Happy 5th Birthday, Sara! 

Three years ago, life changed forever. My wife, Emily — Sara’s mom, my high school sweetheart, the woman whose smile could light up any room — was taken from us in a car accident. Sara was only two, and I remember holding her tiny body as she cried for “Mama,” unable to understand why she wasn’t coming home. That night, I promised both of them I would be enough. I would be everything.

It hasn’t been easy. I switched to local truck routes so I could be home every night. Our old Kenworth cab became our second home — a place where Sara learned her ABCs, fell asleep on my shoulder, and sang silly songs with me to stay awake on long drives.

And today is special. My little girl turns 5. We started the day before dawn with chocolate chip heart-shaped pancakes (Emily’s old recipe) and a fluffy pink coat for Sara — a little piece of her mom with us. She twirled and giggled, calling herself a “princess bear.”

Then, we paused on a quiet snowy road, just the two of us. Sara climbed into my lap, smiled the biggest smile, and said, “Mama can see from heaven, Daddy.”

So here we are. Just the two of us against the world. This is my daughter, Sara. She turns 5 today. And she is everything.

I am all she has since her mom passed.

Happy Birthday, Sara! You are my heart, my strength, and my greatest gift.