Today seemed like the right day to put just a few pictures up on this site again. Today is Nora's second birthday. Is it okay to say that overall it has been a "good" day? Full of emotion, but also full of hope and some celebrating and looking to the future as well as remembering the past and especially Nora's life.
I, Janelle, dealt with some intense feelings of disappointment yesterday to realize that a lingering cold was not going to go away fully in time for us to donate blood in Nora's memory this morning. Instead the time was spent with Jason, my dad and I going for a hike to the lake near our home. It was refreshing to walk in the cool air and mist. I realized that I had no idea what the weather was like on the day of Nora's birth.
While we were out my Mom and Kali were busy decorating the cake Mom had made (with some instructions from big sister, Kali, as to what cake was appropriate for the occasion). We were not allowed to watch or look at it before eating it, but Kali assured me it would include some orange for Nora. It was beautiful and probably one of the best activities Kali could engage in at her level today. It was a treasured moment later in the day for me when I heard her plinking out "happy birthday" on her keyboard. I asked her afterwards if she was playing "happy birthday" for Nora. She replied that it was for her but then admitted that she had not thought of that before I mentioned it - as if to admit that it would have been nice had that been her intention... Either way, I savored the song! I wasn't quite up for singing it myself, but it felt appropriate hearing Kali spontaneously, and with great focus, hit each note.
The gestures from friends and family were felt, some deeply. Most notably, was a poster of pictures and poems from my dad that helped bring on a morning surge of tears! I have so few pictures printed and longed for something to be able to feast my eyes upon (not on a computer screen). The collage of memories filled a void that I was feeling!
This evening Kali, Jason and I planted four dwarf laurel bushes given to us by a friend. Something about planting and tending something living felt like the right activity for today. Then as we watered them in, I suggested walking to Nora's memory garden. Kali quickly added that those plants needed water too, as the last time she and Jason took care of the chickens she thought they "looked sad." Most of the plants are entering "winter mode" but there were a few lingering splashes of color.
We will end the day by enjoying a fresh pie, made for us on this day by a friend and delivered by another friend. We are grateful for all those that remember Nora's life with us today and many days. Her life continues to shape ours in so many ways and for that we are grateful. As the moon peaked out of the clouds at us and as we went around gathering eggs and "going on a little explore" with Kali as our guide, she started singing, "I see the moon and the moon sees me..." She wanted me to continue and, as I sang the words "the moon sees somebody I'd like to see," it rang so true!
Posts
