After Anabelle

On Anabelle's 4th birthday we bought her a book about the seasons; Sleep Little Angel and I will sing of summer and winter and autumn and spring. Another beautiful book to tuck into her memory box, to read with her brothers. 

Anabelle's season was Summer. 

Anabelle was born on the longest day of the year. 

June 21st.

Our summer solstice. 

I've always thought there was something rather beautiful about that. My beautiful girl; with only one day that is really about her and she chose to arrive on the longest day of daylight. The longest birthday. 

It was a beautiful summers day the day she was born. The sun shone. 

It shone the day she was buried too. 

The weather did not match the occasion. This perfect summer weather and we were broken, and smothered under black clouds. 

But the sun shone and ever since her birthdays have been sunny, some more than others; but all dry, all sunny.  Her 4th birthday was particularly hot and sunny.  So hot and sunny that I burnt quite spectacularly, there was suncream, but clearly not enough suncream! My favourite memory from that summer sunny birthday was eating a KFC picnic on a blanket over her grave. 

Sunny birthdays. 

And now I think there is something rather beautiful about that. 

Now I'm glad it was sunny on the day she was born, and sunny on the day we put her forever to bed.

My girl deserves sunshine. 

My summer born baby.