Happy Birthday Buddy

I couldn't even wait until tomorrow to write this post. I've been walking around all day on the verge of exploding. Jimmy too.

Tomorrow is Daniel's birthday. Tomorrow he would be 3 years old. Instead of celebrating that milestone with us, he will celebrate his first birthday in Heaven. It's difficult not to think about the things we'd be doing together and wondering about all of his accomplishments.

It's going to be an emotional day.

Last year at this time, we were thrilled beyond belief to be celebrating Daniel's 2nd birthday in China together. We took him to the zoo, where he experienced seeing so many animals up close. We might have been more excited than he-I think he was more focused on beginning to experience a family and receiving lots of one on one attention.

There is only one thing that can fill this emptiness. And so, we head off to St. Vincent's tomorrow at 5 pm for a Mass in Daniel's name dedicated by our friends Jennifer and Lee Levenson. In the Mass card was a string of red thread and a note quoting this ancient Chinese belief:

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break."

We continue to hold onto that red thread and that belief. Daniel's thread is surely weaved through our hearts, and we are forever changed because of him. Happy Birthday Buddy. We miss you:(