Thought a post would be in order–some of you have wondered what the holidays were like for our family…good, yet hard. There’s not any real good way to describe the fact that life pushes you forward, even when there’s times it would be nice to “rewind” and go through things at a slower pace. Mel’s gravesite has a pine “blanket” with a gold butterfly and bow. We’re still waiting on the headstone. Her Sunday school class also put together a beautiful wreath with lots a notecards of memories they shared….We also received many cards and pictures from friends that continue to reach out to us–we did not send a single card this year…we did manage to snap a quick picture of the 4 kids, but have not done anything with it yet.
My mind has been traveling quite a bit to last year at this time. We just came from the Faith basketball tournament on Saturday night–our guys again won the championship game. Last year, on the way home, the team stopped by the hospital where Mel was still in Intensive Care–she was nonresponsive during a very rough 5 or so days. I remember so well telling her about the game that they won for “her”. I remember wondering if she would ever know….she never did get the chance to watch that game. I remember thinking, “It can’t end this way.” God very graciously woke her up again a few days later. We were able to go back up to 3rd floor in time for Lauren(17)and Joelle’s(15) BD party.
That day was also a highlight as many of the girls from the high school came up for the afternoon to have a party for the girls. Dr. Powell came in and sang with the girls…a very special time! Later that night, a lot of our families came up to celebrate the girl’s birthdays. Many thanks to Aunt Meri and Uncle Bob Spry for providing crab cakes and subs and many other goodies. A.J. also provided the entertainment!~ Mel was able to be wheeled down into the hallway outside of the “party room” because her bed was too wide to fit through the doorway. After coming back up to 3CN, Mel sang the song, “Praise You in This Storm”–the link is on the side…. I will never forget how I felt when she broke down when she sang about “my strength is almost gone, how can I carry on, if I can’t find You….” never knowing that in 4 short weeks after this, that she would be gone. My mother heart still longs to hold her, and feel her “prickly” head again.
A movie we watched recently grabbed my attention when someone said something like, “…the flurry of activity hides the pain of life..” How true for me….sometimes it’s easier to just bury yourself in busyness so the pain doesn’t feel so real. We are finding God’s grace for every day to carry us. We are also finding that it’s not about us, or even Melanie, but about God, and bringing glory to Him through the valleys, or mountaintops…if we can move out of the way. It really is our greatest desire to allow God to use this valley for His glory.
Many thanks to you who continue to walk alongside of us in so many ways–we are truly blessed and grateful. Love, Lori for the Miller’s
