On this day...

Dearest Erin,
On this day, Feb. 25, I was in the hospital with your daddy, waiting on you to decide to be born. I was so nervous since you were my first baby, but full of excitement, too. You took a long, long time--28 hours, but it was so worth all the pain and the long wait. You were so very beautiful with those blue eyes looking up at me for the first time. I knew when our eyes met that we had known each other for all eternity.
Then began a new adventure in our lives. Our little family quickly became a place of happiness, fun, and so much joy. Our days were filled with sunshine, even on cloudy days because you were there. Your little smile lit up our little house. Then came all the activities that little girls love--the twirling, the daisies, girl scouts with all the badges you earned, the many birthday parties you had and went to with all your little friends, the school plays, Busy Box day care, and then the teen years filled with so many new adventures and fun and boys and cars. Our lives were so full. When your baby brother, David was born you were so very happy along with daddy and me. You loved him so well and worried so about him along with us. He loved you back and I remember him knocking on your closed bedroom door, saying "Eh!, Eh!" He couldn't say Erin then. So much fun we had. You grew into a beautiful young woman and married your childhood sweetheart, Jeff. You two didn't have much worldly goods, but you loved each other so well. I remember the cabin Jeff's grandpa let you live in at first. You put a lot of white Christmas lights up that first Christmas and planted some of his Grandmother Zula's flowers in the yards around the cabin. You didnt' even have heat, but just a little electric heater, but you didn't mind because you had each other. Then Jeff's grandpa helped ya'll buy your first house. You put your heart and soul into that house fixing it up so pretty and making it a home for you and Jeff.
So many memories of your wonderful life. But just 23 short years and now you are in Heaven. It was not enough for me. I wanted you here for all my life. I don't understand why God took you so soon. You just loved everyone around you. And you loved Him, too. But God is God. He knows so many things we don't know.

Erin, tomorrow is your 27th birthday. We will celebrate it with cupcakes and balloons at the cemetery beside your grave. I don't believe you are in that grave. You are living in Paradise with Jesus, your Lord and your Father God. I heard the song you 'sent' me this morning "I will rise again when He calls my name. No more sorrow, no more pain..." by Chris Tomlin. I know you want me to know you are at peace. I just miss you so badly..more every day I live. I cried all morning today, missing my sweet Erin. It hurts so bad.
But we go on living. One day the Lord will call our names and we will join you there in Paradise. What a day that will be!
Until then,
I will always love you!!
Happy Birthday, my Sweet Girl! I love you a 'whole bunch'!!!
Mama