That’s how long it’s been.
Seven months and four days.
A blink of the eye and an eternity all at once.

Two hundred eighteen days since Mike and Heather‘s world changed.
Two hundred eighteen days that I’ve prayed for them, for their family.
Two hundred eighteen days that I’ve struggled with God on the “why”.

Why Maddie?
Why Mike & Heather?
Why?

But today, on Maddie’s second birthday,
I’m setting aside the “why”
and focusing instead on the “who”.

Madeline Alice Spohr.
Beautiful, fun, intelligent daughter of Mike & Heather Spohr.
Bright eyes, animated face.
Maddie Moo.
Chicken Muffin Love Bear.
The girl who changed the blogosphere.
The girl whose story changed my life.
Inspired me to be a better mother,
A better friend,
A better person.

And today we will celebrate her life by eating cream puffs.
And today we will celebrate her life by making and delivering NICU family support packs to our local NICU.
And today we will celebrate her life by donating to the organization in her memory: Friends of Maddie.
(I hope you will, too.)

Maddie, I haven’t forgotten you.
I won’t forget you.
You changed my life.