Another Discovery

Each time I discover something of Christi’s, or find something new, it feels like the greatest treat. It also brings me sadness knowing I’ll most likely never have a new discovery ever again. While cleaning out a basket in the basement over the weekend, I found two sealed letters with stamps on them. Now I’m not certain if Christi wrote them as a 3rd or a 4th grader, but after analyzing one, I think they were written as a third grader. One had the name of one of her classmates, in my handwriting, on the outside. I opened that one realizing I must have told her I would mail it off for her and then I never did. While her letter was written in darling handwriting with many spelling and grammar errors, this is what it said:

Dear Cody, What is your favorite holiday? My favorite holiday is Christmas. I like it because of the snow and Santa Claus. Once I wrote him a letter and he wrote me back. One of my friends tried to tape him, but it ran out of film. I can tell you at school. I saw the real Santa. Not on the street. When I was a baby, I saw him.

I made a copy of that precious letter and then gave Cody (now one of my beloved students) his letter at school, explaining why I opened it and that I know she’d still want him to have it. She really, really liked her classmates. I just wish she were still going to classes with them. Now I’ve not yet opened that other sealed envelope containing her return address and a stamp. I think it’s like I’m savoring it. I wonder who it is for, why I didn’t mail it and when I’ll have the courage to open it up. Whatever the answers, I’m certain it’ll move me to tears, just as the one to Cody did.

This video of Christi is not the greatest, nor very exciting but it shows her in the hospital at CHOP about 10-14 days before her death. She was opening a sweet card that had been mailed to her. I do not remember who sent it, but I am so appreciate for all of the love that surrounded her, giving all of us comfort during our most horrific times.

I just pulled up this picture and Shay walked by and asked, "Why is Christi crying on Santa's lap?" I said, "That's not Christi." "What? That must be me! Why am I crying on Santa's lap? What did he say about that?" It's so hard to believe she will be TEN in about a week! We do have a most incredible week planned. I can't wait!