A Glimmer.....

Sunday, there was a glimmer of bitter sweet joy in our home. Miss Ellie Grace celebrated her 1st birthday! Many friends and family gathered to share in this very special day. The overwhelming support of our friends over the past ten weeks has been amazing and Ellie's birthday celebration was no exception!

As we sang happy birthday to my little big girl, I couldn't help but imagine how special it would have been to share this day with Dennis. Another milestone to write in our life story. He LOVED his little princess so very much. He waited (almost 18 months), with great anticipation, for her arrival. While waiting, he toted her pictures everywhere and would remind me frequently how crazy in love he was with her. "Love at first sight" he'd proclaim! He proved it almost daily by finding some silly excuse as to why he would be going in to work late. Truth was he was secretly waiting for Ellie to wake up so they could watch Mickey Mouse Club together, a morning tradition they both enjoyed immensely. And on the occasion Dennis was able to pull himself away from her and actually go to the office, the moment he would walk in the door from work, he would literally drop everything and make his way straight to his Ellie Grace. Oh and you better believe she expected nothing less. When he entered the room, no one else existed in her little world. She truly was as smitten with him as he with her. He often times talked about how special her first birthday would be and couldn't wait for her first Christmas. Then there was Disney world, November of 2011 he already had it planned that Ellie must go to Disney for her 2nd birthday. I got so much joy from watching the two of them love each other. I saw how she filled his heart so completely. I always said I didn't mind playing 2nd fiddle to her because watching there love flourish was so comforting. They were an amazing duo! But clearly, our little Ellie was brought here to fill my arms, not his. So we celebrated her 1st birthday with both tears of joy and sadness. Joy that our merciful saviour brought this very special girl in to our lives. Joy that the Lord called Dennis home (the place all genuine Christians long to be) yet sad for the loss created in his absence. Tremendous loss for a little girl who has forever lost the love of her earthly fathers.

I hope that Dennis was with us yesterday. That God gave him a "hall pass" and that he celebrated right along side us. Some people.... many people, don't believe souls in heaven can see earthly happenings. That souls passed are no longer concerned with the things of this world. I hope this thought is wrong. I mean why would God create AMAZING love and BEAUTIFUL relationships if only after the body dies, so do these gifts. The gifts of love and relationships surely transcend the flesh. Well, at least that is my HOPE. I hope that Dennis prays and cares for us now just as he did when he was here. That the gospel of creating more and better disciples reigns priority even in heaven. I hope that even those passed desire a "standing room only" crammed packed heaven. That cheers and encouragement remain on the hearts of all!

Philippians 2:1-4
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.