A Most Lovely Fairy Tale Written About Christi
(PHOTO: Scared, yet trying to smile / Sept. 2002 / age 5 / a few days after diagnosis)
Soon after Christi's death, we received this absoutely lovely story. I've been waiting for the right time to share it, I guess that time is now. While we've never met Lela, I hope she knows how much we treasure her beautiful writing.
“In the Land of Bluebirds and Butterflies”
By Lela Foos
Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Thomas, there lived Princess Shayla and Princess Christi. Each day they laughed and played, and chased bluebirds and butterflies in the flowered fields all around the castle.
Now the king and queen loved their daughters very much. Princess Christi and Princess Shayla never had to worry about dragons or sorcerers or ugly toads with wards, for the King was master, and nothing dared enter the Kingdom of Thomas to bring them harm.
But one day, the evil witch Neuro, from the land of Blastoma, tiptoed into the meadow and put a horrible curse on Princess Christi. No one in the vast kingdom knew why the evil witch chose Princess Christi; soon she became very ill.
Princess Shayla did everything she could to cheer her sister. She gathered the most fragrant flowers that glistened with morning dew. She made up stories of princes with warted noses and dragons that danced with kittens and cows.
The king and queen searched and searched throughout the kingdom for a magic potion to cure their precious princess. None could be found, so the king sent forth his trusted noblemen to distant lands far and wind. Their hope was great in finding one clearer enough to outsmart the evil witch Neuro, from the land of Blastoma.
At last, the nobleman returned with the distinguished night, Maris the Brave. In all the lands far and wide, there was no one more courageous than Maris. He vowed to do all he could to save the beautiful princess. Maris, the Brave, fought deadly dragons, trudged through troll-infested forests and suffered pixie pinches to collect magic potions frm all the places he had traveled.
But alas, after four years, Maris had to tell the king and queen that he was out of potions. He sat with them and wept. The king and queen knew that Maris, the brave knight, did everything he possibly could to save Princess Christi. Sadly, they realized that now only the Prince of Peace could save their daughter form the evil witches’ spell, but that would mean she could no longer live with them in the Kingdom of Thomas.
The king and queen lay Princess Christi upon her royal bed, and never left her royal room. They read to her and talked with her. Every moment cherished, yet every moment they wished for time to be reversed. Days and nights came and went while the king and queen waited and waited. Time refused to grant their wish.
It was morning, near summer’s end, when the Prince of Peace came, oh so quietly. He kissed Princess Christi on her forehead and gently carried her in his loving arms to his kingdom far beyond any realm anyone had ever been. And although the king and queen and Princess Shayla would miss their beloved Princess Christi, they knew she’d live happily ever after, in the grandest kingdom of all, chasing bluebirds and butterflies forevermore.
posted by the Thomas team @ 5:05 AM
25 Comments:
I loved that story sooo much when Jeremy (Lela's son) brought it over. Lela has to be one of the best people - I'll make sure you get to meet her some time.
I haven't commented here much lately, because I know there are just no words I can say. But I am always reading your blogs and I hope you know you are ALWAYS in my thoughts.
I love you and miss you!!
What an incredibly beautiful story.
May it continue to bring you comfort that Christi is in the grandest Kingdom of all.
Thank you for continuing to share with all of us.
God's peace unto you.
Nancy in Iowa
What a beautiful, yet so sad story about Christi. Thanks for sharing.
Praying for you all in those most difficult days.
I love you!
Lots of love and prayers,
Heather
Dearest Thomas Team,
This was a wonderful story! I just read it to Larry with tears running down my cheeks. I just want you to know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers all the time...but especially now. I can't believe it has been a year since we saw you and even though we only met you a handful of times...you have become an important part of our lives. If we lived closer...I know we would get together often! We miss you! Know that we are sending our love and hugs!
Much love and Blessings,
Jan and Larry
Dear Thomas Family,
I pray for your family every day. As the anniversary of Christi's Heaven Day arrives, I pray that her butterflies and bluebirds will comfort you. I can not imagine how much your arms and hearts ache for her and I pray that Christi will once again share her magic and let her presense be known to you in a most special way. May the God of Peace hold her just a little more closely as Wednesday's sunrays warms her heart. She loves you so much and I know she watches over each one of you. I am sure she kisses your tears with her sweetness.
Guess what, I don't believe your heart is broken at all.
No one could be experiencing the depth of feeling you all are if you didn't have a very live heart.
Your aching for Christi to be here could not happen if your heart were broken...
As long as you live you will miss her earthly presence. Your arms will ache to hold her. And, at the same time, knowing she is in God's arms and no longer in pain lets your smile shine through your tears.
Your blog is an amazing testament to your total humanness....you will never understand how many lives you have touched with your writings.
I know you will find the strength to get through this upcoming week.
The three of you will support each other as the joyful and painful memories wash over you.
Peace and joy are being sent your way.
Oh my...serious tissue warning needed! I so did not expect the tears from a fairy tale!
What a truly amazing story abut a truly amazing family!
While this beautiful story did NOT end in the ideal way any of us had hoped, dreamed and prayed for, the beautiful Princess Christi most certainly lives forever after in the hearts of so many.
Princess Christi was a legacy in her own short time.
Warm and loving thoughts as the Thomas Team faces yet another dreaded hurdle - Randy
beautiful....
That is just the most beautiful story. Thank you for sharing Lela's masterpiece.
WOW, simply beautiful. THank you so much for sharing. As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Olivia
I have been following Christi's blog for over a year and she and your family has touch me deeply. I'm a teacher and in my school this year a saw this little girl, that looks so much like Christi, that when I saw her the first timeI couldn't beleive how much they look alike. I pray for your family everyday.
Marcella Carr
Monroe, GA
beautiful
thats a beautiful fairy tale! I can't believe that its almost been a year already.. but i can really assure you that i will NEVER even begin to forget anything you discribed on your blog about Christi.. it would be impossible. As of Shayla, I want to hear how she's doing these days!! I've got to go because i have a free block at school and its about to end..
wishing you great strength,
xoxo Caroline
A heart family north of Boston is thinking of you all at this most difficult and unimaginable of times.
You are in our thoughts and our prayers.
Warmly,
Paula, Ken, Colleen and Will (almost 4 yrs old and 3 months post open heart surgery)
Hang tough, Thomas Team...thinking of you and praying for you during this difficult time. Christi would be so proud of you...
Dearest Angela,
I've been sitting here for ages and cannot find the right words to say to comfort you but I hope you know that your beautiful princess Christi is never ever far from my heart and that you, Shayne & Shayla are never too far from my thoughts. Never more so than at the moment.
Christi is such an amazing little girl (sometimes I forget that she is only 9 years old!) and she has touched my life and thousands more like me in a way that nobody else would have been able to do. She could never, ever be forgotten.
As for the rest of the Thomas Team - you are all also amazing in your courage & love for each other. I feel proud to know you as my internet friends and know that I am so lucky to have your precious Christi as part of my life.
The last 18 months has been very difficult for me owing to a number of personal problems and bereavements and I can truly say to you that in my darkest moments when giving in and leaving this world seemed to be my best option, the brave and so often smiling face and inspirational 'lesson's of a certain Miss Christi Thomas & her family came into my thoughts - hence I am here today facing the future with some hope that I could never have had if the Thomas's had not come into my life.
Christi is truly unique and I hope that there may be (nearly) as many smiles as there are tears on this day as you remember the funny, beautiful, clever angel who will always be 'your Christi'. I hope that you can share on earth in some of the celebrations that will be taking place in heaven as all of the other angels show their joy at having had Christi's comapny for a whole year.
I cannot imagine how you are all feeling on the 1st anniversary of Christi gaining her wings but I hope that the love & prayers of your 'family of friends' around the world can carry you through the dark moments in the way that you have done for me and so many others.
Sending you all lots and lots of extra speical love, hugs, strength, prayers & whatever else will get you through this time.
Nicky (England) xx
To Christi - Keep dancing, smiling & having fun in heaven sweet Angel Christi. Keep close to all of us who love & miss you & send lots of extra love to your mom, dad & Shayla just to let them know you're still OK. Rest in Peace xxx
Dear Angela, Shayne and Shayla,
I have read your blog for over a year now. Although I have never met you and your precious family I have followed your story. I have gone back and read all the entries before Christie went to heaven. I grew up in Tiffin. I think Tiffin is the type of town that when something happens it happens to everyone. My heart aches with you as you go through this one year anniversary. I know I can't possibly understand how you feel...Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers and that so many people care do deeply about your precious family. I know Christie is dancing around the throne in heaven but that makes it no easier for those left behind. Praying for you and your family this week that you will find peace and comfort that only Jesus can provide!
Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you an praying for all of you as e one year mark looms ... please know I am thinking of you hourly it seems as the memories are flooding even my mind ... May God continue to hold you close!
God Bless!
Love from my family to yours!
Rebekah Clark
Prior Lake, MN
Hi Thomas Team,
I was just checking in on you, wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts, that you'll be in my thoughts tomorrow. I hope you are somewhere on vacation, taking care of each other as you move through this anniversary. You are complete strangers, and yet I simply wish I could make it better for you.
-Brooke, in Logan, UT.
A truly beautiful story. It's this sort of creativity that makes teaching such a joy! Thank you for sharing it.
I write this at 4.00pm on September 19th here in Tasmania. I think I figured out that 11.00pm would mark the exact anniversary of Christi's passing in my time zone, but I have, of course, spent the day in deep reflection and have sent many prayers your way so I hope they reach you without any time delays!
Since it wasn't practical to wait until 11.00pm, I took 10 pink balloons outside, each bearing a sticker with the URL to your blog, about an hour ago and released them in Christi's honour. Unfortunately, my camera ran out of juice before they were airborne, (Grr!), but I managed to take a few snaps of them whipping around in the wind just prior to release. I wasn't sure if it was going to be windy enough, which would have been very odd given the weather we've had recently, but as soon as I headed up the hill behind our house, a strong breeze picked up and I had to tell Christi to "slow down and be patient!" a couple of times because I almost had them yanked out of my hands before I was ready. I don't know if any will be found, but my hope is at least one person finds their way here as a result.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee289/zeddyspageddie/balloons-1.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee289/zeddyspageddie/balloons.jpg
Thank you for being a constant inspiration during this past year. I have learnt more about myself through learning about Christi than I would ever have thought possible, and I'm truly thankful. I pray that you all find the strength to get through this difficult day and that the love of those both near and far continues to sustain and support you through the coming years. God bless you, Thomas Team!
It is the 19 th here. I can't believe it has been one year. Fly high Christi! We miss you.
I hope you are doing okay on this day
Thinking of all the Thomas Team on this Angel-versary! Gooooo Christi one year in Heaven!!Sending all of you: Shayne, Angela and Shayla a hug today, as I know it must be hard. Christi will never be forgotten as she lives on in the hearts and minds of those who knew her, and those who feel like they knew her thanks to her wonderful website. Sending all my love and best wishes to the fantastic Thomas Team
Although it is everyday, my heart aches even more for you today.
Thinking of you.
Phyllis
Thank you so much for sharing that!!!!! I went back and re-read last year. And, you are talking about these books.... And part of me just wanted to know what they looked like, and read them.
It was like you read my mind!!!!!!
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