Faith's 6th Birthday

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As most of you know, we had a daughter named Faith. She was born on December 11, 2002 so today she would have been 6 years old. She died when she was 4 days old because she had Trisomy 13. I have started a blog that tells her story - how we found out she had this fatal condition when I was 20 weeks pregnant, all the ways God blessed us during that time, etc. I have not really gone public (although you can see it on my blogger profile) because it is not complete. I have been adding to it lately, but I still haven't even gotten to her birth. And I need to add a bunch of photos... BUT if you want to check it out click here.

Anyway, today we remember Faith. And thanks to all my friends who sent their prayers and thoughts and emails and facebook postings and emails and text messages.

We were going to make a birthday cake, but ran out of time because we decided to go on a family adventure to San Francisco. I think we will make a cake tomorrow.So here is an account of today's events:

I woke up with the kids and made pancakes. Elijah begged me to try and make a Lion pancake (in honor of Aslan from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe). I complied and this is what I came up with. Pathetic, I know. BUT to my almost 5 year old it was perfect. He was so excited about it he had to go wake up Dad to show him before he ate it. And he wanted me to video it (which I did) to send to his cousin, Paxton, because "He knows about Narnia."



Elijah had preschool this afternoon. All of us picked him up from school and headed out to the cemetery where Faith is buried. I was a little hesitant to take Elijah there this year because I didn't want it to be too heavy and sad for him. But he did just fine. Lydia fell asleep on the way.





He was so sweet and wanted to leave his baby Jesus there that he had made in preschool.




And then he went and woke up his sister by shoving cheddar bunnies in her face and offering them to her ... after I told him not to. Oh well. Off to Pier 39 in San Francisco where love is free and parking is only $7 an hour.




The kids were so pumped upon our arrival. Lydia kept talking about going on the merry-go-round. They have a double decker on there and the kids got to go on it twice. Heaven.


We actually got a decent family photo there too! Okay, so Jordis isn't looking at the camera, but 4 out of 5 is excellent these days.






After dinner we let the kids pick any candy they wanted from the candy store. Did I say that the merry-go-round was heaven???




Lydia picked out the first thing she saw - a little lollipop. She carried it all around the store as she pointed (or picked up) just about every candy and said, "What's this Mommy?" I finally just started answering, "candy," instead of trying to explain all the disgusting pure sugar, but shaped like dinosaurs and bottles and jewelry treats.



Just as we were about to purchase her small lollipop she spotted the huge one. It was as big as her head. And that's big.



Elijah had to look at everything (just like his Dad) before he could decide ... that he wanted ice cream (when it was 50 degrees outside) instead. I hate to sound sexist, but it's a fact: Boys don't get cold.



While eating their treats the kids watched a show. A 56 year old women juggling fire on a bar that two men were holding. That's normal. The best part was that Shiloh got called up on stage to assist her. I loved it. He hated it. And one of the evening's highlights was that Miss Fire Juggler fell off the bar and almost burned down the city. But she got right back up and successfully did it again. What's that saying ... "If you fall off the bar while juggling fire, just get back on the wagon and ride the horse again?"



We ended the night with a poop popsicle. Which reminds me ... I have a potty talk blog post coming in the near future so stay tuned.



It was a great day and God has so blessed us. Although having and losing baby Faith was our biggest trial, greatest tragedy, deepest pain - it was also a tremendous and incredible blessing. Ironically, during that time I felt God's presence and understood God's love more than I ever have before or since. And now I am so blessed with such a wonderful family and 3 awesome kids. Praise be to God.

And as if this were not the longest most photo-filled post ever, I posted more photos on our web gallery. Go nuts. Pin It Now!

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