I think we kept our pace pretty strong. Sure, there were times of injury where we would stop for a while, but as Ellie Kate's parents, we never truly stopped the fire within us - that fire to push, to press, to go on, to move on, to put one foot in front of the other, no matter what sacrifice, no matter how much it hurt on ever level.
And then, after seven long years of marathon-ing, it all STOPPED. Ellie went to heaven and is complete and whole. We weren't completely lost, but for me in particular, as a momma who was used to running, and pushing, and fighting, and calling, going to appointments, to IEP's, nurse visits, home health visits, fighting at the state level - all of that stopped in a way.
We had Lucy, and gratefully she was doing so very well and didn't need as much help from us to survive - at least for that time. It was hard to change the pace - to suddenly stop. And things immediately changed before we really rested. Henry started having trouble. We ALL started having a hard time, and rightfully so.
And here we are . . . TEN YEARS after we initially started that first unexpected marathon with Sweet Ellie Kate, the one that ONLY JESUS had prepared us for, and I am oh-so tired. Attempts to start new things, to take better care of myself; attempts for Mike and I to focus on our marriage healing, for us to focus on our children, on our finances. I can tell you folks, even THREE years after EK's death, I still feel like all of these things are in a bag, along with giant boulders, and I'm trying to move them with a stationary bike. I don't think we are alone. I KNOW WE AREN'T ALONE. It's like this for so many families as they learn to "do life" after earthly loss.
Please add this as your facebook profile pic from now through December, in honor of Ellie Kate
That brings me once again to "In Honor of Ellie Kate - A Month of Reckless Love".
Do you know . . . could I ever begin to tell you? Are there words enough to convey the importance of your involvement, the preciousness that comes in knowing you say her name during these few months? I don't think you will ever know, this side of heaven, or unless you too lose someone so very dear to you - bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh. Today is November 17th, and I am INCREDIBLY grateful to those who have SO graciously given, who have already checked off the Amazon Reckless Love Wish List for OU Children's. We are a mere few weeks away and I have FIVE items. FIVE items is WONDERFUL, because that will mean that FIVE children will receive a special gift! But, we long to do so much MORE, as we have in the past, with over 60 just last year alone (and over 150 the year before that). Would you consider purchasing something off our of Amazon Wish List 2015?
Gifts 2015
We also did something new this year - PARENT PACKETS!! Because of the loving heart of my dear Sister, Laura Franklin White, there are 41 parent pouches going out to local hospitals in Ellie's name - 31 of them going to OU Children's on December 4th, Ellie Kate's birthday! THANK YOU to all who participated in that part of Ellie's Month of Reckless Love this year! What a vital, life-giving way to support the entire family as they sit in the hospital with their sweet one this Holiday Season!
If you have any questions or need any other information, please let me know. For more information on "In Honor of Ellie Kate - A Month of Reckless Love", please visit our past blog post here: Month of Reckless Love Post 2015
To see our amazon wish list for the event, please consider visiting the site. Every little gift helps!
Amazon wish list.
Thank you for honoring Our Girl, for remembering her and for doing something in her honor. We love you so much.
Ryan
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