Letter to my Angel Baby - A Decade Later

Dear Celeste Alia,

It has been one decade, that is 10 years, 120 months, 3,650 days, 87,600 hours, 5,256,000 minutes, or 315,360,000 seconds since we met and said goodbye to you. Not a single year, month, day, hour, minute, or second of that time have you not been a part of. While I never got to hear your voice, or see all of your firsts, or even been able to hug and kiss you all that time you are so very much a part of every fiber of my being and who I am today. You were the wake up call I needed to stop taking everything I had for granted. To really embrace and hold on with all of my might to that which is most precious to me. Thank you sweet angel baby for making me who I am today.

And don't get me wrong, I still wish with every part of me that you were here with us instead. That I could have heard your first words, seen you take your first steps, sent you off to five first days of school. Told you a million times to stop bickering with your brother and sisters. I would do anything to have you here with us instead, but I know this is the way it had to be.

It's hard to look back at December 6, 2008. We really barely even had an opportunity to know you were coming and then had to come to terms with the fact that we now had to say our goodbyes. I hope you know and feel all of our love all this time you have been in heaven. Even your little sister Alyssa in her oh so inquisitive way loves you. She asks about you often.

I hope you and all the other angels are getting along great in heaven. Please give all of our love to all of our family who we have had to say goodbye to. If you are so inclined we'd love it if you would stop in sometime again soon to let us know you're around.

Love you and miss you sweet Angel. Happy birthday and merry Christmas.

Love,
Mommy