Emily's 5th Birthday...

Today is my Sweet Emily's 5th Birthday, and I can hardly imagine it has been five years since she came into our lives. Emily was such an amazing gift to our family, and I know she continues to bless my life in ways I can not begin to describe. As Emily's birthday has approached, I have found myself reflecting on the words of John F. Kennedy: "To those whom much is given, much is required." I have been given so much with the gift of Emily's presence in my life. I know my life and my world are both richer, because Emily has been a part of it; and so I hope I live up to the expectations set forth by Kennedy's words. I know how much I try...

This is a time of much reflection for me. As we celebrate our "Emily days", it has always been my belief that as Molly and Katie grow up, they should remember this week as being a happy week in our home. We honor Emily's memory by choosing to celebrate her life, instead of focusing on her death. There will undoubtedly be grieving for each of us, but I have been here in this "grieving place" long enough to say with confidence, I am no longer wrestling with my grief. It is no longer the unwelcome guest it once was in my life. With time, my grief has taught me if I am not careful, I can clutch so tightly to the past, it leaves my arms too full to embrace the present. I am thankful beyond explanation, for the gift of this knowledge.

Happy Birthday, my Sweet Emily....I love you with every breath of my being. I am forever blessed for having known the gift that was you. I miss you terribly, and the beautiful person you would have become; but my life is richer because you were part of this world, if only for a brief moment. My precious child, I promise you as long as I can, I will gaze at this wonderful world for both of us. As long as I can, I will laugh with the birds... I will sing with the flowers...and I will pray to the heavens, for both of us.

Celebration

This day will be a celebration

of the short time you were here.

You are remembered my child,

with great love, and also -

sometimes with tears.

But to feel only pain and sorrow

would not be fair to you.

Your life meant so much more to me-

more than I ever knew.

You were here so very briefly

I wonder if you know -

all the ways you've touched my life

since the day God called you home.

You're an angel now, my child

with our heavenly Father above -

And I see not only what I've lost,

but my capacity to love...

There will always be a void in my life -

and my soul will grieve forever.

But will I ever forget, or stop loving you?

No, not now - not ever.

So as this day has come upon me,

oh, how my heart still hurts -

But even as I mourn your death,

I celebrate your birth.