Happy 11th Birthday, Shaling Annabelle Reynolds!

Shaling turns 11 today (and her Great Grandma Coonrod turns 84). Shaling is excited about having a pink cake and a slumber party tonight. I'm sure I'll have plenty of fun and happy pictures to share. However, this morning I am feeling a bit more sentimental. I found a poem that I'd like to share with you, only I changed the gender of the child to fit my family. You can find the original here: http://poetry.adoption.com/poems/my-childs-birthday.html

It's my child's birthday
She just went dashing by
Her eyes are sparkling with the excitement meant only for today.
Presents, kisses, hugs, cake, ice cream

It all seems so natural.
It's a day of looking back and looking forward.

It's my child's birthday
But there is something different happening inside me.
This should be a day of complete joy
A day for Thanksgiving
But in the midst of all this excitement
I pause, because my thoughts are about someone else for a time.

It's my child's birthday
I have no memories of her life growing inside me and fighting to be released.
Another someone was there
Another someone suffered for my joy.

It's my child's birthday
But someone, somewhere, is feeling emptiness inside.
I'm sure she is wondering
Who she looks like
If she is big or small.
Wondering if she laughs much.

It's my child's birthday
And in the midst of this blessed day that was given to me
I have a prayer.

Oh God, that I may never forget that someone suffered so much to give life to my child.
That someone loved my child so very much that she gave her the right to live.
May I never forget for a moment and especially now, today, to offer a prayer of thanks for that someone.
And that you, dear God, will always be there for that someone to help her through the hurts she will have when she stops to think that today is "my child's birthday."

~Unknown