Birthday Photo Montage

Playing with her Dora sprinkler

Playing in the hospital playroom--the kitchen and dollhouse were her favorites.  She didn't let little things like IV poles stop her.

3rd Birthday with Goofy cake.  

She loved our day at the ranch.  They let her name one of the foals.  It is now registered as "Anna's Brightest Star."

A true "girlie-girl"

Leading the 4th of July boat parade.

Making a wish on a "Wish flower"

Nov. 2006 Anna sang a solo in church.  She insisted on wearing black boots with her formal dress.

She wanted hair so her sister gave her some--complete with bangs and a bow.

5th and last birthday

This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...
We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end,
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
There's a place where we'll see your face again 
And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, 
We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so ...
We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope


(Steven Curtis Chapman, With Hope)