Easter Sunday March 23, 2008 Gracie, 3 days old
Gracie's 'My First Easter' socks!
Pure Love.
Last year Easter fell on Sunday March 23rd, Gracie was 3 days old and had her Norwood open heart surgery scheduled for the next morning. These are three pictures that I didn't post on my blog from last Easter. This is the first holiday that we celebrated without her. I think she would've looked pretty darn cute in a sweet little Easter dress this year. :(
What a difference a year makes. We had no idea in those pictures where we would be on this Easter Sunday. I wish it was with Gracie.
We have a deeper appreciation for our Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement. We know that he lives and that we can live with him again and be with Gracie if we live righteously here on the earth. I have talks about this frequently with my children and try to stress the importance of making good choices every day so that we can be with Gracie again. Even the little choices like being nice to each other. ;)
The following are a few pictures from this Easter April 12, 2009. The kids had a great time on the annual egg hunt. (Like the grocery sacks? I forgot to bring their baskets to grandma's!)
My kids look older to me now. I don't know if it's because we don't have a little baby around the house anymore or if it's that the last 1 1/2 years of their lives are a blur, or both. Either way, I am cherishing these fun years of them still being cute on things like an Easter egg hunt. I don't think it will be quite the same taking pictures of my teenagers egg hunting?!
I hope everybody had a good Easter, I know we did. I am grateful for the three living children that I have, they help me to not get too depressed about Gracie. Seeing their shining faces everyday makes me smile. Our memories of Gracie do too.
Gracie's 'My First Easter' socks!
Pure Love.Last year Easter fell on Sunday March 23rd, Gracie was 3 days old and had her Norwood open heart surgery scheduled for the next morning. These are three pictures that I didn't post on my blog from last Easter. This is the first holiday that we celebrated without her. I think she would've looked pretty darn cute in a sweet little Easter dress this year. :(
What a difference a year makes. We had no idea in those pictures where we would be on this Easter Sunday. I wish it was with Gracie.
We have a deeper appreciation for our Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement. We know that he lives and that we can live with him again and be with Gracie if we live righteously here on the earth. I have talks about this frequently with my children and try to stress the importance of making good choices every day so that we can be with Gracie again. Even the little choices like being nice to each other. ;)
The following are a few pictures from this Easter April 12, 2009. The kids had a great time on the annual egg hunt. (Like the grocery sacks? I forgot to bring their baskets to grandma's!)
My kids look older to me now. I don't know if it's because we don't have a little baby around the house anymore or if it's that the last 1 1/2 years of their lives are a blur, or both. Either way, I am cherishing these fun years of them still being cute on things like an Easter egg hunt. I don't think it will be quite the same taking pictures of my teenagers egg hunting?!
I hope everybody had a good Easter, I know we did. I am grateful for the three living children that I have, they help me to not get too depressed about Gracie. Seeing their shining faces everyday makes me smile. Our memories of Gracie do too.
41 comments:
What a gorgeous little angel.....
Not only was she loved so much by you guys, but also by everyone else whose heart she touched.....And boy did she pull at my heart strongs!!! :0)
I miss seeing new pictures of her sweet little face....... :*(
xoxoxoxo
Alyson
<3
precious photos, as always. you're doing a good job :)
still thinking of you guys.
What precious pictures of Gracie on Easter last year! Such a blessing.
Love their bags...I tell ya I forget everything nowadays so I can totally relate to that. I'm glad you guys had a good day..I continue to pray for your family often.
That photo of Max and Gracie is so precious. Priceless, really. And I have to agree, your kids do look a lot older all of the sudden.
Thanks for continuing to show us pictures of Gracie. We miss her so much and miss hearing updates about her. It just seems so unreal. We love you and are thinking of you often!!
I feel like I miss her. It is still so sad to me that she is gone. What a sweet baby girl.
That was such a beautiful post for Easter, her pictures are so sweet. I am so glad to hear about your Easter and to see your kids enjoying the egg hunt. Thank you for the updates on your life, they mean a lot to us.
You have beautiful children! Thanks so much for sharing! U brighten MY day with your beautiful posts..and your perspective of life and love.
Still praying for you and your family...hope u are doing well!
Lots of hugs!
What a beautiful picture of Gracie in her Easter dress and what a testament her life is of the true miracle of Easter. Thanks for sharing your feelings. Constantly thinking and praying for your family.
You have such an amazing family! Those are sweet little pictures of Gracie! And I think the heading of Pure Love on that one picture was a perfect description, you can see such a love in both of their eyes, but especially Max's. I am happy that you put updates on this blog! I really am still thankful for Gracie's amazing example to me in my life and that I live and love each day more fully because of her. Thanks again for the adorable pictures and your sweet words!
Always carrying a prayer in my heart for you--everyday.
xoxo,
Mindi
I was just thinking of your family today. Wondering what you would blog about next it's always something nice that i need to hear. My daughter megan is sitting next to me as i read your blog she asked me who is that baby mom i told her that her name is gracie and that she is up in heaven with our heavenly father and that she was born with a heart like yours.
I wish your family peace in the upcoming holidays. Thinking & praying for family Kaycee Dance
How could we forget last Easter...We missed you at the annual egg hunt...you were spending every second with Miss Gracie before her surgery. I love the pictures of her! Last Easter was the last day she looked whole and perfect...And because of the resurrection, that we celebrate on Easter, she will be perfect again. It's the only comfort we have. I feel so lucky to be her aunt and that I will be able to see her again...that's if I am "nice to people" too.
We sure miss her :*(
Precious photos. Praying for your family.
Michele- Such a sweet post about little Gracie girl. She is such a beautiful baby and those pics are priceless. We are glad that you had a good Easter and that it allowed all of us to reflect upon our older brother Jesus Christ and his atonement. Even though I was not able to meet Gracie in this life I look forward to meeting her in the next life and letting her know what an example she has been to our family. Thank you for sharing this post with us. We love to see something new each time we check. Lots of hugs, The Gee Family
I was thinking of you on Easter...cant imagine how these holidays must tug at your heart.
Imagine she was dressed like a princess in heaven!
Love
Mandy
precious memories...and many prayers for you remain.
Those pics are SO SO Sweet of Gracie! Thanks so much for posting them. I too love to see more of her!
Happy Easter! What peace the gospel brings. Your Gracie is adorable.
Those are some darn cute kids!
What a sweet, cute little angel Gracie is. I remember those first few pictures I saw of her. Those cheeks hooked me right away...love her and miss her too.
Gracie didnt need an easter dress. Her beauty was so radiant, her spirit so touching and heart warming.
There isnt a day that goes by that we dont think of you, your family and your sweet Gracie.
Our thoughts and prayers will always remain with you!
Hugs-
Beautiful pictures. What a beautiful little angel.
Wow!! I love those photos of your beautiful Gracie!! they are priceless!! I'm glad your kids had a fun Easter. It really does change the meaning of Easter, now!! Happy Easter!!
Those cute cheeks are what hooked me too, about a year ago. All your children are beautiful, and someday I too would like to meet sweet Gracie. You are still in my prayers.
those pictures of gracie are so sweet. i wanted to let you know that i recvd. your sweet thank you note today and was so surprised! thank you for the thank you. i'm sure you (and whomever helped) spent a lot of time addressing those envelopes. she's a beautiful child, as are the rest of your children. i also am grateful for my savior's atoning sacrifice and for the opportunity we all have to be reunited with a perfect body after we leave this life. just imagine what a sweet reunion that will be and to see gracie again, running into your arms, without having to catch her breath.
Michele,
I am so glad you posted some more photos of Gracie. The one with Max is so precious!
Amy
Thank you for posting, Michele. Such darling pictures.
Last Easter seems like yesterday--what a sweet little girl. I can't believe it's been a year. Sure miss that little bug, we (I) think of you often and wish I could take away some of your pain:(
Love you guys!
Still praying for your family, always and forever. I am so glad to see that you had a wonderful Easter and I pray that again one day you will all be together again to have Easter egg hunts with your precous angel Gracie. Your family is truly an inspiration to alot of people and I want to personally say Thank you! You Inspire me to be a better Mom, even on those "Not so good days".. Thank you!
Glad you have those three gorgeous/handsome children to keep you smiling. They really are precious. Still praying for your family.
I love Gracies little socks! So cute!
I just got the most beautiful card in the mail today from you guys! Honestly...I don't know you other than what I have seen and read on your blog...but for you to take time to tell ME thank you...it means more than you know. I am the one who needs to thank YOU for sharing your experince and being an insiration to me. THANK YOU!
Beautiful post... We love you guys!!
Oh, I do remember those first holidays, birthdays etc. without your little one. So hard. It does bring back so many memories of little Danny as well. Your comments and testimony are so beautiful and you and Gracie have touched the world! So grateful for the Atonement and our knowledge of where these little ones have gone. Thanks for your example! Lots of love!!
Gracie is so beautiful, and so are your other children! Thinking about and praying for you.
Precious, sweet Gracie. She spent Easter in Heaven with Jesus--amazing!
The photo of your son looking into Gracie's eyes is possibly the sweetest, most tender photo--ever.
And Gracie's foot with the pink Easter bootie sock; darling.
I miss her.
I miss hearing what you all are doing.
Thank you! Continued blessings on all of you.
Praying for you and your family. . .hang in there. . .you are an amazing woman with an amazing family. . .stay strong. . .you will get through this. . .thank you for being such an inspiration to me and to every mother that knows you or has read your blog. You have touched so many others, and changed lives for the better. I am honored to be able to read your blog.
Lots of Love,
The Anderson Family
awe... so cute...Love those little socks! And, ahve to say I love the picture of Callie--she is "goin' for it!" :) I hope no one got in her way! :) ha ha
Michelle,
The above comment was mine and I didn't realize I had signed in under my Relief Society ward blog. I deleted the comment and copied it here again. Sorry about that.
I was in Utah this past weekend for my sister's wedding. I thought of sweet Gracie as I looked at the beautiful mountains. I thought of her as I was at the temple reminding me that Families can be Forever!!!! That brings me peace but still wish she could be here with you.
I read your post this morning and the sadness for your missing her came back to me again. The tears came and I let them. Not sure how I can miss a little sweet baby so much that I never met. I just wish she could still be here using that new heart. Sure would make it easier to have all the "WHY" questions answered now. Guess it's not for us to know the WHY right now, but to just follow Gracie's example and your families example to walk in Faith at all times. May blessings of our Savior's Love fall upon your family constantly. All My Love,
Jill
Easter really has a deeper meaning now doesn't it! I think of you often and wonder how you are. I wonder how your cupcakes are and wish I could take them for a day so you could have hours to yourself! I like to picture Gracie and Jersey twirling in their white, sparkly, poofy Easter dresses with their healthy hearts and bodies!
Your children DO look bigger! and your daughter looks just like you (from the photos anyway).
I just had to tell you I was at a birthday party in Portmsouth, NH and me and another mommy started talked about how we both follow your blog. And she was telling me how she was at a playdate (also in NH) and several of the mommys there also follow you and are so touched by your writing and your story.
I still think about Gracie every day.
If it's ok, I'd like to add you to my blog roll (all heart kids), and perhaps if you have time you can add mine about Luna?
http://lunaandwe.blogspot.com
hugs,
Sabrina
She was so pretty to be only 3 days old! And, I agree - your daughter looks so much like you.
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