January 11

Each year - for the past 6 years - we get through Christmas and I scramble to plan Anne's Birthday.  It's the same day every year - January 11.  But it sneaks up on my every time.  I know it's coming.  We talk about it through the entire month of December.  But for some reason, during that week in between Christmas and New Year's, I think I have an extra week.  This year is no exception.

January 11 brings mixed emotions in our family.  Anne was born on the same exact day - two years later - that Russell's big sister, Belinda, died from breast cancer.  She died a month after my mom.  That was a rough year.

Belinda was only 46 and so spunky.  I loved her.  She was a 'tell it like it is' kind of lady.  She was never afraid to voice her opinion so you always knew where she stood.  She didn't have any children of her own but she loved her nephews.  Anne was only a dream in our hearts at the time but she wanted a little niece very badly.  She gave me a few gifts before she died and told me they were "for Anne" - whenever she came along.  I wish she was here to know her.  In many ways Anne is a lot like her Aunt Beau (that's what the kids called her).  So many times Anne will get in one of her feisty moods and we all laugh and say, "That's so Belinda!"

During the end of my pregnancy with Anne, my doctor talked to me about inducing.  He said he was available on January 11.  Normally, I think any woman at the end of her pregnancy would jump at the the idea and not think twice about it.  He paused a moment when I asked him if I could get back to him on that.  I called Russell's mom and asked her if she thought it would be okay - if Anne having her birthday on that day would bother her.  Of course, she said no - that it would give us something happy to celebrate each year at that time.

It has been 8 years since Belinda passed.  And each year we celebrate Anne's birthday.  Life as we know it goes on.  Sometimes it may seem that Belinda may be forgotten - but that is not the case.  She is always in my heart and on our minds.   Always in the background of the celebration - a silent visitor to the party.  This year will be no exception. We will all gather this evening and celebrate the wonderful gift of Anne that the Lord has given us and in the back of our minds, someone will be missing.