2 years, 2 months, 2 days...

since we said good-bye to our precious little Alethia Joy who had already passed into the safe arms of Jesus.
They say that "time heals all wounds," but I can't say that I believe that cliche.
Yes, as time passes, by the grace of God, we are slowly healing...but will our wounds of losing our firstborn daughter ever fully heal?
No, not in this life.

We miss her every day, we miss her in every way.
My arms still ache to hold her close to my chest.
My heart still hurts from the pain of such sudden and unexplainable loss.
My mind wonders about the joy and laughter that she would bring us as a bundle-full-of-energy 2 year old. [and I wonder if she would've been like her mommy and possess a bit of that "stubborn/terrible twos" nature! ha]

Just mentioning her name and talking about her [what she was like when we met her and what we would imagine life now to be like with her] brings both joy and sorrow...joy in the memories we have, and sorrow in the loss of all our hopes and dreams of her life with us.

It means even more than I can say when others talk about her...when they validate her precious life and just remember with us.
Seeing her picture on my grandparents' dresser. Having my 3 year old niece [with a sweet smile on her face] point to my necklace and say "that's your neck-a-lace to remember baby Alethia," every time we visit their family.
The little things mean so much.

She will always be our firstborn.

I imagine the fun she must be having in Heaven...I imagine her sitting at Jesus' feet...I imagine her walking the streets of gold with Him.

We're waiting and longing for the day when we won't have to miss our little girl anymore because she will be in our arms again.