Something beautiful that happened to me last night.
After a difficult day spent buying not enough Easter Eggs, we still had to get through a McDonalds birthday party in the evening. We took all three kids - they had a great time, as predicted, but Crayte and I sat inside for a good part of the evening - avoiding cheery parents, drinking coffee and missing our beautiful girl. She would have loved all the other little girls running around shreiking and chasing the boys...
I was feeling very sad so got up and went outside when out of nowhere this little girl came straight up to me and handed me a little bunch of flowers. She didn't say anything while I took them and tried not to cry.
Ava gave me flowers so very often. The day before her accident she threw what we know to be weeds at me from the pool - she saw them being just as beautiful as perfect roses and I treasured them the same way. I still have them. The same day she gave me a picture of a bunch of flowers with hearts around it and I took it to Crayton to show him how different it was to her usual drawings.
That little girl may never know just what her gift means to me. I wish I could make them last forever but knowing I can't, I've done the next best thing and photographed them. Aren't they just beautiful? I will treasure the image and the memory, always.
Fellow photographers will understand when I admit this -I literally have thousands of photos I haven't proofed... We tend to ignore so many images just quickly seeking out those that are razor sharp, flawlessly composed and perfectly exposed. Luckily I'm very sentimental so all those that didn't make the grade were never deleted. I feel so lucky that I really do have every one of Ava's expressions, every possible angle of her gorgeous face and so, so many moments in her brief time. I found this one today - I know she's mine and I'm biased, like all Mummies should be, but she takes my breath away and I will forever marvel at her.
Finally, I thought I would pop in a couple of little Ivy - she's such a treasure and makes me smile amidst the tears, often. As Crayte said today "we are the luckiest and unluckiest of people"..
Thankyou for all the beautiful comments..we are only as "good" as the support around us.
Please spare a thought this weekend for the family of beautiful little Isabelle Broadhead who died a year ago on April 13. You can see Isabelle's website here. I feel blessed to have received such wonderful support from Isabelle's mummy - thankyou Danielle.
With love.
xxxxxxxx
32 comments:
OMG my heart & stomach just skipped a beat! Thos flowers are beautiful Sheye as to is the story that goes with it!
I so understand all those unproofed images!
love you
xox Carrie
I'm so glad that little girl was sent your way. If it weren't for unproofed images, we wouldn't get little suprises like that beautiful shot of Ava. By the way, I love how you got it right the first time so you worked on the same plan to get Ivy :-) talk about spitting image, she is divine. I have a thing about kids with dark eyes... :-)
all my love Kate xx
What a beautiful post Sheye and divine pics as always.
You guys are so much better than any support you recieve ~ that's why there is so much of it.
Thinking of you this weekend and you also Danielle..... thanks for being there for Sheye.
Vanessa and Kara xx
You can count on my thoughts and prayers from Michigan, for your family and this 'tough' Easter weekend. I know the feeling all too well, of being "the luckiest, unluckiest people'. My heart sees the world through new eyes, ever since death touched me so deeply...and yet I know that there is still much happiness to be had in life. It is evident in the beauty of those flowers, and more obviously, in the lives of your other children. I know sweet Ava is dancing in Heaven and one day, you will be whole again. All my love from afar~
Oh what a precious lil girl!
Beautiful and so touching...
My thoughts are with you always...
Totally get the unproofed image thing!!! : )
Much love to you and your family...I am sure Ava will be there with you this weekend.
(((HUGS)))
~Kate
from So Cal
Oh wow Sheye!! That little girl was probably heaven sent to make you smile. So beautiful.
Little Ivy is as beautiful as her big sister.
Praying for Danielle & her family as well as yours.
Beautiful...
I have been reading and just now have the courage to post.
i am so very sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family.
Dear Sheye,
I haven't contacted you before, but I have heard of your loss of beautiful Ava. I wanted to say how sorry I am for you all. This is the first time I've been into your blog. This post has moved me so much, I know a lot of women who have lost children at various times of thier lives, and we all have similar stories of being touched by our angel children. I believe in my heart that Ava sent that little girl to you with those flowers. They are beautiful, just like your darling girl. Many hugs to you and your family esp over the easter holidays. I lost my second daughter at birth, it was such hard time, but she is still a part of us so much. Much love to you, Sam
Sheye what a beautiful story & beautiful photos, it is amazing how we insist on perfection with our images, often overlooking the true perfection right before our eyes such as the beautiful image of Ava. Sheye, you & your family are in my thoughts & prayers especially this weekend and also Danielle & her family. I believe that the little girl who gave you those flowers Sheye was truly Heaven sent... :)
All my love Tanya xx
The little girl was definitely heaven sent Sheye, a message straight from Ava, to put a smile on your face even for just a moment. A memory you will no doubt treasure for eternity. The story is just perfect and absolutely beautiful.
Ava always took my breath away, with every shot you would share with us, it wasn't very hard to do for her being the stunning beauty she was.
Ivy will grow up to be a stunner just like Ava, no doubt about it, she is & always has been a beauty herself!
Thanks for sharing her with us, its good to see how wee Ivy has grown,
Isabelle is in my thoughts as are her family & I'm glad you have the support from Danielle xoxo
Much love Ebz xoxo
What a gift Sheye, those flowers are gorgeous.
Love you
Lea xxx
xoxoxoxoxo
You are in my thoughts and prayers as you approach Easter without your precious girl. My heart has not stopped aching for you and your family is not forgotten. I hope that God provides unimagineable peace to you and yours in the coming days and months. Those flowers are beautiful, and your beautiful photographs of Ava will forever bring you beautiful memories. Blessings to you.
What a beautiful thing from that little girl! She is so beautiful little ivy and she looks a lot like Ava, You're still in my prayers and thoughts all the time and when the weather gets a little better here i will send some ballons up to ava, You're seem like a great family despite what has happend, Your children are very lucky and so are you, as said sometimes the luckiest people can be the most unluckiest..My whole family is thinking about yours
With all my love Cilla!
OMG how beautiful Sheye! I am so pleased that little girl was able to brighten your day, for even just a minute!
Little Ivy is just gorgeous! The pics are just divine!
Love to you and your family,
Jodie xxx
Sheye, through all my wedding frenzy we missed easter this year, and I felt sad just now as I didn't stop to think what you were missing.
It sounds like Ava is still hovering around you and doing her best to cheer you up :)
I love that photo of her, she looks like a little doll. Ivy is as cute as a button, she reminds me of an elfling from 'The Dark Crystal' :P
Can I say something without offending, as I'm sure you've done and done again, but backup backup backup! All of those polished, and unpolished pics, And then backup & leave a copy in another house, in a bank, and buried in a time capsule :)
Also, have you seen this 'blogger book'?
Keira xx
Such a beautiful gift from a heaven sent little girl! You are in my thoughts daily. Hugs to you and your family from my little family here in Ohio.
Your title says it all.
The flowers are beautiful Sheye.
(hugs)
You're never far from my thoughts.
T
xxx
I'm ao glad you're tuned in to receive your gifts from Ava - she is speaking to you so clearly Sheye. :) I love that you are documenting your journey and its priceless moments. And that you are sharing them with us too.
love
Sue J
xxx
Ava sent that little girl and the flowers to you Sheye - I know that with all my heart.
Thinking of you always.
LisaB
xxx
There are angels all around...
And love & grace abounding.
Thank you Sheye for sharing your heart & reminding me always to count my blessings~
Stacey
What a lovely story, Sheye.
Love always,
sylvia xxx
I'm so glad your little angel is helping you to find beauty again. There really are no words, just know that I've hugged my kids even tighter....
Beautiful flowers just when you needed them. How perfect.
And your little Ivy is as gorgeous as her big sister.
Keeping you all in my thoughts.
Zoe
so so so gorgeous
That little girl was one of Ava's messengers - sent to deliver you a smile and hug.
Ivy is gorgeous and your photos, as always, just stunning.
Thinking of you
Christine
I log in to your blog to find this beautiful story. Ava is so thoughtful isn't she :)
Ivy is just growing up way too fast I love the photos as usual.
Hugs & Kisses
Sue
just came across your blog today. new fave. found it through .jen. 's flickr site.. she has balloons for ava. your story saddens and touches me.. i'll be your newest frequent visitor..
Oh Sheye that moment must have been so surreal, it gave me shivers reading it.
I am glad you kept every photo of Ava, of course to my untrained eye every shot looks perfect anyway.
Ivy is just beautiful isnt she.
Hugs to you all,
Trudi
Sheye,
Still thinking of you, your family, and precious Avs since I heard about it in March. It's so painful when we can't change things that are so unfair. I save every single one of the flowers (weeds, mostly) that my daughter,Ava, gives me and I think of you. Prayers of strength and peace for you...
Hello,
I just found your site and have spent time reading through your archives. Your stories of Ava are so sweet and I love that you write about her so much. This story in particular reminds me of something that happened to my mom. Let me give you a bit of my story. I'm the oldest of three girls. My youngest sister, Susan passed away at 16 (4years ago) - she had brain cancer. I can't wrap my arms around what it would be like to lose a child - losing my sister has changed my life. I don't see things the way I did before. I'll never be happy the way I was before - now there's this "new happy" but never like what happiness was like before she died. I think you said something similar in one of your posts.
A few years after my sister passed a little boy walked up to my mom and handed her a Beanie Baby heart shaped tag. He randomly came up to her put it in her hands. My sister had a beanie baby collection since she was at the hospital so much we got her a new one from the gift shop all the time. Anyway, she opened up the tag and in it is said, "Gigi.” Gigi was my mom’s nickname for my sister. She was so overwhelmed and just started crying when she showed the rest of us. I think God has a neat way of letting us know that our angels are ok, and that they love us so much. And that He loves us so much. Thanks again for sharing this special story.
Silvana
ps. sorry this was so long!
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