you safe. Remember that when you feel mad or sad about what is happening, that we want to protect you because you are so special. Our hope is to always keep you safe and healthy, and we try our very hardest to make you happy too.

Cash Money, my dog, is still "sleeping with his nose in your door," as you would often say. He misses you! You were very sweet to Cash Money. You let him outside the backdoor, you always pet him on the couch, and you gave him so many cookies! He followed you all over the house hoping you would drop your Goldfishies :) I can see that you are very sweet and kind, and you are an excellent big sister. I am so proud of you. I hope K and J learn how to be like their big sister! 

I love you very much. I miss you very much. And I hope that you can use my phone number to call me sometimes. I am going to miss your big loud happy voice!


Love you!

Tiffanie 
xxx-xxx-xxxx

P.S. I also wanted to remind you of something that you often tell me: "God is always inside of you." And He loves you!