(Feeling emotional today! Shared this earlier on IG and figured I would share it here as well)

So thankful we were able to take our birthday (eve) girl out for lunch at CPK – her favorite place – where we have not been able to eat indoors for well over a year! ✨

(Got nice and wind blown in Dad’s Jeep but had such a great time together!)

This year is unique as the days of the week are the same as they were in 2010… so it brings back all the memories of exactly what happened in the days leading up to Bella’s miraculous birth. I went into the hospital (with extremely high blood pressure, having contractions at 32 weeks) on a Thursday, and Bella was not born until Monday morning. As each day goes by this year, I am realizing how incredibly long that really was. I felt like death, barely slept for 5 days, central line inserted, no epidural – impossible odds… Each detail reminds me what a miracle it truly was / is that we both survived 😭

Last year, I gave Bella her special Birth Book, which is filled with each family member’s recollections of her birth journey. I knew I would miss / forget so many things, as all my attention / prayers / energy were laser focused on delivering a healthy baby. Reading each entry to her has been such a gift. Its like looking at a work of art from a completely different angle. Everyone around us, including the drs and nurses, knew this was a miracle…

Celebrating her each year is a beautiful reminder of how God works in mysterious and miraculous ways. I recently told my Dad that the positive flip side of chronic / life-threatening illness is that my eyes are open and I am FULLY AWAKE and aware of what a blessing / gift each day truly is. 11 years ago, I didn’t think I would be here for any of her birthdays, let alone over a decade with her…

So even through pain and almost constant trials, I know every day I have with her is a precious answer to the desperate prayers of a dying mother who was literally begging for any life, any days, any years… so every milestone is a HUGE deal to me!

We all love you so much, Bellaboo 💗 Both of our families needed you, the world needed you, I needed you!!! Happy Birthday-Eve, the greatest earthly joy I have is celebrating YOU! 🎉

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Special Bonus 🌟 this is the worship song we have on repeat tonight as we prepare for tomorrow’s special day.  Summer Worship playlist coming soon – here is a sneak peek that fits our thankful mood tonight 🙌