Our Sleeping Beauty

Thanksgiving was ok; it was wonderful of course to be with family, but it was also a holiday without Christi. I just can't shake that! I know how much I have to be thankful for – and I truly am!!! I reminded myself of the families who said goodbye to their child on Thanksgiving, the ones in the Ronald McDonald Houses, the ones without loved ones at all. Why must I want Christi to be here with us too? Why do I miss that little giggle when I know she IS in a better place? To get through the day, I told myself it was just a family get together, not a special holiday where we really think hard about past Thanksgivings with Christi, our little sleeping beauty, who will never awaken. (Photo: September 2006)

Aunt Tina made tons of great foods! Yummy!! Out of all of the photos, this is the only one in which an "orb" appeared. I tell myself it's Christi going through the buffet line scooping up Aunt Tina's great cooking!

The "evening crash" - or couch pile on. How did innocent Grandma and Grandpa attract that many to join them on the couch?! The couch really doesn't hold SIX, but that didn't stop anyone from joining in. What a hoot!

As I sat with my family, working on my dissertation and listening to the evening news, a clip of what families were thankful for came on the television. I couldn’t help but recall Christi’s final Thanksgiving (2005, age 8) where a TV news crew out of Toledo came to our Thanksgiving and covered our story about how thankful we were to have her still with us. Then, all too soon, she went on that irreversible voyage through a long tunnel. I can’t see the exit but I know there must be one. She couldn’t come back, only continued going forward step by step, to the end. Happy Thanksgiving, precious Christi! We miss you to pieces! Aunt Tina, one of your Godmothers, set out a picture of our final family Thanksgiving together. It was so sweet! I looked at it so many times. You were so happy, playing with your cousins and giving your “television interview” that day! I hope God’s pumpkin pie was the most delicious you ever had!

Shayla’s “Honor to Christi”: Shayla and I noticed on Christi’s Thanksgiving food plate was just a teeny-weeny bit of grandma’s cranberry jello salad, like she was trying it to see if she’d like it. (It really is delicious.) Shayla put some of it on her plate and then told me, “That’s in honor of Christi!” I loved it! Thank you, Shayla – you are really a sweetie!

Will and Shayla got to "break the wishbone" Thursday evening. It of course reminded me of Christi and Shayla doing that.
I asked Shayla if she remembered trying to break the wish bone with Christi and she said she didn't, but of course she piped in immediately with, "Who won?" Sisters!!!


Swiffer Update: Bunny was doing about the same, improved from the vet's office, but not out of the water by any means. This morning he's taken a step backwards. Shayla gave him his medicine and cleaned his nose, but he continues to gasp for breaths. I must now believe the vet is right and that this "cold" will be deadly. Shayla's sad, but when I cry she reminds me of how old he is (We took him in a "rescue" situation 3 1/2 years ago) and that he's lived a good life. She's doing a phenomenal job of providing tender loving care. (PIC: July 2008 - at a 4H meeting learniing how to show her bunny for the fair judging)