"Sissy Sunset"

I was awoken this morning by a very happy 4 year old at 5 am. OK, first of all my kids don't crawl out of bed until at least 7 and they are not usually very excited. Donovan tapped my chin and said "Mommy, Sissy is pink in the sky. It's a Savannah Sunset!!" When I mumble that was great and tired to go back to sleep he proceeded to pull me out of bed to show me the "Sissy Sunset."

He tried taking me to the room that he and Kiara have been sharing since Savannah died but I convinced him to go into his room so as to not wake Kiara. (I wanted to go back to bed.) We opened the curtain in his room and he had the BIGGEST grin on his face. He pointed to the sky and continued to say, "It's a Sissy Sunset!!" I corrected him and told him it was a sunrise and he didn't care, he was just so happy it was pink. He blew her a kiss and told her he loved her.

Last night he was really missing her and I told him to ask Heavenly Father to let him see Savannah in his dreams. He did and was much happier. I know that Heavenly Father hears our prayers and answers them. I am so grateful that Donovan was able to recognize the beauty of that sunrise and know that Heavenly Father answered his prayers. He didn't say whether or not he dreamed of her, but he knew she was in that pink sunrise just for him.

If I had been a little more coherent I probably would have pulled my camera out to take a picture, however it is rare for me to be coherent before 7 am.

I do have a few sunrise pictures that are pink, this picture was taken in July of 2007 when I was at the hospital with Savannah. Beka had come into Savannah's room early to check her vital signs (I think), I happened to be awake (I didn't sleep well at the hospital), she said if I wanted to bring my camera the sunrise was going to be beautiful. We went and sat in the teen room for 15 minutes and watched it unfold. It was absolutely beautiful. We found out later that it would have been Mallory's 2oth birthday. Mallory was an AML patient who usually had the room next to Savannah at the hospital, she died early that year in February. Savannah frequently shared her pink fluff with Mallory.

Success!!!

Well, I am now back from the MPPA convention and it was awesome!!!! I went with the title "Love Clings to Life." I received an above average score (76) with the Red ribbon and the Purple ribbon is for a "Judges Choice Award." Each of the 6 judges is allowed to pick one print out of the whole competition (210 prints were entered) that is their favorite. The judge that chose my print is an affiliated judge, this means she is qualified to judge on a regional and national level; she is also the president of PPANE. Technically speaking my print is not great, but the emotion of it is what gave the print the above average status.
I was able to speak with a few of the judges about my print and share Savannah's story with them. Holly Howe, one of the judges, pointed out to me that even though it wasn't technically good it gave me the opportunity to share the story behind the picture which was obviously important to me. Craig Kienast , another judge, told me after hearing the story I should just change my 76 to a 96. Donna Goodhue, the judge that gave my print the purple ribbon, said the print was about the moment which she said I captured beautifully.

The overall event was a great learning opportunity for me, not just in the critique of my print but from the speakers as well. All I have done since arriving home is practice some of the texturing that Craig taught us, can you tell I photographed this picture on my couch? (I have never seen a man with that much energy!!!) I came home very inspired!!!

Please Vote!!!!

OK, in no particular order these are the top 15. Please leave me a comment and vote for your favorite one, (if you are not signed up on blogger you may use the anonymous comment function, please just sign your name, I'd really love to know who you are.) And don't forget, your vote needs to be in by Friday!!!!

1. Friendship: Above and Beyond


2. On This Blessed Day, For You I Pray


3. When Angels Touch


4. (Wedding) Bells Ring; An Angel Earns Her Wings


5. Angel's Embrace


6. Holding Hands With an Angel


7. A Cherished Moment


8. A Cherished Love


9. Holding An Angel in My Arms


10. My Nurse; My Angel


11. Love Clings to Life


12. In Her Arms is an Angel


13. Kindred Spirits


14. For The Love of a Nurse


15. For The Love of a Child

I had over 55 different suggestions and it took me more than an hour to narrow it down. Thank you everyone who submitted an idea, they were all very appreciated.

Title Help!!!

I am entering this print into a competition next week and would love help on finding a really great title. This is exactly how it will look printed (except, of course, the copyright across the middle). I want it to speak about Savannah, her strength, her spirit, her relationship with Beka. Any of these things would be fine, I want it to be a title that grabs the judges attention.

To give a little background, it was taken on Beka's wedding day, just 2 weeks before Savannah died, on the ride to where the wedding was taking place. Savannah was very tired and in some pain. She actually didn't feel strong enough to walk down the isle, so Daddy carried her, but being in Beka's wedding was so important to her.

When Beka asked if Savannah could be her flower girl and as I answered "yes, of course." the first thought that went through my mind was "if she is still here." I remember thinking "where in the heck did that come from?" I never voiced this concern because at the time Savannah was in remission and doing great, there was nothing to make us believe she wouldn't live a long life. I now know that the Holy Spirit was speaking to me and preparing me for what was to come.

I love this print!! I am ready for the critique (and possibly some criticism), I just want to share it. Thanks to Stacey, I think it is ready.

Bowling

Jan 2nd we spent the day with my sister and her family. We decided to take the kids bowling. They had a GREAT time. Kiara asked if we could go with Auntie Moo Moo and her family again. Out of the 9 of us who played (Trew is still too little), Donovan got the highest score (68), Kiara was next (67) and Daddy was LAST (44). Needless to say we were all pretty excited. (Daddy is the competitive one in our bunch). The first thing he said to me as we were leaving was "Your going to blog this, aren't you?" I said "Absolutely!"

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.