Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Dear Gianna,

Today is the day we celebrate the miraculous gift of YOU. A year ago today you were born - and would you believe that we didn't even know you? And to top that --- we didn't even know about you yet (in our minds, that is.) In our hearts, I'm pretty sure we've always known you. I believe God planted you in our hearts long before you made it to this wonderful world. Isn't that the greatest miracle?

This time last year, Mommy & Daddy were sad that Maddie & Collin's adoption wasn't going to happen. We were healing and tired and wondering if we would ever have a baby of our own. God didn't wonder. God knew. God always knew that you would be our precious daughter. He chose you for us - and he chose us for you. I think He did a pretty great job in His decision-making!

All babies are amazing miracles. You, Angel Baby, were a double miracle. You were the happy ending of our story. You are the happy beginning of our story, too. We have marveled over the amazing gifts that we have already witnessed in you. We know there are a lifetime full of those gifts to discover. We look forward to every one of them.

From the very beginning you were smiling when tiny babies shouldn't be. Not just those gassy smiles that are just as cute, but big gummy smiles that stretch your whole face into an explosion of joy. Sometimes I wonder if we should have name you Joy. You graced so many people with those gigantic, surprising, abundant smiles. What a gift.

We knew early on, that you wouldn't just be ours - many, many people would claim you as their joy, too. And as much as we love you, we are so thrilled to have the opportunity to share you with our family, our friends, our church, our neighbors, our community and people that we've never met who have prayed for you.

Mommy & Daddy's hearts are SO full of love that sometimes we feel they are about to burst. We pray that you, also, will be filled with that kind of heart-bursting love. Actually, you already are because God has already poured all of His love into you. You were even created in His own image. Isn't that amazing?

We feel so blessed that we have been chosen as your parents.. We feel honored to wake up to your sweet face every morning. We are grateful to watch you grow, and learn and come into your own. We look forward to every single day that the Lord gives us together and we bask in the joy that you bring to our hearts.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl. We pray all of your days of filled with all of the wonder and love you have brought to us. You are special and unique in all the world. Always know that we love you with every fiber of our being.

Big Big Love & Birthday Blessings,

Mommy & Daddy

P.S. We lift up your birthmother in a special way this day. We are sure that her heart is full of love for you and thoughts about you ~ especially today.