I remember when I was still 16, I was almost out of highschool with only one more year left. I had the most amazing plan to get rich and retire before I was 40. How incredible it would have been, but like God tried to tell me, I should have held onto my plans loosely.

You see I had only a month and half of school left. At that time we were being prepped for something called an ACT test. Don't ask me what it stood for because I didn't care enough to even try to remember it even back then.The point was that the ACT test was my ticket into college.

Without a good score on that test I was never going to afford my degree. But like I said, I made plans, and I should have held onto them with a loose grip. Like I said there was only a month and half of school left, and I had maybe 3 weeks before I took the ACT test, but over the news a fire had spread that a strange disease was rapidly spreading.

I was shocked that over the intercom was an announcement that school was going to be closed for am entire month. There were so many people (students of course) who were absolutely overjoyed about no school for a full month, I however was...and still am to dome degree, more realistic than they were. I understood that no school for a month sounded fun, but I also knew that something that serious was dangerous, and that it would greatly affect everyone's lives.

Now I'm not gonna bore you with all the details of what happened during the lockdown, but I will tell you that my plans to go to college were nearly shattered. God did want me to go to college, but it wasn't the way I was hoping for. I did end up taking the test again, I unfortunately made the lowest passing score that allowed me to get into college.

My plan had been to work a job through the summer, finish my last year of highschool, work that summer again, and then have a part-time job while in college while having all of my expenses paid for by the test score I was hoping to make.

Instead, I didn't work a job either of those summers nor my first year of college. My father helped me pay for the first year of college and I had no real income. I did of course get what I wanted and avoided being in debt, but being in that low place of not being able to afford anything showed me something.

I learned that it was okay to depend on other people. It's okay to trust someone with what matters to you. But something I really learned was that God has a plan for me, and He has one for you too.

I understand that God may not be everyone's favorite person for one reason or another, and I'm sure there are some valid reasons out there, but I want you to have faith. Faith in God is what kept me going, He kept me alive when I couldn't handle the weight of this world.

My plans to retire before I was 40 wasn't His plan, and I had to learn to let that go, because He had a much better idea. His plan was that I was going to move into a place of my own, and when I did, I was going to meet the most beautiful woman I've ever met.

That woman loved God more than herself, more than anything, more than me even, and that was perfect. Her love for God would overflow into the lives of all those around her, and so much so that it would even lead to you.

Sophia, I know you didn't get the chance to know your mother well, and I know that I was never the father you needed, not by myself, but don't let that change anything. Don't let your heart be hardened by your scars.

You have a daughter of your own now, and she is the happiest little girl I've ever seen. I know you'll do such amazing things Sophia, and I know that you will be the mother that child deserves. You have your mother's heart, so I pray you always turn to God with your worries. And remember, hold your plans loosely, God always has something better in mind.

I know that by the time you get here it will probably be too late, but I want you know that I love you so much. And I don't want you to blame yourself for moving as far away as you did, I completely understand.

I'm asking the doctor to give this to you shortly after you arrive. Remember that your husband is trying his best, and that your daughter will prove challenging at times, but especially that I believe in you, I always have. I love you Sophia, and I always will. -Dad