Happy Birthday, Elijah!

In light of Elijah turning one year old today, I want to begin with a blast to the past.

A year ago today, it was Friday the 13th.  But I'm not superstitious.  And there has been nothing unlucky about this past year.

At this time last year, I was at the beginning of my four months home with Elijah.  A beautiful fall season, full of apple-picking, red and orange mums, many many "nature" walks, and lots of snuggling with my baby boy.  A lot of firsts.  A lot of pictures.  Very little sleep.

Then I began my job at Arbor Circle.  I have experienced nothing more difficult in my life than saying goodbye to Elijah and going to work.  No one will ever understand or be able to empathize with that feeling.  Another mom can come close if she has done it before, but the intensity of the feeling is easy to forget.  It led me to quit my job at Holland Hospital (a second job at the time), which I swore (to them and to myself) I would never do. 

We were tremendously blessed to have many caregivers step forward and volunteer to take care of Elijah for free (though, I considered us to be mutually blessed, as he is such a special boy to take care of!).  First Elijah's grandmas, then my friend, and then our neighbor.  And they have all become such special people in his life.  At work I have hanging in my office a watercolor painting that Elijah made with our neighbor, Faydra, on Valentine's Day while I was working.  It reminds me of all the fun he has with other people when I'm not with him.  He develops important relationships with other caring adults.

While working at Arbor Circle, I prayed and prayed and prayed, begging the Lord for part-time work, and in February of 2011, my prayer was answered in just the way I had hoped it would be.  Shawn was given a full-time job with benefits and a salary sufficient enough for me to work part-time.  I swore I would never quit Arbor Circle after they waited five months for me to begin my job there, but I did.  I was offered a part-time job as a therapist.  No application or interview.

And now I work part-time, two very long days each week, spending the other days home with Elijah... cleaning, cooking and playing.  And my baby is one year old!  Many people have asked, "Didn't (the time) go fast?"  My response tends to be something like... "No, not at all.  It has been quite the year!"  I imagine without the job changes and day-care-finding in this upcoming year, time will go by much faster if I let it.  I'll need to be very intentional about incorporating new experiences into each of our days.  It's new experiences that slow down time.

We were blessed to be able to celebrate Elijah's birthday today with a party with all of his close family, including his Auntie T who "Skyped" in from California.  Here are some pictures from Elijah's birthday party:

The birthday cake I made for Elijah

We had pork bbq, fruit, veggies, cheese/sausage/crackers and turkey wraps (with a raspberry cream cheese spread) with pink lemonade.

Daddy decorated the dining room with balloons and streamers (it's hard to see the streamers, but they are there).

Nana and Papa were the first to arrive!

Mommy made your birthday sign out of paper plates.  Daddy printed and cut-out the letters.

Those were all your presents that people bought or made specially for you, Elijah!

You always go to the window to say goodbye to whoever is leaving, including Mommy when she leaves for work.

Having fun with Grandma Voss, who came to your party after work... still in her work clothes!  She was so eager to see you.

Reaching for your birthday card from Nana.

Running towards Mommy.

What fun presents!

Mmmm... so so good.  You LOVED the birthday cake.  You preferred the sugary fondant over the cake.  About five minutes into the cake-eating time, Daddy asked Mommy, "Do you think we should take it away?"  We did.  You'll get some more next year :-)

After your birthday party, we went to visit your Great Great Grandma Florence Voss.  We had heard she was not feeling well, and we thought who better to cheer her up than the birthday boy?  Well, it seems as though she was waiting for you even though she wasn't responsive to us when we arrived. Less than an hour after we left, she passed away.  Although we will miss her, she was so eager to be with Jesus, and it truly was a joyous day.  She lived to be 96 years old.  I hope that you, too, Elijah will live a long, intentional life.  I pray this was the first of many years ahead of you.  We love you so much and have been unspeakably blessed by you.  Happy Birthday, little man.