Gabby

One of the amazing things that has happened to Robert and i since we've adopted Emma is the "community" that we've discovered. This community of sorts are families who also have adopted from Guatemala, along with others who live there as missionaries to help the Guatemalans children. It's interesting to me that this group is as close as it is. When something happens, good or bad, it's shared. If there is a need, it's shared. Photos are shared of our children, holiday wishes are shared and many of us have formed very, very close friendships. We send Christmas cards, read each other's blogs and often ask each other for advice.

It was on Guatemalan adoption site that i found (okay, stalked and emailed her till she answered me) Melissa. I swear, she's my long-lost missing sister! Funny, beautiful and sarcastic, she is my buddy. We went through our adoptions together of Ana (her daughter) and my Emma. We've laughed hysterically together, cried together and prayed for each other. Melissa and her husband had a very long road and difficult road with their adoption journey, that was heartbreaking at times. I hate that Melissa lives in Chicago and i live in Nashville, but maybe that's a good thing as we would planning things together daily and probably having one too many Mommy Play Dates! Although we don't speak daily, or often, i know that i can pick up the phone at any time and call her...

Yesterday, i read about Gabby Lewis. She is a seven year old child who was adopted into the Lewis family. She also has a brother, who also was adopted from Guatemala. Gabby, as you can see from her photo, is a beautiful little girl. I don't know the Lewis family, but they are part of the "community" i mentioned earlier.

Gabby and her brother were in a car with their grandparents when there was an accident. I don't know all of the details of the accident, and somehow, when i read that Gabby had a serious brain injury, it really didn't matter what the details of the car accident were. Little Gabby had swelling on the brain and was unresponsive. Her brother, Tucker, 5 yr old, is in the PICU but are "he will make it" and the grandmother had lost her arm and as of this afternoon was not yet awake. Emails and posts asking for prayers immediately went around and all of us prayed....late yesterday i read this post on a fb site for GuataMamas:

Prayers and Hugs for the Lewis Family...
Tonight, Guatemalan adoptive families mourn the loss of a beautiful little girl by the name of Gabby Lewis. She was only 8 years old and passed away due to injuries suffered in a horrible car accident....
Her 5 year old brother Tucker is in the PICU but "will make it"... and the grandmother has lost her arm and as of this afternoon was not yet awake..... Please keep the Lewis family in your prayers!!

I think that probably the greatest fear of any mother is to loose a child. In fact, i would probably venture to say that loosing someone you love is the greatest fear of many. We've all lost someone we love; yet it never gets easier. And loosing a child seems to be perhaps the hardest to understand and deal with. Although there is happiness that the person you love is in heaven with others who have passed on before them, and in the Lord's arms...it's hard to remember that when you only are in the mist of your physical, heart wrenching pain. Later, the thought that your child is with Jesus, i imagine, is a comfort...for you will see them again.

But gone are all the moments that you were so sure would come. Growing up moments, loving moments, growing moments, funny moments, and time to make precious memories...i think that i take for granted that i am going to have every one of these moments with my daughter and husband. I think that i have "forever" with them to create moments;
when in reality, no one knows when their "forever" will end and for what reason, if there is a reason. Many times, it seems that there are no reasons that we can understand.

Cherish.

Cherishing moments.

Cherish every single one of them. Let little things be. Hug more. Laugh more. Forgive more. Extend grace more. Spend time with those you love more, without the distraction of a TV, computer, or your phone. Be quick to giggle and not-so-quick to anger. Go barefoot with your family outside. Catch bugs together. Have a water-balloon fight. Tuck each other in with a goodnight story and prayer. Cook dinner together. Take care of others together, as a family. Attend church together and pray together.

And be sure to love with ALL of your heart.

It's the only way to love, you know....

Gabby, i know that you are among the angels today, playing with Jesus and watching over us. Although our hearts are so very heavy for your Mommy, we know that you are where you should be: in the arms of our Lord. We will all see you when it is time, but till then, know that you'll be in our thoughts.