From the Parents

Micah,

From the day you were born you have brought so much love, light and joy to my life. I'm beyond proud of the young man you have grown into. Now, the blessing you are to me simply grows with the addition of Makayla to our family! I've witnessed your young love grow over the years, from the high school crush, to Micah sneaking out of our apartment to be with Mak, to the disagreements, then compromises, maturing together, and most of all the grace you both give each other.

I've watched how your love for each other grew beyond feelings into intentional consistent supporting loving actions. I'm so happy for you both and thrilled to share in the celebration of your commitment. I pray for you both to be blessed with a lifetime together full of continued love, partnership, and grace. Congratulations!

Love, Mom

Makayla,

I may not have given birth to you from my own womb, but I got you as soon as I could, and I will forever be grateful that I get to call you my daughter and that you call me Mom.

Through the highs, the lows, and everything in between, our bond has grown into something I cherish more than words can explain. We have always been close, but these last few years have been some of my absolute favorites. Watching you grow has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. I cherished every stage of watching you become the woman you are today, and I could not be more proud of you.

I still remember when I first started dating Stephanie. I told her, "Listen, my kids come first. Even my adult daughter. If I'm anywhere and she needs me, I'm gone and I'm there for her. She may be an adult, but she is mine, and we are a package deal." And I meant every word.

Over the years, I have watched you find yourself, chase your dreams, stumble, get back up, and keep moving forward. Even on the days when you don't feel like you can keep going, you somehow do. You are stronger and more like me than blood could ever make us, and I hope you always know how incredibly proud I am of the woman you have become.

I never knew that I could love a child I chose rather than birthed just as deeply as I love Jayce. But you completely broke that mold and showed me that there is more than one way to become a mom. You made me a girl mom, too, and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Getting to grow closer to you and Micah over these last several years has been such a joy. We have watched you grow, fall, get back up, and continue building a life together, and getting to witness that has been a privilege.

I hope you both always know that you have a permanent cheerleading squad in your corner. You will always have a warm place to come play games and eat entirely too much food, a stocked collection of your favorite comfort items when you need them, and a strong foundation to lean on when life gets hard. You will also always have someone who will support you, guide you, encourage you, and, when necessary, tell you the things you may not want to hear but need to.

Most of all, I hope you both forever know that our doors are wide open for you, no matter what. There is always a place for you here. There is always love here. There is always family here. I love you both like my own, and that will never change.

Watching you begin this next chapter together feels like the perfect way to close one door and open another. I cannot wait to watch where this journey takes you, to celebrate the life you are building together, and to stand beside you as you step into everything that comes next.

I am so proud of you. I am so proud of you both. I am endlessly grateful that I get to call you my daughter and him my son. I love you both more than you will ever know.

Now let's wrap this up and plan our next family vacation!

Love, Mom

Message coming soon.

Makayla,

The thought of you has always filled me with pride. Even before I got to meet you, I would sing you songs and read you stories. The night you were born, I was instantly smitten and completely in love, for real, for the first time in my life. I didn't have the first clue as to what to do; all I wanted to do was love you and protect that little helpless thing that kept yelling at me.

Watching you grow into the strong, capable, and empathetic woman that you became has been one of the greatest joys of my life. All the strings of questions, all the learning moments, all the worry and all the hugs along the way have all added up to… you. I could not be more proud of you and your care for people, or your love for the creepy crawlies that often get no love at all.

Micah, seeing you grow from a boy fresh out of high school into a man with respect, passion, and responsibility has been a delight that I'm glad I could have a small part in. Watching, and being a part of, you and Makayla learn, compromise, break and heal as your love for one another has grown has been yet another privilege. I've been calling you "Son" for a while now, and I'm thrilled to see the journey you two are taking to its next step.

Hold to one another, and hold on tight. Getting married is a goal, and staying married is an entirely different goal. Always ask yourself "is this worth it" before allowing an argument. Always remind yourself and your partner how much you care by what you do. Things will happen, things will break, things will get hard, but they can always be handled, they can always be fixed, and it will always get easier. Just hold on to one another. I'm so thrilled to be a part of the journey, and I love you both.

Love, Dad

It is a rare thing to find a love that balances so beautifully. Makayla, you are a true artist at heart, sweet, incredibly empathetic, and beautiful inside and out, with a remarkable strength that inspires us daily. In Micah, she has found her perfect match. Your outgoing energy, warm personality, and welcoming heart complement her beautifully. You cherish her completely, treating her like the prize she is. Watching the two of you and your love story unfold has been a joy, and I am so excited to be present when you say "I do."

Love, Tiffany

Message coming soon.

Message coming soon.