I am a mom of a cutie pie (very biased). And I wanted to share my experiences with others (including my cuties grandparents, great-grandparents, numerous uncles and other relatives). I love being a mom and can't imagine doing anything else.December 19th
Today I turn 30.
I am more than ready for my 20's to be over. I am ready to start a new year.
I'm trying to be thankful today.
I'm thankful for my husband who loves me at my worst,
my parents who will do anything for me
my brothers (real and in-law) who can always make me laugh
my family who constantly showers me with love
my friends who have stood by me and let me lean hard on them
my Alivia who gave me more than I could ever imagine.
posted by Alivia's Momma @ 8:39 AM
60 Comments:
Happy Birthday Emily. Thinking about you often.
Sara
I love you, Emily. I can't believe you're 30. That's impossible. Just yesterday you were my lil holly hobbie and the apple of my eye. In a blink of that eye you have turned into an amazing woman. I'm proud of you and wish you as much happiness as you can possibly attain.
Happy Birthday, nerd!
Tons'o'luv,
"Aunt" Lisa
Happy Birthday Emily! I hope it's a sweet day. Remember that as a daughter of God "surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life." Praying for you.
Jan Marie
Happy Birthday, Emily! There are so many who are thankful for the day you were born...thankful for your life, as difficult as that life might be right now. I hope that your 30s are full of joys, growth, and love!
Christi
"30" Oh my how did that happen! Hope you have a good day, know that we are thinking of you & James. You have experienced far more then anyone your age should have to. You have shown such strength and love! Wish we could be there to share in your day, we love & miss you so much! ReeRee & Gup, Becca & Tim
Happy Birthday Emily! May your 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, etc. be filled with lots of love, joy and happiness. You have already experienced enough sadness to last a lifetime.
You and James are in my daily prayers.
Sheila from Pittsburgh
(first time poster, long time reader)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
-Heidi
Happy Birthday Emily...
We are still praying for you and will be. We too think about you and James often.
C.B. and Shannon Eder
(from the Reading Sovereign Grace Church)
Happy Birthday Emily! I hope your day is filled with good times!!
Eboni Freeman
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Emily,
I think we talked about this before, but today is also Ryan's birthday and it's our wedding anniversary. Happy December 19 all around!
Holly
Happy Birthday Emily!!! I pray that your 30's will bring you joy and peace. I agree with one poster who said you have already experienced way more sorrow than anyone should in a lifetime.
I don't know you personally but you hold a special place in my heart. I hope you are surrounded with so much love today!!! You are an amazing woman!!!
Vicki Moore
Thinking of you today Emily. Happy Birthday.
Much love,
Amy
Happy Birthday Emily,
May this coming year bring happiness and open a new chapter in your life. You are thought of often, and have inspired and touched many....
~a lancaster reader
Happy Birthday, Emily.
You are still in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary Ann K.
Happy Birthday Emily!!!!!
Still praying for you!
Steph from WV
Happy Birthday Emily. May your heart find peace and joy. Much happiness to you.
Happy Birthday Emily...welcome to 30! I have just a few short months left until I depart 30 and hit 31...yikes!
Praying for you daily.
Love,
Laura C.
Happy Birthday, Emily!
Kristen E. in Mount Joy
Happy Birthday, Sweet Emily! You deserve a joyous day, as much as that is possible. I will pray for you to have a magical day and to make lots of happy new memories.
Lots of love,
Lisa R.
Happy Birthday Emily... I remember I got to spend one birthday with you... you turned 21... in Orlando. Things were much easier then. I miss you and love you. I'm still praying for you.
I have to say it....huge happy birthday love from Alivia in Heaven to her mommy. I am sure Alivia, Jesus and the angels are having a huge party and Alivia is just waiting for her Mommy to join her.
Praying for you especially on this bittersweet day.
-Sue F.
tdoay is also my Josiah's birthday, so Happy Birthday to you too!
H-A-P-P-Y B-I-G 3-0!!!!!
I hope your 30's are filled with nothing but the sweetness that life has to offer.
We will be home for the holiday's, would love to take you out for a celebration drink!!!
XO,
Neysa
I send many wishes for a very happy birthday!
Jessica
Dearest Emily-
H A P P Y
B I R T H D A Y
I pray for you and your family often...
God Bless You
Phyllis
Happy Birthday! May your 30's be a decade of growth of mind, spirit and heart. Know that little Livi is watching over you and all she wishes for is for you on this special day is to be happy knowing you gave her the best short life anyone could ask for and that is a lot to be thankful for.
happy birthday girl!!! i hear that 30 is a great year ;)Neil said you guys are prob coming on friday to the shin-dig at the regeimballs...hopefully we will see you!
My dearest Emily, I hope you are having a peaceful day with many good thoughts of birthdays past. Wondering if you remember any specific birthdays whe n you were a child hoping for some specific present. Don't remember if you were particularly anxious to be able to drive. Anyway, my dearest "Punkin Doodle" hope this decade will bring every blessing conceivable to you. You do have a family who loves you to the nth degree and then some. Your loving (on the way to being ancient ) GRandmother, Marmie
and it was snowing today....Sue F.
Happy Birthday Emily!
May the Lord bless you in a mighty way.
Maryann Plesnicher
Happy Birthday, Emily:) Continuing to pray for you all.
Love
Audrey Drago
Em, Happy Birthday! I hope that you have a great day and remember that we are always here for you. Much love to you! Heather L.
Happy Birthday Emily
Mike, Joanne and Jeffrey
love you so much
Happy Birthday, Emily!
Continuing to pray.
Julie D. (another Dec. 19th b-day girl)
I can certainly see how you would be ready for this last year to be over and turning another decade older rather than just another year older probably really gives you the feeling of turning over a new leaf.
I loved the post about Livi celebrating in heaven with Jesus (and I am sure they are also with others who went before Livi..friends and family). I can't top that post...what a sweet image in my mind's eye.
Happy 30th, Emily (a day late because I wasn't on here yesterday)....I often try to picture how much sweeter your future will be than the past year has been.
Love,
Caroline
I'm with all the others posting here who pray for many blessings in this next year...mostly the blessing of peace in your heart. Praying for you continually.
Happy Birthday to my sweet cousin Emily! Hello to James, Gigi, Pa, Allen's and Haughery's. Love from Pittsburgh, The Camp's
Greg, Betsie and Zachary
Happy - Happy Birthday (a day late) You have a whole new decade to laugh (some more), heal and see what God has planned.? He loves you so very much and I am praying for an ABUNDANCE of joy and peace.
Love,
Diana B.
Happy Belated Birthday Emily! My prayer for you Emily is that God reveals himself to you in a fresh way this year. I pray that you grow in the grace of Gods sufficiency and see his faithfulness to you each day. I pray that God would use the pain of your suffering to draw you closer to him. I pray that he would continue to help you be content with the things you cannot fathom, but by faith believe he will use for his glory. I pray God will bless you for your passion to serve the children and their families who suffer, and that you would be a light to them in a dark, lonely season. I also pray Emily that you would be refreshed in your joy of the Christmas season.
I read your blog faithfully, but never really comment unless I feel led. I believe Emily that God wants to restore your joy. He wants you to remember those few Christmas’ with Alivia, and with that same joy and passion in which your delighted in with her, lavish it on Him. Be refreshed and take joy knowing that God knowingly sent his only son to be born, only to give him up as a sacrifice so we can celebrate Christmas.
Emily, I know you lost much this year, but I also know that you have gained much. In the loss of Alivia, you learned how to grieve. Throughout her illness and struggle, you learned how to cry out to God. Throughout your stay in the hospital, you learned how to depend on God, bring joy to Alivia in a strange and scary environment making it a haven for her, share your faith with the faithless, and bless many with your artist talents.
Father, I ask that you would reveal yourself to Emily, and James, in a significant way this Christmas season. I pray that in the midst of her/their grief you would lavish hope upon her/their weary spirits. Lord, help her/them to be content with the unfathomable things of this world, and by faith trust you for your purposes. Restore joy to her/them, Father. Challenge her/them daily to lean on your grace as only you can do Lord. Help her/them to be thankful for the greatest blessing you gave to all who believe, your Son!
Father, I thank you for your faithful care of both Emily and James during their season of grief.
Amen.
Emily, I want to challenge you to look outward and upward this Christmas season. With that same zeal of past Christmas’, lavish God and embrace James and your family.
I too embrace these words of encouragement and challenge Emily. I lost a significant figure in my life this year.
May your birthday and Christmas bring you much comfort and joy.
Lynn
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!
Psalm 139
LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
What a comfort and a joy Emily to know that you were specifically and intentionally chosen & created by the Lord of the universe. May this year be filled with tremendous blessings beyond what you could imagine.
Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
hey you have the same birthday as my brother! Hope you had a wonderful Birthday!!!
-Becca
Loved the verses that anonymous shared! I will think about Jeremiah 33:3 tonight before I go to bed. I think we would all like more of the hidden things of the Lord to be revealed over time. Sometimes nothing seems to make any sense and the pain James and Emily and all their friends and family have been through the past several months makes it me want to cry out to the Lord for explanations for why things happen the way they do even moreso.
Caroline:)
Thinking of You and Wishing You Peace, Comfort and Joy this Christmas Season! God Bless!
Love~Hugs~Prayers from S.C.
Darline
praying for you tonight. -Sue F.
Emily and James,
I hope all is well in the sunshine of the Carolina's. Enjoy your family and have a blessed CHRISTmas and a healthy and prostperous New Year. Emily give mom and dad a hug and a kiss and let them know I am greatful for life long friends. Thinking of you often.
Bob, Jacqueline and family
Ah, Emily, I'm just reading your blog for the first time in awhile...and I missed your birthday! Happy Birthday! Welcome to the 30's...in my opinion they are much better than the 20's! :)
I also just wanted to pop on here and let you know I'm praying for you over the holidays. You're a blessing...
Love,
Julie
Sending belated birthday wishes! Praying for this to be a year of peace and strength and growth. You are amazing, Emily!
Anne Carroll
Dearest Emily,
Even though I haven't written, I want you to know that you and James have been in my thoughts and prayers throughout this holiday season, as well as on your birthday. I just keep praying that you are able to feel peace, comfort and joy.
Take care and God bless you.
Love,
Karen
Happy belated birthday. I am praying for many good years ahead for you!
Emily,
So proud of you for trying to be thankful. Even just trying is good. Don't stop trying. Being a grownup does have its good side but sometimes it's a lot of work. Keep doing the work. I think it will get easier.
I opened my desk the other day and Alivia's picture fell out---the one you sent last year of her in the Gap sweater. I was there when the picture was taken. We won't ever stop missing her. She's part of our family and always will be. Aunt Cheryl
Wishing you a happy belated birthday Emily. It is hard to believe that you are 30. I've been going to SGC for 20+yrs and it is amazing to see you and others grow up. You have had a lot of growing up this past year-more than many will ever face. I appreciated the prayer & encouragement one of the bloggers gave you, Lynn. I pray that when you need some uplifting that you will read and re-read so many of these beautiful, God inspired words. Thanks for keeping us informed of children in Hershey like Jackson. It is so wonderful that you are close to them and bring cheer to the hospital with your art. I don't read this often enough(with 4 kids, I hardly get on the computer) but when I do it brings me to tears. Most importantly it reminds me to pray. I pray for you & your family, Ian, Jackson, Jack Turner etc..You all come to mind so many times even if I don't read much.
Sending our love,
Shawna M & family
Happy New Year, Emily and James!
Wishing you a better year in 2008 filled with much happiness, love and comfort.
Happy New Year Emily! May you find God to be more sweeter in 2008.
~Lynn
Emily
Just wanted to post quickly to tell you that you have been on my heart so often these past few weeks and I have sent many prayers your way. I hope 2008 is filled with less grieving and that joy can be felt again by you and James. Please know you are in the Parmers' prayers continually.
E
I love you hope you had a great birthday. dishy
Amazing and wonderful - the places this blog has traveled and the people it has brought together. No accident by any stretch. It has become a nice, welcome place to visit, always "open" night or day, a place to come for comfort, for fellowship, or worship, to laugh or cry, to just experience being a part of the Body of Christ. Thank you, again, Emily for starting this years ago (not realizing what was ahead and how God would use it to transform so many lives). I say the same thing every time I comment (how grateful I am personally for this venue!) I love seeing the family still reading and commenting and the hundreds of people who I've never met but feel a kinship with. Seems we're all unable to let go of not only Livi but her story. Well it isn't over anyway is it. This has been a terrible chapter to say the least. Livi played her part so exquisitely and with such poise and beauty and gusto. She sure got a standing ovation anyway. Unlucky for us, we're still on. Have to play our role to the best of our ability. Its a Story to end all stories, a wonderful and terrible adventure with an amazing plot... a mystery, a comedy, a suspense, a dark tragedy and a beautiful romantic love story all in one. With a happy ending only thanks to the Lord. Although I'm in the Play, when I read this blog, I feel like I'm getting to sit back and enjoy it at the same time for a few minutes. It's a nice little respite being able to reflect on the scene and also get a perspective on the Big Picture.
I think of you guys daily and hope to see you soon (before the year is over, for sure!)
Love, Aunt Marcy
Just a note to let you know that I continue to keep you and James in my prayers.
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