The Newest Nail: ONE YEAR YOUNG!

We are so thankful for this past year, and our gift from above... We had a fabulous time celebrating Leighton's first birthday on April 3. We planned the party at Thrasher Park in Historic Norcross, and had an Easter egg hunt and fun on the playground! So much fun, and so thankful for all of our friends and family who shared in the special day with us... The past year has been one of joy, tears, frustration, happiness, and overwhelming love and learning... And I would do it all over again! I heard a quote the other day that really resonated with me:

"Suddenly, through birthing a daughter, a woman finds herself face to face not only with an infant, a little girl, a woman-to-be, but also with her own unresolved conflicts from the past and her hopes and dreams for the future.... As though experiencing an earthquake, mothers of daughters may find their lives shifted, their deep feelings unearthed, the balance struck in all relationships once again off kilter. ~Elizabeth Debold and Idelisse Malave."

I thought this was such a beautiful and true summation of the past 12 months... Watching your child develop and grow is much like reliving your childhood and youth, and all your memories and experiences, both good and bad are 'unearthed' and brought to light, like it or not. It's been a great healing time for me as well, these past 12 months, to accept certain things for what they are, learn to love unconditionally, and live each day like it's my last. It has been a wonderful time for Jason and I both to grow stronger in our spiritual walk individually, and as a couple. Having Leighton has been such a great gift from God, and has recharged our love for our heavenly father and renewed our faith ten-fold. I am so thankful for all of our blessings, and all the special little moments with Leighton that we are so lucky to experience.

I know that each day, month, and year will continue to fly by, and she will be heading off to kindergarten before we know it. I pray that I am able to set a good example for Leighton, raise her as a beautiful, 'GRACEful', loving woman who loves the Lord and others, and one who I hope to someday share a close relationship with. This after all is my job as her mommy, and I am happy to fulfill it :)