100 days (+) in a season of grief

I know it has been a lot longer than 100 days since Lexi passed, but today is the 100th day since I signed up for the "A Season of Grief" daily emails. It is neat to see that number, 100, knowing that I have made it through 100 (and more) days of grief. Thank you Jesus!

I've learned so much through the grieving process and love to continue to see where God will lead me on this journey. I am so thankful for His plan and purpose; although my view is limited, He sees the full view and has everything under control.

Birthday Balloon Release

Family and friends gathered for a balloon release to help us celebrate Lexi's life. We prayed and then we all released our balloons and watched them drift into the sky. It was the perfect way for us to celebrate what would have been her 7th birthday.

Happy 7th Birthday, Lexi

Lexi would have been 7 years old today. I can't help but think of the number 7 and it's importance in the Bible. It is the number of spiritual perfection. In Hebrew, seven means "to be full or satisfied, have enough of." God rested on the 7th day, as his creation was full and complete, good and perfect. God "ceased, desisted and rested" on the Sabbath day. How neat to think that Lexi gets to celebrate her 7th birthday in Heaven, where all is complete, good and perfect and that in this she can rest, having had enough of this earthly world. She celebrated her 7th Christmas, Jesus' birthday, in Heaven as well, just a few months back. I bet that was a celebration!!! And although we may think of this as Lexi's first birthday without us, my friend pointed out that it is her first birthday in Heaven. How great "perspective" is in helping us to see things differently. We have been preparing for this day- one of the few "hard" days that people who are grieving anticipate having when they lose a loved one. It has helped me to "prepare" and so I thought "what could we do to celebrate Lexi's life on her special day?" It wasn't "what could we do to remember Lexi" as we remember her every day! There isn't a day that goes by that we don't remember her. So, we planned something "simple" and wanted those that were especially dear to Lexi to be able to be a part of this special day. Turns out that I don't know how to do "simple" very well; the preparations have been the same as the previous six years of celebrating her birthday. But, the preparations have been special to me, allowing me to use my time, energy and thoughts to reflect on Lexi and how special she was to us. Today we will gather with friends and family at our home and remember Lexi's special day with a balloon release. Each person will write a message on a card and attach it to a balloon. We will then release them together- pink, yellow, and lavender balloons filling the air as we celebrate her life. Maybe a balloon will float/fall into someone's yard and they will read the attached card and Lexi will impact yet another life. Her legacy continues.