Happy Birthday Jonah!!!

Today we got to celebrate my little buddy turning FIVE!!! We are SO thankful for Jonah, and the enormous blessing he has been in our lives. He makes us laugh everyday and has brought us so much joy.

We celebrated a little bit earlier in the month with the rest of the family... a "Monster Party" with the DeKocks, and a party for Jonah and his cousin Eli on Thanksgiving with the Driys. Today Jonah got to be the special helper at school, which meant I got to come along. He was pretty excited to wear a special birthday crown at school and have everyone sing to him. :) We then had some special mommy & Jonah time going out for lunch & dessert, and then he chose to go out to "the Buffalo Restaurant" for supper tonight. It was his lucky night... a balloon man was there and made him a birthday hat, a penguin, and did some magic tricks for him. And of course some more presents from mommy and daddy... he's getting a little too used to being spoiled since his birthday has been spread out for a couple weeks! ;)

We Love You, Jonah!!!! Hope you have a fun year being 5!!! Happy Birthday!!

Madison's First Birthday

On October 26th we celebrated Madison's 1st birthday. Where has the time gone?? On some days the pain of missing her makes it seem like it was just yesterday that we held her in our arms, on others it feels surreal, like it was a lifetime ago. I wonder everyday what she'd be doing... what her smile and laugh would be like, if she'd still have her curly, dark hair, if she would be walking yet, if she would be an easy baby or a little trouble-maker, how her and Jonah would get along... do you think they take pictures up in heaven? I like to think God or someone else up in heaven is making a scrapbook for me for all those moments we are missing out on...

On her birthday we celebrated Madison by going to her grave with the whole family and singing Happy Birthday and sending balloons up to heaven for her. We also carved a pumpkin for her, and then went for dinner with just the 3 of us.

I thank God everyday for Madison, and for the short time we had with her. I know God has a good and perfect plan, and though I will probably never understand why part of that plan included taking my baby girl home so quickly, I can still PRAISE Him for the promise of eternal life and that we will see Madison again.

Thank you to so many who have been thinking and praying for us over the last year... for the many cards, messages, flowers, meals, hugs... and to our wonderful small group who also planned a special birthday celebration for Madison. Thank you all, it is so appreciated.

Happy Birthday sweet girl, we love and miss you everyday... and can't wait to see you again!!