The best day of my life...

 "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."--Psalm 126:2

Ever have one of those days, weeks, months or years, where you just feel God's presence so strongly in your life and you just know He has GREAT things in store for you?

Have you ever felt like, "Man, I just don't deserve all of this, Lord!"

Have you ever felt like God was just smiling down on you and was filling your mouth, your day, your life with laughter and joy?

Well, that is exactly how I feel around my children's birthdays.  There is just this pride and joy and happiness and gratefulness I feel for all that God has blessed us with in each of them.  And so, this year as Julia approached age 5 I have to say I just felt pure, explicit, undeserved, joy!

She is my joy.  She is my gift.  I don't deserve a great kid like her at all.  But God in his love, mercy and grace, decided in April of 2007, that I would conceive a daughter and that in December of 2007, give birth to our Julia Star. 

 
 On December 22, we took her to the American Girl Doll store in Manhattan for the very first time.  After Julia picked out her doll, had tea, snacks, and cake with us, and browsed the store for some doll accessories, she leaned over and thanked us and said, "Guys, this is the BEST day of my life!"  To hear your little one say those words to you when you planned a special day for them and it actually works out to be a great day for them, is just the absolute best feeling in the whole world.

 
 This store is every little girlie girl's dream.  4 floors of dolls, doll clothes, a doll salon, and a restaurant for your family and your doll is little girl heaven for an almost 5 year old.  Julia picked out her Julie doll which was on the third floor and then we set off to see the rest of the floors and have tea with brother and daddy.

 Julia's doll got her own special chair and she got to have Tea with us!  The service here was amazing!

 Does she look happy or what?  She got a birthday crown for herself and her new doll.

 We kept asking her doll Julie, "Are you having fun Julie?"  Julia would answer, "Mom she's shy."

 Forget the tea, we want CHOCOLATE MILK!

 Then the finger food came!  It was all so good!  Cucumber sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, muffins, fruit cabobs, rice krispy treats....yum!

  Make a wish big girl!!! You fill our days with laughter and joy and we are so proud of the little young lady you are becoming.  God has great things in store for you!

 
Happy Birthday Julia Star!  We can't believe you are 5 this year!  I know the American Girl Place was the best day of your life...but the best day of our life was when you entered ours on Dec 31 at 7:16 a.m.  It was early morning and you were so alert and awake in our arms.  And you never cried in the hospital.  You were so happy and content with just taking it all in and looking all around.  You were so full of life even then.  Mommy and Daddy, and Marky love you so so much!   

Our prayer for you this year is this:  That you grow in wisdom and stature.  That you continue to seek God with all your heart. (we love all your questions and are going to write a book to answer all of them, you inspire us so much my love).  That you make good choices and godly friends.  That you succeed at all you do.  And that you continue to be a joy and a blessing to those around you!  We LOVE you!

Psalm 126:2
 "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."