Three

My precious Eva,

Today, you turn 3. You have been on this earth 3 full years - you enter now into your fourth year.

At this moment, I hold you in my heart - yet, we are thousands of miles apart. If I could somehow reach through space to hold you, play with you, comfort and celebrate you... Love, I would. I would.

Instead, I reach through time with pen and ink, trusting these words will find you when you are old enough to understand them.

I remember my third birthday - quite vividly. I remember the cake in the shape of a white cat. Its red licorice whiskers, my father teasing my mother that its paws did not look like paws. I remember crawling into the lap of my older cousin for a shared picture since our birthdays were close. I remember saying 'goodbye' to guests before they intended to leave, because I wanted them to go. :-)

What will you remember, Love? I wonder... This, possibly the first birthday you will remember. We have sent gifts... but will you understand? Are these your first gifts? Your Father in Heaven and angels celebrated when you were born. And they celebrate with us now. But what will you remember of this day?

I will tell you what I know, but you cannot yet remember. You have a mommy and daddy who love you and pray for you and long to hold you and raise you. You have many friends and extended family who will meet to celebrate you this coming week. You will have gifts piled on top of gifts - we will put them in your room. Only later will you see. You have a bedroom, and we will begin to prepare it this weekend. It's right next to ours, and yellow, fuzzy angels will lovingly guard your door.

This, your fourth year, will be a year of incredible change for you. There will be some changes you may love. Others might make you sad. But, all in all, it will be good because we will meet this year and begin a forever family. For better or worse, this year is the start of forever relationships with those who love and cherish you - and celebrate you. We will navigate together all the bumps and curves to come. Jesus will hold us. And He will make it sweet...

Be blessed today, sweet Eva. Grow big and strong - but not too big yet, k? I have prayed for someone to hold you, sing to you, celebrate you today - to help you understand the magnitude of how precious you are. Happy birthday - we are so thankful you've been born!