5th Birth-Day for Gemma

Our minds have been full of Gemma these past weeks, as we have been anticipating this Day, her Birthday. Though she is no longer on earth and in our home, September 1 will always be her birthday, and she will always be a part of our family.

I recently heard a recitation of this poem, and it struck me - struck me fully - as beautiful, true words that I can hear Gemma saying for her own life. She was taken from us in the night - but her Creator was there, guiding her path, and there was LIGHT. I don't mean that in a metaphorical sense - I mean that literally and with forceful reality. These words are more true for her now than ever before!! 

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
    If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute—
    you’re already there waiting!  
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

you formed me in my mother's womb.

I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration - what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

all the stages of my life were spread before you,

The days of my life all prepared

before I'd even lived one day.

Psalm 139, verses 7-16, The Message version

Hallelujah! Amen and Amen! We say that only with many, many tears and trembling.

...And now, for some fun pics of our beautiful, goofy, sweetie-head.

9 days old!

6 months old and starting to eat solids

10 months old and walking!

First Birthday - a chocolate ice cream cone at local shop in Bloomington, Indiana, with some colleagues of Jim's from the university. Gemma took one lick of the ice cream, and then went to go play.

One Year Old pic at the rail-trail bridge

20 months old (and finally getting more hair)

Second Birthday, at Granddad and Nonna's house in Wheaton, IL. We had a few friends and family gathered to celebrate with balloons and cake and M&M's, thanks to Nonna's initiative. Gemma hadn't figured out how to blow out the candles, but she had no trouble eating up the cake and asking for a second piece!

2 1/2 years, after nap snuggles with 6 month old Timo

2 1/2 years old, in Durham

almost 3, in Colorado Springs (helping get Daddy's birthday supper ready)

3rd Birthday - in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We had friends Miriam and Karen join us for presents, birthday hats, and a "chocolate cake with pink frosting", Gemma's requests in the months leading up to her birthday! This time she definitely knew how to blow out the candles!