As you know, Rowan missed visiting his angel friend Chrissie's grave last week, on October 8th (her birthday), because he was back in the hospital. He did go visit her memory leaf on the hospital Memorial Tree that day, but he still wanted to go place flowers and a balloon at her grave, and to say a prayer for her there. We had also completed Lorraine's "Boss Your Heart" quilt (in Chrissie's Memory), to keep her warm and comfortable during her ongoing hematology/oncology appointments, so we wanted to deliver that as well. Well, this Thursday, one week late, we did just that. I messaged Lorraine and asked if it would be okay if we came out, and she said yes. The only problem was that Lorraine was sick, and half of the family had already passed a yucky virus around all week. Rowan really wanted to go though, so we decided that we would just go out to the grave site, and then would just go leave the quilt at the back door for Lorraine. She knew I wanted a picture of Rowan giving her the quilt though, so we decided that I would bring some hospital masks, and we would just snap one quick photo. God is so good though, and everything worked out...in more ways than one!
When we went to get the balloon at the store, they had just the most beautiful giant pink butterfly balloon! It was perfect, and very "Chrissie"!
Rowan also brought Lorraine and Chrissie a dozen pretty pink roses, one for the grave, and the rest for inside the house.
When we arrived, we went straight to the grave site, and I took these precious photos of Rowan honoring his friend...for the 6th birthday in a row, at her grave site.
He laid the rose at the foot of the grave...
but then he picked it back up and you could just see the contemplation in his face...
He finally decided that he wanted it inside the pink gates surrounding her grave, so it was closer, and safe, and didn't blow away...
He tied the pink butterfly to the gate...
And knelt down to say a pray to God, thanking him for taking good care of her in Heaven...
Finally, he blew his friend a kiss goodbye...
Just as we were finishing up, Lorraine and Mattie were driving up to see us. Lorraine said that knowing how Rowan pushes through his pain, inspired her to push herself too. She had gotten out of bed, showered, changed, and drove down to see us. It was such a pleasant surprise. We gave her a mask, hugged her and thanked her for coming to see us, even when she didn't feel well at all.
As we walked back toward the grave site with them, Lorraine's daughter Mattie noticed a monarch butterfly fluttering around. She and Lorraine immediately commented that it must be Lorraine's Mom (she passed away as well, but shows herself in the form of butterflies all the time too:). See, we had forgotten that this Thursday was actually Lorraine's Mother's birthday. So while we had missed Chrissie's, we had made it for Lorraine's Mom's. Another God thing.
Here are some pictures of Lorraine opening up the quilt...the first quilt that Rowan has ever helped make. I just think it is perfect that the first time he has ever used a sewing machine, was to sew together t-shirts with his angel friend's name, hand print, motto, foundation logo, etc., to create a quilt to help one of his most favorite Mommies in the world, Lorraine. He was so proud to do it, he put his heart into it, and she could tell, and she appreciated every stitch!
We hugged each other once again, Rowan took his picture with Mattie...
...and we said our goodbyes.
Once we got home, I saw that Lorraine had texted me this photo...the first photo of the quilt in her home...
It was her, back in bed, laying down under the quilt, all snuggled in, with Rowan's stitches over her heart. It was a priceless, perfect, thank you. Then I realized another reason this photo was so perfect...
It was because these were the last pictures I took of the quilt while it was still in our home, just before I put it in the gift bag...
It was Rowan, laying down this time, with the quilt over his own heart, "giving it some love" as he calls it:) She had no idea I had taken such a similar photo, so it just had to be another God thing! Then, as we went to bed Thursday night, Rowan said, "Another reason why I'm glad I'm sick: surgical masks. If we didn't have some to take to Lorraine today, I might not have been able to give her the quilt myself. Just another reason my life is so special."
Beautiful!
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