"Let it go...Let it go!"... She doesn't want us to be scared or sad Mom.

Rowan and I had the opportunity tonight to go help make some of the décor for Jalene's Celebration of life this weekend, alongside members of her family and Church family at Live the Life Church in San Antonio.  It was such great fellowship, mixed in with some hard work.  We had hand tools, power tools, trees, paint, glitter and more.  Some of us had more paint on ourselves than on the trees though:)  Her service is going to be a beautiful Frozen wonderland, filled with white branches, snow covered trees and snowflakes, and it is going to be simply amazing!

Rowan didn't do much helping, but he sure did have fun!  He got to play with some of Jalene's cousins and friends, plus some new friends, and boy was it hard to pull him away when it was time to leave.  He told me afterward that he felt like a "normal kid" when he was playing on the playground with them, not like a sick kid.  See, here is a picture of him at his weekly Clinic appointment, just yesterday, where he spent 8 hours getting his labs and infusions...

 And here are some pictures of him with the kids tonight...

I can see what he means.  His smile was so big tonight, and he ran and played tag (though he had a hard time keeping up), and he talked to other kids his age...and he WAS a normal kid tonight...priceless.  But even more special than getting to play like a normal kid, Rowan also felt blessed to be close to Jalene's friends and cousins tonight.  He told me "Being with her cousins and friends, makes me feel like I am still playing with her too...and I like that."

 

It wasn't all fun and games tonight though.  Here are some pictures of the rest of us working hard...

It really was a nice time, an honor to work on this project for Jalene and her family, and a blessing to hang out with these ladies...

As we drove back home to New Braunfels, I asked Rowan what he thought of the décor.  He said, "Oh Jalene would love it...actually she WILL love it, because I know she will be looking down on us."  I said, "Yeah, what do you think she would... I mean WILL say when she sees it?" He decided that she would probably start singing "Let It Go, Let It Go!" I smiled and sang with him for a minute and then I asked him, "What would she be telling us to let go of though?"  He said, "Well definitely not let go of her!  She wants us to keep her in our heart forever.  So probably she would be saying let go of our fear and sadness, because she knows we all miss her, but she doesn't want us to be scared or sad." 

I like that thought.  I think it will help a lot of us who are mourning her loss.  So remember:

Keep her in your heart forever.

but the fear and sadness...

"Let It Go!"