In loving memory of Charlie...

We had the memorial butterfly release for Charlie a couple of weeks ago. Most of you know that Charlie was my daughter's boyfriend, who was killed in a car accident at the end of May. His family was all in Boston so that's where his funeral service was held ...Shilah attended but the grands stayed home w/ me so we needed to have a service here so that they could say their good byes to Charlie.

Shi had a wonderful idea to do a butterfly release ...we each released a butterfly & said our goodbyes as we let them go.


She chose a wonderful setting for it...look at this view!

These pavilions were built on Lake Worth during World War II by the Japanese POW's in teh area.

The kids were so excited about the butterflies. It turned what would have been a very sad, emotional event into a memory they will always cherish. I think the symbolism escaped them but it wasn't lost on me...Charlie's soul is now free!

I couldn't hear much of the children's goodbyes but I did hear Connor say, "I love you Charlie & I'm gonna miss you. Oh yeah! And I hope the Cowboys win teh Superbowl this year". Charlie was a huge Cowboys fan...it's why he moved to Texas.

I wasn't able to get many shots of the butterflies but did luck into a few.

My poor mom..one of the butterflys landed on her cheek & it kinda freaked her out. She went to brush it away & I screeched @ her..."NOOOOO! LEAVE it alone...I wanna get a picture." Sorry to screech Mom but you gotta admit that it was a good photo op! ;o) Thanks for being a good sport!

While we were there, I had the kids pose for a couple of pictures. Not the best shot of all five but you try to get 5 kids all looking at teh camera at the same time! I don't know what I did to deserve these little joys but I thank my lucky stars for them every day. Aren't grands the greatest?

My little model. He instinctively poses & changes positions....he's a natural!

The most beautiful princess in the land!

My mom & Baby Noah.

Honey's Little Brown Eyes!

Wish that I had centered this picture of Stacie & Noah better...it is too sweet!

Charlie was a wonderful man....full of laughs, fun (& smart alec remarks!) & he knew how to enjoy life. But he was also responsible, kind & could be relied upon...he was just an all-around good guy! My family continues to suffer from the loss.... please keep them in your prayers. Shi & the kids are undergoing grief counseling & hopefully it'll help them work through it.

As were were leaving the pavilion, a butterfly flew up to Shilah & landed on her nose. It was as if Charlie kissed her goodbye. The butterfly release ceremony was beautiful, touching & very moving...what a unique way to commemorate a wonderful man.

Isn't this a fabulous picture of him? Shilah took it, overlooking Lake Austin, on a trip last Spring.

"A symbol of hope a butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam and for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world but then it flies again and though we wish it could have stayed...we feel lucky to have seen it."

Charlie, our family was very blessed that your glory was a part of our world...if only for a brief time. We will miss you! GOOOOOO Cowboys!

Getting back to life....

Thank you for all your thoughts & prayers. Charlie was cremated & laid to rest this past Monday. His service was in Boston as that's where all his family is...I was unable to make it as I'm keeping the grands but of course, Shilah attended. She gave the eulogy & it was beautiful...I am so very proud of her strength, grace & dignity, even under such hard & painful circumstances. We will be having a private, family memorial BBQ later this month & then we will release Monarch butterflies in his honor. We'll exchange our favorite memories of him & I plan on doing a tribute post at that time. It still seems completely unreal that he is gone.

But as saddened as I am by his death, I must continue to celebrate life. Here's a video I took today of Baby Noah. I hope it will bring a smile to your face, as it does mine. Noah is getting so big & it won't be long before we'll have to stop calling him Baby Noah. ;o) Sorry to end the video so abrubtly but when I heard Noah say "down", I knew I better call it quits before he fell out of the chair.



I'm snowed under w/ responsibilities & trying to ready my studio for the Where Women Create party & also trying to get ready for Paper Cowgirl but I wanted to check in & let you know that we're doing OK...not good but I guess OK is as good as it's gonna get for a while.

In the arms of the angels....

I don't really know how to start this post so I;ll just wipe my tears away & get right to the point. My daughter's wonderful boyfriend Charlie was killed in a car accident last Friday & my family is devastated. He meant so much to her! And to the grands...they're taking it so hard! Charlie was one of the most together men I ever knew...plus he was smart, funny, loving, even-tempered & responsible....everything a mother would want for her daughter.

Here is Shilah & Charlie @ my birthday party last December....Shi said this was his favorite picture. I can't tell you how badly he will be missed.




I don't have it in me to give him a proper tribute right now but I wanted y'all to know why I'm absent from my blog. I'll do a tribute post later & share lots of pictures of Charlie. He was only a part of our family for one short year but he made himself very irreplaceable in that brief time. Please keep my family in your prayers. Shi & the kids are having a very hard time.... my heart is breaking for them & there is nothing I can do to help.