With great gratitude

I wanted to put a shout out there to all the amazing people who have done something for our family while Cicily was sick and after she died.  

We have been the humble recipients of dinners, foot massages, homemade pillows, flowers, paintings, sculptures, and more.  Each and every gift and gesture of love and compassion has meant so much to us and truly lifted our heavy hearts.  Thank you, thank you to all who have blessed our lives these past months.  

We have most especially appreciated every one of you who has participated in the power of prayer on our behalf.  We cannot deny the immense power and comfort that your prayers have blessed us with.  There is no earthly reason that accounts for being filled with grief at not being able to make Cicily smile; but still being able to find joy in life.  I know the joy we've found is possible because of so many prayers and the Holy Ghost comforting our hearts.  And so many friends mourning with us and sending us love and positive thoughts.  It has been truly amazing to feel of the very real power of comfort from prayer and love.  

Thank you to you who have prayed for us.

Thank you to you who have shared gifts with us. 

Thank you to you who have fed us.

Thank you to you who have cried with us.

Thank you to you who have asked us about Cicily.

Thank you to you who have listened to us talk.

Thank you to you who have shared Cicily stories with us.

Your acts of love have carried us.  

Why we say "died" instead of "passed away"

We may sound a bit harsh or nonchalant when we talk about Cicily dying in our family.  There are reasons for this I'd like to explain.
A couple weeks after Cis died I was talking to Sophie and happened to say in the conversation "the night Cicily passed away".  Sophie looked at me with her perturbed/serious look and said, "you can just say died Mom.  Cicily's not past.  She just died is all." I had to agree with Sophie's logic.  Cicily dying is something we've known would happen and something we've always been very open about in our family.  To Sophie dying is just another part of life.  A new chapter.  It's doesn't mean someone is "past" or "away" so to speak, it just means they're in another life where unfortunately we don't get to hang out.  So while it may not sound as polite or graceful to say "died", in our family that's what we say.
A friend of ours left this on my FB wall.  I thought it perfectly captures our family's feelings.  It's by Henry Scott Holland .

We love talking about Cicily and love it when friends talk with us about her.  Especially when it's easy, with "no forced air of solemnity or sorrow".  It was a difficult task when she had recently died.  We had to have a family discussion about the more we talk about Cicily in every day conversation, the more normal it will feel.  

So while we all miss her a ridiculous amount, and I in particular cry daily about it, we still like to talk about her and think about her as we always have.