Samantha's birthday rolls around this every year. I usually dread it because regardless of how I think I am doing, I seem to fall apart remembering her passing and all the emotions that go with it. However, time has helped heal wounds and my other children have filled my life with so much joy and love. This birthday was definitely the best one so far. We had already talked a lot about Sammy at memorial day and it was harder on the kids than I wanted it to be. So we just kept it really simple. Last week we sent balloons up in the air with notes and drawings from the kids....so sweet. Aubrey and Weston watched as they "flew to Heaven." We were going to do this on her birthday but had some extra balloons from something and just did it then. So, for Samantha's birthday I wanted to do a service or project that just reminded me of her. Aubrey picked the fabric and we decided to make sun dresses for Aubrey and her cousins on the Watkins side. (I wish now that I would have bought more material, cause it was super fun and I would love to make dresses for all the girls on the Peterson side as well. ..sorry guys) So I sewed them up then stayed busy hand sewing on he bows and ribbons. It was cute to hear Aubrey saying that these were her "favorite colors" and that she would love to dance and twirl in them. I made one for myself as well. I hope that Cicily and Maya will think of their cousin Samantha every time they where these dresses. I know that Sammy would want me to serve and be a good neighbor, wife, friend and mother and I am trying my best to live worthily to live with her forever. I am so grateful for the gospel and the peace it brings me and our family. This is a family blog and don't have the opportunity to write much about our oldest daughter and sweetest member of the Watkins' clan. So here is a shout out to Samantha....Happy Birthday girl! We all love you!!
