December 21, 2009 

Dear Nicholas,

I love you and miss you son.

I can not tell you how often I think about you and pray for you. Even though we haven’t been together in years, not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for you and pray for Him to protect and guide you Nick.

I just wrote a letter to your brother. Please read what I wrote to him, much of those same words apply to you as well.

Nick, it’s still hard to believe that you are 15 years old. Ever since you turned this age I have thought back many times to what it was like for me when I was that age. It was a fun but pretty confusing time in my life.

My parents (your grandparents) were nice people but they weren’t Christians at that time. I am happy to tell you that your grandmother is a Christian and your grandfather became a Christian before he died. They did a lot of things right but I wasn’t raised in a Christian home where we read our bible and went to church (except on holidays and occasional Sundays). And I didn’t really understand what it meant to have a personal relationship with Jesus. And what it meant for Him to be both my Lord and my Savior.

Because of that, I made some mistakes and bad choices along the way. The friends you pick and the way you spend your time is very important. I hope that you will avoid making many of those same mistakes because you have been brought up differently.

Before we were taken from each other, I was raising you to know and trust Jesus. I hope that your mother has continued to raise you and Josh to grow in your faith and your relationship with Him. He is truly the only one that you can depend on in this life Nick. Your mother tries her best and so do I but He is the only one that does it perfectly. Always look to Him for anything you need.

Like I said in one of my previous letters, stay strong and true to God and His word and you will be fine. Life won’t always be easy or turn out the way you want it to, but doing things His way is always the best way. Please hold onto that Nick, it will serve you well your entire life.

I hope you have a great Christmas. I wish we could share it together. In fact, I wish that I could be with you every day of my life son. The hardest thing that has ever happened to me is to be separated from you and Josh. I love you both with all of my heart and soul.

As you know, I have tried to continually reach out to you and Joshua through the years. I hope that you will continue to come to this site often. You can contact me any time you would like. I am here for you whenever you are ready.