The Value of a Dream

At Christmas my husband presented the girls and I with tickets to see Taylor Swift on March 1. We were thrilled, excited- especially the girls because Taylor Swift is one of their idols. We carefully put away the tickets and began a large countdown... 2 months until we go to the concert, 1 month.... etc. etc. Somewhere in there, my husband forwarded me an e-mail from Taylor Swift's management company. Somehow, he had gotten us backstage passes. As many of you know from my blogs and our life, my husband can come across as a gruff, tough guy. But let me tell you, he is nothing but a puddle of goo on the inside... this is what he wrote...

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU DELETE. I am sorry for the caps, but I had to try my best to get your attention. If you please take the time to just read my story, I would be appreciative beyond words. I am the step father to 4 of the most incredible little girls one could meet. I married their mother after I had been single for 36 years. I must say I was really set in my ways. The adventure we all embarked on has been one filled with incredible ups and downs. Ten days after getting married, we moved from Savannah, Georgia to Central Florida because I took on a new job. The family moved with me without blinking an eye. This is the first time my new wife or the girls had ever done something of the sort. It was not easy for them to leave their comfort zone, but they did. One year later, my wife and I found a building lot, purchased it, moved again, switched schools=again, and started building our own home. When I say building our own home, I mean, my wife and 4 little girls. That was not anything anyone was ready for. There were a lot of missed activities, late nights, nights without good night kisses, having to deal with a grumpy step dad because I was stressed out from working 40 hours a week and trying to build a house too. But through it all, they remained strong, positive and always supportive and full of love. They would clean up as their mother & I would make the mess. Finally the day came,almost a year later, we moved into the new house, and changed schools AGAIN. This meant new friends, new teachers etc. Through it all, they remained strong, positive optimistic and most of all, full of love. One of the things that helped them get through this is their love for music and their love for Taylor Swift. My 5 year old knows most of the words, and several made up ones, to almost all of her songs, and loves to belt them out whenever she can. They really are awesome kids. I never thought I would be able to learn so much about unconditional love from 4 little girls, but they have taught me more in less than 3 years, than I have ever learned in the previous 36. I won't ramble on any more and get to the point. For Christmas this year, I purchased 5 tickets, (daughters and their mother) for the Florida Strawberry Fest concert on March 1, 2009. I know you probably get a million emails asking this same question, but I would give or do anything to be able for these girls to have a chance to meet Taylor for a quick photo and autograph. They deserve it so much and have asked for so little after giving so much. If there is anything that you might be able to do to help with this, you would make all of the lows over the past couple of years seem so small for these wonderful little girls. They deserve it, and so much more. Thank you for your time, and taking the time to read there story. God Bless, and Merry Christmas. Best Wishes, Phil Latta