Happy Birthday Jaeden!

Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously
My own.
Never forget
For a single minute:
You didn't grow under my heart
But in it.
© Fleur Conkling Heyliger

Five years and two weeks ago Joel and I found out that our pregnancy had failed at 9 weeks along. We hadn't had much time to get used to the idea that we were pregnant again, but it was long enough to cause us great sorrow at the loss of our hopes and dreams for this little one. (Although I believe greatly, and found comfort, in the promise of modern revelation that our little ones who are lost will be ours again in the millennium, it's unclear if a little one lost so early in pregnancy had a spirit prepared for it. If there was, I believe that we will be reunited with that child again in our eternal family.)

Five years ago, today, Joel and I found out that we were going to be instant parents to a beautiful blond haired, blue eyed 5 pound 4 ounce bundle of pink joy. Jaeden. Jaeden came into our lives quite unexpectedly, and with the perfect timing of a miracle blessing.

Since the day she came home with us she has brought us nothing but joy. Her smile lights up the room. Her giggles play my heartstrings in sweet melody. Her snuggles warm even the deepest parts of my heart. She is cheerful, intelligent, has a great sense of humor, is caring, loving and sharing even to her siblings that are less than deserving of her sweet nature. She is pure joy to us. I feel so deeply blessed and honored that I get the privilege of being her mother. I never feel worthy of that blessing from any of my children and it touches me deeply that God has trusted these little souls to me, to us. I pray that I do a worthy job.

I also pray for all the unwanted babies in the world, that their lives will be spared and they will be given the blessing of being adopted into homes with parents who will love and cherish them.

Oh and Jaeden became a mommy today, on her very special birthday, to about a million of these...

Thanks Aunt Sarah and Uncle Gary.

Congratulations Jaeden! And Happy Birthday Sweetie!