Happy Birthday Ruby!

Happy Birthday Ruby!  Today she is one year old.  I remember the joy and anxiety of her actual birth day.  She was about an hour old when we got to the hospital, and we were in time to see her get her first bath (which she did not like), and placed under the heating lamp (which she loved).

We spent two full days getting to know her birth mom, and getting to know Ruby.  The hospital was gracious to give us our own room during that time, and we spent the hours passing Ruby back and forth between our rooms, and visiting each other.  Anyone who has experienced an infant adoption knows the uncertainty, fear, anxiety, hopefulness and utter lack of control that surrounds the situation.  We relied on the Lord for every second of those days.

I continually had to remind myself that while Ruby's adoption day was one of the best days of my life, it had the potential of being one of the worst days of her birth mom's life, and we wanted no part in making it any harder on her.  So we prayed over her, and we prayed over Ruby.  We had family and friends praying.  Our whole church prayed.  Not only did we pray, but we reached out to Ruby's birth mom.  We met with her and talked for hours.  We encouraged her, answered her questions, and hopefully eased some of her fears.  We may not have made that day better for her, but I believe with all my heart that God met her in that difficult place, and gave her peace, and assurance, and hope.

And in this past year, not a single day has gone by that I haven't thought of her, and prayed for her.  I can't look at our little Ruby without thinking of her, and her amazing choice.  She blessed my life beyond all imagination when she entrusted her baby to me, and placed Ruby in my arms.  It is with all the love I possess in my heart, that I say thank you to Nicole today and we celebrate Ruby.

On a lighter note, we had Ruby dedicated on Sunday by our wonderful Pastor Wayne Taylor.  He has been my pastor since I was a little girl about Sammie's age.  After the dedication, we had a BBQ Birthday Party for Ru (and of course Dave made an incredible spread!).  Here are some of the highlights of the day:

the dedication:

Ru and Great Grandma Joyce

Ru and Grandma Leslie

Sissy loves cake!

obligatory baby cake pictures:

"this whole piece is for me???"

Daddy's girl

Digging in

"Num num num" (as Ru likes to say)

The final outcome of Ru vs. Cake.  Ru won!  (and no, we didn't let her eat the whole thing!)