{Tuesday} February 22, 2010

Last night was LONG

I swear some nights I feel like the pain of losing my only sister is destroying me.

In that dark loneliness of the middle of the night

and in the midst of the nauseating emptiness, I feel like the pain is going to swallow me alive . . . 

sometimes I wish it would so I could see her again.

But then I remember that I WILL see her again

and then as quick as that thought comes . . . 

I get sucked back into my emptiness . . .

I selfishly need her here

and I often wish that I wasn't so young and that I didn't have a long life ahead of me

to live without her

But I know that when this life is over I will get to squeeze her again . . . forever.

That's all I'm grasping onto right now

. . . and believe me, the grasp is tight.

{Sunday} February 21, 2010

Today we opened our first letter from a recipient who got one of Charish's organs. Her name is Gracie and she got one of Charish's kidneys. It's such an amazing thing to actually see and learn about this real person who has the chance to live a long and full life because of my sister. It changes everything for me to actually "meet" someone who has been so affected by our terrible loss and to know that so much is looking up for her. We are going to set up a time to meet her in person . . . I can't wait. From her letter she seems like a really great woman.

{Aunt} Jenn

Jenn came over to have dinner with us and Jason's family tonight. My girl's are head over heals for this girl . . . love that she's in our lives.

{Saturday} February 20, 2010

Seeing as we decided to "girl it up" this weekend, we couldn't go without shoe shopping. Chloe LOVED these shoes, and my girls needed shoes for their Easter dresses, so they all got the same one's. It was a long process and ended in a fat fit, but once we got home everyone was happy.

And yes, I'm fully aware that the picture is blurry . . . I had to move fast because the battery was this close {holding my fingers up like I'm going to pinch a hair} to dying. Give a chick a break.

{Friday} February 19, 2010

We had a really fun day today. Chloe, Charlise & I went to the Spectrum to ride the ferris wheel, but . . . of course . . . it was closed, so luckily one of Chloe's favorite things to do is ride the carousel because that's all that was left to do. We only stayed for a little while then went to park day to play for a bit before meeting Amber & Kristi for lunch at Chick-fil-A. When the girls got home from school we headed straight over to Pretend City Children's Museum to play for a couple hours. They had a blast and we ended up getting a year pass so we can go back as often as we want. Now . . . we're all exhausted and the two little one's are cranky from being out all day. Looks like it will be an early movie night/bed time.

So great to have Chloe here . . . we're having a blast.

More Pictures of Our {FUN} Day

{Thursday} February 18, 2010

I picked up Chloe from preschool today and brought her home so she could spend the weekend with us. I was planning on finishing all three of the kid's blankets before giving any of them, but plans changed . . .

 I've been working on Chloe's, so it was folded on the arm of the couch. She noticed it and saw that it had a picture of her with her mom on it, and she flashed that beautiful smile at me. So of course I laid it out on the floor so she could see all of the pictures. We talked about all of them and she pointed out Charish in them . . . a few times she kept her finger on her mom . . . so sweet. She just laid down on it and stared at the pictures, all the time keeping a sweet smile on her face. I'm SO glad that she loves it. 

We are going to have a blast this weekend. I have such a deep love for this girl . . . so glad I get to spend so much time with her.