Life lessons I hope to instill in our daughter...

• Appreciate every gift you are given, even if it isn't something you necessarily wanted, or is not the EXACT thing you wanted.

• Always respect your elders, even when you don't agree with what they have to say.

• Feel good about yourself - your strengths, your uniqueness, your hopes/dreams, your choices/actions. And if you don't feel good, that's your internal barometer telling you that you need to change something.

• Usually, the hardest choice is the right one.

• Everything you do in life is more rewarding when you put more into it.

• Don't be passive. If you see someone being wronged, stand up and do the right thing, do not just sit on the sidelines and do nothing. Stand up for those who cannot do so themselves.

• Eat healthy now, because it's far easier to grow up healthy than to try and change your habits later on in life.

• Never make someone feel bad on purpose, for example, calling someone ugly or stupid.

• Never say the word "hate." Don't hate each other, don't hate your grandparents or the kids at school, don't hate your vegetables, your parents or yourself.

• You are judged by the company you keep, whether you like it or not.

• Try not to be judgmental of others, because the part of their lives you see is just a very small fragment of the whole picture. There will never be a time that you can look at another person and know 100% of what thoughts, emotions, and past occurences went into any given situation, and because of that, you should never pass absolute judgment on another person no matter what they have done.

• Be yourself and be confident about it.

• Don't hide your beliefs. They are yours, right or wrong, and you should be proud of them, but also be willing to listen to others and, if necessary, reevaluate those same beliefs and grow.

• Be respectful of others but be more respectful of yourself.

• Work smarter, not harder, than everyone else.

• Don't be afraid of anything...except creepo strangers with candy, kittens or puppies.

• If you want it badly enough, do the work and get it yourself. You'll appreciate the value of it much more when you've worked to achieve your goal rather than have it handed to you.

• When you make mistakes, learn from them.

• When you're angry or frustrated by what someone else has done, try putting yourself in their shoes and see it from their perspective before you lash out and say something you may regret.

• Learn how to compromise and pick your battles. Not every battle is worth fighting.

• When you love, love with all of your heart and soul.

• Value these three things: Love, Loyalty and Friendship. Some people will break your heart, but the best of your friends and loved ones will be there to help you piece it back together.

• You can talk to me about anything ANY time.

• Include other kids when you play and treat them fairly. Be kind to others and know that not everyone will be nice back but at least you tried.

• Try to figure out how to solve your problems but always be willing to ask for help when you need it.

• Call your mother at least once a week, no matter what!