Birthday Celebrations

No, it wasn't Mantha's birthday. It was her youngest sister's birthday. TailorBear turned 10 this past weekend. But appreciating birthdays is a lesson I've learned from Mantha.

Mantha loves birthdays. She gets just as excited for someone else's birthday as she does for her own. She keeps track of time by birthdays. She knows the order of the birthdays. First birthday of the year is Tailor's, then Mother's Day (not a birthday but a marker she uses) followed by BooBear's birthday and Father's Day. Fourth of July helps break up the waiting and at long last Mantha and her twin celebrate her birthday. Poor Daddy. There isn't much time for Mantha to get overly excited about Daddy's birthday as his birthday is just a week after the twins', but she does love to tell him Happy Birthday on his day. Mommy's birthday is last. (Reformation Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's help break up the long six months until Tailor's birthday comes round again).

Birthdays have always been special to me but after Mantha was born, they became even more of a reason to celebrate. Each birthday is a chance to celebrate life. It's a chance to thank God and remember how He blessed us with another year. We were told that Mantha only had a 50% chance of surviving the first open heart surgery. We were told that Mantha had about a 50% chance of living to age 5. No one knows what her life expectancy is. Her official prognosis is "unknown". We've learned how precious life is. She's taught us to appreciate the time we have with ALL of our daughters.

I am grateful and thankful that the Lord blessed us with Tailor and that we've had the privilege of having her in our lives for 10 years. We pray that His hand will continue to be on her and that He will bless her with many many more years.