Easter Memory

Easter was the first holiday we experienced without our Abrielle, so it always feels like this holiday stings a little more. It was one week to the day after the accident that the parties were celebrated at school. Mady was not back in school yet and we saw this as a good way to ease her back into it. We (Mom, Virginia, and myself) took Mady to her class party. I had tried to prepare myself mentally for seeing the school and entering it for the first time since Wednesday, March 28, 2007, but I had not prepared myself enough. We arrived at the school early since I still struggled with walking to be able to park closer and to give me enough time to get in the building. My Mom took Mady on ahead to her classroom and Virginia walked with me. As we entered the building, I being tough (or stubborn) chose to take the stairs and not the elevator. That's when we saw the preschool class returning from their egg hunt. I remember stopping dead in my tracks and watching all of Abby's friends walk past, smiling, laughing, swinging their baskets. Most knew who I was from seeing me at parties and bringing Abrielle to school in the mornings. They pointed and smiled saying, "There's Abrielle's Mom." The excitement in their faces as they talked amongst themselves brought me to tears. It was as if they were hoping to see their friend again. I just stood there frozen for the longest time thinking that my little girl should be there too. I should be hiding eggs for her class to find. I should be watching her walking in the line with her friends, swinging her basket.
When we got upstairs to Mady's classroom, her classmates were all gathered around her, welcoming her back and making sure she was alright. They were asking about her bruises and such and I was proud of how well she did. I think she was nervous about how her friends were going to treat her and scared about the questions they would ask. I was so glad to see them hugging her and letting her know they were glad to see her back at school.
I watched from the classroom window (didn't want to do the stairs again) as Mady's class hunted for their eggs and tried hiding my tears. I remember feeling like there was still a heavy fog inside my head, like the nightmare was going to end soon and my little girl was going to be there.

March of Dimes Plushes

Look what my Mom found at US Bank...

This little cutie (and the other ones they have) supports March of Dimes. I love it when the stuffed animals can serve double duty like that and help out two charities! I think that's why I buy most of my donations to the Foundation from Kohl's to help their charity.

How Time Has Flown...

I was digging out all the papers to take with us for taxes last week and there happened to be a picture stuck in the middle of all the stuff. Here's what I found...

This is of Mady at age 5 and Abby at age 22 months. (I must say that they are some cuties!) This picture was taken in April 2005 for Mady's birthday after she had gotten her ears pierced.

Now fast forward to just last month, March 2009 and here is a picture I took of the girls. Mady is almost 9 and Elly is 22 months.

Elly resembles her big sister Abby more so than Mady for sure! Elly just seems to be a "chubbier" version of her big sis and has so many of the same personality traits. The fact is that in another month I will have had my Elly here as long as my Abby has been in Heaven ~ 2 years.

God's Flower Garden

Sometimes we can't quite understand, our great creator's way.
When he takes a life so young and leaves one old withered and gray
whose life's work seems finished, perhaps is waiting the call.
While that life so young and tender, held so much here for us all.

Then sometimes I get to thinking, perhaps the world down here below
is just a flower garden where God's flowers live and grow.
And perhaps when God is lonely like us, he loves to roam;
in his garden gathering flowers just to beautify his home.

Tho he takes the full bloom flowers, drooped and withered that need his care
still he needs a bud or blossom; to scatter with them, here and there.
So he takes a few choice blossoms just the choicest he can find
and because God needs them up in Heaven must comfort loved ones left behind.


This poem was given to us by someone that had lost a little girl many years ago (over 20 years). It was given to them and they thought it was time to pass these comforting words on to us.

A Walk and A Winner

On April 18th, there will be a Donate Life Fun Run & Walk held in St. Joseph at 10:00 am. The run/walk is free and open to the public. Registration will begin at 9:45 am at Heartland Regional Medical Center's hospital cafeteria. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend this event, but wanted to pass along the information in case some of you might be interested.



Thanks to all that wanted to show their support of organ donation by flying a flag during April. The lucky winner is Comment number 1, Darla. I'll get the garden flag ordered and will let you know when it arrives.

Nashville Bound!!

A big CONGRATULATIONS go out to Shelbey Fox, Christina Calfee, and Tricia Boller! Do you remember these girls? They are the ones from West Nodaway School that participated in the FCCLA speech contest at NW and made it to state. The state competition was held in Columbia this week and the girls placed first!! (They said they even had some judges in tears.) This means they are headed to nationals with the story about the Foundation and about drinking and driving. Can you believe that! That is just awesome! Abby's story and the works of the Foundation are going to reach even more people! Just think if someday the Foundation could be a state-wide or even nation-wide program. Thanks for getting our word out girls and congrats!

I'll be letting everyone know about any fundraising efforts these girls will be working on in order to raise money for their trip in July.

Donate Life Month

April is National Donate Life Month! Midwest Transplant Network and Donate Life America are asking everyone to show their support of donation by participating in "Flags Across America." This campaign is requesting you fly a donate life flag during April as part of a nationwide display of unity to show the American public how many people have been touched by donation. This display is meant to honor donors and recipients and calls attention to the need for more people to designate themselves as donors. Flags can be found at the Donate Life America website, www.donatelife.net We are ordering a big flag to fly on our flagpole at home. So, here's what I want to do to help get more flags out there... I am going to give a flag of your choice to one lucky reader. Leave me a comment with your name an what flag (car flag, garden flag, house flag, stick flag, commercial flagpole flag) you would like on this post and I will enter everyone's name into random.org to select a winner. I will post a winner on Friday, so we can have the flags to fly for most of the month. Thanks for showing your support for donation!