Meet Aimee - the artist of my Jesus and Lilly picture

Today I was so happy to meet the artist behind my favorite birthday present of all time - a pastel painting of Jesus holding Lilly.  Aimee came to our house today to take some pictures of the portrait, out in the sunshine.  She said that is how to get the best picture of one of these pastels.  She is then going to take the best photo and make copies for us.  She is also going to let me have the digital image. I have so many ideas for it!

It was such a blessing to hear Aimee speak about doing the portrait and how God guided her through it.  She said she spent a week immersed in Lilly - drawing her and studying her pictures on the blog and reading about her.  She said she felt she really got to know Lilly and me that way.  T. and I enjoyed sharing some of our Lilly memories and showing Aimee various Lilly things around the house.  (H. just wanted to know what kind of car she drove!)

You can see Aimee's website at:  http://portraitsbyaimee.com/ .  Click on "Portfolios of Work" and you will see many other amazing portraits Aimee has done, in pastel and charcoal. 

My husband knew Aimee because she used to teach art at the Christian school that he works at.  I will always be so thankful to him for contacting Aimee and having this present made for me!  I just can not express how much comfort the portrait gives me.

H. surprised me today by drawing his very first picture of Lilly, which he called "Grown up Lilly":

T. had let him draw on a scrapbook page.  She added the photos for him and did the writing.  He added the stickers after drawing Lilly.  I think "grown up Lilly" is the very first person H. has ever drawn.  Usually his drawings are of cars, dogs, or vacuum cleaners.

T. knows how to crochet a little, and the other day was able to figure out how to crochet a little bird for Lilly's memorial tree for this month:

I am so thankful for creative outlets!  Tonight another mom of a Trisomy 18 angel and I both shared with each other how theraputic it is to make things to send to others.  It is healing for ourselves, and lets other people know we're thinking of them. 

". . . remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ " - Acts 20:35