twenty-one.

Dear eight year old Sarah, 

Because you are your father's daughter, realize that when he is in his "put-honey-on-everything" stage, yours will quickly follow. 

Keep showing mom all those cute puppy pictures. She will finally give in and buy one in two years.

Go with dad to all the DC museums. You will love them so much more than you realized once you don't live there anymore, and you'll wished you had spent even more time in them when you did live there. I'm serious.

I know you love hot chocolate now, but after you live in England for a few months, you will always prefer a cup of herbal tea instead.

Yes, you will live in England. Live up every moment. Seize every opportunity while you're there. Keep your heart open. Take risks. Before you know it, you will be back in America.

Embrace your love for your pet crickets now. They will terrify you later.

Yes, you still have an aversion to candy corn and horizontally hung tire swings.

Spend more time with your sisters. They will still be your best friends in thirteen years.

Listen to mom. She's right. Boys love peach pie.

And the day you turn twenty-one there will still be so many things you haven't figured out. Crazy, huh?But you will have learned a lot too. So remember to learn from your mistakes, always choose people over problems and never forget how blessed you are. 

Love,

Twenty-one year old Sarah