Cherished Memories of a Life Well Lived
It was our first summer together and we spent a lot of time in our studio in the garage. Both girls were natural artist and we all loved to be up to our elbows in paint.
Anna especially!
Abigail decided she wanted to paint something for her dad for Father’s Day. She knew she wanted to draw a guitar because that was his favorite thing to do ~ besides play with her of course.
When it was all finished she asked if we could frame it.
We took this picture to mail to Valerie and Emmanuel in Africa, the children we have been sponsoring since Anna was a baby. We had a plan that one day Anna, Abigail and I would visit them in Rwanda. We loved talking about it while writing letters and putting together packages to send them.
We had lots of plans to travel the world together.
My plan is to make sure the people of Kenya, especially the children, feel the love and joy of my daughters.
This makes me happy!
made with very special fabric. Can’t wait to share the love!!!
I took my first step onto the driveway and I could immediately feel him pulling.
I decided to let him pull me to see where he wanted to go. We traveled across the street, through the park, he waited as I opened the gate and then he pulled me straight to her front door.
She was waiting by the window, watching as we made our way her direction.
Linus loves Stella forever!!!
It was a month or so after the girls went to Heaven and I needed to go for a walk, alone. We were trying to make some sort of sense of our lives and I was having a really hard time understanding. I was frustrated, angry, sad and missing my children.
That is when I heard her, clear as if she was standing right next to me.
“Susan, please take care of my dad.”
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This morning has been very emotional as I’ve spent it reflecting on the reason we decided to go to Kenya. Tom and I need to connect, we need an event for us that is not the current event of our lives.
I love my husband more today than I ever have, for months after the girls went to Heaven; I was afraid I would never be able to say that. I was not home the night the girls departed and my worst fear when being away from them became a reality.
The perfect storm happened in front of my house with no warning to anyone involved.
As He can only do, God has spoken to my heart and has released me back into the arms of my husband.
As we prepare for this trip together I’m completely focusing on doing God’s work side by side with Tom, without distraction and with every ounce of my being. I know that God has a plan for us in Kenya and I know that he has a plan for our marriage. I am completely surrendering to His plan for our lives and believe in His promise.
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” ~ Psalm 55:22
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“Abigail, I promise to always take care of your dad, with all of my heart and soul.
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”- Mark 10:9
I am thankful every day that God has joined Tom and I together ~ even, when he forgets to take out the trash.
Anna was with her dad in Hawaii so it was just the three of us. We decided that we would have a Harry Potter marathon while Anna was away.
We were all excited.
We spent each evening cuddled on the couch watching each of the movies – popcorn bowls in hand. We were all a little tired that week from our late nights.
Abigail said she was going to head down to the studio to draw, I was making dinner.
When I went to see how she was doing this is what I found. She didn’t make it to the studio but instead decided to take a nap in the middle of the floor. She was sound asleep.
I remember thinking about taking naps myself and how sometimes the ones on the family room floor were the best.
When I walk Linus in the mornings I usually see all the neighborhood kids waiting for the bus to go to the middle school.
Abigail would be waiting too.
She was so excited about going to the middle school and couldn’t wait till she was finally 13, a real teenager.
I miss my teenager!
I miss our talks, our disagreements, our inside jokes and our special bond. I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it a thousand more times ~ I am so incredibly blessed to have Abigail in my life.
I miss her and her little sister so much!
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