We attended what would have been David's graduation on Wednesday night. The students all placed white carnations on his chair when they went up to receive their diploma.
Memories
Calvary Memorial Program
On wednesday, Calvary Elementary held a memorial program in honor of Madeline and David. A tree donated by Maggie Blandford's family (one of Madeline's best friends) was planted in their memory. Several of the teachers shared sentiments about them and the kindergarten class sang their graduation song "I Believe I Can Fly". It was a real tear jerker because we could remember Madeline practicing it when she graduated a couple of years back. Bibles and bracelets were passed out to the students as keepsakes to remember their late classmates by.
Moments of Grace
While my family and I stand at the foot of what seems like unsurmountable grief, we have been blessed by God in some of the most surprising ways. I like to call them "moments of grace", because to me, in the midst of our intense sorrow, that's just what they are. I can't tell you why God decided to call Melanie and her children home for sure, but I can tell you, he has comforted us & blessed us in more ways than we could ever have imagined. These "moments of grace" as I like to call them have just been popping up everywhere and let me tell you, in some of the most unlikely places. Here's one that happened today and I will remember this act of kindness always and cherish it! For you see, it wasn't a close friend or relative that performed this profound act of kindness, but a complete stranger. This is the story...
*Every year I design Melanie's Christmas card. Mel's Christmas cards were something she didn't take lightly! Each year she would try to top the one from the year before. We did manger scenes, Curtis & the kids groping her bare pregnant belly-You name it! Last year's was so "tight" that I remember her saying "How are we gonna top this one?". Top this one?, I thought. Did she really think I was going to spend 2007 sitting around musing over the design of her card for 2008 while my friends hadn't scene a card from me since the 3 cent increase of 2002! Was she kidding me?? That Mel was a fool for her x-mas cards! They were always the talk-of-the-town come about mid-December.
Jennifer (my older sister) calls me and says "You know how much Mel loved her cards, we should do something special for our thank you cards". That's all she had to say and I was on it! I thought it was a great idea. I edited the photo I wanted to use and then took it in to Sam's Club to have them printed. The nicest lady helped me place my order. We talked about Melanie and her children and I could just tell her heart was aching for me. She asked me how I was doing it?? I told her I wasn't doing a thing, God was doing it for me. In the last few weeks, I've done things unimaginable. I picked out my beloved sisters casket, flowers for her casket, went to her home and gathered personal things for the funeral, etc... Things there's no way, I could do alone, but only through Christ who strengthens me.
The lady helping me said to shop around for a while and then come back for my order. When I returned to the counter to pay for the cards, she insisted on paying for them. She wasn't going to have it any other way. I had ordered 300 cards- this was a true act of kindness! Plus let me note that this lady was raising four kids on her own, so this really was a sacrifice.
In the midst of our angst, moments like these provide moments of beauty and hope!
Melanie's Friends/Flashbacks
O.K., so I admit I've become obsessed with looking through pictures of Melanie and her kids. I just can't get enough of the memories. I miss them so much!! Here are some pictures I found from when Melanie was in Grade School at Washington County Elementary, Circa 1982-88, I think. Click on the thumbnail of the picture to view full size.
The Rainbow
In late afternoon the day after the crash, Curtis' sister Andrea prayed to God for a rainbow as a sign to show us that Melanie and the kids were safe in heaven. Not long after, she walked outside of the funeral home and saw the most beautiful rainbow ever. The colors were exquisite!
Meanwhile our cousin-Greg-was driving in from Lousiville and had lost his way. He saw the rainbow and followed it. It led him directly to the site of the accident. He took this picture with his cell phone.
Letters to Santa
How precious are these little treasures?? Madeline was always concerned about "the poor" and Davo...well, he was pretty concerned about Pokemon.
*Click on images to make them bigger.
