Melissa writes:
Thank you so much for all the thoughts and prayers over the days leading to and including the anniversary of Noah’s return to heaven. We call it his angel-day or angel-versary. I think they celebrate that day in heaven rather than their earthly birthday. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate the day their eternal life began? It helps to think of it that way, but in the end, we still hurt down here. We miss him.
It’s hard to find words for all we’ve been feeling so I’ll just say we’re up and down—and that’s all during the course of any given day. We do pretty well I think. I think we’ve both noticed feeling more tired lately…grief takes a lot out of you.
On the 14th, we went to the west side (Avon) to see one of The Christmas Box angel statues unveiled there recently. I read the book around Christmas and thought it would be a great idea to find these statues whenever we travel. Nathan remembered and surprised me by taking me to not one, but three, when we traveled in early May to pick up our new motorcycle! The angel is beautiful with open outstretched arms and is dedicated to parents who have lost a child. Many have lovely plazas where families have plaques to remember their own special child(ren.) I’ve posted some pictures in the photo section.
The weather looked good Sunday as we took off with only a 30% chance of pop-up thunderstorms. Well – pop up they did. As we drove west the sky got worse. Just before we got to the park where the angel is located, the heavens opened up. We waited in the car at the park awhile and then decided to go get lunch. It stopped raining while we ate and we returned back to the angel statue. Do you think it was any coincidence we arrived there at 2:11? The very time Noah left us a year earlier. We left a white rose. The photos show that we brought Noah along (his urn). He rode in the cup holder. <smile> We still do find ways to feel light-hearted! Anyway, we walked around the really lovely Town Hall Park and saw lots of butterflies.
The photo section also includes photos of the adopted median that we are lovingly tending on one of the city’s busiest east-to-west thoroughfares (86th St). It is near our house so we see it almost every day. The sign is now obstructed from view because of the prolific gorgeous golden yellow (stella d’oro) lilies. Nathan says it’s the perfect median for us since it delivers sunshine right when we need it; they all popped open during the week or two before his angelversary.
Kitty sat in Noah’s room the morning of the 14th. We hadn’t seen him in there for quite some time. We ended the day there as well, reading books and cards and remembering. We missed him more than ever during those moments.
Know that hearing from you means so much to us. Hearing how Noah is still touching your life from day-to-day is heartwarming and amazing. I think every parent who loses a child fears, at some level, that child will be forgotten. It is so reassuring to know that will never be true of our Noah.
All our love.
