AC's Special Day

Whew! I am worn out.

AC's birthday party was Saturday. We had it at Pump It Up and it was great. (They set up, clean up - how can you beat it?!)













The birthday girl is worn out! :)



What's a birthday if you can't stick your finger in the cake??!

Ann Catherine had a great time and was quite upset Saturday night when we told her that her birthday week was finally over!

As we drove to the party on Saturday, Ann Catherine asked me, "Mommy, can we listen to 'Everlasting God?'"

As many of you know, this song holds a special place in our hearts so I was more than happy to turn it on. As we drove over the mountain, the sky was just a gorgeous blue and as my daughters sang in the back seat, I began to reflect on Ann Catherine's life. So many of my thoughts this week had centered on Melissa, and rightfully so. After all, we lost her four years ago this week and we still miss her deeply. But as I listened to the song, I thought about that precious little girl who shared Melissa's birthday of June 1st. And God allowed me to listen to this song in a different light. The first line truly spoke to me.

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

If you have ever had a child in NICU, you understand what it means to "wait." Ann Catherine spent 68 days in the NICU. I knew that Ann Catherine was exactly where she needed to be, but there were days I would drive home from the hospital with tears in my eyes because I just wanted to take her home. God taught me what it means to truly "wait upon the Lord" and his strength helped us do so. His timing wasn't ours, and we had to learn to wait. I often say the day we finally brought that sweet baby home from the hospital was the best day of my life.

Our God, you reign forever
Our hope, our strong deliverer

He delivered her and he delivered us. He gave that weak little girl the strength to come off of the ventilator after only three days. He gave that child who weighed less than two pounds when she was born the strength to get better and stronger. He was our hope. When your child is sick and you don't know the outcome, your hope and your faith is all that you have.

As I drove I just reflected on AC and how much love and joy she has brought into our lives. As hard as it was losing Melissa, God gave us this amazing little girl who has the biggest, sweetest heart in the world. She just saved us during a time of such despair and sadness. We are incredibly blessed.

"Ann Catherine, this song makes me think of Melissa," I said. "It makes me think of Jesus," she answered. She's right.

Having a birthday on Monday and the party on Saturday kind of dragged the birthday week out. We are all ready to kick back and relax! As I have shared, this week drains me emotionally so I'm happy to just breathe a little. But the most important part is that AC had a great birthday. For me, that's all that matters :)