You are three months old, Madeleine. Your whole life stretches before you. Life was the first gift I gave you. In 70 years, 80, 90, this world may still know you. Lucky world! I wonder what it will look like then.

What will you do with all those years? They are your very own to grasp and love and celebrate, my darling. What a bounty!

Will you plant radish seedlings and watch them grow?
Will you kiss a cat?
Will you curl up for hours with your favourite books?
Will you giggle for hours with your best friends?
Will you make silly smiles with orange quarters?
Will you lie in the sun and dream animals out of clouds?
Will you draw and paint and stick and shape?
Will you squeal and run and chase and jump?

Will you ride horses like your mama? Train chickens like your dad? Sew costumes like your big sister? Take photos like your middle sister?

Please be kind and loving to others.
Please help those who are in need.

Please know that you are deeply loved.
Please know that you are infinitely precious.

I wonder what you will do when you are big.

Will you be Prime Minister?
A shopkeeper?
An artist?
A child-raiser?
An archaeologist?
A chef?
A fundraiser?
A scientist?

There is so much you can do with your life. And you don’t have to stick to just one path. After all, you have all those years in your pocket. Those many, many decades, in which to tell the world: “I AM MADELEINE, HEAR ME ROAR,” and then give it a kiss on the nose.

And I will help you. I will love you. I will dream with you. I will support you.

ALWAYS.

This world will hear you and love you long after I am gone, Madeleine. (Oh, I am so jealous of this world!) But even death won’t stop me helping you. Nothing can. We’ve made plans, my sweet. You are in safe hands.

Oh and Madeleine? No power in this world or the next could even TOUCH the love I have for you. That, my angel, is eternal.

And then some.

Disclaimer:
I am participating in the LIFE Awareness campaign. I received a VISA gift card for this post courtesy of Life Insurance Finder, via Digital Parents Collective. I am also in the running to win an iPad3. As always, all opinions are purely my own.

That was the official disclaimer. Here’s what else I have to say:
Mr B and I both have life insurance so that our girls can know every opportunity life has to offer them, even if we can’t be there to give it in person. So I am completely comfortable putting my name to this campaign, which is all about thinking about how you will care for those you leave behind. >