A Princess on Earth, An Angel in Heaven: December 2018

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Christmas

Another successful and happy Christmas in the books. She actually slept in until 6:40!

Her loot included A Fitbit Ace from Santa, and from Mom and Dad a Raddish (cooking club for kids)membership, a Master Chef Junior cookbook, and kid size utensils. Grandma and Grandpa sent Battleship and a new ski bag. Aunt Cheri and Uncle Pat et al sent a curling iron for those spiral curls she's always asking for and the sequin pillow. Family friends gave her an iTunes gift card and the sequin backpack. There were also various stocking stuffers, gift cards, money, and lottery tickets. She was so excited with all of her gifts!

The grand finale to the day was losing a tooth while eating a piece of Christmas chocolate! Elfie might be gone, but the tooth fairy had to pay a visit!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a quiet night at home. Emily decorated cookies for Santa.

And maybe sampled a few while she kept track on Santa by watching Google Santa Tracker.

Monday, December 24, 2018

The gingerbread house was assembled, the handprint was added to the tree skirt, and Elfie stuffed herself in a jar (Emily's favorite) so that she could be touched and carried around. Elfie even went to coffee!

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Ski Day

Aaron hasn't skied since the skydiving accident, but today he finally wanted to give it a try. We decided to surprise Emily with it, and she was quite shocked to see Dad in ski boots when the two of us met him at the lodge. It was a lot of fun to ski as a family for once!

Commence Vacation!

School ended on the 19th for us. On Thursday, Emily and her friend Kennedy took the initiative to practice 4 Christmas songs before heading over to the Senior Center close to our house and ask if they could sing. They ended up entertaining about 8 residents who were overjoyed with the performance.

Friday was gymnastics practice in the morning and in the late afternoon we headed to Ketchum for the Solstice party. First we went into what is called the Star Lab, a portable planetarium.

Then it was over to the town square for food, cookies, cocoa, and a band. Cloudy skies meant we could not take advantage of the fancy telescopes, but it was still nice to get out of the house!

Monday, December 17, 2018

Tough Days

It all started last week when we were told that Emily no longer qualified for the therapy riding program at Swiftsure and would be graduating. Tonight will be her last lesson, and it was devastating news to her. She has ridden with them since the summer of 2013 when she had just turned 4 years old.

Then at gym practice this week she was told her coach for gold level was going off to college after Christmas. Then Saturday was her first big competition, a home meet called Christmas Classic in Sun Valley. It didn't go well for her, and that was hard for her to take. The only medal she brought home was 5th place all around.

To top it all off, she came down with the flu on Sunday night. Hopefully with Christmas break starting on Wednesday, her luck will turn around and some good things will happen. She needs a little mood boost!

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Santa Claus

This year's ornament

Today was our traditional visit to see Santa Claus in the Sun Valley village and decorating of the gingerbread cookie.

Saturday, December 1, 2018

Emily on the left

Emily was able to go skiing with her friend Brooke who is learning downhill. The girls had a great time together.

And it's officially gymnastics competition time. It has been quite the ordeal for the last few months. Emily was a very solid silver competitor but is quite challenged at gold - especially by the high bar.
For awhile she wanted to go back down. Then we considered competing silver at the beginning, but then moving to gold after the first few meets. But having two routines to practice wasn't helping.
So she officially went to gold. Tuesday at practice she didn't make the high bar once. Friday at practice she spent over an hour working on it with no luck. Eventually another coach came over and told her 10 more, and with her help Emily made it. They came up with a plan to have coach close enough for a spot if needed.

Bars were the first event, and Emily was first. She made it to the high bar with a shaky routine that got her an 8.8. Beam was an 8.9, floor was a 9.2, and an 8.6 on vault. Not her strongest scores, but she was so thrilled to have the bars over with that she was all smiles.

Ceci, Emily, Ashley, Nola, Sydney, Kate, Maria, and Maddie

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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