Celebrating Emily Day

Dear Emily,

Thank you for helping Mommy and Daddy love one another more each and every day.
Thank you for giving Mommy and Daddy courage during tough times.
Thank you for helping us to appreciate each and every moment we have with one another and with Caroline.
Thank you for helping us grow in our faith.
Thank you for making us to be better people.
Thank you for helping us to not worry about the small stuff and to keep it all in perspective.
Thank you for making us closer to our parents and for helping us to appreciate them more.
Thank you for the relationships that we have gained because of you.
Thank you for being a part of who we are.
Thank you for being our daughter in Heaven.

We love you Emily.  Thank you for being a part of our lives.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

I can't believe it has been two years since I delivered Emily.  This year is SO much different than last year.  We are in a much better place. I am in a much better place.  Last year Caroline was a week and a half old,  my hormones were going nuts, and I was trying to figure out how to feed Caroline.  Last year I was crying every day all day for a couple of days leading up to Emily Day.  Last year I was a mess.  This year...this year I am filled with joy.  Do I still miss her?  Yes.  I always will.  But now, two years out, all I can see is the good.  The wonderful blessing that Emily was/is in our lives.

This year and every year we will spend Emily Day focusing on each other.  I told Phil that I want it to be a day that he takes off from work and our kids don't go to school.  A day where we spend the day together appreciating the fact that we are together.  Even if we spend all day watching movies and playing board games I don't care.  It doesn't have to be a big outing.  It just has to be together.  There are holidays all year long celebrating specific people, events, beliefs.  Most are family oriented but there is always something  you have to do/accomplish.  On Emily Day the only thing we have to do is be together.  How beautiful of a holiday is that?  A day when you appreciate your loved ones.  For that is what has ruled my life more than anything since losing Emily.  I try to appreciate each and every moment I have with my friends and family.  That is how I want to spend April 11th every year, appreciating my loved ones.

So in honor of Emily Day please join us in celebrating family.  When your child is screaming because you took away their toy because you may shoot something if you hear that song one more time, breathe deep and appreciate the fact that they are able to scream and learn and express their emotions.  When your spouse doesn't pick up their plate after dinner, pick it up for them and remember the time that they did that for you.  Lastly, just tell your loved ones you love them and give them a hug and a kiss.  For if you ask anyone who has lost a loved one, the one thing they will tell you is they wish they could hug them, kiss them, and tell them they love them just one more time.

Love,

Megan

ps Plus I'm planning on eating chocolate cake because Emily Day is a great excuse to eat chocolate cake.