Mother's Day + Turning 23 + Graduating Law School = an AWESOME week!

For Mother's Day this year Chris woke up early and made me a special breakfast in bed. We have started making egg breakfast sandwiches, and we LOVE them. They were so delicious! After a relaxing morning we attended church, then came home and ate baked french toast with fruit. It was a perfect! Chris surprised me with a griddle! It is awesome, I can't wait to use it! He gave me some new socks, lotion, and the biggest surprise of all was...he set me up a one hour facial, then a one hour massage for my birthday! It was a wonderful Mother's Day with my little family. Arista and I got in a 4 hour nap after church too! I couldn't help but feel a void all day long, wishing that Preslie was there with me. I know she was loving me from heaven, but it is just not the same. Holidays make it especially more real that she is not here with us.

I turned the big 2-3 on Tuesday! Chris gave me the most wonderful gift I think I have ever received. He turned my blog into a book. Every single post, every single picture. I have spent many hours looking through and reading back all the posts. I never would have even thought of it! I spent my birthday going to the gym and then heading to my day at the spa. The facial and massage was wonderful! I think I need to make it a monthly gift to myself. ;) Later that night our great friends the Boardmans and Allen's came over for an incredibly huge German chocolate cake. I have always wanted to have one special ordered from a good bakery, so I did the liberty of ordering it myself. It was yummy!!!

Wednesday morning Chris' mom came into town for graduation. We found out that our brother-in-law Chris was going to be in Detroit that night, so we drove half way and met him at Johnny Carinos for dinner. It was Arista's first time meeting Uncle Chris and she LOVED him! It was great to see Chris and spend a few hours with him.

Thursday Chad(Chris' Dad) arrived. We had our good friend Breezy watch Arista while the four of us went to a May memorial for Preslie and other lost babies. There were candles lit,songs played, poems read, and tears shed for the loss of our precious babies. I love that every year they do something in the spring to remember our little ones. It is neat to be able to all come together and remember our babies, and to know a glimpse of the pain we have all shared. The bond we have all made is something only the parents of an angel will know. Here is a wonderful poem that was shared by the former co-president...

My Mom is a Survivor


My Mom is a survivor,

or so I've heard it said.

But I can hear her crying at night

when all others are in bed.



I watch her lay awake at night

and go to hold her hand.

She doesn't know I'm with her

to help her understand.



But like the sands on the beach

that never wash away ...

I watch over my surviving Mom

who thinks of me each day.



She wears a smile for others ...

a smile of disguise!

But through Heaven's door

I see tears flowing from her eyes.



My Mom tries to cope with death;

To keep my memory alive.

But anyone who knows her knows

it is her way to survive.



As I watch over my surviving Mom

through Heaven's open door ...

I try to tell her that angels

protect me forevermore!



I know that doesn't help her,

or ease the burden she bears.

So, if you get a chance, go visit her.

Show her that you care.



For no matter what she says ...

no matter what she feels.

My surviving Mom has a broken heart

that time won't ever heal.

Here are some final verses my Mom wrote...


Please help to dry her tears,

and comfort all her fears,

our time a part will seem so brief,

when faith and love push through the grief .



My Mom is a survivor,

soon joy will heal her heart,

we will spend eternity together

we'll embrace and never part!

Friday Chris graduated!! It was so incredible to see him seated among his fellow law students. My eyes watered and heart ached that Preslie could have been there to see her Dad. We know she was watching from heaven cheering him on, with her little angel friends. We spent the afternoon taking pictures, going to lunch at Bravo, and then Chris and I went on a date to see the new movie "Robin Hood". It was such a great day. We are so proud of Chris and for all of his accomplishments. He could have given up after Preslie died, but instead he was steadfast and trudged forward. I can't even imagine what he went through last few years, while helping me with my grief, along with another pregnancy. He is amazing, and there is no one else I know who would have been able to handle all that he has. We love you Christopher! We are so proud of you!!