I just got back from spending a weekend with my family in Nevada. I know...it was a crazy time to take off for the weekend with Rylee, leaving John with 3 kids and house full of boxes over Father's Day, but that just goes to show you what an amazing man I have. When the opportunity came up for me to fly to Nevada to be with my family while we celebrated my Aunt's life, we didn't have to think twice. John booked the tickets right away, helped me pack, printed off my boarding passes, made me a map to the airport and sent me off with prayers as he held down the fort for 4 days without Mama around :) I have an AMAZING husband. Every time I called to check in, he had some new activity going with the kids...they went to the movies to see Thomas the Train, went for bike rides around the lake and filled glasses with different amounts of water - listening for the different pitches they heard when they hit the side. Yeah...he's amazing :) He did all of this so I could be with my family while we remembered and celebrated a life we all LOVED and miss so much.
Before I left, my Dad sent me these pictures he and my Mom pulled out of photo albums so we could all remember some of the amazing times we got to spend with my Aunt in years past...
Wedding Day!
(The day she became my Aunt...I'm so glad you picked her, Uncle John!)
She was so beautiful :)
Our family after hanging out one night in the summer...
(Look how little Johnny is! Sorry, Johnny, I had to say it...you were so cute!)
(Look how little Johnny is! Sorry, Johnny, I had to say it...you were so cute!)
My mom and Aunt Michele tag teaming dinner :)
She always jumped right in to help!
With my Great-Grandma Louise...
My Dad and his sister-in-law :)
My Aunt Michele and "her man" as she called him...(my uncle!)
Lauren joins the mix!
After one of my college choir concerts...she was always SO supportive of anything we were involved in!
I love this family :)
Love this picture...can you tell how much they love their Mama?
Again....always helping :)
If there was fun to be had, she was having it!
My sweet Aunt, precious cousin (and flower girl at my wedding!) and me :)
I was honored to be able to share something at the Celebration my family attended last weekend in her honor. We celebrated her life by sharing memories we'd made with Aunt Michele over the course of her life. What an honor to have the opportunity to share with everyone gathered, how I'd been impacted by her presence in my life over the years. I didn't know a better way to do it than to write her a letter, and to read it aloud to everyone listening. I loved her...no one will ever be able to replace her...no story retold will ever be able to match being in her presence in person, but it is so good to remember back on fun times we had and praise God for His creation!
Today, on her birthday...I'd like to share my words for my Aunt, with you...what a party she must be having in heaven today as she is now with the One who made her. Sounds like a true "birth"day to me!
Dear Aunt Michele,
What a gift it is to think back on your life and the impact you've made on me and my family. I was only 10 years old when you married Uncle John and for as long as I can remember, you've been a part of so many memories -- it's hard to imagine what growing up would've looked like without you!
By coming to all of our soccer games, baseball games, talent shows, school plays and graduations, you showed us what it felt like to be enthusiastically supported.
By doing things like taking Derek to get his braces off when my mom had to work (and being JUST as excited as she was to see the result!), and never being too busy to come pick us up if we needed a ride, or bringing a tea bag up to our house for chats with my mom when she was going through a tough time -- you showed us what it looked like to love others selflessly and lavishly.
By taking Johnny and Lauren to church and going to weekly Bible studies, you showed me what it looked like to pursue a relationship with Jesus, making it a priority for yourself as well as setting a spiritual foundation for your kids.
Getting to spend last Christmas with you was a gift I'll never forget. I love the way you got a chance to see how big Ryder and Cole have gotten, to laugh with Cora and hold Rylee. You were the same way with them as you were with Derek and I growing up...fun, down-to-earth, and always interested in the things that interested us.
Somehow, in the midst of all the fun we would have, you always found a way to say the things that others were thinking but didn't have the guts to say themselves! Oh how I loved your honesty...it always broke down barriers, and showed everyone else that it was okay to be themselves too.
As my aunt, you've shown me what it looks like to live an authentic life, pursuing Jesus and loving others well! There really is no greater treasure I could hope to gain from any relationship here on earth!
Love,
Danice
