Shanda's Birthday

Today we celebrated my sister's birthday. Ben bought balloons so we could send them to Tia Shanda in heaven. It was very difficult to try to explain to the children about Mami's hermana, Shanda, who now lived with Jesus in heaven. We had about a dozen balloons. My nephew, Shanda's son, Kaleb, said to be sure to write on them to Shanda and all our names and to even include his, his sister, and dad. I did that. The children sang Happy Birthday to Tia Shanda on the way home from getting the balloons. When we got home, I wrote a small note on each of them and signed our names. As I was doing that, the children were going throughout the house looking for Shanda, calling out, "Tia Shanda! Tia Shanda!" They didn't understand. When I was finished writing, we went outside and released the balloons, one at a time. On one of the balloons, I wrote, "Kisses to you, Shanda," and I was thinking of that ole' country song about the girl who gets married and her parent is not there and it starts to rain...and she comforts the remaining parent, that she felt like those were kisses from heaven from her deceased parent...(Do ya'll know what song I'm talking about?) Anyways, after we went in, the children continued to sing Happy Birthday, Tia Shanda. I showed them a picture of her and again tried to explain she did not live here anymore. She is in heaven.

We called my father who has a big 4th of July get together each year. and the children continued saying "Tia Shanda" in almost a chant. I told Daddy...they don't understand...and then I briefly spoke with Kaleb, and began crying. Andrew saw me. It began raining. I thought of that song. And Andrew came and hugged me, went to tell Papi; Papi reassured him, came back and just held me...it was so sweet...Thank you God for the gift of these children.

Today, my sister would have been 33 years old. She died of a heart condition this past November 15th. Please continue to pray for my family as we grieve this terrible loss in our lives. With much gratitude, Wendi