Docudrama 2011

On Tuesday I was able to speak at the docudrama for local area high school sophomores. This is the program that re-enacts an accident due to impaired driving followed by videos and speakers to help bring the issue home with the young drivers.  Even though I have been battling some health issues, I did not want to cancel.  If our story touches just one of the students there, making them think twice before a decision is made, then all my tears are worth it.  Here is a link to the article in the local paper ~

http://www.maryvilledailyforum.com/topstories/x229298928/Docudrama-A-dose-of-reality

Also, a big thank you to my moral support that came with me that day.

2011 Memorial Service

Sunday was the annual Celebration of Life Memorial Service for children that have passed away at Childrens Mercy Hospital.  Despite becoming ill that morning, we went to the ceremony.  

The girls left messages for Abby on butterflies and placed them on the rememberance tree.

 

"When you must be patient

In loss or defeat

Or the sorrow that life sometimes brings,

Remember - in time,

From a plain, brown cocoon

Comes the beauty of

Butterfly wings."

This year's speaker was a gentleman that works at CMH who lost his sister to cancer 25 years ago to cancer when he was only 4.  One of my fears has always been that Mady would forget things about her sister.  At only 6, I was not sure how much her mind would retain from their years together, but listening to him speak, some of my fears and worries were put to rest.  He sitll thinks of his sister every day and was choked up telling his story this many years later.  I am now confident Mady will keep at least some special memories.

This year's Litany of Remembrance~

We come today to remember our children and to face the mysteries of life and death.

As cocoons are transformed into butterflies, seeds into beautiful flowers, we, too, have been transformed by the lives of the children we are here to honor.

Their lives were far too brief, our time with them too short, but we give thanks for the gift of each hour, day, or year we had to know and love them.

Through our children, we have experienced the bittersweet mixture of joy and sorrow, laughter and tears.  In these extremes, we have experienced grace and discovered new dimensions of love, hope and life.

Through these children, we are brought together in the fellowship of those who know the tension between intense love and the pain of suffering.

We are what we are today because we have dared to love these children, whose lives ended too soon.  We are forever changed and blessed by the love we have shared with them.  May we together give thanks for our children, as we remember them and entrust them to the embrace of God's eternal love.

Of course the girls' favorite part is the butterfly release. 

Trade Your Skin

Who knew you'd trade your tender skin

For something finer, something thin?

An iridescent new blue suit,

to wear when sipping sour fruit.

Who knew you'd transform, by and by

from human form to butterfly?

With evyes that hide beneath your wings,

you watch on high for heavn'ly things.

Who knew you'd be an inscet fair,

and waft away on misty air?

Then pause and warm your wings in the sun.

You knew, my darling. You're the one.

~by Ann Ingalls



Celebration Photos

This post is a hodge podge of pictures from the Celebration since I wanted to get them posted and be able to share other things without taking up more posts for the pictures.

The dunk tank is always super popular with the kids and we really appreciate the guys that volunteer to get wet for the cause.

 

This year our petting zoo was provided by area FFA students.  The kids loved all the animals that were brought.

One of the new additions this year was the wacky trikes ride.  The kids rode adult size tricycles paired with "goofy goggles" that made navigating the cones with their drunken effect. 

This year we added a high striker and a kiddie striker.  It was a great test of strength for young and old both.

Homemade ice cream was made by this large mixer.

The balloon pop was another fun addition.  Kids raced to see who could inflate their balloon enough to make them pop first.

Balloon animals!

The Sunscreen Station was provided by the Halley family in memory of Brian.  We were grateful to have it again this year, especially since the weather turned from cloudy and rainy that morning to sunny before the event was over.

Kids kept the Barrel Train busy the whole day.

Super popular with both older and younger kids was the new Tubs Of Fun ride.