A Dream

Once upon a time there was a girl named Heather, who dreamed of getting married and building a home and a family. She was going to have four babies, two boys and two girls, in no particular order, but four just the same. When she was the ripe old age of 22, she danced down the aisle of her husband's church, brimming over with joy that her dream was actually coming true.

One year later she was pregnant with their first baby, a boy, who they named Elijah.

One year after that, she was pregnant with their second baby, a beautiful girl they named Isabel.

Isabel was due to be born on December 31st, 1999. AKA Y2K. Remember all that fuss?! Thankfully, she obliged her momma's hope that she would be born early, and she even came before Christmas. So sweet, from that very first day.

I wish my scanner worked. I wish we had had a digital camera back then. Because then I could show you just how stunning this little girl was, from the beginning. And you could see the progression that I have seen, watching her grow from that tiny little seven pound bundle to this:




I'm hoping for a new printer/scanner for Christmas, so I can do just that. But until then, this will have to do. Not that it matters too much. Pictures on a blog can't even begin to capture the intense love I have for my daughter. She fills a hole in my life that I didn't even know existed. She is so smart, very artistic, and has the wisdom and maturity of someone twice her age. Her faith is amazing, even at this young age. Her prayers can move mountains; of this I am certain. This is the girl who prayed for God to put a baby in my belly, and then we had Gabe. (Although she thinks God got His wires crossed, 'cause what she really wanted was a sister.) I am honored to be Isabel's mother. I am sure God has big plans for her, and I love being a part of those plans. Watching her grow into this lovely creature has been, and continues to be, an awesome experience.

Nine years ago, my daughter was born and I fell in love with her on the spot. That love has grown to unbelievable proportions, so big my heart can hardly contain it. I can't wait for this day to begin. To celebrate with Isabel and our family. To show her exactly how special she is. How loved.

To think it all began so many years ago, with the dream of another little girl...