Heaven only knew in advance what you would mean to me. How could I have known that the miracle I was carrying would soon enter my life and change things forever? Heaven only knew. My world would never be the same once I met you. How could I have possibly known that I would be awestruck as I held you as an infant, feeding you in the wee morning hours? How could I have known that your face would take my breath away? How could I have known how God would sculpt your perfect little nose and form your little rose bud lips? How could I have known the excitement of your first step or the awesomeness of hearing you say "mom" for the first time. How could I have known that when my life would be filled with tragedy and loss that your smile would shine with hope for me? How could I have known that God would use your two-year old vocabulary to minister to me with words of a person ten times your age? Heaven only knew.

How could I have known that God would place the voice of an angel inside you? Heaven knew you would bless my life and all who heard you as your gift of song glorified your creator. You glorified him over and over on his stage both at church, at school and in other settings. Heaven only knew that at age 7 you would accept Jesus as your savior in your own home with your Dad leading you to salvation in that moment. That you would sing at your own baptism "what a glorious day this is" making your own proclamation about his reconciliation to you through song.

Heaven only knew that as you grew, you would grow in wisdom and strength. How could I have known that through you God would bring us incredible friends - a circle of friends that would remain strong to this day?

Heaven only knew that me, a strong willed business woman would melt into you so that a job and all the success it brings would no longer matter.

Heaven only knew about your musical gifts and how your fingers would naturally form over the piano keys and glide over those keys like a smooth mountain breeze or the powerful rhythm of an ocean wave or delicate as raindrops on my window pane.

Heaven only knew that God would package you with a sense of humor that makes me laugh until I cry, the kind of laughter that doubles me over, knocks the wind out of me and makes me feel better from head to toe because of the cleansing it brings.

Heaven only knew that every stage of your life would be the great adventure for me. Heaven only knew that you would be as the old song says, "you're the spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree, the Easter bunny to Dad and me." You were Disney World, birthday parties, Mother Goose, animation, books and Butterfly Kisses. Your perception of a flower, a rainbow, a sunset, an animal or another child brought a new perspective to me about those very things.

Heaven only knew how smart and beautiful you would become. Heaven only knew that you would want to pursue medicine and your junior year of High School would be filled with Chemistry, Anatomy, Biology, and Algebra.

Heaven only knew that as the relationships of other Mothers and Daughters fell apart during the teenage years, you would be my very best friend.

I love you for so many reasons. What joy and wonder lies ahead for us in the future, Heaven only knows.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can fathom what God has in store for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

Happy Sixteenth Birthday, my girl, my treasure, my world.

I love you - Mom