Happy Birthday Leah!

Dearest Leah,

Happy Birthday, Sweet Peah! I love seeing these photographs.  It is as though in just a few pictures, our love is captured perfectly! I cherrish seeing us gazing into each other's eyes, me holding you in my arms, giving you a million sweet kisses and snuggling you in close!  I am so glad that God brought you into our family, into my arms, and forever into my heart.  While it was hard being your mother while you were here, it is a select few who understand how much harder it is being your mother, now that you are in Heaven.  I am doing my best, each day, to allow my love for you to be present in all that I do.  I give your brother and sister extra kisses, because of you.  I do less housework now, and spend more time reading books to them, playing silly games and just talking with them about Heaven.  A lot of things are different in our family, because of you Leah.  These changes have been so good, though!  I am truly thankful for today and hopeful for tomorrow.  Do you see that we are smiling in these pictures?


It was four years ago, that you were born!  In those first moments together, how thankful we were to merely get to meet you this side of Heaven.  We praised God for your first breath, your first cry and your first time in our arms.  Your life brought with it such a richness, intensity and purpose that I treasure.  You have taught your Mommy's heart so many lessons, Miss Leah, and yet you never spoke a word.  Just yesterday, Ezra learned to say, "Leah"!  He points to your picture on the refrigerator and smiles the biggest smile.  We are telling him our family's story ~ our story of YOU!  And today, he gave Mommy his very first kiss!  We celebrate all your brother's new milestones, truly cheering for him, all the while carrying the twinge of sorrow that we would have loved to see you get to grow up and do the same.  Yet, we know that we hold a deeper sense of appreciation for each of your sibling's milestones, and all because of you, Leah!

Our family photo this year was hard for Mommy!  While it is wonderful to have added Ezra's sweet face into the photo, it was so glaringly obvious that your sweet face is absent.  For as much as I love pictures, it is quite a grief to my heart that I will never have a photo with all three of my children together.   Your pictures are proudly displayed on the shelves of our home right along with Kyla's and Ezra's!  I love seeing all three of my children, side-by-side, even if only in separate frames.  

I love that your birthday is the First Day of Spring!  The sights, sounds and smells of the seasons changing bring with them so many vivid memories of your arrival as well.  The trees are just about to burst open with pink and white flowers outside your window.  The day we brought you home from the hospital, was the day our tree bloomed four years ago.  Even the angle the sun shines through our high skylite, hitting me right in the eyes while cooking at the stove, makes me acutely aware that it was THIS EXACT TIME that you were here with me.  There is no fear of forgetting you Leah, as truly as you were created by God's hands, it is His very same creation which brings you to mind most fully.  For that, I am so thankful!

Today is a special day
A special day it's true
We celebrate the happy day
That you became you

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
We celebrate the happy day
That you became you

March 20th will always be a truly happy day for me, Leah!  It was the day you reached Mommy's arms, and I first gazed upon your sweet face!  Even though today, you are celebrating with Jesus and the angels in Heaven, I know you feel my love.  Today Mommy will smile, as I remember and thank God for bringing me my sweet Leah Grace!

Love Always ~Mommy