Annabelle Lynn

I try my best to sleep past 8am on the 27th and forget that another month has passed since losing my daughter. I couldn't today...it was a preschool morning and my son depends on me. So, I managed to make it out of bed only to learn that our heat went out. (Electric blankets disguised it through the night.) We get dressed and are off. Once I drop off Wyatt, I had scheduled to stop by a friend's house who has come up with a wonderful fundraiser for the Annabelle Baskets...hot pink bow-shaped car magnets. Her husband owns a graphics company so we design the magnets and I get a few to take with me to stir up interest. Back home, I realize that the heat is still not working. The earliest that someone could come is early afternoon...that'll work...I figure it's just the pilot light that is out anyways. I pick up Wyatt from preschool and we come home to what is quickly becoming even colder. Wyatt directs me as to how to start a fire in the fireplace. He's a natural...watched Scott do it once and now he's a know it all! I get the fire going 45 minutes later...all thanks to my smart 4 year old. The heat repair guy finally arrives after 4pm. No luck on the pilot light. The entire heating and air system has to be replaced. Oh, what a day! I am really wishing that I had slept in now!

Scott and I steal a minute to talk in the kitchen while Wyatt is painting a wooden boat. We are sharing our frustrations of the day...of how the 27th days of the month just shouldn't be, of how Annabelle is supposed to be one precious little pumpkin in a few days, of how she won't be and how much the pain and the hurt of losing her hasn't lessened but is only more sharp on the 27th. Then, we hear our son...singing as he paints..."God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me". Tears...silence...and thanking God for the gift He's given us in our son...getting me out of bed...giving me direction...and, most of all, reminding me of hope in a God that is so good on days that just seem endless.