Ornament remembrance tradition

Sometimes it’s hard to not let ourselves get bogged down in the Christmas hustle and bustle.  Instead we remember to keep Eden’s memory alive by doing something special like this together- no technology, no interruptions, no noise- it feels like she’s with us. Reagan LOVES crafts. I have no idea where she picked up this hobby because if you’ve been reading this blog for anytime you will realize that I am anything but crafty.  But…. I am a good researcher!  I can find the cutest crafts and usually execute with the help of my semi-crafty hubby. 

Step 1:   Button shopping and sorting.  Surprisingly easy.  Crafty stores sell buttons by the jar!

Step 2:   String buttons in a Christmas tree like fashion. 

 

Step 3:   Pause to go get your pink broom and dustpan, proceed to throw buttons on the floor so you can clean. Yes, this is Reagan's step.  And yes she LOVES to clean. Not sure where she got that from either, as I hate to clean so much that now we have a cleaning person :-)

 

Step 4:   Hang mini- Christmas trees on real Christmas tree.  One for our sweet Eden in heaven and one for our silly, beautiful Reagan right here in our arms.

Reagan also made her own little button wreath and chose wooden spoons to display them!  Our ornament fun and memories of Eden are always so beautiful.  Merry Christmas to all!
 
 

Fall 2013

Three is so much fun AND so much work.  Reagan is so busy and curious.  And every day she still amazes me.  She’s in preschool 5 days a week and loving it.  There are times when we put her to bed on Friday night and she will ask if she can go to preschool in the morning.  She is learning so much and will often randomly belt out a song she learned in preschool in the grocery store or at church.  She’s learning colors, letters and sharing.  Though she’s been sick a few times she recovers quickly and has only needed steroids once.  Reagan is still in swimming and will started gymnastics on Monday! 

Reagan does however push the boundaries.  She is quite independent and can be pretty stubborn.  Hmmm… Dad… does this sound anything like me? J As any three year old she doesn’t always listen.  And this really tests our patience.  By overall three has been so amazing thus far…. Just like every other age.  We love you Reagan!

 

Preschool

Reagan started preschool on 9/9/13!  Our little girl is growing up so fast.  She's adjusted tremendously well but I have had a few moments when I look at her with her little pink backpack and wish I was looking at two little faces... our hearts still grieve and always will.  We miss Eden everyday but we have been able to turn our grief into something wonderful- Eden's Garden.  It feels so wonderful to give to other families who are experiencing a similar journey to the one we went through.  Eden is still living on and always will. 

God knows

As we prepared to celebrate Reagan 3^rd birthday and Eden’s 3^rd heavenly birthday our hearts were happy and heavy.  We simply cannot believe that Reagan is 3 years old!  She is such a joy.  But we also still cannot believe that Eden is not here with us.  Our friends and family helped us celebrate a super fun under the sea birthday party but the highlight was a letter.  Shortly before the party started we checked the mail to receive a letter from the IRS…. never good right?  Unless you’ve applied and have been patiently waited for your 501c3 approved.  The letter gave us official approval!!  Eden’s Garden is now a 501c3!!!!!  God sent this amazing news came right when we needed it most and on such a beautiful, celebratory day.  We didn’t want to have a non-profit but this is the best way to honor Eden’s short life.  We are so proud to have Eden’s Garden helping families in the Twin Cities.  Eden is touching lives three years later and there’s no stopping her legacy now! 

Thank you to all our family and friends who helped us celebrate Reagan’s 3^rd birthday!  We had so much fun and love to see everyone. 

Summertime

We have had a busy summer.  Reagan is so amazing and is becoming more grown up every day.  She’s into the three-year old challenging phase.  She asks why all the time and even talks back every once in awhile.  Just the other day she spit (yes spit) on the kitchen floor!  This little expression of rebellion caused her an extended time out, no pool time and she had to clean up the spit.  Who knows where this behavior comes from.  Honestly though about 90% of the time she’s an amazing, wonderful little girl.  I love her more than words can describe. 

She is also quite the swimmer, we swim almost everyday.  She LOVES swimming lessons and really can’t get enough of the water.  We now sit on the deck at swimming lessons and don’t have to be in the pool with her any more.  Last week I found myself thinking and wishing for two little blonde three year olds in the pool.  Reagan would love Eden and they would be best friends.  I hope and pray that she will remember her sister.  Scott and I are working very hard to keep Eden’s legacy alive.  And some day Reagan will understand how much of an impact Eden made in her short eight months on earth.  I love Eden more than words can describe and miss her every day.

 Our fun activities this summer:

 

7/20/13 Tough Mudder!  Yes Mommy and Daddy are crazy!

 

 

 

6/22/13 HeartBeat 5000 remembering sweet Liam and a visit at Cedar Summit Farms

 

 

 

 

6/15/13 Nature Valley Grand Prix Kids Bike race!

 

6/13/13 Cannon Falls unsuccessful bike trip (3 flats and 2 crashes- Reagan was NOT hurt)

 

6/1/13 Baby Steps 3K

 

And swimming, swimming and more swimming....

An empty crib



Before

 

After

 

 

 

To most these are just before and after photos.  To us this was a major step in our journey. 

Two cribs.  That’s the way things were meant to be. We needed two cribs to fill with two babies. Our sweet baby Eden didn’t get to use her crib.  Eden never came home, she never used her crib.  We spent 26 months staring at one empty crib.  We couldn’t bring ourselves to take Eden’s crib down. The symbolism felt too scary.  We didn’t think we’d ever be ready.  That doesn’t mean we were ready today it just means we were able to do it.  As we removed bedding and screws we were silent.  Reagan’s chatter of one thousand questions filled the air but Scott and I were silent.  Tears filled my eyes but I looked at Reagan and smiled.  She is so amazing and makes the pain more bearable.  We miss Eden every day and we will never forget her.  Our journey is long and never ends but step by step we slowly cope. 

You may know a family like us.  One who has lost a child.  You may wonder why they are still sad or why they still celebrate birthdays.  You may wonder but don’t judge.  This journey is our own, no one can tell us how to do it or question the process.  Different families do this journey differently.  The one thing you can do is to love them. 

Reagan's update

I've said this at least one thousand times but Reagan is truly amazing. Not a day goes by when I don’t look at her and think about how far she’s come and how incredible she is. God is so good to us and to Reagan. We are a true testament of His amazing grace. 

I haven't provided an update on Reagan for awhile so thought I would share some milestones.  Reagan is SO busy, she never stops unless she’s sleeping.  

Mother's Day picnic at Minnehaha Falls