My beloved Jesse,

As I sit with my heart full and eyes brimming, I find myself reaching for words to hold all that I’m feeling — but how does one wrap a lifetime of love into a letter?

I remember the prayers that went up for you from before conception, through my pregnancy and throughout your life. I look at a young man still covered in prayers. I remember the weight of you in my arms for the very first time. You were small, but you carried the whole world in you. From that moment, my heart stopped being mine alone. I have watched you grow, fall and rise, laugh and weep, and now — love. Deeply. Truly.

You’re no longer just my little boy. You are a man — a good, strong, kind man. You remind me of your father in your caring and loving ways. And tomorrow, you will become a husband.

And while my heart stretches with pride, it also aches in a place that’s hard to name. It’s not sadness. It’s sacredness. It’s the letting go that every mother must walk through — not to lose, but to bless. Not to cling, but to cover with prayer. You are not leaving my heart — you’re expanding it.

As you take Ice's hand and step into your new life together, know that you carry all my love with you. The memories, the prayers, the whispered blessings I’ve spoken over you in the night. They go with you now. You were my gift — and now you’re becoming hers.

May your marriage be rich in grace, anchored in trust, and filled with laughter. May it reflect the love of the One who brought you together. And when life gets hard — as it sometimes will — remember, you are never alone.

I will always be here. Cheering you on. Praying you through. Loving you, endlessly.

With all my heart,

Mom