I Had No Idea...

...that my heart could hurt this much....but appparently, it can.

Words Cannot Express...and yet...

Please don't tell them you never got to know me
It is I whose kicks you will always remember,
I who gave you heartburn that a dragon would envy,
I who couldn't seem to tell time and got your days and nights mixed up,
It is I who acknowledged your craving for ice cream by knocking the cold bowl off your belly,
I who went shopping and helped you pick out the perfect teddy bear for me,
I who liked to be cradled in your belly and rocked off to dreamy slumber by the fire,
It is I who never had a doubt about your love,
It is I who was able to put a lifetime of joy into an instant.
~Author Unknown

"Breathe.
Listen for my footfall in your heart.
I am not gone but merely walk within you."

~Nicholas Evans, From "The Smoke Jumper," Copyright, 2001

"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."

~Kahlil Gibran

Flights of Fancy

Can I just say that my little TeaRose is a girl after her Auntie M's heart: she had tremendous fun flying! Can't wait til she's ready to enjoy extensive traveling.

Oh, the places we'll go!!!!

She had even more fun on the way back cuz there were four laps to play on: Mama, Dada, Auntie M, and Gramma! Could life get any better--four cuddle spots!?

And in between she did lots of things:

She walked in the Pacific Ocean for the First Time....



She gleefully swam in Grampa Jim's great big tub....

She toured San Diego....

She got to be with her Cousin Ava!! You've never heard such laughter!!!!

And she went to her cousin's memorial service. She was a little lady who brought joy in the midst of sorrow.

A brief note: the service was heart-wrenching yet beautiful. But those memories & pictures I'm going to keep tucked away in special place for just me.

It is kind of too bad that little Miss TeaRose is so young that she won't remember all this...youth does have its downfalls!

Thank You

Thank you to all of you who have responded so graciously to the deep grief our family has experienced. You may have noticed that the postings I had up earlier have been removed. Your comments will be available to J&D but for now the images & messages are too tender to to leave up for public viewing.

Also, if you viewed my posting on our sweet boy, please do not download, forward, save, or print the pictures there-in. These images are far to precious to his loving parents & they need to be able to hold them close to their hearts.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your kind words & tender hearts that have been expressed to our family--especially to my brother & sister-in-law. We appreciate your loving care.

Faith

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

(Hebrews 11:1)

Sounds simple but is actually oh so hard...especially when we feel that perhaps, this time, God has given us more than we can bear.

Demetri

Words cannot express the grief my family is

experiencing right now.

Just this evening

our darling sweet little Demetri,

without ever taking a breath here on earth,

has gone silently to be with our Lord.

Please keep my brother and sister (in-law) in your prayers.

Demetri, my love, I don't think you can even begin to imagine how very much you are loved, how greatly you were wanted, and how deeply you will be missed.

Jesus, hold him in your arms & snuggle him for us. Hold him safe until we too~finally~join him. Comfort us as only you can.