Sunday, June 22, 2008

Birthday & Thanks

I am so thankful today - thankful for my faith, thankful for my family, thankful for my friends. This last week could have been incredibly debilitating, had it not been for the support of God working through so many people who reached out in love and held our hands through our hurt. I hate to say "thank you" en masse here online, as the proper thing to do would be to thank all of you individually, likely with a written note in lavender-scented stationery, but I stink at that kind of thing, so instead, here I go:

Thank you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for loving my family. Thank you for praying for my family, for baby Will, for his birth parents, and for his safety. Thank you for refraining from trite condolences. Thank you for sincere words. Thank you for heartfelt hugs. Thank you for letting me cry until I couldn't breathe, for laughing when I said that snot was God's way of stifling overabundant tears, and for handing me tissue. Thank you for feeding my stomach and for soothing my soul. Thank you for letting me be sad and mad and irritated and all the in-betweens. Thank you for encouraging me to smile and laugh but not forcing me to. And --last but not least -- thank you for not giving me guilt when I said I felt like kicking a puppy mid-week (sorry, PETA). Lest you worry, I'm much better at present; I now want to kick a mean, mangy person.

Again, thanks.


14 comments:

Terri said...

Happy Birthday Ashley! Thinking of you all and praying still. Maybe we can get together one day this week. Talk to you soon.

Jeanne said...

Happy Birthday! Your girls are so precious...loved Hannah's song.

I have had you in my thoughts and prayers all week...you will continue to be there...

I love you,
Jeanne

mommy of girls said...

Happy Birthday, Ashley!!! You are a super sweet gal and we love you lots. We are still praying for your sweet family. We love all you Fowlkes! :-)

Mendy said...

Happy Birthday, Ashley! I can't believe how much Hannah has changed! Hope your day was the best! We are still praying for you all! Hugs from Florida!
Mendy

Valerie said...

Okay we totally need more videos of Hannah on the blog. She is so stinkin' cute!
Happy Birthday Ashley!

Michelle said...

Happy Birthday.!!! Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures. You, your family and Will continue to be in our prayers.

Kate said...

Is it weird that I'm sad I couldn't be there to see your snot? I love you and am with you in spirit, I promise. Glad you have the joy of such a sweet song on your birthday!

Emma's Mommy said...

That video is adorable!!! Happy Birthday Ashley!! Still praying for you and Lee, the girls and baby Will along with his birth parents. Love you guys!

Martha said...

Happy Birthday! Loved the video ... and that she said "no" to the kiss but you still took one. These strong willed little girls! :)

Hope you are feeling better each day - though I am sure that you're still feeling the loss.

Eddie & Gina said...

Happy Birthday! Love the video! Eden kept saying, "Again Momma, Play Hannah again".

Your still in our thoughts & prayers.

Gina

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Ashley!!!! Hannah singing to you is adorable....miss you guys!!! Continuing to pray for you.

love and blessings,
The Hunt Family

4 females and a fireman said...

Happy birthday Ashley. We have been thinking and praying for your family. Check your yahoo e-mail account. Love you, Alicia

Anonymous said...

that was soo cute !
happy b day





from mollie

Anonymous said...

that was soo cute !! happy birthday Mrs. Ashley !!!





from Mollie