Saturday, August 7, 2010

Happy Birthday Katie

Katie's birthday fell on a tuesday this year. We decided to just share her day with friends at church since it is the normal day for activities there. We made a fruit pizza and sang Happy Birthday to Katie in front of her tree. It is so great to know that so many people still love her and think of us all.

I cant believe that she would be sixteen this year. Things like dating and driving sound so adventurous right now. I would love to be diving into all the drama, I really would. (I did have a friend tell me that when MaryLynn and JJ get to be sixteen, she'll remind me that I wanted to do it.)

Remember about a year or more ago I talked about a pastel done by Del Parson? Well, I guess now is the right time to post it. I had a friend in my home recently who looked at the drawing and said, "Who is that?" When I told her it was Katie, she said, It looked like her, only older. (I think part of it is no braces.) But it made me think--Maybe this is what she would look like about now.

So, here it is!



Isn't she gorgeous?

Happy Sixteenth, Katie.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter

You know, two years ago I thought that Katie dying on Easter was just a cruel joke. It seemed to me that every Easter from then on would be tainted with the pain of losing her. Surprisingly, I was wrong. The fact that she died on the very day that Christ overcame death is a blessing. It is almost impossible to be sad and despondent when I have such faith that Christ was resurrected for us.
I am so grateful for the gift that our Savior gave to us, and when I think about Katie being gone, all I can remember is that she will be resurrected and we will all be together again someday. I guess God knows what he is doing after all.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

My Gift


Through some strange turn of events I found this picture of Katie on her old red camera. I think it is a cute picture and it was a fun discovery. But this got me thinking when I talked to a man in Sunday School today. I don't know him and had never met him before. And when he made a comment in class, it was obvious that he is in extreme spiritual and emotional pain. I turned to talk to him after class just to reassure him that he is not the only one that has ever felt completely alone and devoid of hope.
Of course throughout our conversion I kept thinking of my trials of losing Katie. I had been told many times that we cannot control our circumstances, but we can control the way we react to them. I do believe that this is true, but sometimes the mere act of getting up in the morning is the only control that you have strength enough to exert over the circumstances that you find yourself in. And let's face it, that is not enough to drive the oppressive doubts and fears away. But I have also learned that the act of getting up every morning is a small act of faith. After days, week, months of these tiny pieces of faith the sun does begin to shine again. And sometimes the blessings that are received after the trials of our faith can be as insignificant as a hidden photo. But this photo is anything but insignificant to me, it is proof that someone loves me and wants me to keep getting up every morning.   It shows me that the past is not forgotten, but life keeps moving, and, likewise, I must not forget the past, but keep moving always.