The Roller Coaster Girl

Today I saw some pictures I do not believe I ever saw before. I am so grateful to have them and will forever treasure them. The sweet Miss Jennifer emailed me a few pictures, taken one year ago today, on what ended up being Christi's final trip to a place she loved so very, very much....Cedar Point. When the casket lid was closed, something I opted not to witness, Christi's Cedar Point pass remained with her. What a brave little girl she was! I vividly remember taking her on her very first roller coaster - May 1999. She was 24 months old and it was the Jr. Gemini. (A ride I named that day the "Christi Coaster" because she was crazy about it and rode it many times even though she was so very tiny.)

A year ago today Christi and Jennifer went to ride on some "big kid" rides while Shayla and I went on the little kid rides. Now that I see these pictures I realize she didn't look "her best". It was a very hot day, but so nice to be with our sweet friend.

We spent the week with my sister and her family, using our Cedar Point season passes on two days to visit Kings Island. One night, I went back with my "big" niece to ride the big rides. It was a flashback to riding the roller coasters with Christi in our final years together. Even though I was always really scared, I never let Christi know it and I often rode with my eyes closed tight and now I wonder if she ever looked over at me and knew it. This week, on the new ride at Kings Island, I was so scared I was "talking" with Christi and begging her to reach down from Heaven to give me comfort. In reality, I could only see her beautiful little face and hear her little giggly laughter saying, "Mom! It's a roller coaster. There is nothing to be afraid of!"

A couple of weeks ago, I met with Jennifer and an attorney as we finalized some more paperwork for her sweet Kids Cancer Crusade organization she's created to help those brave little warriors lives have a little brighter light. Thanks, dear Jennifer!

(I'll soon share more pics I snapped earlier this week when time permits. We've had some very emotional days, but thankfully we've been surrounded with family and friends. I never realized how hard August would be and I'm absolutely fearful about September. ERgh!)