Happy 3rd Birthday to this sweet little girl! Lydia has grown SO MUCH this last year! I’ve been looking back at her second birthday and it just takes me back. Lydia is the bravest person I know. She is strong. She is resilient. She is kind. She is silly. She is absolute goodness to her very core. She lifts us all and we love her with all we have.
lydia’s favorites
Books: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr, and I Love You, Little Pookie by Sandra Boyton
Activities: Listening to music, going on walks (as long as the weather is cool), taking warm baths, and watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Movie / Show: Frozen 2 and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Songs: Music from Encanto and Frozen 2 (especially Christoff’s power ballad!), and primary songs
birthday festivities
To celebrate Lydia’s birthday we had a MICKEY party! Lydia loves Mickey Mouse. Lydia adores Mickey Mouse and his friends! It was perfect for our little lady.
We had breakfast and had a lazy morning before we all loaded up and drove over to Fort Collins. I found a park that was geared toward kiddos with disabilities and it was so fun. It was in the perfect location! And even though it was busy – it still felt like there was space for everyone. Lydia had fun just scooting around in her chair and even tried out the swings.
Sadly, the weather turned cold and we were not prepared. We tried to tuff it out but once it started to rain it was time for us to go. We will definitely have to come back!
We drove around Fort Collins for a bit and did a little shopping. Then we came back home so the birthday girl could have a nap before the nighttime fun. We decided to go to Chili’s and we had a great time!
Then we came home for cake and ice cream, presents and cards, and Facetiming with our families. It was a great day!
Thoughts on Lydia
Our sweet girl. My feelings about Lydia are always tender. But I had a thought come to me several weeks ago that I have reflected on again and again and want to remember.
I am going to dive into a little Elise doctrine. I have always been very interested in the preexistence. My patriarchal blessing mentions several things about my experience in the preexistence and so I think my interest stems from that. But when I think about our time before we came to earth, I like to think a couple things happened. One of which is, I think we were each given a blessing. A blessing of comfort and peace. A blessing to prepare our hearts and minds for what was to come.
And I think Lydia had one too. And I think Lydia knew her life on earth would be different. I don’t know how many specifics she knew, but I think she knew her mission would be different. I mentioned earlier how brave Lydia is. And this is one reason why I think that. I think Lydia was asked if she was willing to go through life like this, and I think she agreed.
She was willing to go through life, in so many ways, trapped. She knew that she might not have a voice (or at best, a voice that only works through a device). She knew her body would fight her. She knew that she would never know what it was like to be a wife and mother on earth. And that breaks my heart. Somedays it hits me more than others.
But than I look into her sweet eyes. The eyes that wake up and do this thing called life – every single day. Lydia is always so quick to give a smile. To put her hand on mine, even just for a moment, and lets me know she’s with me.
Every day with Lydia feels like a gift. And it is. I thank my Father in Heaven every day for trusting us with her. We love her deeply.
So happy birthday sweet angel girl. We love you forever and always.
lydia through the years
Thank you for everything that you wrote about Lydia. I got teary eyed reading it. AMEN to all that you expressed. Lydia does make us better. We too love her- always and forever.
She is so lucky to have so many who love her 💛