Life and Death

You never know where life is going to take you.  One moment you are sitting on the sunny shores of complete bliss, and the next you are lost in a deep, dark stage of despair.  Life is full of beginnings and endings.  Joyous births and heartbreaking loses.  Sometimes it is difficult to ever feel stable in our lives.  This past summer was one of the most wonderful and most painful times in our lives.

Sophie June....

Born July 3, 2012

Sophie blessed our family this past July and has been such a wonderful addition to our family of girls!  She has the sweetest spirit and the most adorable smile.  We joke that she is the world's most loved baby because of the attention she receives from Gracie and Stella (and of course from mommy and daddy!).  July was a busy but amazing month.  From the moment she was placed in our arms we have felt that she has always been a part of our family.  I find myself relishing the way she coos or the way her little fingers close around my shirt when I am holding her.  God has given us such a lovely little princess to care for, and we are so grateful!  This, was our joy this summer.

And this was our heartbreak...


Voxie

September 30, 2008-August 13, 2012

Voxie, our beautiful niece, left us this past August.  She was a bright and spirited little girl that will never be forgotten.  Our lives were forever changed on the day she passed away.  I have tears as I write this, and pretty much every time I think of this moment. Voxie blessed all who knew her with her beautiful smile and mischievous nature.  Whenever she wandered into trouble, I found myself struggling not to smile while trying to discipline her.  And you have never seen a little girl that loved the color pink more than she did.  She dressed herself uniquely from head to toe and the world was a prettier place because of her style.  A dark cloud hung over our hearts the day we watched her be laid to rest, and it has been difficult to move forward and not miss her constantly.  I had images of her growing up along with our girls.  I wanted to have her stay with us during the summers and immerse herself in all of the girlishness of our home.  We would take her to get her nails done, and buy dresses that were fluffy and hot pink.  I had visions of getting to take her to the make up counter with Stella when they were in high school.  Even though I believe God is good, and He has a plan, it is hard not to feel completely robbed.  She will always be missing.  She will always have a place in our hearts.  We loved her immensely and we always will.

It is rare to experience such happiness and pain so close together.  This summer changed our lives for better, and for worse.  We move forward now a changed family and we await what is next for us.  The lesson learned is to enjoy each moment we are given.  You never know when life will change, but we do know that change is inevitable.