In Honor

Capture Your Grief 2015

Day #3: In Honor 

This is a picture of Kaleb's schoolwork that he brought home last week.  It makes my heart so happy to read that he listed having one brother and one sister.  Gabriella is always remembered and we know she is and always will be a member of our family.  But sometimes this is difficult because she is not physically seen in our family.  So how do we honor her presence?

~When strangers ask how many kids we have, we tell them two with us and one in heaven.  

~When we say our evening prayers as a family, we always include Gabriella's name in the blessing.

~When well-meaning individuals tell us that we need to try for a little girl since we already have two boys, we kindly let them know that we already do have a little girl in our family.

~We find ways to include her in our family photos.

~We remember...the pregnancy, the ultrasound pictures, the excitement...and we talk about it together as a family.  How it felt to have Gabriella join our family and how it felt when she left for heaven.  

We honor Gabriella every day by knowing that she lives within each of us.  It is because of her why we are more compassionate with one another.  Why we hug one another a little bit more.  And say "I love you" every day.  Because of Gabriella, we are grateful.  Because of Gabriella, we are better people.  And we will honor that for the rest of our lives.