This Day Last Year

This day last year you woke up too early in a rowdy orphanage and got ready for school. This day last year I had not seen you or Esmée for a month. This day last year you had the last name Ream but you were cruely told that you could not spend your 13th birthday with your family. So this day last year I stayed up half the night baking I don't know how many cupcakes because I didn't know how many kids might be in your class at school. This day last year I spent two hours getting to that awful school...the one that didn't teach you much of anything other than to lie not to get in trouble and keep quiet if you didn't want to get hit...just to see you on your birthday. I hated to leave you there. This day last year you only spoke a little English and could hardly read or write in English at all. How far you have come!

This day last year you went to sleep in a cold, damp, smelly orphanage...hungry.

This day last year no one gave you a birthday present. We were saving ours and you knew that.

This day last year we prayed once again for a way for us to be together forever.

This day last year seems like just yesterday and yet so so far away too. 

Today was our first forever family birthday with you! We are so thankful for you and proud of you. Today we are in awe at how far the Lord has brought us since this day last year. 

Despite the bad hair day episodes, I hope you had a very Happy Birthday! 

Just so you know..I cannot believe you are 14!
This picture is to someday remind you that Mom really tries really hard to make you happy!
You tell me that you don't like cake. Well good because right now I don't have an oven or a good bakery. So I go to Port au Prince (3 hours away) to a decent grocery store and find a tiny heart shaped muffin pan that will fit inside my countertop toaster oven, and chocolate hearts and pink icing so I could make you cookies...special birthday cookies. 

And I actually did not just buy this off the side of the road (like you thought) but ordered it weeks ago just for you.
I know you love it but sorry it wasn't the DS you really wanted.
I figured this dresser would be a happy medium between what you wanted and what you needed and that waking up to a scavenger hunt to find this would be cool.
You did a really great job reading the clues and figuring them out!

What joy it brings to see this smile over your new English Bible!

And to be able to take you out to eat, open presents, and Skype with grandparents!

Tonight you will not go to bed hungry.

Definitely not hungry!

Tonight we celebrate how special you are to us!
We will always be thankful for all the years we get to spend with our Elita Marguerite!

This day this year is the first of many to come!