T's writing camp

Photos from June 2011

This past week, T. went to a writing camp each morning.  She really enjoyed it.  Her class learned about her little sister Lilly pretty quickly.  T. was happy to show everyone the pictures of Lilly that she carries in her "many pocket purse" made by little angel Hannah's sister. 

T. found out that two siblings in her class had a younger brother whose twin had died after living only two hours.  And, her teacher had a little child that died young.  There seems to be an instant bonding of sorts when people learn those things about each other.

Lilly's teacher asked me about the dates that Lilly was alive.  She then said that in a class she had taught at her church, there were a number of students that attended the school that my husband works at.  She said that those students had requested prayers for Lilly every week.  It always touches my heart to hear stories like that.

One of the assignments T. had in class was to write a list of emotions and what colors go with it.  When the class discussed this topic, a girl asked what color "death" was.  T. quickly answered "white, blue, and purple."  The girl responded "How do you know?"  T. said "Because I saw my little sister dead."  I've thought of that a number of times this week and it just makes my heart so sad for T.  And well, all of us.  Finding your child dead is just so horrible.  In spite of some confusion in my brain of the night Lilly died, some things, like what she looked like are burned into my mind.  And as cold as her body was in death, I treasure my final memories of holding her close, and feeling her stick up hear on my cheek. 

When my thoughts do stray to topics like this, I try my best to turn my thoughts to good things. 

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:5

I think of Lilly being perfect in heaven, thanks to her death, in being released from her broken earthly body.  And to remember just how gently the Lord took her home and how we could not have chosen better circumstances for her.  And how grateful we were to have Lilly for 529 days.  Etc.

Yesterday T. and the other children in class each read one of their pieces in front of the class and their parents.  T. choose a poem she wrote about Lilly:

Lilly is Sweet - by T.J.H., July 2012

Lilly is sweet, all day, all night,
and I love her with all my might!

Lilly is safe, tucked away in Heaven,
Sweeter than candy; snug as a bug in a rug.
Sometimes I miss her, and want to give her a hug.

She loved me; and she loved her special toys,
To her almost all things were joys.

She is my angelic sister,
And she is my Little Firecracker.

She was sweet from the start,
And I know in my heart,
There is nobody sweeter than Lilly.

Her sweet face I could never replace,
As long as my life goes on.

Her chubby hands on her little round cheek,
If there's ever a beautiful picture I seek,
It will be one of Lilly.

And when we meet in eternity,
She and I will forever be together.