It is Sad / It is Happy.... It is a hard when it is both

I wrote this post for Addie's blog that she shares with Sabin over at
Trans-Atlantic Learning Adventures in late May last year.

Picture of Alyse and Addie
drawn from a picture taken in
the delivery room

Today is my girlie's 9th birthday
It is also the 9th anniversary
of the passing of her twin sister
Alyse Lyn

How she has grown!
Addie comparing hand prints
with Alyse's - taken in the hospital

At least once a year we head to the cemetery.
We go in good spirits.
To celebrate Addie's life.
She too could have easily not made it.

The cemetery is about 2 hours from our house.
It is in the country on a dirt road.
It is a very old Finnish cemetery- for the Finnish settlers to America

There are flowers scattered everywhere.
Lilac bushes surround the yard, and are here and there through out.
Alyse's grave is under one of these lilac bushes

Years ago we put a birdhouse in the lilac bush.
Every spring we clean it out for a new birdie to take residence.
This year it was suspiciously packed full up with sticks and fluff.
When I pulled out the "nest" this little fellow fell out.
It was a cold day and he was non to happy to have his house disrupted!

Although it is a sad occasion to think of a child's life lost
We know that we have to celebrate the life
that was given to us-
Addie's


ADDIEGirlie Girl

Our little spit fire.

Happy Birthday my girl!!!!
So happy you are here with us.



She is celebrating the weekend
at her grandparent's
with her youngest brother.

Her party will be next weekend with her friends.