February 21st

February 21st, 2012 was McKinley's given due date.  We knew in November when she was born that this day would be especially hard.  This was the time that we should have been bringing her home to a beautiful nursery prepared for her.  Matt and I both decided to take the day off to honor her and to spend time together.  This was our day:

We woke to find a gift and letters from our families.  Each letter meant so much to us as we read with tears rolling down our faces.  Our families love McKinley as much as we do.

I would like to share the devotion from the book, "Jesus Calling."  for this day,  February 21st.

"Trust and faithfulness will get you safely through this day. Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness keeps you from criticizing and complaining: Those “sister sins” that so easily entangle you. 

Keeping your eyes on Me is the same thing as trusting Me. It is a free choice that you must make thousands of times daily. The more you choose to trust Me, the easier it becomes. Thought patterns of trust become etched into your brain. Relegate troubles to the periphery of your mind, so that I can be central in your thoughts. Thus you focus on Me, entrusting your concerns into My care."

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We had breakfast at a little cafe in downtown Duluth called "Chocolate Perks."  It was a really cute cafe and no, we did not have chocolate for breakfast even though I wouldn't have opposed!

After breakfast, we went to see "The Vow."  I had been wanting to see this since it came out.  Matt definitely sacrificed for this one!  It was a great movie and at 11:00 am we almost had the entire movie theater to ourselves!!

Next, we worked on a project for McKinley's grave.  Back in November, we placed shepherds hooks that were used for our outdoor wedding.  On one hook, we have her wind chimes and on the other we have placed and replaced flowers in the form of hanging baskets.  I decided that I wanted to make an artificial flower arrangement so that it stayed looking beautiful all year long.  Matt had the amazing idea of recreating one of the arrangements from our wedding.  We spent the rest of the afternoon creating this piece for her.  Pictures to come once it is completed.  Here is a picture of it from our wedding.

Back in November, my coworkers gave me and Matt a gift card to an amazing restaurant that we would normally not go to.  We decided to use it for this day.  We got dressed up, went to the cemetery for a visit with McKinley and then headed to downtown Atlanta because the restaurant was in Centennial Olympic Park.  It was beautiful with white table cloths and candles.  They sat us at the most wonderful table overlooking the park.  It was the perfect way to end our day together.

And this is the picture of my steak....  :) 

Thank you so much for all the sweet messages, emails, comments, texts and phone calls on this day!!