Lesson learned

We went to the zoo for the Children's Hospital activities. It was hot, very, very hot. I was irritable, very, very irritable. However, we did most of the things and the girls had a very good time.

We came to the speech display and they had a communicative device. I'm not sure what it was but it was not a Dynavox. The girls could touch it and play with it. Ellie did without a problem but Lauren refused to. She would have nothing to do with it which really surprised me as Lauren usually needs to touch everything and anything.

I asked her why and she looked at me and said "It not mine. It Elli's" I said "no Ellie just had her turn it's Ok". She looked and me and said "No, Elli talk that way".

I got it then. She wasn't talking about her sister. She was talking about our friend Elli who used her Dyavox to communicate. Lauren had always been fascinated by it and wanted to push all the pictures as well. I was always telling her that it belonged to Elli and that's how Elli talked. I guess she got it.

Eli's homegoing

A friend of ours daughter was born with a severe heart defect that was undetected until 3 day of life. At some point, she suffered permanent brain damage. She had 4 open heart surgeries in her short 8 years of life.

Eli went Home on Sunday night peacefully and without warning. There was no warning, no IVs, and her parents made no descisions. She simply went to bed and woke up with the ability to run, jump, and dance. Eli, who loved music so much, can now sing.

I am horribly sadden for her family. There is a mother who misses a child, an empty bed, and a family who is one member short.

I am not sad for Elli. I know where Elli is and I know that Elli is where she is not because of what she did but because of Whom she knew.

Because of that fact, we can hope because we know that this life is not the end. This life is simply of shadow of what is to become.

I strive to teach my children many many things. I try to teach them kindness. I try to teach them to turn off the light in the bathroom when they are finished. I try to teach them that vegetables are not icky. I'm desparately trying to teach my Ellie that she cannot fly.

However, the only thing that is important that I presses on my heart daily is to teach them to know and love God. Not to know God as in to know VBS Bible stories but to know God and His Holiness. To know God, to Serve God, and to Obey Him.

I am mourning for Eli's family but Elli is not an angel and she is no longer trapped in a body that does not work. Elli has been made whole and Elli is finally in the image of the One who made her.