not to us

Hi Ruby,

It's Mommy here.  I've been thinking all day about what I wanted to write to you, and I'm still left at a loss for words.  It seems like just a couple of weeks ago, I was holding a precious 5 lb. baby.

And it seems like only yesterday that I sat in the living room, snapping cute pictures of my smiley one year old.

But here we are.  Two full years have passed since the Indianapolis Colts won their very first Superbowl, and two full years have passed since I first held you in my arms.

You are more beautiful than I can describe.  As I've been telling you lately, I think you're beautiful on the inside and the outside, but I love the inside the most.  You are strong, compassionate, funny, and thoughtful.  You are full of words and full of love.  Your arms are barely long enough to reach around my neck, but your life has been long enough to wrap up my heart.  You are mine, and I am yours.

I cannot thank God enough for delivering you from the circumstances of your birth and the circumstances of your allergy.  Every single day that I share with you is an undeserved gift from Him, and I am left speechless.

This is the prayer we've been saying with you each night, and you've started to recite it yourself.  My fervent desire is that these words will come to mean something very real and very dear to you.

Dear God,

Thank you for Daddy and Mommy and Ruby and Burke.  Please help Ruby to have a good night of sleep and to be a good girl for Mommy tomorrow.  Help Ruby to grow up to be a girl who loves You and lives for You.  Thank you for Jesus.  Amen.

You are precious to me, sweet two-year-old girl.  Happy Birthday!