Tuesday, April 17, 2007

A bittersweet goodbye






Tomorrow, April 18th, we will say goodbye to Piper Grace's first year of life as she turns 1 year old! I am filled with dueling emotions. On one hand, I am truly overjoyed that Piper is here with us to celebrate the day she born 1 year ago and I want to throw the biggest party this town has ever seen. On the other hand, I am grieving over the lost time of this last year, that we were not there for the first 10 months of her sweet, precious life. I cannot help but think about what her birth day was like a year ago and my thoughts turn towards her birth mother, who carried her for 9 long months. We may never know the circumstances surrounding Piper's beginnings, but I know her birth mother chose to give her life and that her decision to do that, has given us the most beautiful blessing, who daily fills our home with love. We love this little slice of heaven so much, there just aren't words to describe what she means to us. She is life, she is joy, she is God's ultimate gift. We are not worthy of such a gift yet He blesses us beyond our wildest imaginations, not because of who we are, but because that's just who He is. A giver of undeserved grace, a grace so huge, we couldn't earn it if we tried. All I know to do is say thank you. Thank you, Lord, thank you.

As you can see from the pictures Piper has been busy, very busy. She's got a lot to do and learn each day and she makes the most of every waking moment. I have to say, I am in awe of little PG. I hope I can be more like her when I grow up. She has opened her heart to us and shares her love freely. She is a survivor and a lover of life. To know what she has been through this last year, and to see her now, it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I just can't get over the fact that we get to experience this and watch her blossom.

Some words from a song I heard yesterday expressed my feelings perfectly:
(Remembering You by Steven Curtis Chapman)
"I found you in the most unlikely way
But really it was you who found me
And I found myself in the gifts that you gave...

From the first moment
when I heard your name
Something in my heart came alive
You showed me love
that no words could explain..
A love with the power to...
open the door,
to a world I was made for"

and then the chorus are words I'd like to say to Piper's birth mother:
"And I'll watch as the cold winter melts into Spring
And I'll be remembering you
And I'll smell the flowers and hear the birds sing
And I'll be remembering you
And I'll watch as the sun fills the sky that was dark
I'll be remembering you"

1 comment:

Kim said...

Happy Birthday to the cutest little girl.. I have been following your blog and I can not wait until we get the joy that your family has had and will continue to have.. Just a little question.. Where do you get all of her cute little headbands??