Hello & Goodbye

Today I said goodbye to my sweet baby girl. She started out small, so dependent and incapable. And today I said goodbye. 


Today I said goodbye… to little fingers wrapping tightly around mine, as if holding on for dear life and knowing no other security…to the smacking sounds of a pacifier that soothed this baby each and every night…. I said goodbye to "Hold you!" and "Ma - ma"  and the crinkling sound of a diaper as baby crawled swiftly across the floor…. 


Then, as I was shedding tears in the sorrow of my loss, in the blink of an eye, I said hello to a Beautiful, Independent, Strong and Amazing Young Lady who was standing before me.

I said hello to a girl who rises with the sun each day with energy and joy, gets her little self dressed on her own, and comes running to our room yelling, "Good morning Mom, Good morning Dad!"

I said hello to a girl who helps all the time, with excitement and enthusiasm. (Even to scoop dog doo, without being asked!)


I said hello to a girl who is proud of her baby sister and cares openly for her EVERY DAY.

I said hello to a girl who hums and sings through the most mundane parts of the day.


I said hello to a girl who likes to ask people questions about themselves, and remembers their favorite color, in order to associate things with them and share their excitement when she sees their color.


I said hello to a girl who is starting to say "Please" and "Thank you" & "How was your day" because it's the right thing to do.


I said hello to a girl who demands to lead the family in prayer at meal-time because she is getting to know her Creator and the way He provides for our needs.

I said hello to a girl who is beginning to understand the power of positive words and the danger of negative words and will correct herself humbly and appropriately.
And every now and then, when this girl falls down, or gets her feelings bruised, she will run to me like that little baby who I said goodbye to, showing me that she had never left… she had just grown! 

Happy 4th Birthday Savannah Grace Winters!

You are a GIFT from GOD and we love you very much!