Happy Birthday, Gracie Ann!

One year ago today, you came into this world already into the arms of Jesus. You touched more hearts in your short life than anybody we know. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you. We miss you everyday and will continue to honor your life as much as possible until we are together again. Your family misses you lots, also. We are all forever changed because of you, Gracie. You are always in our hearts and we have so much love for you. We wish you were here with us. We often think about what you would be like, what your favorite toy would be, when would you take your first steps and what your first word would be. I could go on. God has been so good to us and has carried us through these days without you. Have fun at your big birthday celebration in Heaven. We love you, Gracie Ann! 

Psalm 66

1Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

2sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise!

3Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

4All the earth worships you

and sings praises to you;

they sing praises to your name." Selah

5Come and see what God has done:

he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

6He turned the sea into dry land;

they passed through the river on foot.

There did we rejoice in him,

7who rules by his might forever,

whose eyes keep watch on the nations—

let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

8Bless our God, O peoples;

let the sound of his praise be heard,

9who has kept our soul among the living

and has not let our feet slip.

10For you, O God, have tested us;

you have tried us as silver is tried.

11You brought us into the net;

you laid a crushing burden on our backs;

12you let men ride over our heads;

we went through fire and through water;

yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

13I will come into your house with burnt offerings;

I will perform my vows to you,

14that which my lips uttered

and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

15I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,

with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;

I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

16Come and hear, all you who fear God,

and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

17I cried to him with my mouth,

and high praise was on my tongue.

18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,

the Lord would not have listened.

19But truly God has listened;

he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20Blessed be God,

because he has not rejected my prayer

or removed his steadfast love from me!

Remembering

One year this day, we went to the doctors since I hadn't been feeling Gracie move and we got to hear her heartbeat one last time. We did not know that would be the last time, but thankful to God for allowing that to happen. 

As we draw close to Gracie's first birthday, I feel such sadness to not be able to celebrate the first Christmas and birthday. I have been doing a lot of reading of my blog lately and remembering the last weeks and day she was born into the arms of Jesus. I find comfort in knowing that she is perfect in Heaven and that we will be reunited some day, but it doesn't always make it easy or make me feel less sad. I wish she was here with me and Corey.

The following excerpt is taken from a blog, which I attached the link if you would like to read the whole thing, it is written by a widow. I found such comfort in this and reminder that grieving is okay and good.
"I think it is important to note here that we should not assume someone is no longer grieving, or not grieving as much, because a number of years have passed.  I am among those who, before I became a widow,  mistakenly thought that the one-year anniversary marked the end of the grieving process, that somehow things became easier and got back to “normal.”  Where did that idea come from?  That’s not accurate.  I believe grieving is actually a gift, a good and necessary gift, a process, and a journey that, because of the depth of our love, may last until I see my Bud again. And, yes, the severity of my grieving is increased during the holidays.  But as I respond to the pain and embrace with gratefulness the comforts he sends, I learn endurance and perseverance; and I realize that everything is part of the process of sanctification.  And I am overwhelmed—not by my grief—but by his love for me." 
http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/comfort-at-christmastime1
I am only approaching the first year, but I feel my heart will feel this sadness for as long as I am here on this earth, like the writer mentioned the one year doesn't mean the end of grieving.  
Grieving the loss of a child is a process, it begins the day your child passes and ends the day the parent joins them.~B.J.Karrer

Please remember to say a prayer for all those that have lost a loved one, especially those recent unexplainable losses in our nation.  

A friend shared this sweet picture that she had found online with me the other day...so true for me.