I recently discovered the author of the quote which was something to the effect of: “Fiction is different from life in that fiction has to make sense.” It was Mark Twain–who else?!!

I have found some words on grief which I have found helpful. Most of them come from Senator Ted Kennedy’s book True Compass, which I highly recommend.

“It has been said that time heals all wounds. I don’t agree. The wounds remain. Time–the mind, protecting its sanity–covers them with some scar tissue and the pain lessens, but it is never gone.” Rose Kennedy

“There are no words to dispel your feelings at this time, and there is no time that will ever dispel them. Nor is it any easier the second time than it was the first. When one of your children goes out of your life, you think of what he might have done with a few more years, and you wonder what you are going to do with the rest of yours. Then one day, because there is a world to be lived in, you find yourself a part of it again, trying to accomplish something–something that he did not have time enough to do.” Joseph Kennedy, Senior

“Every single one of us, if we are awake to the brokenness of the world and of our lives, wonders at some point, ‘How could you allow this, God? I believe, but help me in my unbelief!’ ” Ted Kennedy

“When you bury your parents, you bury the past, but when you bury your child, you bury the future.” Unknown

“Fiction is unlike life in that fiction has to make sense.” Unknown

I appreciate all of you who read these words and who support our family with your prayers and friendship.

Ann

It is time for me to say Merry Christmas to my baby. This is the way I do it– by writing on her blog. Cameron, I can’t believe we have to have another Christmas without you. This makes our fourth. You should be here. You should be nine. You should be getting tall, with big-girl teeth. You should be asking for clothes and rolling your eyes when I annoy you. You should be alive…
Last year, I worked really hard on putting together the Hope Tree. It was a tribute to Cameron, every ornament either pink, or an angel, or with a message of hope. We actually kept it up all year, so it is still here. It still honors Cameron, symbolized her beauty.
Last year, the word hope became my favorite word. I think the reason Hope is so important is because no matter how bad things get, it is there. It keeps a person going when she thinks the world is dark and she is alone. Hope is not something we can consider or choose. It is not a thought, it is a feeling/ a spirit. It is from the soul. Hope isn’t something I have, it is something that has me. It lifts up my head when I want to hang it low and refuse to believe. Hope is a gift, a blessing.
Hope has been my Emanuel– God with me. It is the spirit within, my salvation.
Tonight as I sat in church and worshipped on the eve of the birth of Christ, I realized that hope has continued to blossom within me. Whereas a year ago hope helped me feel that salvation and the existence of God were a possibilty, this year I have regained my faith. Faith is also not a thought, choice or decision. Faith is a feeling of assurance inside our hearts that it is all real. There is nothing to figure out. It is just there. I have it back. Emanuel is within me. I believe.
If you’ve never had a doubt that God is with you, your are blessed. I hope you never have to go that low. But if you have, know that you are not alone. You can survive this, and you are chosen by God to be His. You may not know it or feel it now, but maybe you will someday. You have hope, right? So keep moving forward.
God never promised us that we would have it easy. He didn’t even say that He would spare us from pain. We will experience cancer, or divorce, or job loss, or rejection. We may lose a spouse, a young parent, or even our own child. That is the human condition, and we live it everyday. But God came and He, too, lived a human life. He chose it to show that no matter how hard life gets, he is with us– even til the end of the age.
When I imagine the birth of Christ I do smile a little picturing the little baby. To me, babies are the ultimate miracle. So it makes perfect sense for Him to come as a babe. He had to– how else could He become one of us? Have you ever met a human who didn’t start out as a baby? Imagine what it would have felt like to hold the baby, Jesus, in your arms. Wow, what a tremendous power that little baby held.
Cameron was my baby, and I did get the chance to hold her in my arms. She was a tiny, precious miracle. She had 10 fingers and 10 toes. She had this brown birthmark right in the center of her back. She got ear infections and had trouble gaining weight as a baby. She was a fast learner, spoke early, was curious about the world. She got a chance to be here, only it was too short. Just like Jesus, she was taken away too soon. Cameron, unlike Jesus, was just an ordinary human. Well, to others who never knew her, maybe. But to me, she was a piece of me– walking around on this earth living her life. I lost that piece of me for a little while. But because of Emanuel I have not lost her forever. He died for her that she might live. And He died for you, and for me. Salvation is what connects us to the next life. I am thankful for that gift. I am beyond grateful that I have true faith.
God, I am humbly yours as I await the celebration of the birth of your child. He has given all so that we can have these astounding gifts. Faith, Hope, Love, Grace, Salvation. Cameron.

Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to count our blessings. Two years ago, at Thanksgiving my mother shared a message she wrote with our family. It was about how the first Thanksgiving was put together in a time of extreme duress. But even though the pilgrims were tattered and torn, they still gave thanks to God for what they did have. She went on to compare that to our tragedy– the recent loss of Cameron. She reminded us to give thanks even though we were so blinded by our loss that we couldn’t even perceive our blessings.
Looking back two years into the past, I realize how far we have all come. At that time I didn’t know if I would survive. I felt certain at any time I could have a nervous breakdown and be done with! I wasn’t sure if I had faith, if I could even count on the miracle of Jesus. I was completely lost. Now, I know that I have blessings. I know that I have so much good in my life that I can go forward. And with my faith restored, I know that I can and will see Cameron again one day!
I am first and foremost thankful for my family. I have three living and beautiful girls who love me so dearly. Whenever I come home from anything– 10 hours at work or 5 minutes to the gas station– I am greeted with hugs and shouts of “Mama’s home!” They are smart and loving and affectionate and empathetic. They fill my heart with love! My husband is truly the best father I could hope for with my girls. He is silly, yet stern. He is able to make them laugh or cry. He chases them until they are all exhausted. He reads to them, serves thems, and holds them. My parents are a true joy. I love spending time with them. They are a perfect example of a life-long happily married couple. Inspirational! Derrick and I both have great brothers and sisters who make us laugh and stand up for us when we need them!
I am also truly grateful to be living the dream of having a solo practice. It has been amazing to be able to put my touch on a clinic, to practice the way I feel in my heart is the right way for me. My patients love it. My staff loves it. And I love it. I am so blessed to have these little childen walk through that door and into my heart!
I am thankful for the opportunity to good in Cameron’s name. This month we made three distributions from CAB Memorial Fund. One of the donations was $500 to EOA Children’s House in Fayetteville. Derrick and I took the check personally, met the director and toured the facility. This is an organization that is changing the lives of abused and neglected children. They desperately need a new building, and our contribution is going to help them build it. Our donation will allow Cameron to have a brick with her name on it in this new facility.
I sobbed as we drove away from that place. Not only did I sob for those adorable little children– who looked just like regular kids, but had been through horrible domestic situations. But I sobbed because Cameron gets to help them have a better life. Derrick reminded me that when we lost Cameron he asked why this couldn’t have happened to a child who didn’t have such a great life. Why God would take Cameron from her happy home, but leave a child who is being beaten and neglected on earth to suffer. But we saw these kids as real people, children who have hope for a better life. All children deserve that. I am truly thankful for the gift of Hope. Hope is so important. There are times when we all feel we have lost our way. But as long as we have hope, we can find our way back to the light that is God. We can find our blessings both here on earth and in the life that is to come.
Happy thanksgiving!

I can’t pray.

Mary and Martha Center (Dequeen, AR), Women’s Crisis Center of NE Arkansas (Jonesboro, AR), Center for Children (Lowell, AR), Benton County Women’s Shelter (Bentonville, AR), and Project Hospitality (Staten Island, NY).

This year we donated $500 to Children’s House in Fayetteville, $250 to NWA Children’s Shelter, and $250 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

I miss you, babygirl.  I would love to see you and hold you.  I hope you come to me in my dreams and give me tiny kisses.  I will always love you.  I am blessed to be your mama.

People who have not yet experienced a life changing tragedy have a certain quality about them which I’m calling innocence, although I’m not sure that’s the word I’m looking for. This innocence causes them to think bad things only happen to other people, somewhere else. They also think that when tragedy does strike these other people, that they eventually “get over it.” They use terms like “move on” and “find closure.” They don’t realize that our lives are forever changed and that we don’t even want to get over it. They don’t mean any cruelty. They just don’t know. I hope they never do.

I think it’s a lot like what our nation experienced with the death of President Kennedy in my generation and with the 9/11 attacks in the present generation. That is when we discovered that we didn’t have any special protection. The worst really could happen. We really could lose everything.

Cameron, I miss you. I wish you were here. When the other kids have a happy experience, I want you to have it too. You were very happy, and your life was very full–just too short!

Books were sent to Safe Place in Morrilton, Frink Chambers Elementary in Mcalester Oklahoma, River Valley Shelter for Battered Women and Children in Russellville, First United Methodist in Harrison, Cherished Heartbeat in Heber Springs, and Women and Children First in Little Rock. It is nice to give in Cameron’s name. Derrick.