Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby Girl!

Dearest Evangeline Joy,

Today is your 1st birthday! I cannot believe that it's been a full year sense I last laid eyes on you and held you in my arms. For a parent this is the saddest thing possible. We miss you every single day, all 365 of them. It's been a tough year on us and your passing was the hardest part of it all. For we don't have the answers as to why you aren't with us to celebrate and eat cake and all of the fun things that families do at birthdays. The only thing that we do know in our hearts is that our God had bigger plans for you in Heaven. He wanted you. That's the only comfort that Mommy and Daddy get is that you are with Him and He is the greatest caregiver. We celebrated your life on Sunday. I wanted to make the day as special as I could. I even baked a cake for you! (Mommy hasn't done that sense your Grandma turned the BIG 4-0)! So, it was a big deal to say the least. ;) We all went out to your site and released balloons with special messages on them. I would like to think that maybe you could have gotten a tiny glimpse of the love for you that we all down here have. It was hard for both of us this morning. Daddy went to work for a few hours but came home to be with me, so we could have this time together just the two of us. Mommy didn't want to get out of bed, to tell you the truth. I checked my phone and had so many messages of love and support for us, that along with your precious brother, Shepard kicking me got me up and going. It was a sweet reminder of how great is our God for blessing us with Shepard. It made me cry out with thanksgiving for his life and for the time that I had with you in my belly just last year. Mommy and Daddy went out and spent time at your site for a while this afternoon. God gave us such a beautiful day to just sit and be still. We talked a lot about this past year, our growth, your life and the many questions we have for God when we get up to Heaven. Good conversation. Mommy and Daddy love you so so much! You will always be our first born, our sweet girl and the apple of our eye. You will never be forgotten in life. Your siblings will know all about you.

Happy Earthly and Heavenly Birthday, Princess Evangeline!

Love forever and Always,

Mommy

Here is a few pics from your party...

Father's Day and thoughts...

Hey Friends and a Happy Father's Day to any Dad's reading this! :)

I've been thinking a lot this week on Father's Day and just reflecting back on life in general. Last Father's Day I was 31 weeks along with Evangeline and not knowing that the next weekend I would be in labor with her.We surely miss her all the time and even this past Mother's Day going into tomorrow it doesn't feel the same with out her here to celebrate along with us, For she is the first one to have given us the honor to have the titles "Mommy and Daddy". As I was doing my "thinking & reflecting" I thought how happy I am for Shepard who is (growing well in his temporary home) about how lucky he will be to have such an awesome earthly father in Josh. I could literally brag all day about my husband. :) Honestly though, Josh has been excited just as much as I about Shepard and being able to raise him. He already talks about what they'll do together in the way future. Josh is a Godly man that strives everyday and I mean EVERYDAY to be the best person, man, husband, son, brother and father. He is thoughtful, loving, compassionate for others and willing to serve at all times. I'm so blessed to have married someone that will be an excellent dad and someone that our son can and will look up to in the future. Thank you, Joshua James for being, well YOU! Evangeline, Shepard and I love you very much and are blessed that you are and have been a huge part of our lives.

  I love this pic with Josh with EJ. You cannot see much of him but you get the sweetness of it.   Evangeline resting in her Daddy's arms.

Now, to thank my Heavenly Father...

Lord, I love you so much! You have blessed me a lot in life. You have pulled me through some deep valleys in the past but you have never left me or forsaken me. I haven't always given you what you deserve back and I'm still a work in progress but I do desire to give all of me to you. My heart, soul and my life.Thank you for giving me life! Happy Father's Day to you! :)

Happy Father's Day to my Dad, my granddad's that are no longer with us to my Father in Law, Jim and Josh's PawPaw Elkins.

Father's love the fire out of your kids, no matter how young or old they are. I have learned through the last couple of years that we are kids, boy or girl get our identity though our earthy father. Pour into your kids lives. They are the biggest blessing that our Heavenly Father can give.  Invest!!

Till next time friends....

Katie