Happy Birthday Princess Chrissie and Welcome Home Precious Ruby!

 

Yesterday was another special day for Rowan.  It would have been Chrissie Patterson's 9th birthday.  Rowan tells us that she is still 4 in Heaven though, so that her Mommy doesn't miss anything until she gets up there with her.  I kind of like that thought, and hope he's right.

 

As he has done for the past 5 years since her death, Rowan took some gifts to Chrissie's Mom, and some treasures to Chrissie's grave. It is always a priceless gift for us as well though, just to witness the love he has for his friend in Heaven, and to learn from his pure faith.  While I wish this was a tradition we never had to start, and wish Chrissie was still here with her forever family on Earth, I can't help but cherish these days and the time we get with Lorraine, and I whole heartedly appreciate the lessons that God teaches us all through these moments.

 

The cross Rowan painted for her grave.

 

The birthday cake he helped me make for her family.

She loved chocolate and dressing up like a princess, and Rowan raised butterflies and released them at her grave one year, and has had a special connection with butterflies ever since... so chocolate cake with princess candles and sugar butterflies it was!

 

 

 

Rowan walking in with roses, a card and a picture for Lorraine, and a balloon and the cross for Chrissie.

 

 

Lorraine and Rowan, both sporting their Chrissie inspired "Boss Your Heart" T-shirts, with the memory quilt I made for them after Chrissie passed away, hanging above their heads.  It has 140+ photos of Chrissie's beautiful life on it.

 

 

 

 

Rowan just loves leaving gifts for Chrissie, and they are always pink and beautiful.

 

Like her birthday balloon... 

 

 

 

 

...a bright pink rose at the foot of her grave.

 

 

 

and the cross he painted...

 

But the sweetest gift he leaves her each year is his prayer.  Once again, on his knees, he thanked God for taking good care of her in Heaven, and said he just knew she was doing good there and was glad she was in a better place. 

 Chrissie's parents just returned from Trinidad, where they have recently adopted another precious doll, Ruby Jean.  We were lucky enough to get to meet her for the first time while we were out at their ranch yesterday, and we just adored her! So much joy in that little package!

 

Rowan colored this welcome home Ruby picture...

 

 

 He explained that God is in the sky, smiling down over Matt and Lorraine, and Lorraine is holding baby Ruby.  The lower right hand corner is Chrissie's grave with a rainbow coming from it, with the rock Rowan painted for Chrissie a few years ago, next to her grave.

 

 

 We thoroughly enjoyed meeting Ruby. She was precious and hilarious... she kept grabbing my face and kissing my chin all over!

 

 Rowan just kept repeating, "She's sooooo cute Mom!"

 

 

Thanks for introducing us to the newest Patterson Princess, and for the fun ride around the ranch!

 

So good to see you: Lorraine, Ruby, Kiefer, Ella...

We missed you but love you too: Matt, Mattie, Parker, Sawyer, Meribeth, Naomi, Selah, Conner & Cooper.

 

 

And thank you Keifer for Rowan's big rock crystal.  It matched his hair and he loves it!

 

Most of all...

 

Thank you God for the gift of the Patterson's friendship...

Thank you for bringing us together, even if it was through a tragedy initially.  And thank you God for the amazing connection you gave Rowan and Chrissie, one that crosses the boundaries of Heaven and Earth.

 

Happy Birthday Christyn Joy Patterson!

 

 

Whether you turned 9, or are forever 4 in Heaven,

 you are certainly forever in our hearts Chrissie!

 

 

 

 

"There are good people everywhere...you just have to go meet them."

When we were in Seattle this past August, most of the time was already planned for Rowan.  He had lots of doctor appointments, plus his bone marrow aspirate and biopsy at the hospital.  One night when we had a little down time though, Rowan and I shared some fries and had a drink at the hotel bar.  Our bartender/server was a really nice local guy who took great care of us.  He was trying to give Rowan some recommendations of where he should go sight see, and where to go eat.  Rowan told him he could only eat potatoes though and that he was there because he had doctor appointments and a bone marrow biopsy.  This started a conversation, and the sweet bartender really showed a lot of care and concern about Rowan.  He asked us our names, how long we would be there at the hotel, when Rowan's procedure was, etc.  He was such a nice man.

 

The day after Rowan's BMB, we received a call to our room that there were tickets waiting for us at the Seattle Aquarium, provided by our new sweet friend at the hotel bar.  Brian, Rowan and I went down to the Aquarium the next day.  When we went to the front desk and told them that Daniel sent us, they immediately pulled out an envelope from under the desk.  Not only were our admission passes taken care of, but Rowan had a $50.00 Gift Shop Gift Card as well.  We were blown away.  What a nice gesture from a virtual stranger.

 

Here are the pictures from our visit to the Aquarium.  What a special day.  What a great gift we were given...(and I don't just mean monetarily).

 

 

THANK YOU!

 

Rowan has wanted to hold my hand every night when we fall asleep, ever since he saw this t-shirt in Seattle:)

 

He loved the Octopus...

 

Except when the tentacles grabbed him...

 

and when they looked like they were sucking his brains...

 

The Star Fish were cool...

 

 

The Jelly Fish were awesome...

 

 (Love the wonder in his face in this one...)

 

 

 

There were so many beautifully colored fish and coral...

 

 

 

Rowan also really liked the seals...

 

 

But his favorite exhibit, by far, was the Otters!!!

He watched them for a very long time...

We were so very grateful for the family time, especially after the long week of doctor appointments and procedures.

 

 And Rowan made sure to make Daniel a special thank you picture card just before we left the hotel, and we dropped it off at the bar for him.  I hope it made it's way to him, or that he finds this blog post... because he should know how extremely grateful we are for his kindness and generosity, and he should see what a great time Rowan had at the Seattle Aquarium, all because of him. 

 

After we dropped off Rowan's picture at the hotel bar, Rowan told me "There ARE good people everywhere, you just have to go meet them."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Daniel, for being one of those "good people".

 

Rowan is right you know... there are good people everywhere, and I hope you all get to go meet some yourselves today:)