"A Whole Hand-Full"...

...that's what our just-turned 5 year old is telling us she is today! I can hardly believe it. How do the years sneak up on us so quickly? It seems like yesterday she was that little 12 month old who could barely sit up. Now she's a strong, healthy, happy, outgoing little girl.

And SWEET! Anyone who knows her well can tell you they don't come any sweeter than our Miyah. She has a way about her that is so endearing and kindhearted. We are blessed beyond belief to have this little girl in our lives.

I can't help but think about her birthparents on the anniversary of her birth. Surely the day doesn't pass without them thinking about her and wondering...

As Miyah blows out her candles I can't help but breath the silent prayer for her birthparents that chokes at the back of my throat. Surely God will grant them peace on the anniversary of their loss. Joy. Sorrow. Pain. All intermingled for them those five years ago. I sense it as they must certainly have sensed her sweet spirit the moment they held her.

I'm sometimes made uneasy by the fact that one woman's profound loss has become one of my most incredible blessings. But I know God's hand is in it all and Miyah was destined to be ours even if I don't understand why loss had to be a part of that plan.

Which then leaves the question of how I got to be the luckiest mommy in the world to have these four incredible children?

God is good in his providence...in his plans that confound the most spiritual and the wisest among us.

So we continue to count our blessings in minutes, days, years spent with these precious children. Every bit of it is a gift beyond measure.

And what better way to celebrate such a milestone than with a chicken nugget and waffle fry? When we asked Miyah what she wanted to do for her family birthday meal, she said, "Chik-Fil-A* chicken nuggets!" Which is easy (and cheap) enough. It also happened to be Chik-*Fil-A's Family N*ght during the week of Hallow*een, so there were clowns and prizes, along with the usual cow, balloon guy, and free kids meals and ice cream (orange). A ready-made party!

We celebrated a night early because everyone had somewhere to be on her actual birthday. As it was, on the night we did celebrate, Matt had to get to his college class and Megan to dance, so they were only able to join us for a little while.

I know you're not accustom to all these words, so here's the overabundance of photos as usual....






Mei Lin ran up to give the cow a hug.

Miyah got a lot of animal dress-up stuff this year (perfect)...

And she shared with Daddy...

and Mei Lin.

And she got a new big girl bike she LOVES!

Birthday Breakfast

The Sweet Birthday Girl

Mei Lin is upset that she can't wear the "Birthday Girl" pin. This face is often seen on Mei Lin these days. Those lips are what first caught my eye in her referral photo...I saw them and knew I needed to kiss those lips.
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y, S W E E T G I R L ! ! !