Tuesday, March 22, 2016 -- Mattie died 340 weeks ago today.
Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. This was one UNHAPPY bunny. Mattie was home between treatments and received a care package from a friend with these bunny ears. As Mattie's cancer journey continued, his happiness decreased and his level of depression rose. In fact it became harder and harder for find activities that brought joy to Mattie's life. Receiving the bunny ears, though well intentioned, reminded Mattie that his life was different from his friends and he wasn't able to run around at Easter time to collect eggs.
Quote of the day: Mourning is the constant re-awakening that things are now different. ~ Stephanie Ericsson
This weekend, we visited Mattie's memorial tree at his school. In the Fall, Peter and I planted bulbs around the tree. As you can see the daffodils, crocus, and tulips were starting to sprout and bloom!
I removed the Christmas bow around the tree and in its place put this huge yellow butterfly. This butterfly is in memory of Mattie, as April 4th would have been Mattie's 14th birthday. The butterfly is my symbol of Mattie and though the average person passing this tree at his school will think that the butterfly is a pretty spring time decoration, it actually means much more to us than that!
In addition to the butterfly and bow, we added some of Mattie's favorites....bugs and birds! Very colorful ornaments that really capture your attention as soon as you approach the tree.
While on our home front, our Amaryllis is blooming! Things have a way of springing into action around the time of Mattie's birthday. Which was why I ALWAYS joked with Mattie that the azaleas at the U.S. Arboretum came out in April to acknowledge his birthday! Their azaleas are unforgettable because there are so many that cover the hills and pathways. It was a spring time tradition we always did together.
Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. This was one UNHAPPY bunny. Mattie was home between treatments and received a care package from a friend with these bunny ears. As Mattie's cancer journey continued, his happiness decreased and his level of depression rose. In fact it became harder and harder for find activities that brought joy to Mattie's life. Receiving the bunny ears, though well intentioned, reminded Mattie that his life was different from his friends and he wasn't able to run around at Easter time to collect eggs.
Quote of the day: Mourning is the constant re-awakening that things are now different. ~ Stephanie Ericsson
This weekend, we visited Mattie's memorial tree at his school. In the Fall, Peter and I planted bulbs around the tree. As you can see the daffodils, crocus, and tulips were starting to sprout and bloom!
I removed the Christmas bow around the tree and in its place put this huge yellow butterfly. This butterfly is in memory of Mattie, as April 4th would have been Mattie's 14th birthday. The butterfly is my symbol of Mattie and though the average person passing this tree at his school will think that the butterfly is a pretty spring time decoration, it actually means much more to us than that!
In addition to the butterfly and bow, we added some of Mattie's favorites....bugs and birds! Very colorful ornaments that really capture your attention as soon as you approach the tree.
While on our home front, our Amaryllis is blooming! Things have a way of springing into action around the time of Mattie's birthday. Which was why I ALWAYS joked with Mattie that the azaleas at the U.S. Arboretum came out in April to acknowledge his birthday! Their azaleas are unforgettable because there are so many that cover the hills and pathways. It was a spring time tradition we always did together.
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