Wednesday was everything I wanted it to be. We wanted Ellie's celebration to glorify the One who gave her to us and I believe it did. While I still would have given anything to not have a service, I am grateful we were able to celebrate Ellie's life this way. We were able to praise Him and glorify His name. We were able to give Him the glory for what He has done in our lives and what we know He will continue to do. It was just a beautiful service. Thank you to all of you who came and supported us, truly supported us. It meant so much to see each and everyone of you. Thank you to all of you who couldn't come, but were there with us in spirit. We felt your prayers and that helped us tremendously. Nothing about any of this is easy and to know we have the support of so many is helpful.
The speakers we had did such a excellent job. To my brother, you were amazing. You spoke straight from the heart. Thank you for being at the hospital with us and standing with us at times when we didn't know if we could stand. You will never know how much it meant to have you there. I know you love Ellie with everything in you and to hear you speak brought tears to my eyes and joy at the same time. Thank you for speaking. I know it was hard, but yet you were able to tell of your NICU experience in such a sweet and emotional way. I am so proud to call you my brother and more proud to call you my friend. I love you.
Adam, thank you for being a part of our service and sharing with us your gift of music. We wanted to be able to praise the Lord with song and you were able to help us do that. Thank you for taking time out of your day to spend with us and help to glorify Him for such a precious life He gave us. Thank you for singing and sharing with us, especially when we didn't give you a lot of time to prepare. It was awesome! I am so glad that each person involved in the service had a connection with us. You have known Matt for quite a while and I am grateful that someone he calls a friend was able to share their gift with us. Thank you. Music was and is still a big part of our life with Ellie. It was a big part of how God ministered to us and still does. Thank you for helping us to worship Him with your gift.
Dale, if I could have seen in to the future and know what you were about to walk through with us, I probably would have told you to run! Never could I have imagined when we were sitting there in our first marriage counseling session with you where the next four years would take us. You are pastor, but more importantly our friend. You have seen us through some good and awesome times and you have been there for the bad. Thank you for your trips to the hospital to see us. To have people there who cared and were just there, no matter what the circumstance, meant so much. Thank you for listening, thank you for caring and thank you for speaking at both of our girls' funerals. I know it was extremely difficult for you. I can't begin to describe it for me, so I can't imagine what it feels like for you. Your words were so very powerful, at both services and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being able to stand up there and give God the glory in such a hard and confusing time.
Bro. Mike, no one can take the place of my daddy, but know you hold such a special place in my heart. You have walked with me since I was a little girl. You have seen me make good decisions and bad and you have loved me through every single one of them. Thank you for speaking such a sweet message. Thank you for loving my girls and my husband. I know you and Debbie prayed and prayed and prayed for the day I would meet God's choice for me. I would never have chosen this path to walk down, but God did and He gave me someone so special to walk it with. Thank you for your sweet words. Your message was so beautiful. Thank you for the poems you created for Ellie and for Maddy. I will cherish those forever. Thank you for being part of such a difficult day, but yet helping to make it beautiful. We love you and are so grateful for your families presence in our lives.
Love,
Ellie's Mommy
