Now, every day is Memorial Day

Memorial Day has always had great significance to our family. We have a very rich heritage, and taking the time to 'honor' it has always been a priority. I always get choked up when I see family's gathered around a loved ones grave, placing flowers, cleaning the marker, and reminiscing. It's stunning to see how much love goes on and people are remembered for the significance they play in the lives of those left here.
We've done our best to visit graves from many generations back in our family -- which has led us to many quiet graveyards in the west and even in England. Our 'record' is finding the grave of a 15th great-grandfather in a Church in England, and standing on the spot in a neighboring town where his great-grandson was burned at the stake for 'heresy' ... being "the last person in England so to die." We've had to trek through some pretty rural places, or just taken a quick few steps off of major freeways, but we've visited dozens of places to pay honor to those who have blessed our lives with great beauty through their sacrifices in our behalf.
We've been making the trek up the SL Cemetery hill for 20 years of Memorial Days, since the passing of my father in 1989. Up until last October when I trekked up the hill to place flowers there for my mother's birthday, I hadn't ever considered that it would ever mean something different than the love I have for my own parents. But, on that windy evening in October, I had the sense that the spot would mean something much different to me now -- as it will continue to be for us and our children. I'm very grateful that Lauren's 'final resting spot' is beside my parents, but a little stunned at joining the ranks of parents who have to bury their children instead of vice versa. Standing on that same spot and having buried a child and both of my parents is simply sobering. Now, 'honoring' on Memorial Day means a stretch of the heart in both directions ... not just to those who are generations of our parents ... but also to our own precious child.
All days are now Memorial Days for us. In Lauren's honor, every day is a reminder of our blessings and what is ours not only in this life, but in the eternities. Every day is lived in memory and the honor it is to be her family. Even the haunting loneliness we feel is a tribute to her and the place she has in our hearts. And, while we miss her terribly, we have to rejoice that she is safe and secure and happy in cherished relationships with those she loves and honored in her few Memorial Days and all of her regular days on earth.

Lauren's grave can be found in the SL Cemetery near the wall alongside 11th Avenue. The Mausoleum is a good 'landmark' as the marker can be found approximately 20 yards from Center street, near the only pine tree left in the area. She is, of course, beside one of her best friends -- creating love and laughter in heaven -- not 'resting' beside one another on a hill, but their markers are there next to each other.

It's finally here!

We attended the funeral for our fellow cancer warrior today -- we had helped the family secure a burial plot very near Lauren's grave. While we were there, Lauren's marker was covered up, but we had looked underneath to show the siblings of our sweet angel Angie that was where Lauren's marker was. The photos had still not arrived. I returned to the grave site to place some balloons, clean up and organize their flowers over the grave and found that our monument company had been in and placed the missing portrait of Lauren and her beautiful painting, along with the vases which hadn't been placed earlier. So, it's complete now, in time for Memorial Day.
And, on this day of celebrating Angie's six years of life (three of them fighting leukemia), just want to add our love for her and her beautiful family who have etched a permanent spot in our hearts. Each time we visit the cemetery, we'll now consider both of these angels now in heaven.

Yur Kahel, Estefany, Daniella, Angie

Inside a carved out Redwood tree. Summer 2008

As I look out the window today and see the snow falling down in big chunky flakes, I am reminded that Lauren wouldn't sit in the house and watch, she would be out trying to catch them on her tongue. For Lauren, even a spring snowstorm was a delight just waiting to happen. A pouring rainstorm had puddles to be splashed in, and sunny days typically had clouds that had a shape just waiting to be found. Finding joy in every day is an art ... and Lauren is a master at it. So, in her honor, I'll stop my distaste for snow at the end of May and go outside and catch a few on my tongue ... singing the song she would add to it - - "If all of the snowflakes were Hershey bars and milkshakes - oh what a world this would be! I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide going AH-AH, AH, AH! AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!"
That is what makes the difference .... when we learn from the masters of living. And, 'living Lauren's legacy' will mean more love, more laughter, more living deeply, and - - more snowflakes on our tongues.
Living her legacy also means getting outside of ourselves and thinking of others. We've just been interviewed for the upcoming KSL telethon for Primary Children's Medical Center. It's tender and draining to talk about Lauren's illness and the suffering she went through, but the opportunity is a bit like the snowflakes -- it calls us to come out of ourselves and see the world through her eyes. So, we did what we thought she would want us to do and shared her story in an effort to help others. The telethon is June 5 and 6. Lauren's paintings (prints) will also be given as thank you's to the telethons biggest donors. (And, we'll still be offering them with proceeds going directly to benefit PCMC and other charities Lauren loved.)
Thank you to everyone who participated in the collection of books for PCMC. Over 200 are being delivered today. And, a huge thank you to those who collected food and money for our friends made through our mutual experience at PCMC. Your generosity is going a long way for their sweet little family.
Lauren still makes a difference ... many fluffy wet snowflakes at a time! Happy catching!!

Happy Mother's Day!

This is a little slide show we made so that Lauren could be more a part of our mother's day. Unfortunately youtube automatically disabled the audio for copyright reasons... It is supposed to be the song "To Where You Are" sung by Josh Groban.

Our CELEBRATION

Lauren loves to celebrate everything ... including birthdays. So, even recognizing her distaste for undue attention, we think she would have enjoyed the party. We know she had to smile at the 'wishes' made and delivered in her behalf. Our celebration included:

1000 Origami cranes
(folded by the Japanese Club of Skyline High School
in Lauren's honor and delivered to PCMC May 3, 2010)

Hundreds of Bubbles

$500.00 and counting for our sweet Oncology friends
300 craft kits for the volunteer department of PCMC
(150 - Thanks Carlie!)
(150 - Thanks Carlie, Jen & YW!)
200+ books for ICS (Oncology) at PCMC

150 Rubber Ducky's donated to Make-A-Wish
100+ cans of food for the Oncology family

Over a hundred people wearing blue, and
sporting a gold childhood cancer awareness ribbon.

Dozens of well-wishes from many friends.

45 people (not all pictured) who gathered
at our home for delicious cupcakes (Thanks Lisa)
and a balloon release (thanks, Claire and Karen)

32 balloons

There were only supposed to be 16, but
we needed to improvise ... the first send-off
of blue balloons with gold ribbons,
and covered with Lauren's friends wishes
was blown right into a towering pine tree. :-)
Lauren would have found this extremely funny. So did we.

So, 16 decorative balloons took their place
14 DELICIOUS Ribeye steaks (Lauren's favorite)
(Thanks Uncle Scott -- you should be a chef!)
and 14 big pieces of cake

A dozen attempts to get the marker on her grave
in time for her birthday
but the one (THANKS, Jen!)
that is a sweet substitute for now:
(The permanent one is waiting for dryer ground to be placed
but will be there soon.)

6 hearts with holes celebrating a beautiful life
(One is in Thailand and one is our sweet friend
Jessica Lesser behind the camera)
3 Carrie Bears
(check her out at www.carriebears.com)
(Made with love from one of Lauren's favorite blankets)
And the ONE nurse (a favorite friend of Laurens)
we caught scaling the wall
at the cemetery to visit Lauren's grave
when we arrived last night.
Touched us SO much.
We love you, Kelli!

Happy Birthday, Angel Lauren!!

Monday May 3, 2010

Happy Birthday, Lauren!!

Today would be Lauren's 16th birthday. It's a day we wish to celebrate her life and her influence of happiness in a world that so often lacks it.
Please check out the page of "Friends memories for Lauren's birthday" - - there are a lot of new, beautiful memories written by people Lauren adored. If you wish to add one, send it on to melodie@webbtours.com.
On Monday, May 3, please wear the color blue (Lauren's favorite) and a gold awareness ribbon for Childhood Cancer. If you feel so inclined, Lauren's friends are collecting money and food for another oncology family, and books for the ICS unit at PCMC, all in Lauren's honor and memory. They already knew what Lauren would have 'wished for' . . .
These same sweet friends are gathering at our home at 3:57 to celebrate the actual time of her birth with balloons, bubbles and cake. All are welcome to join us in celebrating her life, granting her wish, and increasing awareness of childhood cancer.