Heather lived like no one else I’ve ever met. She sucked all of the marrow out of life. This core value seeped into every part of her – but most especially birthdays. This girl could not just celebrate a birthday in one day – yours or hers. The celebration of you (or her!) did not last just the day of your birth, but the week of it, and the month of it. She especially loved celebrating A’s birthday the most, her own birthday, a close second. “It’s my birth month!” turned into “It’s my birth week!” which tuned into “it’s my birth weekend!” which turned into “it’s my birthDAY!” which turned into “it’s the weekend after my birthday!” and “it’s the week after my birthday!” …you get the point. The celebrations were endless.
Her first birthday in Heaven feels incredibly different for those of us on this side of eternity still. I miss her today, but if I’m being honest, no more than any other day. I miss her every day. I miss her laugh today, but no more than any other day. I miss her “MEGAN!” today, but not more than any other day.
For those of you struggling through today, I want to challenge us with this:
Choose celebration.
That doesn’t mean it’s an easy choice – but it’s a choice we must make.
Because although our girl would adore the happy attention, she would hate it if we were sloppy and sobbing all day.
I miss her terribly – but if I can live TODAY, just today, like she lived her EVERYday – choosing life and choosing joy and choosing fun – then I know I’ll be okay.
If you’re paralyzed with sadness, these are a few ways you can remember and celebrate Heather today:
1. Cook some soup
2. Share said cooked soup with someone
3. Write a note on the top of the container that you share with someone before dropping it off so they have it forever and ever
4. Buy stupid balloons and give them to a friend who needs some cheering up
5. End every text message with no less than 4,325 emojis
6. Eat Chinese food and a Costco cake
7. Hug your kids really tight & call your family
8. Drink no less than 3 things at once. For example, a cup of water, a diet ginger ale, and a light cranberry juice – in separate cups, in front of you at the same time.
9. Watch the Food Network
10. Say, “thank you Jesus,” out loud, at least 143 times today, and mean it.
HB, we were the luckiest to be your people.
You’re the brightest star in the sky.
I’ll love you forever.
Happy Birthday.
❤️