Parenting Across the Veil

Today is Julia's second birthday. I saw a neighbor put a big one-year-old balloon by a grave once, so I got a two-year-old balloon for today. Julia's PoPo and Grandpa came with us to the grave and we had a wonderful time sharing memories together.

On Saturday, we're taking some of Julia's friends and family to the Santa Ana zoo and doing a story time. We're going to read a children's book that Mike and I wrote about Julia. Mike did all the illustrations which are super cute. (We'll have it published pretty soon if you'd like a copy.) There's a plaque and a brick at the zoo with Julia's name on it, gifted to us by our family and friends. It will be fun to see those too. I'm also going to make some "other nut" cupcakes. Julia called M&Ms "other nuts," a.k.a. the best nuts in trail mix.

There's no manual for this. I'm not sure I would know how to throw an earthly birthday for a two-year-old, let alone a heavenly one. But as a parent, you do these things, because that's how you know how to love. I intend to be Julia's mom forever. I promised her when she died that I would hold her forever. I'm doing my best, Jules.

Much like being pregnant, there is something prophetic about loving someone in heaven. You can't touch them or see them, and yet they still affect your whole world. Parenting Julia across the veil between heaven and earth requires a faith greater than I've ever known before. It's precisely because my love won't stop that I am convinced heaven is real.

Here's a special song I'd love for you to hear. It's called "Love you Forever" and was written by Jana Alayra for Julia. Jana has written many worship songs for children to sing. (janalayra.com) Julia loved singing her songs, so this is such a great gift to us. Click on the play button below to hear it, and you'd better grab that box of tissues...

P.S. Jana says she recorded this from her kitchen table so it's just a rough draft. Still perfect to me. :)