My brother in law, Matt, has been in the hospital for quite some time. As a result, we have had the pleasure of having our nieces, Mya and Shane, at our house more often than usual. Shaney and Laynee were good buddies. Kerin and I traded off babysitting for awhile. A great set up but for the fact that Laynee ran Aunt Kerin ragged. I think maybe I got the better end of that deal.
Shane is so refreshing in that she never hesitates to ask whatever she wants to know about Laynee. She has no need for etiquette, it doesn't occur to her to tread softly around the subject of Laynee. She asked "Aunt Karol, do you miss Laynee?' To my answer "yes," she replied, "I miss her too." Discomfort never entered her mind. She asked, I answered. She and I talked freely and openly about Laynee. Mya also talked about Laynee. She informed me that she reads Loving Laynee and she likes the pictures because "they are cute." They both stood for a long time with elbows propped on the counter, chin on their hands, watching the slide show of Laynee on our digital picture frame. Talking about Laynee is so good, so healing. Why is it that adults shy away from talking about those who've gone to heaven?
Having the girls here has given me reason to venture outdoors again. Today we went out to Laynee's hee hees and bawk bawks. While I desperately wished she was there, it was good to be on her turf again. Shane chattered constantly and made sure to shake her booty when I tried to take pictures. After a few minutes in the barn, Shane and Mya went to play in the snow. They made snow angels which they both announced were really "Snow Laynee's" I was struck once again by the fact that my little girl was larger than life. She impacted so many lives. She's being remembered in ways that I don't even know about.
Shane and Mya,
I just know Laynee was smiling while she was watching you with her hee hees. Shaney B, I bet she laughed and laughed when the baby cow ate your glove. The Snow Laynee's were beautiful, just like Laynee. And Shaney B, we miss her so much, but she's having such a great time in heaven that I don't think she misses us. Jesus is taking care of Laynee, and that is even better than a mommy and daddy taking care of us. She's okay in heaven. We don't need to worry.
I love you both.
Aunt Karol
And a little child shall lead themIsaiah 11:6
Karol,
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures. We think so much of Laynee whenever we got out to the barn. Im sure she is smiling down on the girls.
When we were leaving the cemetary at Jan's funeral yesterday, Marty had to cry and said,
"I bet Laynee is the first person that Jan gave a hug too." She knew how special she was to us.
Love ya, Karla
"Snow Laynees"...how beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love your confident faith in the midst of your longing and sorrow. Thank you for letting me, a stranger, peak through your heart's windows. I see bright, clear love shining through the shadows of your pain.
1 Corinthians 13:11-13
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(Sorry, no blog...immichal AT yahoo)