Just before I met Steve, I went through some of the toughest emotional times in my life.  Suffice it to say, I made some choices that were not the brightest and my heart was broken and there were days that I wasn't sure about which way to turn.  I can remember listening to a song by The Martins named Except For Grace.  The refrain goes like this:

Except for grace
And our faith
And knowing that God's love will forgive mistakes

Every time I heard that song, it was like I was wrapped in comfort and I knew, just knew, that somehow everything was going to turn out okay.  And it did - well, that's not true.  It didn't turn out okay - it turned out better than okay.  Way Better! 

So, when Steve and I started picking names for our first baby girl, I'm not sure who said Grace first.  But, I knew as soon as we said it that that was going to be her name.  For me, she is the answer to years and years of heartfelt prayers.  Just before I met Steve, I had all but given up hope on ever being a mommy.  So, when Grace was born, it was beyond incredible to me.

And now, five years later, being a mommy is even more incredible than I imagined.  It's also a lot more nerve-racking, nail-biting, temper-flaring, and irritating than I ever imagined, but that's another story for another time. 

I'm struggling with her turning five.  I can't believe that half of a decade has passed since I first held her, since I first looked down and fell in love with her little face.  She is everything I could have hoped for in a daughter and more.

I tell her all the time that her birthday is my mommy day!  The anniversary of the day she was born is also the anniversary of the day I became a mother.  Without her, I wouldn't be who I am....except for Grace....

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby girl! 

Here she is a few minutes after she was born





And at her first birthday party (is it any wonder we'd wait three years to give her another birthday party after the way she enjoyed this one )


On her second birthday



On her third birthday


at her fourth birthday party (she was much happier for this one )


and on Thursday, her fifth birthday, at school.