Remembering Elijah on His 1st Birthday

Taggart's first birthday was a pirate theme and his second was a construction site theme - I absolutely went overboard on both and I loved every minute of it. I wanted to get Elijah in the celebration right away so he had a onesie that said "I'm new and he's 2!" Adorbs.

I had already started thinking about the possible themes for Elijah's first birthday and he was only 3 months old. Outer space theme with aliens and rocket ships, a farm theme with a petting zoo, circus theme with a real live elephant? The possibilities were endless! Until a couple short weeks later when I realized there wouldn't be a first birthday with Elijah.

As we got closer and closer to June 25 I knew that we just couldn't let the day go uncelebrated and unnoticed. I knew it was going to be a tough day but I also knew I didn't want to be alone in sadness. I wanted to celebrate the beautiful baby boy that God blessed me with on this day. But how?

I decided to keep it simple (for once) and just have people over for barbecue and fellowship. I knew close friends and family would make the invitation list but that somehow seemed too limiting given the amount of love and support that we have received over the past eight months. I invited those that knew Elijah and those that met us after he had already gone to be with the Lord. We have been extremely blessed with old friends and new ones alike that have been by our side through our struggles and this celebration was as much about thanking them as it was about celebrating and remembering Elijah's life.

The response was overwhelming, in the best of ways. Our house was overflowing with friends and family that were ready to love on and support us. Our guests made a day that was sure to be full of tears and sorrow, one that was full of love, joy, laughter and blessings. I can't explain how thankful I am for each and every person that came out.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from Elijah's party taken by the fabulous Ginny Limer.

E is for Elijah

Walked away from my chalk therapy too early.  The address should be Ecc. 3:11

Ginny and I.

Taggart added his own design to the fence. 

Taggart checking out the chalk therapy.

Joey and I next to our "E"

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

-Ecclesiastes 3:1 -14

Happy 1st Birthday, Elijah!

So I've been thinking of what to say and how to say it for a few weeks now. I finally figured it out, thanks to a sweet momma that messaged me this afternoon. Today on Elijah's first birthday, I'm asking you to do more than simply read this post and watch the video. As a birthday gift to Elijah, I'm asking you to do more with your kids. Do more with your family. Do more with your time. Do more with the gifts God has given you. Do more with your life. Even if it's only for the rest of the week, only for this evening, only for an hour, DO MORE of what matters and LESS of what doesn't. Shut down your computer and every "i" thing you own, turn off your television - I promise e-mails can wait until tomorrow morning. Candy Crush, Pinterest, Instagram and every social media site will still be functioning even if you don't check on it. You will be able to see your favorite show at a later date. In the big picture of life these things don't mean much at all. If you were to leave this earth tomorrow, those activities and tasks wouldn't miss you. Your family would. Those time wastes wouldn't help you build a case at the gates of Heaven.

Today as a gift to my sweet Elijah and to all of your precious children, no matter how young or old, GIVE THEM YOUR TIME. It's what they will want when you're gone and what you would pray for more of if they ever came face to face with Jesus before you did. Please take the time to not only hear but to listen to your children, talk to them, teach them, to hug them, to kiss them, to make them laugh, to read one more story, play pretend and act like a total fool. This is how cherished memories are made!
Love your children when they are sweet and love them just the same when they are rotten. Love playing with them and love cleaning up their messes. Love that you were blessed with the task, no matter how difficult, tiring or heartbreaking it may be, of being their parent. Each child, each day, each blessing and each heartbreak is a gift from the Lord and is to be cherished.

Words can't express how thankful I am that God picked Joey and I to be Elijah's mommy and daddy. I'm beyond thankful for the time we were given with him. We lack God's eternal wisdom so it is difficult to wrap our heads around why that time was so short, but that short amount of time sure was beautiful. It's all our reality that our family and our children do not belong to us - they are God's. He has been generous enough to loan them to us for a short time with the understanding that one day we will have to let them fly home, for they were never ours. Love them wildly while they are here.

Happy Birthday, my sweet Elijah. I can't possibly imagine the celebration that has been going on in Heaven for you today! What joy! One day soon we will be together on your birthday and for all of eternity and I can't wait to see your beautiful smile. I love you to Heaven and back, little boy!
Thank you to Ryan Coffey for putting together this precious video.

Elijah Thomas Colopy - Remembered from Michelle Colopy on Vimeo.