11:16pm
Something I have done with both of our big girls is get them some type of snow globe when they were babies. We got Brooklan a Precious Moments one that you can also put a picture in the base of and it plays music and we got Aili one that I believe says 'More thankful for you than there are stars in the sky.' I think I got each of the snowglobes shortly after they were born; I can't remember for sure, but definitely when they were babies.
So last Friday, just over a week ago, Brooklan asked to borrow my phone. Later after I had checked the phone log I saw that she had called my in-laws, but I didn't know for what. Come to find out she had called to ask them to look for a snowglobe for us...for Avelyn. Oh...and not just a snowglobe, but preferably a music box one, as well. And she also let them know it would be great if it could play 'You Are My Sunshine.' I'm sure being 8 years old, she figured this was probably an easy task. So my in-laws, the good people they are, set out on a mission...to please/appease their granddaughter and surprise us. The first store they go into is Hallmark. They look around some and also ask an associate if they have anything of the sort. I'm not sure if it was right away or later they end up sharing Avelyn's story and also how her sister sent them out on this mission. As they look around, they see nothing and the associate even tells them she does not know of anything in the store with this description (big surprise, right?) As I'm thinking, and probably others as well, does something like this even exist...let alone in this one store...the first store they go into...in all of Kansas City??? About that time I guess my father-in-law sees another snowglobe. He sees it is a music box as well. He picks it up and begins to twist it underneath to play its song, and lo and behold, out comes "You Are My Sunshine." In my opinion, a small miracle. Not even the associate knew it existed. I truly see the Lord's hand and my precious Avelyn's hand in this. And by the way, story not over... So they bring it to our house the next day, last Saturday. Right when they get there they show it to Brooklan and she notices it's an ANGEL in the snowglobe (something they had not yet noticed) with big angel wings. A while later, after dinner and a mean game of croquet (which Josh won bc I think he cheated, but according to him, he's been 'training for years' :) --sorry for the sidenote :) ), we finally got to open the present and hear the whole story. As I look at our gift and wind it up to hear our daughter's song, tears begin to roll down my face and I see the angel in the snowglobe holding a BIRD.--As we found out after Avelyn had passed, her name also means 'bird' (in Latin) and I think of her as this often as I see all the little birds 'enjoying life, flying in the sky.' Such a perfect gift...and even more so because with my in-laws help, it came from our oldest daughter to remember her sister...and I believe with her sister's help in finding it. :)
We have received so many perfect gifts since Avelyn has passed...too many to even begin to name here. We are thankful for each and every one of them and will cherish them always. I even have a page in her album dedicated to showing all the gifts we have received (at least up until the point the album was made). So thankful for each of them, as they give me something to see or hold onto as we remember our sweet Avelyn. Thank you. So blessed. Enjoy the bright sunshine tomorrow, sweet friends...
Something I have done with both of our big girls is get them some type of snow globe when they were babies. We got Brooklan a Precious Moments one that you can also put a picture in the base of and it plays music and we got Aili one that I believe says 'More thankful for you than there are stars in the sky.' I think I got each of the snowglobes shortly after they were born; I can't remember for sure, but definitely when they were babies.
So last Friday, just over a week ago, Brooklan asked to borrow my phone. Later after I had checked the phone log I saw that she had called my in-laws, but I didn't know for what. Come to find out she had called to ask them to look for a snowglobe for us...for Avelyn. Oh...and not just a snowglobe, but preferably a music box one, as well. And she also let them know it would be great if it could play 'You Are My Sunshine.' I'm sure being 8 years old, she figured this was probably an easy task. So my in-laws, the good people they are, set out on a mission...to please/appease their granddaughter and surprise us. The first store they go into is Hallmark. They look around some and also ask an associate if they have anything of the sort. I'm not sure if it was right away or later they end up sharing Avelyn's story and also how her sister sent them out on this mission. As they look around, they see nothing and the associate even tells them she does not know of anything in the store with this description (big surprise, right?) As I'm thinking, and probably others as well, does something like this even exist...let alone in this one store...the first store they go into...in all of Kansas City??? About that time I guess my father-in-law sees another snowglobe. He sees it is a music box as well. He picks it up and begins to twist it underneath to play its song, and lo and behold, out comes "You Are My Sunshine." In my opinion, a small miracle. Not even the associate knew it existed. I truly see the Lord's hand and my precious Avelyn's hand in this. And by the way, story not over... So they bring it to our house the next day, last Saturday. Right when they get there they show it to Brooklan and she notices it's an ANGEL in the snowglobe (something they had not yet noticed) with big angel wings. A while later, after dinner and a mean game of croquet (which Josh won bc I think he cheated, but according to him, he's been 'training for years' :) --sorry for the sidenote :) ), we finally got to open the present and hear the whole story. As I look at our gift and wind it up to hear our daughter's song, tears begin to roll down my face and I see the angel in the snowglobe holding a BIRD.--As we found out after Avelyn had passed, her name also means 'bird' (in Latin) and I think of her as this often as I see all the little birds 'enjoying life, flying in the sky.' Such a perfect gift...and even more so because with my in-laws help, it came from our oldest daughter to remember her sister...and I believe with her sister's help in finding it. :)
We have received so many perfect gifts since Avelyn has passed...too many to even begin to name here. We are thankful for each and every one of them and will cherish them always. I even have a page in her album dedicated to showing all the gifts we have received (at least up until the point the album was made). So thankful for each of them, as they give me something to see or hold onto as we remember our sweet Avelyn. Thank you. So blessed. Enjoy the bright sunshine tomorrow, sweet friends...
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