A Birthday Letter to Eli on His Sixth Birthday
Each year when March arrives, this family feels the weight of it. Day-to-day life has grown gentler with time, yet the weeks leading up to Eli's birth and the day he was born return with a heaviness that never quite fades. This letter, written by El, marks what would have been his sixth birthday.
If Eli had grown up alongside his brothers, he would likely have loved goofy jokes, leaping off the furniture, and superheroes — and this household's superhero enthusiasm is truly something to behold. El misses the baby he was and, even more, the boy he would be now. Would the curls have stayed? The black hair? Would his feet still be so big? Last fall, he would have begun kindergarten.
His parents count themselves deeply blessed. His siblings are wonderful, and many days bring the quiet realization of how good their life is. Still, they miss him and they love him, and that will never change. El would give anything to see him and hold him once more. Godspeed, little man — loved to the moon and back.
Posted by El at 11:27 PM
About This Post
This entry is a birthday letter from El to her son Eli, written on what would have been his sixth birthday. It touches on themes that run throughout Profoundly Seth: grief and loss, the way March returns each year, and the love a family carries forward. If you are new here, the pages linked in the menu above give more of the backstory behind this letter.
- Stillbirth — the beginning of Eli's story.
- About Us — who this family is.
- El — more about the writer behind the blog.
- Survival Mode Parent — on parenting through hard seasons.
- Here we Are – Thanksgiving — a later family update.
Meet the Family
Ellyn, who goes by El, loves God, her kids, and her family. She reads a lot, shops often, and describes herself as creative but not crafty — and sarcastic, though she prefers the word witty. She is a fan of texting, a huge procrastinator, and almost never on time, navigating life's unexpected twists with laughter and grace. She has six awesome kids.
Popular Posts This Month
- Exhaustion — the kids enjoyed a friend's birthday party while El spent time with them and John.
- The hottest accessory of the season is finally here! — an update noting the family is no longer fundraising for Seth, who received his implants in April of 2009.
- Now this is a date you'll want to remember. — when the fundraising began on January 15th, 2009, the family knew it was in for the long haul.
- Technical Mumbo Jumbo — John and El visited the Children's Hospital in a nearby city to see one of their favorite audiologists.
- Here's to transparency — an update on how much readers' comments and emails have meant since El began writing about Seth and the family.
- Ergh. — for anyone who has lost a baby, raised a child with special or high needs, or simply raised a typical kid.
Followers and Blogs We Read
Follow along through the feed or connect on Twitter, and browse the blogs this family keeps up with.
- Kelly's Korner — Park City Utah
- Jack and Mandy - The Blog — Partner
- Gitz — Gitz 'n Jo -- Our Story
- Baby be Blessed — A Shift in the Season
- Our Journey So Far — Dear Mia
- A Wrinkle in Time — Angry Birds Go! Telepods Review
- Life in The Fast Lane — Healthy Strides
- Kingdom Twindom
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