My Gold Medal

I went to AIA tonight with Aaron. He had a speaker come in, a guy named John Peterson who's been on staff with AIA for 35 years AND who also won silver and gold medals in the '72 and '76 Olympics in wrestling. You could just see the students respect and awe for him, and it was fun to hear him share a little of that experience. He actually brought the medals and passed them around so we could hold them (so cool to hold something like that and feel the weight of it). As he was getting ready to pass around the gold medal, I fingered the little charm around my neck and thought, yeah, this is my gold medal. It's a necklace so very precious to me that I don't wear it on trips for fear that I'll lose it. It's a small charm, the size of a dime, that has a replica of Payton's footprint on it. I got when she was still in the hospital and wore it everyday after I got it - it was something that I had with me in the hospital with her and has a small piece of her on it. Yeah, this is a gold medal to me. I got to be Payton's mom. 3 years ago today she left her broken body and was made whole in the presence of Jesus - who I'm sure had the biggest smile and hug ready for her. Time really does heal the pain, but I'll always always miss her. But what a treasure to be the mommy of such a remarkable little girl.

And then today I kept looking across the table at another remarkable little girl. I think I've posted this before, but awhile ago I counted back from Liv's birthday and found that she was conceived (at the very least) the week we lost Payton. I believe it was the same day we lost Payton cause that's just what God would do. And so as I remembered Payton's healing in heaven today, I also marveled that this is when my sweet Liv's life began. What precious girls God has given me. I'm so blessed to be their mommy.