You gotta have faith.

I don't talk much about faith. I don't talk about religion or spirituality either. I don't do it because I figure most people would be shocked to hear where I stand on such issues. I don't wear my faith on my sleeve waving it around for everyone to see instead I keep it tucked away and draw upon it when I need it, which honestly is every day.

The t-shirt Lilly is wearing is a sign of my faith.

No, I don't practice some pagan, ritualistic religion. Well, I am an Episcopalian so I guess that depends on whom you ask.

I bought the shirt seven years ago. That's seven years ago when I was pregnant the first time, the time before I was pregnant with Ryan. I was out shopping, looking at baby clothes, cribs, gear, and trying my best to muster up a bit of excitement about being pregnant. I didn't have faith in that pregnancy, but what I did have was faith that one day I would be a mother and that one day I might just have a little girl. And that one day, I might just have a little girl to wear a Halloween t-shirt with a purple kitten on it. I remember standing in Stein Mart in Vestavia flipping through a clearance rack when I happen upon this t-shirt. I just wanted it. I clearly remember thinking to myself, "Go ahead and get it; you'll have someone to wear it someday."

I've kept up with this t-shirt for seven years. I kept it with Ryan's things for a long time and then moved it into Lilly's closet when I decorated her nursery and prepared the room for her. It hung toward the back faithfully waiting for today.

I took it out this morning and showed it to Lilly. A smiled widened across her face as she pointed to the kitten and said, "Meow." and then "Pum-pin."

I asked her, "Do you want to wear this today?" She smiled again and said, "Yeah, pum-pin, kitty."

I slipped it over her head, pulled her arms into the sleeves and realized that it fit like it was tailored just for her. Yeah, it was, it was tailored just for her.