Photo Credit: Dream Photography Studio (Thank you, Stacey. I will treasure this picture always! The ring you captured in the picture was the ring my grandmother, Mary Alice, gave me when I graduated high school.)

Oh Mary Alice… where do I even start? You are a miracle. You are our joy.

From the moment we found out you were coming to the moment you arrived, my heart was full of this exploding laughter and tear-jerking gratefulness. When you smile at me, I absolutely cannot believe that I get to be your mama. It’s a dream come true.

I cannot tell your story without telling everyone about the miracle that you are. We were told you were impossible. We were told that it would never happen. But then, He spoke. He untied the knots and here you are.

My darling, your smile lights up the entire room. You wave at everyone you see. You reach out for people’s hands and just touch them and smile.

The verse we have chosen to put in your room is 1 Peter 3:4 – but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

When I was a little girl, my mama gave me a plaque painted by Joni Eareckson Tada with this verse. There was a beautiful girl in a yellow dress walking through a field, if I remember correctly. I can remember thinking about the words gentle and quiet over and over. I can remember wondering why it seemed like everyone was encouraging me to be outspoken and bold, but that He was asking me to be gentle and quiet.

Baby girl, we are so thankful for you. Happy birthday.