Flower Petals

I have several things to catch up on.  But I'm going to start at today. We'll get to birthdays, pneumonia, hospitals and fireworks later.

We went this evening to a beautiful stream by a duck pond.  Each of the girls chose a flower from our yard before we left.

Then we released the flower petals into the stream.  This was in lieu of releasing balloons or something.  We though flower petals were just right to celebrate a beautiful little girl's half-birthday.

This wasn't to celebrate for one of my own daughters.  This was a celebration for one of their cousins.

Cousin Emma J. doesn't get to celebrate it herself.  So we helped.  (Please note: this is not cousin Emma H.)

Emma lived a short, miraculous life.

She touched more lives in her months before and days after her birth than some people will touch in their long lives.  She continues to touch lives now with her strength, persistence, love, and faith.

We have felt her love and presence in our lives, including while Lizzie was sick in the hospital recently.

I am grateful to be Emma's aunt and to have her as part of our family.  We love you, Emma, and think of you often.

We are grateful for the knowledge that your family will be together forever and we will get to know you eventually.

Happy 6 months old!

Love,

Aunt Janelle