When I became a parent I never knew I could love another human being so much. I still remember the way I felt when I became pregnant with my second child – I remember wondering how I could ever love another person as much as I loved my first child. But then 23 years ago on February 5th my daughter Ashley was born and I instantly loved that little girl with my whole heart, the same way I loved my son with my whole heart. It was in that moment that I realized that a parent’s heart doesn’t divide, it doubles. And there are no two people on the planet I love with my entire heart and soul the way I love my two children.

It’s been said that parent is only as happy as their saddest child – and that is 100% true. When your children hurt, you hurt. When your children are sick, you wish you could take their sickness on yourself so they wouldn’t have to go through it. Your love for them has no bounds…and you realize that the love you feel for your children is the closest thing to God’s love that we will ever experience in this life…

…then you have a grandchild….I never knew…

I want to wish a Happy birthday to my amazing daughter Ashley – I am so proud of her and the incredible woman she has grown up to be. And I’m so blessed that even though she is a grown woman she will always be my beautiful baby girl. I love you with all of my heart Ashley. Love Mom.

Ashley Hill and Amy Rees Anderson

~Amy Rees Anderson    (read Amy’s new book “What AWESOME Looks Like: How To Excel In Business & Life” )