Happy 2nd Birthday Raffa

Two years ago on March 26th, our baby boy Raffael was born. If life were different, today we would be watching our toddler blow out his birthday candles. Raffa's absence on earth never gets easier, but with every birthday his light gets brighter. For us, Raffa stays gently tucked away in time. For the rest of our lives, our hearts will carry the precious newborn we held in our arms. We close our eyes and see every detail, his dark wavy hair, delicate fingers, soft skin, and peaceful face.

This year Raffa became a big brother. We open our eyes each morning to see him in Amari’s smile, we hear him in her laugh, and we feel him in our arms when we pull her close. Amariyah will always know who her brother is. We will always speak about Raffa, celebrate him, and wonder what he’s doing in Heaven. He is woven into every family tradition, memory, and celebration, he is our golden thread.

Raffael has made us better in every way. We love deeper, know joy more intimately, feel greater compassion and urgency for those in suffering, and we cherish every single moment of being parents here on earth. Raffa reminds us that Heaven is beside us everyday. We see the beauty of Creation through the eyes of our children. We no longer take any day, moment, or the gift of life, for granted. Raffa reminds us of God’s healing. He reminds us to hope. He reminds us of what truly matters, and that our greatest treasures are stored in Heaven, not here on earth.

There isn’t a day where the ache isn’t there. There isn’t a day where the deep longing for our son goes away, but there is beauty from ashes. Raffa is there in every sunset, as we swing in the hammock, when we watch lightning bolts flash across the sky, in fields of sunflowers, as eagles soar above, in every kitchen dance party, and in the songs we sing. Raffa will be in these things and many more, until we're circled around a table, watching his sweet little face blow out the birthday candles, in the place where time never runs out and every tear is wiped away.

Happy Birthday Raffa Boy. We love you with all of our hearts.

Love Mama, Papa, Amari Joy, and Sunny

A Note about this Drawing:

Our dear friend Joey Saunders gifted us with this beautiful drawing of Raffa kissing Amari, shortly after she was born. We will never have a photo of them together here on earth, so the gift of this illustration meant more to us than we can ever express. Joey has brought so much love to our family through her gift of art. Previously she painted Raffael’s name with wings, it is framed in our home along with this piece. We love and cherish you Joey, thank you.