I decided about two weeks ago, that we would visit Isabelle as a family on Christmas Eve. We haven't been to visit her as a family since the day of her funeral. I was nervous about how the girls and Duffy would handle the holidays, and this visit, but I felt that we owed Isabelle something special at Christmas.
It snowed most of the day. It was a beautiful heavy, big snow. The sort of snowflakes that make your eyelashes heavy and send you inside with wet hair. It was beautiful. It was like a Hallmark card commercial for most of the day. I found my Christmas spirit in that snow, and I felt really happy and excited for the first time this season.
Maddy, Abbey and I left the house to get some last minute things, and the gifts for the animals. We also decided to get Isabelle some flowers. I wanted to get a poinsettia, but something else as well since I knew the poinsettia wouldn't last long outside. I ended up with a hanging evergreen basket that looked like a tree and was decorated with red velvet ribbon.
We stopped by the house and picked up Duffy who was dressed in his pink shirt and Maddy wrote a note for Isabelle and Abbey picked out a stuffed animal to give her, and we headed out.
We got there, and climbed out of the van. We were the only car there, and the only car that had been there in a while. We took down one of the metal hanging baskets and placed our evergreen basket. The other basket was already holding a stuffed animal left there by a Grandma. Nana had sent her a wreath. Grandma C gave her a grave pillow decorated with pink and gold ribbon. We placed our gifts and cleared off her name plate.
Duffy and I stood together, and Maddy and Abbey started running around. They decided to make snowballs for Izzy so they started making a little pile of snowballs for her. After a few minutes though, Abbey threw herself down in the snow next to Isabelle's grave and started making a snow angel. She was laughing hysterically while flapping her arms and legs, and it made us all laugh. Maddy left her own angel on the other side, and then they bounced up and did cartwheels.
It made us both smile to watch our girls celebrate the holiday with their sister, and be happy to come and share it with her. I know some people would find it disrespectful or strange to be making snow angels or doing cartwheels, but I really don't care. It has worked for us. I think making their memories of Isabelle happy and positive will make it easier for them to keep her in their life. I hope so.
It snowed most of the day. It was a beautiful heavy, big snow. The sort of snowflakes that make your eyelashes heavy and send you inside with wet hair. It was beautiful. It was like a Hallmark card commercial for most of the day. I found my Christmas spirit in that snow, and I felt really happy and excited for the first time this season.
Maddy, Abbey and I left the house to get some last minute things, and the gifts for the animals. We also decided to get Isabelle some flowers. I wanted to get a poinsettia, but something else as well since I knew the poinsettia wouldn't last long outside. I ended up with a hanging evergreen basket that looked like a tree and was decorated with red velvet ribbon.
We stopped by the house and picked up Duffy who was dressed in his pink shirt and Maddy wrote a note for Isabelle and Abbey picked out a stuffed animal to give her, and we headed out.
We got there, and climbed out of the van. We were the only car there, and the only car that had been there in a while. We took down one of the metal hanging baskets and placed our evergreen basket. The other basket was already holding a stuffed animal left there by a Grandma. Nana had sent her a wreath. Grandma C gave her a grave pillow decorated with pink and gold ribbon. We placed our gifts and cleared off her name plate.
Duffy and I stood together, and Maddy and Abbey started running around. They decided to make snowballs for Izzy so they started making a little pile of snowballs for her. After a few minutes though, Abbey threw herself down in the snow next to Isabelle's grave and started making a snow angel. She was laughing hysterically while flapping her arms and legs, and it made us all laugh. Maddy left her own angel on the other side, and then they bounced up and did cartwheels.
It made us both smile to watch our girls celebrate the holiday with their sister, and be happy to come and share it with her. I know some people would find it disrespectful or strange to be making snow angels or doing cartwheels, but I really don't care. It has worked for us. I think making their memories of Isabelle happy and positive will make it easier for them to keep her in their life. I hope so.
I think it meant a lot to Isabelle that her sister's sent her snow angels and shared their "winter dance" with her. We each and all of us shared quiet moments with Isabelle that day and as the evening ended in heaven, I know she shared cookies & milk with Great Great grammy and listened with awe as Aunt Nellie told her about Santa.
ReplyDeleteYour visits are part of your family activities. Keep it up. Whatever works - no apologies for letting your daughters experience it as they wished.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture you painted of your family celebation of Christmas with Izzy. Having Maddy and Abbey celebrate with Izzy however they chose (snow angels, perfect)is exactly right. I love you all and I'm so proud that you are my children. Kassie
ReplyDelete