A little princess...

It is not often that you meet royalty.

Truth be known, I am confident I was not deserving of the honor that was bestowed to me today.

I believe passionately that I met a princess.

I do not know that I have met, or will ever meet for that matter, someone who has impacted so many people in such profound ways...A long time ago I was told many people will come and go in your lives, but only a few will touch you...will impact you...will change you...will make you a better person simply by knowing them. I remember challenging myself those many years ago to work each and every day striving to make a difference. I know it was for this reason that I entered the education profession... And, when I think about it, most of us spend the better part of a century hoping, praying that we might achieve this one goal - to make a positive difference in the life of just one person.

Ironically, this little princess has achieved this sometimes unattainable goal in the shortest amount of time.

And while it angers me to screams, hurts me to the core, and perplexes me beyond comprehension that this little princess was chosen not to live beyond my years, I am comforted in my confidence that He had a perfect plan when He chose to put her in this world.

Little princess, thank you for reminding me of my blessings and for teaching me to cherish them as I have failed to do before. Thank you for renewing the friendships I hold so dear. Thank you for placing me in a position that I might come to respect your parents in a way I have respected no other. Thank you for allowing me an insight into motherhood I needed to know. Thank you for showing me what it means to be grateful. Thank you for proving that even in the darkest of hours there IS light. And thank you most of all for making me open my heart so that I might believe in Him the way He has instructed me to do. Thank you...

As your incredible mother said tonight, you will never experience the joys and sadness that we have come to know; however, because of you we will forever find joy even in our saddest hours.

No matter how long your future may measure, little princess, you have already made quite the difference in mine.

You WILL live long...

It was my greatest honor to meet you today.

With love beyond words...

Me and the little princess.

With her mom...

A look in her eyes...

The sweetest dreams.

I felt so blessed.

Nothing like a mother's love.

Sweet tears...

So many want to meet you little princess!

Precious...

More sweet tears!

Most of you who keep up with my blog know her story...I see you often, and thus, I talk about her often. However, for those of you who do not, this little princess has Trisomy 18. If you want to know more about it, please visit here.

Please prayerfully consider how you might be able to best honor Julia, her family and those like her.