On this day a year ago I saw this sweet face up close for the first time. Her little button nose and tiny lips. Her cheek bones are defiantly mine and she looks like her big brother C.G. As I laid there with cold gel on my tummy I was mesmerized at her tiny features. Her little arms and legs were just so perfect. I could have laid there watching her for hours. I was there waiting to hear the words I’d been hoping and praying for…”It’s a GIRL!” Ahhh, thank you Lord! A precious daughter! A little sister to these two amazing boys! Tears streamed down my cheeks. My heart was full. The day was wonderful! All was right in the world!

Lo, children are the heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3

I quickly grabbed my phone. The lady at the bakery was patient with me as she waited for my text. She was waiting to fill the cupcakes I had ordered with either pink or blue filling, for us to share the news with our family! When we left our ultrasound, we went to Chick fil a to celebrate and enjoy our pink filled cupcakes! Everyone was happy and excited about our wonderful news. God had blessed us once again. And we were savoring the excitement and yummy cupcakes!

A year ago this week, I bought pink… Pink shoes, pink dress, pink hair bows, pink blankies. Just pink! I blew up my pintrest board with amazing little outfits and hair bow holders that of course would never become reality. I felt it was necessary to be pinning these adorable baby girl things so I sacrificed my to do list and wasted countless hours in dream-land, aka pintrest.

A year ago this week, We knew our daughters name would be Allie. That was Sam’s grandfather’s name and we had always known from the beginning of our relationship that if we were ever blessed with a daughter her name would be Allie, in honor of his papaw. We kept going back and forth with her middle name, and on her last day we decide Allie Grace fit her perfectly. (Grace means to get something you do not deserve; unmerited favor.)

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor.12:9a

A few weeks after we found out were expecting a girl my Mother in law and I made a special trip in search of the most beautiful fabrics, for Allies bedding. We picked out and purchased the prettiest fabrics for Allie’s quilt. We had a great time together and I was so excited to be picking out the fabrics to the quilt my daughters grandmother was going to be making her. A quilt she would have for a lifetime to play on and sleep under. It was another wonderful day preparing for and celebrating sweet Allie!

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. Prov.31:18-19

 My Mother in law has been working tirelessly to complete Allie’s quilt. She gave it to me a few weeks ago. It brings tears to my eyes to hold this beautiful gift. A gift that was chosen and created for my precious, teeny little girl. My girl who will never know the love behind this beautiful quilt. She’ll never know the hours spent at the spindle, cutting, ironing and sewing to make this quilt perfect. Perfect for her and difficult to create (because her Mommy thought it would be fun to challenge her Jengy by choosing the most difficult quilt pattern every created)! She’ll never get to lay on it with the warm sun beaming down on her as she plays with her toys or fall asleep cuddled beneath her quilt.

Allie Grace doesn’t need to know the love behind this quilt or feel the warmth it gives off because my baby girl is with her Creator. She is with the one who made the Sun to shine. The one who created the cotton plants to which this fabric was created from. She will never know what it’s like to be cold. Or have a need for a blanket. She is with her Savior. Her Heavenly Father. She has all the love, warmth and fun, far beyond anything I can imagine. She is living the good life. No tears or darkness. No scary dreams or skinned knees. My girl is in a land where there are no teary eyes, or sad goodbyes. She is in her Heavenly home. And one sweet day I’ll join her…

This story…God’s story, has a far greater purpose than we can understand.

The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21