Merry Christmas Eve

I've been wanting to post for the last couple of days, and finally got a moment. All of my cookies are baked and iced, the presents are wrapped, and the house is clean. Throughout all of these preparations, I can't help but wonder how things would have been with a 10 month old this Christmas. I probably wouldn't have been able to bake the 4 varieties of Christmas cookies, or leave the wrapped presents sitting under the tree. Oh how I wish things were different and Will and I could experience the joy of the Christmas season with Luke. Life doesn't always turn out the way that we had hoped or planned, and we just have to trust that God knows what he is doing. Luke is having his first Christmas in Heaven this year, and I can only image the joy that he gets to be a part of. We do have the hope of his baby sister kicking and wiggling inside of me which is helping us put our eyes toward the future and smile again.

As we look back on 2008, it has been quite a year. Will and I have felt the joys and sorrows of parenthood in a way that we hope few go through. We are grateful that we have two children - a son and a daughter. We are grateful for all of the blessings we have received through our supportive and loving families who have been with us through the loss of Luke. They continue to love Luke, and talk to us about him. This means the world to us that his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins still think about him, love him and miss him. We are also thankful for all of the friendships, new and old that have been strengthened through our son Luke. Truly during times of great pain do you find out who your friends are. We couldn't be more blessed than to have the friends we do. I would name you each individually, but I hope that I have been able to convey to you each personally just how much you have helped us. From feeding us, to listening, talking, hugging, crying, laughing and praying with us. My heart is full with gratitude and love.

I am excited to say that Will and I have finally decided on a name for Wee T. and would like everyone to come to know her better by announcing her name. I regret that we didn't have a name for Luke until after he was gone, and I will never make that mistake again. Since we do not know how long we get to have our children for, Will and I want to bond with and love on Wee T. as much as we can. It doesn't take being born to make you a person and a member of our family. Wee T. is a much loved member of our family right now and we can't wait to share with our family and friends her beautiful name. You will have to wait until tomorrow though, as we have made the unveiling of her name a part of the grandparents Christmas present, and we don't want to ruin the surprise.

So, until tomorrow.... Merry Christmas Eve!