I woke up at 5:50am with the lyrics to Tim Hughes' "Oh Happy Day" in my head. Strange. But I couldn't shake them! I kept finding myself humming, "oh, what a glorious day"....until I finally had to look up
the rest of the song.
The greatest day in history,
Death is beaten
You have rescued me
Sing it out, Jesus is alive!
The empty cross, The empty grave
Life eternal You have won the day
Shout it out, Jesus is alive!
He's alive!
Oh happy day, happy day
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day
I'll never be the same
Forever I am changed
When I stand, in that place
Free at last, meeting face to face
I am Yours Jesus You are mine
Endless joy, perfect peace
Earthly pain finally will cease
Celebrate Jesus is alive!
He's alive!
Oh what a glorious day!
What a glorious way
That You have saved me!
Oh what a glorious day!
What a glorious name!
What a perfect thing to remember today.
Because He is alive, Ava is alive, and is spending her second birthday gloriously, wonderfully WHOLE! What a celebration she must be having!
Here in our yard, in celebration of Ava Day, our very first peony (we've decided it's Ava's flower) was ready to burst into bloom...
Grandma came to care for the girls, and spent the morning at a school event with Elizabeth's class.
As a result, Matt and I had precious together time over breakfast and then walked through the Missouri Botanical Gardens to see their peonies in glorious color. Oh how their bright and happy blooms just delight my heart! We sat by the lake and read a few cards from friends and family. We read your texts and emails and felt the love from all over.
We arrived home to prepare for our Ava Day family celebration and a backyard bar-b-que. The girls and I made lemon cupcakes with sparkly pink icing which were lovingly decorated and later joyfully consumed! It's a birthday tradition in our family that everyone shares something they love about the birthday girl (or boy), so Ava got her turn and we all shared our memories and special stories. What a year of experiences we had with our Little Bean.
Finally, we had a backyard camp-out tonight, complete with campfire, hotdogs, marshmallows and the girls' first experience sleeping in a tent! Good thing their Daddy is a great sleeper. I left them to their adventure, and I'm going to enjoy a comfy bed and quiet house as long as I can!
As I climb into bed, I look out at the perfectly round moon, and am again awestruck by God's faithfulness to bring so much beauty out of so much sorrow. We ache to hold our sweet one. We shed tears over our loss. And yet we are full to running over with precious memories and gratefulness for the time we had together.
Thank you all for your cards, flowers, texts, and emails, voice-mails and pictures of the moon from all over the world tonight! You love us so well.
Goodnight dear ones and goodnight Ava Bean.
Dearest Matt, Sara, and girls,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your hearts and lives. You are truly a testimony of our Saviour. Your precious Ava melts my heart. What a true gem. My family and my sister's family watched the video tonight, tears, and prayers. We love you so much.
Deanne, Lim, and family
Thank you for sharing so beautifully. Happy Birthday to a precious child who is so dearly loved! Praying for your hearts and sending my love. Heaven is so sweet..
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, I believe Stephen Miller started worship with that song at the Easter Service at Chaifetz Arena that you made it to shortly before Ava was born! She will always have a place in my heart.
ReplyDeleteJamie, you're right! He did! Mary Elisabeth, thanks for your prayers and love. I thought of our our retreat friends many times yesterday...what a year of "firsts" this will be for all of us. Deanne, I love you dearly. I'm blessed that you all celebrated her day with us from afar. love to you ladies. ~s
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