Christmas Poem

We had Christmas Eve with my Mom and Dad and all my siblings. We don't usually exchange gifts with all of the cousins but this year we gave everyone a gift from Savannah. Monday Marie and Betsey helped me go through all of Savannah's things. We laughed, we cried and we packed a lot of it up for gifts, just a small remembrance of Savannah for everyone. I, of course, kept most of it for my family.

My sister, Megan, had a poem that someone gave her a year ago. She doesn't know who wrote it but she printed it and framed it for us.

My First Christmas In Heaven

I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below,
With tiny lights, the Heaven's stars, reflecting upon the snow,
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear,
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you the joy their voices bring,
For it's beyond description to hear the Angels sing.

I know how much you miss me I see the pain inside your heart,
But I am not so far away-we really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear one, you know I hold you dear,
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I've sent you each a special gift from my Heavenly home above,
I've sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all love is a gift more precious than pure gold,
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other dear as my Father said to do,
For I can't count the blessings of love He has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Decorating the tree (and the cemetery)!

This year we have been able to get ready for Christmas before Christmas eve. The last 2 years we were in the hospital until the day before, so putting up a tree and decorating it has been a last minute thing. Pulling all of the ornaments out of the attic was a task. Kiara and Donovan argued just a little but it was only over who was going to put Savannah's ornaments on the tree, in the end they decided to take turns.

Instead of our usual star on the tree, Kiara and Donovan wanted to put up an angel for Savannah. We went to Walmart to buy one, we were a little disappointed that they didn't have a pink one but gold was a good second best. Kiara picked out the angel and Donovan was able, with the help of Daddy, to put it on.

Santa hats are always a big thing at our house, we found out we have way to many, even if Savannah were still here. We alway take a picture of the kids wearing one in front of the tree. Lady, of course, had to be in the picture.

Saturday my brother, Sean, and his girlfriend, Jessie, came with their kids for a visit. They are moving soon to Arizona and wanted to come see Savannah before they left. I met them there and drove my van through about 8 inches of snow, I wasn't about to park on the road and walk in. (Brian said this was reason enough for us to get snowshoes this winter, he said "nothing" was going to stop him from seeing his daughter.) I am so thankful for studded snow tires and all-wheel drive!

The teachers at school sent down the pink Christmas tree to the hospital 2 years ago for Savannah. Last year it was set up in the girls room. We asked Kiara if she wanted it set up again and she said she wanted to bring it to Savannah instead. We took the lights off and brought it to the cemetery.

Corey, from Rocky Hill Landscape, made the kissing ball, she decorated it with a pink ribbon and put pink flowers and pearls in it too. Someone also brought up an angel. Annaset brought her jingle bells decorated with pink crowns and ribbon.

Portrait of Savannah

I received an email from a friend a couple of weeks ago, someone she had met online had painted a portrait of Savannah. She lives in Texas and Karen is her name. She was able to get the painting to Freeport and we went to pick it up.

It is quite large, 30x40!

Karen had heard about Savannah from Lorri and she often paints portraits for families that lose children.

I love how well she captured her, it is absolutely perfect!! (The photograph does it no justice.)

It is now hanging on the wall in our bedroom.

Karen, if you are reading this, this was a wonderful Christmas present, THANK YOU!!!!

Still missing our Savannah

It is so hard to believe it has been 4 months today since our sweet Savannah went to heaven. We miss her so much.
Donovan prayed the night before Thanksgiving that Savannah would come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will try to make the holidays special for Donovan and Kiara, but it just won't be the same without her here. Her stocking will get hung with the rest of the family's. Her special ornaments will be lovingly placed on the Christmas tree but our home will continue to feel a little empty without her.

We have slowly started to declutter our house. I have a nice pile on my bedroom floor of Savannah's thing. Kiara and Donovan have their special things of hers as well that they are hording in their rooms. Kiara loves to wear Savannah's clothes and jewelry. Donovan loves to pile her stuffed animals on his bed.

Her jacket still hangs with the rest of ours and her shoes are at the door. Her backpack is still hung on the back of her bedroom door right where she left it.

We went to the cemetery the other day and there is a nice blanket of snow that covers the ground except right where Savannah is buried, there is a lush green covering of grass. Hers was the only one like that. Her warmth and her love are so much stronger than any distance that can be measured.

It was also nice to see other foot prints in the snow around her site. We are glad that other people go and visit her too.