A Blooming Reminder

In less than a week, on July 1st, the one-year anniversary of Lexi's passing will be upon us. The year has been difficult, as we experienced many "firsts" without her: school starting, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, her birthday, Chelsea's birthday, Mother's day, Father's day, etc.

Her memorial service was July 9th last year. And that day we came home from the service and found a beautiful sight in our yard, something that I found to be amazing. Out of no where, a PINK gladiolus flower bloomed tall and strong in our planter. In the twelve years that we have lived in our house, we have NEVER had any gladiolus flowers on our property. Amidst our sadness at coming home without Lexi, that day we were greeted by a wonderful pink reminder of our little girl. The flower bloomed for a long time, without any tending by me. It eventually died and disappeared and I didn't think of it again.

The other day, we came home and there stood the pink gladiolus flower blooming again in the exact same spot. It was if to remind us, especially in the nearing of the one-year anniversary, that our little girl is alive and blooming . . . in heaven! I love seeing that pink gladiolus each day and am amazed at its height- standing taller than any of the other flowers in our planter.

Here is a picture I took a few days ago. Today, it stands even taller.

The 1st

Here we are at another "1st." The first of each month always causes us to pause as we realize that another month has passed without Lexi in our lives. June 1st marks the 11th month since her passing.

Today, at work, I read a persuasive essay that one of my high school students submitted in which he was trying to persuade the reader that abortion should continue to be legal. One of his points was that "having a child with special needs requires a lot of time, money, commitment and support" and that "most special needs children require additional health care, services, and help from others" and therefore, if it is known during pregnancy that the child will have "special needs" then "abortion provides an alternative." I sat there, as I read his essay, thinking about Lexi and her precious life. I could only respond by telling him about Lexi- that although she never learned to walk, talk, sit up on her own, etc. she was an amazing little girl who taught us so much. I can not imagine my life without her in it. I told him that yes, her "special needs" brought about much work and required "a lot of time, money, commitment and support" but it was all worth it because she was a life and she had great purpose.

I love thinking about the legacy that Lexi leaves and all the ways that God used, and will continue to use, her life. Today, her life stands as a testament for God's love of all- even those (especially those) who have "special needs" and as a reminder that life is precious and full of purpose- even a life that the world may not see as "normal" and thus could be easily aborted.

As we think about, and prepare for the next "1st of the month," we know that the one-year anniversary of Lexi's passing will most likely be the hardest "1st." We will surround ourselves with friends and family that day and continue sharing Lexi's legacy through the "Lexi's Legacy Memorial Fund."