It's been a month (tomorrow) since my sweet little niece Mara passed away. I am back in NH now, getting ready to pack our things so we can head to Utah for Tyson's externship. The past month has flown by and there have been so many miracles that need to be documented. This is going to be a long post - just to warn you.
*My mom and dad took Lexi and Jace the week before and the week after Mara passed away. It was such a miracle that I, and my sister Kim were there that first week to help Heather and to spend time with Mara. Thanks mom and dad! We love you!
*We were on the road headed back to Ephrata when Kim called telling us that Mara was not going to make it. It was a miracle that my brother Kyle and his wife were able to take Lexi for 4 or 5 days before the funeral. Lexi and Jace had a ball playing with their cousins! Thank you guys! We love you!
Jens, Lexi, Jace, Maren playing in the leaves
*It was a miracle that Katrina and Jace didn't leave any bruises or marks from each other. They really have a love/hate relationship. There was a lot of tackling, pushing, mauling, screaming, and crying going on. One day it will hopefully just be a love relationship...in a cousin type way :-)
*It was a miracle we could all be there to celebrate Maren's 3rd birthday. The girl's loved their princess crowns!
*It was a miracle that we were able to go see some of our bestest friends in Salem, OR. They had been in Montana the first little bit we were there. When we found out that we were going to be staying longer, they were going to be home! So, we took a little trip to go see them. Lexi and Makenzie were best friends when they were babies, they are only 5 days apart. It was so good to see them! We love you guys, thanks for letting us come!
Lexi, Makenzie, Jace, Jaxson
Jace and Jaxson - aren't they the cutest?!?!
*On the 17th, Mara's school did a balloon release in honor of her and to recognize her year mark of being diagnosed. This was the coolest thing ever! It really was a miracle that we got to be there for that. I will never forget it! When the principal counted to 3, everyone released their balloons and said 3 times "WE LOVE YOU MARA!" It was priceless!!!
*It was a miracle to see all of the things that Heather and Bryan's neighbors did for them. The day Mara died, people had come and filled their yard with purple balloons. It was so special!
*That night they also came and lit luminaries around their yard and driveway. This was done the day she died and the day of her funeral.
*Her funeral was perfect and beautiful. It was a very sad and hard day, but it was precious too! You can see her cute little pink casket, and the roses on top were laid by all the kids that were there at the burial. It was a miracle to see how many lives Mara had touched.
*Another thing that people had done was tie these pink and purple ribbons along the sides of the road, lining the drive to the church and funeral service. It was probably a good 4 to 5 mile drive and the whole was was lined with these little ribbons in honor of Mara!
*They had put a couple of these signs up along the way as well.
*The timing of everything was a miracle for me. It was a miracle we got to spend a few good days with Mara and that the kids got to say goodbye to her. This picture was taken the night before.
*Mara and her sweet I LOVE YOU sign.
*It was a miracle that the day before she died, my mom and dad and Kyle and his family came over to see her. During the day Mara had taken a 3 hour nap (which was a miracle in itself) and we all got to take our turns to snuggle and be with her. It was so sweet!
*3rd times a charm! It took 3 times trying to do this hand mold of Heather and Mara's hands. Isn't it sweet? It was a miracle that it worked so well and that they had it done!
*It was a miracle that none of the kids got sick while we were together. I'm telling you that this never happens. Everytime we see eachother, someone is sick. We were there a whole month, and there were no illnesses! These pictures were taken at a little pumpkin patch we went to (obviously). We did the corn maze too, very muddy, but was great to get out and have fun!
*It was a miracle that Tyson was able to fly out for an interview in Spokane...but more importantly, he got to be there for the balloon release and help me fly home with the kids. The flight out was pretty miserable, so it was great to have an extra set of hands! The flight went well, but it was very hard to leave!
I just have to say that I am so grateful to Heather and Bryan for letting us stay with them for so long! It was an experience that I will never forget and will keep close to my heart. Hang in there you guys! You are awesome and you have many people there to help you get through this hard time...especially our Heavenly Father...and little Mara! I love you so much! You are the best big sister in the whole world. Give the kids hugs for us, we miss them already!
10 comments:
Mich thanks for sharing these many miracles with us it is really amazing how every thing happened. That is awesome that you got to spend so much time in Washington and be with your family. We love you guys and you and your family are always in our thoughts and prayers.
What a sad but neat experience, I love the balloon thing, it's crazy all the stuff they did. The hand mold made me cry but I'm glad it turned out for Heather.
Wow, so many amazing things. I still remember which machines we were sitting on at the gym when you told me about Mara's cancer. So tragic. So sad but yet so wonderful to see how the entire community rallied around them. I love all the ideas they had to memorialize her and her tender little life. I'm glad you got to experience it all!
I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. That's so sad. Your sister's family must be one strong group. Isn't it wonderful that Heavenly Father gives us families to strengthen us. I'm so glad you had so many miracles and that you were able to be there with them. All my love.
Michelle................ What Up?!!
haha... any ways i loved that post.. it was so good and so special!! what happened to jaces eye in one of the last pictures? and i love how you keep on saying thanks for letting us stay with you when you are the one who made the effort to come down and see us silly bear!! so thank you and thanks for helping out so much while you were here and i was here but not really if you know what i mean!! ok well im sure i will talk to you soon love you all!! scoob
ps i bet mara was sitting right next to lexi at the pumpkin patch!! look there is a perfect spot for her!!
Beautiful post Michelle! It was a blessing for us to know that you were there for them, when we couldn't be. It was great seeing you guys! Good luck on the move, keep us posted!
What a sweet blog to post the miracles encountered during the past few months. Thank you for sharing your recognition of God's blessings in your life. May God continue to bless you and your family with gentle, wonderful, memories for Mara.
Mara's blog sent me to yours. I don't know Mara's family, but I've fallen in love with them through their blog. That mold of Heather and Mara's hands is the sweetest thing ever! What a GREAT idea. It brought tears to my eyes! I'm glad your family has been so blessed through this incredibly difficult, hard, sad time!
Michelle,
Loved the blog! Even more I love you and can't begin to thank you for the time spent with Bryan, Heather and the kids. That meant so much to them and was a real comfort to me to know someone was with them. Having you and Kim there, the timing and everything else involved, was another of the Lord's tender mercies that I will forever be grateful for. We all love you and tyson and those sweet kids. Looking forward to Christmas and seeing you again.
Love, Nadine
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