Our Sweet Love Story: Celebrating Mattie's 9th Birthday on the Lake

Our family is trying to get out on the lake at least once a year now which is actually proving to be a challenge due to our kids' crazy schedules. We did manage to book a boat rental for Mattie's birthday so we knew it would be a special day. We celebrated with our traditional strawberry shortcake party at home later. I hope Mattie felt our love on this very special day.

Mattie,

I know our lives have kept going for us with your five siblings growing up so quickly, and it may seem that we don't have as much time to remember you, but you are always with us and always in our hearts and minds. Your siblings suffered so much loss, and they added more this year with the loss of our beloved Cocoa. Brody imagines Cocoa is playing with you in heaven and draws pictures of the scenes. We still remember and name you in our daily prayer around the dinner table as we thank God for each of our beloved family members, and we feel you with us as your portrait hangs nearby. We can't believe you would be 9 years old now. It has almost been a full decade since that fateful day we got to hold you in our arms and had to say goodbye too soon. As we now watch your little sister grow up, we know we catch glimpses of the girl you would have been. Maggie is so girly and loves all the fancy dresses, clothes, and shoes. She loves taking dance and wearing her "tap-tap" shoes and tutu. As she learns to navigate life with her bilateral BAHA hearing aids, I can imagine how you would have endured these challenges. I know you would have been just as amazing as she is. We have two of the most beautiful and special girls in the world, and we are so blessed and thankful. We will all be together for eternity one day. Until then, we will continue to remember you.

With all our hearts,

Your loving mother and family

Decorating for your birthday is a privilege. A birthday banner, birthday balloons, fresh flowers, and your picture adorn our table for the month.

I always love the way your candles reflect on your picture like they would upon your face if you were here.

Maggie loved singing to you and helping blow out your candles.

Your strawberry shortcake was delicious.

Little brother Grayson was ready for cake.

And so was Mattox. He licks his plate clean.

Your family all together with you.

Mattox is ready for a day on the boat.

Brody is enjoying the perfect day on the water. The sun was shining in a perfect blue sky with white fluffy clouds that wouldn't turn gray and rainy until after our excursion.

Our boat captain

These boys love the wind in their faces.

Pretending they are flying like in the movie "Titanic"

Sweet baby brother and sister enjoying the view

Mattox wanted to be safe in his safety vest.

Sweet handsome boy

All of your siblings enjoying the ride.

Your big brother Brody would have been your biggest fan and best friend and protector.

Silly girl caught herself in her net.

Watching Daddy fish. He doesn't really try to catch much and just shows them how to cast their line. He usually gets a few small fish to show the boys and throw back. Later, when the kids have more patience, he can troll out in the middle of the lake for larger fish. For now, the kids love finding little private beaches on the little islands in the middle of the lake. On busier weekends, these spots can fill up quickly, but we practically had the lake to ourselves this day in the middle of the week.

They caught one!

Evan tries some fishing too.

These boys tried catching something with their net.

Maggie just loves playing in the water.

We had originally booked this boat for 2021 and a hurricane cancelled our rental so we had to wait to reschedule. By this time, they had replaced some of their fleet of boats. We had planned to have a boat that could pull a float behind, but the newer boats could not do that sadly. We will do that next time.