A Princess on Earth, An Angel in Heaven: May 2016

Friday, May 27, 2016

This past week, Emily and I took an extended weekend and flew to Iowa to see my niece Becca graduate. We flew out on Thursday, and spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa. Friday morning we were up bright and early to head to my brother's house for the commencement festivities!

Emily was a trooper on Friday - the clean, paint, move, do stuff to get ready for the party day. It was about a nine hour day (with a few breaks throughout the day!) She drifted off to sleep on the way to the hotel, but woke up knowing that it was dinner out and then a swim in the hotel pool!

One of her favorite "breaks" was feeding Gimpy alfalfa treats.

The other favorite "break" was the tire swing!

But our trip was really about seeing family and celebrating Becca's graduation. Emily really loves, and looks up to, her two cousins!

And we were also able to see her Great Aunt Marcia and Uncle Jim. But then it was back to the hotel after the party for another swim in the pool. There was more time in the pool Sunday morning before it was time to attend the commencement ceremony for MFL Marmac High School.

Uncle Pat, Becca, Aunt Cheri, and Sam

On the way home, we stopped off to visit with Emily's Great Grandma Harms.

And on Monday, before our return flight to Idaho, we went to visit her Great Grandma Goodman.

This was Emily's first trip to Iowa in the spring, and I have to admit it was really nice to be back when it was nice and cool and not hot and humid! It was a fast and busy trip, but well worth the 4 days out of school. In fact, it was just a tease for summer vacation!

Saturday, May 14, 2016

The wildflowers are in bloom here... and they are gorgeous this year. One benefit of the past summers' wildfires!

taking pictures of her own

After a couple busy weeks, life has settled into a not so busy even though the end of the school year will soon be here. It was track and horseback riding on Monday, gymnastics on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and track again on Wednesdays. But on the 7th was the one and only track meet, so we can cross that off our list. Emily got 4th in the 50m and 3rd in the 100m.

Emily started the Xcel Bronze gymnastics team at the beginning of May. Now she practices 4 hours a week. In November is when she will have the first of five different competitions. She's pretty excited about being on the team!

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You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all she's left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see her, or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her only that she is gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back. Or you can do what she'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on. ---David Harkins

Angels Above

The sky is filled with angels

With puffy lacy wings

The remnants of God's beauty

With treasures they now bring

Each one of them a guardian

That travels in the sky

To watch throughout eternity

Their parents from on high

Smiles that come from Angels

They fall like crystal rain

Eases earthly burdens

Lifting all life's pain

Halos so astounding

That glitter gold each day

Following their loved ones

in such a perfect way

Wings in gentle breezes

That fall from up above

Kissing every parent

With everlasting love

Angels soar through heaven

With everlasting light

Looking down from heaven

Saying their "goodnights"

Kissing all who loved them

So gently on the face

This life's tender mercy

Each parent can embrace

Wings and shiny halos

Travel from on high

Surrounding all their loved ones

They never say goodbye.

Remembering

Go ahead and mention my child.

The one that died, you know.

Don't worry about hurting me further.

The depth of my pain doesn't show.

Don't worry about making me cry.

I'm already crying inside.

Help me to heal by releasing

The tears that I try to hide.

I'm hurt when you just keep silent,

Pretending she didn't exist.

I'd rather you mention my child,

Knowing that she has been missed.

You asked me how I was doing.

I say "pretty good" or "fine".

But healing is something ongoing.

I feel it will take a lifetime.

By Elizabeth Dent

To my sister, from heaven

I just wanted you to know.

That I'll be with you wherever you go.

I've gotten my wings and learned how to fly.

And I'll dry your tears whenever you cry.

Though I've went away and it seems we're apart.

You will forever be my soul and my heart.

The love that we shared will not go astray.

For deep in my heart it will always stay.

You held me close when I was filled with pain.

And your smile gave me sunshine when my life filled with rain.

You guided me when no one else could.

You protected me when no one else would.

We've shared so much that mere words can't express how knowing you has made me feel truly blessed.

So please dear sister, fret not for me, for now my soul is truly free.

So think of me often, as much as you can.

And I'll always be there to hold your hand.

I'll be your angel and guide you through life.

I'll give you comfort through torment and strife.

So thanks dear sister again and again, thank you always for being my sister and my friend.

by Reginald Bush

Butterflies are Free

I thought I saw a butterfly,

Flying in the sky.

The colors were so beautiful,

It made me want to cry.

I know you were the butterfly,

So beautiful and free.

No more pain and tears for you,

Cause butterflies are free.

Free to watch the children,

Playing in the sun.

Smiling, laughing, growing,

Always having fun.

They will see the butterfly,

In the sky above.

They will smile and laugh and sing,

They will feel your love.

A day will come when in the sky,

There will be two butterflies.

We’ll fly together you and me,

Cause butterflies are free.

-Anonymous

The Dragonfly Story

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They did notice that every once in awhile one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.

"Look!" said one of the water bugs to another. "one of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she is going?" Up, up, up it slowly went....Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn't return...

"That's funny!" said one water bug to another. "Wasn't she happy here?" asked a second... "Where do you suppose she went?" wondered a third.

No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled. Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered its friends together. "I have an idea". "The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why."

"We promise", they said solemnly.

One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up, he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broke through the surface of the water and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above.

When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe what he saw. A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings...The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly!!

Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. By and by the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time before. The dragonfly remembered the promise: "the next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why." Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water..."I can't return!" he said in dismay. "At least, I tried. But I can't keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I'll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they'll understand what has happened to me, and where I went." And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air.......

Thank you God, for the story of the water bugs and the dragonflies.

Please remember Nadia who left the pond we live in... and remember me...

I have not turned my back on you

So there is no need to cry.

I'm watching you from heaven

Just beyond the morning sky.

I've seen you almost fall apart

When you could barely stand.

I asked an angel to comfort you

And watched her take your hand.

She told me you are in more pain

Than I could ever be.

She wiped her eyes and swallowed hard

Then gave your hand to me.

Although you may not feel my touch

Or see me by your side.

I've whispered that I love you

While I've wiped each tear you cried.

So please try not to ache for me

We'll meet again one day.

Beyond the dark and stormy sky

A rainbow lights the way

-author unknown