Dear, Evelyn.

Happy 2nd Birthday to our precious daughter, Evelyn.

Evelyn, 

This morning as I washed your blond curls during your bath I was taken back to the day you were born. The first thing that struck me the first time I laid eyes on you was your blond hair. When your cousin Grant saw the first picture of you he said you had golden hair...and you did. You were beautiful on that day and your beauty remains. 

Evelyn, you don't know it yet, but we prayed for you for many, many months before you joined our family. Mara Kate prayed every night for another baby and Mommy and Daddy did too...for almost 2 years we prayed before God answered our prayer. When we found out you were on the way we were 'over-the-moon' excited. Our prayers had been answered and we were beyond thankful. 

A little while later we found out that Mara Kate was having a little sister...another girl! We were all surprised and thrilled. In the final months while we waited on you we finished preparations for your arrival. It was June and we were ready. Your name was on your bedroom wall and on your diaper bag as well (such a Southern girl!). Your closet was filled with summery pink, girly outfits and your cradle was ready with clean sheets and soft blankets.

You arrived before 9am on your birthday and you were perfect. You quietly laid on my chest and we had 45 minutes of bliss...then...the nurse came to give you your first bath. About 15 minutes later a whirlwind began that lasted for the next 9 days. Something was wrong. Your heart and lungs were not working properly. Something wasn't connecting and functioning as it should. Oxygen wasn't going into your blood like your organs so desperately needed it to. Twelve hours after birth you were transported quickly to the children's hospital in Atlanta--in an effort to save your life. Your heart was so weak....and truthfully, you were barely hanging on. 

Evie, angels surrounded the ambulance as it took you to the hospital that could help you. Your life was being sustained by God Almighty Himself and it still is. The doctors and nurses in Atlanta took excellent care of you (and of Daddy and me too). They gave you the best care they could give and we were thankful. We cried out for God for Him to heal you, to help strengthen your heart and your lungs. We pleaded with Him to allow the treatment they gave you to work and for you to recover...fully. 

Evie, you need to know that God answered all our prayers--completely. After 9 days in the NICU you came home. You were healthy and whole and your heart was healthy and strong. Only because of God, baby girl. Only God.

Now 2 years later we are still reminded of the little fighter you were when you were brand new...because you are still full of fight! You are a strong, feisty, energetic little girl. You are talking like crazy and adding new words daily to your vocabulary. Although, you have no problem getting your point across even without words. You are a little fireball and we LOVE it! We praise God for your spunk, drive and energy. You are the picture of health and we are amazed at God's mercy and grace He has shown us through your life. You are a gift.

The past 24 months have flown by and have been so full because of your presence in our family and our home. We pray the Lord will bless you and us with many, many more years together. 

You are loved, baby girl....and always will be. By us and by your heavenly Father. 

Love always,

Mommy

Blessed Indeed

I read the excerpt below on my friend Janelle's blog today and decided I'd re-post it here as a little reminder of the blessings which have been poured out on our family over the past weeks....blessed. So truly and wonderfully blessed!!

Our Sweet Evie---2 weeks old.

"I shall now have one mouth the more to fill, and two feet the more to shoe;
more disturbed nights, more laborious days, and less leisure for visiting, reading, music, and drawing.

Well! this is one side of the story, to be sure, but I look at the other.

Here is a sweet, fragrant mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery.

Here is a soul to train for God, and the body in which it dwells is worthy all it will cost, since it is the abode of a kingly tenant.

I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all, to whom, while I minister in Chist’s name, I make a willing sacrifice of what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings had left me.

Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother’s heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, her tenderest cares, to her life-long prayers!

Oh, how rich I am, how truly, how wondrously blest!"

- Elizabeth Prentiss-

(from Stepping Heavenward)

Home Sweet Home

I am blogging from my parents house. Mara Kate and I made a spontanious, surprise trip up to Virginia to see my parents one last time before their big move. They have been planning for sometime to move back to Kansas City (their roots), but are now finally making the move as their house has finally sold (after being on the market for 9 months). The house that was home to me for many years. There are lots of wonderful memories that were made in this house. Many Christmas' and other holidays together. My sisters and I were all living here when we got engaged and married. All of our babies think of this house as "Mimi and Grandpa's house" and so, I am so glad to be spending a few more days here before they turn the keys over to the new owners and make their drive to Kansas City. Although I am happy for them and excited about their new life in Kansas City it will take awhile to adjust to the fact that "home" isn't going to be here anymore. I know my real home is with Kane, but anyone who has had parents move after they are grown and gone know it can feel weird and be a bit sad.

While at home in Atlanta last week I think the reality of their move was starting to really hit me. Now that they have a moving date it finally seemed more real than ever before.

I knew if I didn't come now I wouldn't have the chance to see them for several more months and that would also mean a long trip to Missouri, rather than a quick 5.5 hour drive to Bristol. I told Kane that I needed to make the trip and he graciously agreed to let "his girls" go for a few days (Thanks so much , Babe). After working it out to get the time off work and a trip to the grocery store to make sure Kane would have food to eat while I am away, I started packing. I made the drive up---and SURPRISED Mom and Dad! I didn't tell them I was coming, so it was really exciting to just show up at their door! They were very surprised and happy to have a grandbaby to love on over the next few days and happy to have some packing help from their overly organized daughter! Mom said she is thankful to have me here making and implementing a plan to keep things in order in the midst of more and more things being packed away. I am so thankful for the chance to be here to help out as much as I can during this busy time.

This visit has already been special to me for several reasons---one of which was a great visit with my friend Jordana and her family yesterday. Also, I have been able to stop in where I used to work to see some special former co-workers. It was good for emotional closure for me to go see several Bristolians that have been a big part of my life here in the past and have meant so much to me.

I know once things are settled and I am back home with Kane I'll be fine and will remember this visit with good memories, but I so needed this time. Although I moved away from Bristol over 3 years ago, there is still a part of my life and heart that has remained. Now that my parents are leaving I am having to deal with the fact that so much of what remained is now going. Such sweet, sweet memories, such bittersweet feelings.