Wave of Light 2020

 Dear friends and family, 

It’s that time of year again. The Wave of Light is a tradition for our family to remember Louie and other little ones who are no longer with us.  We invite you to light a candle (or send "light" thoughts/prayers) from 7pm-8pm in your local time zone. October 15 is infant & pregnancy loss remembrance day and observed through the international wave of light.  

 

This has been an enormously heavy year with grief around the world.  Grief traditions have been disrupted. Many around us have experienced deep loss.  As I read the daily news, there is so much chaos in the world around us.  

 

And yet, I share with both guilt and gratitude, that it’s been a wonderful year (so far) for our family on earth.  Lexi and Ellie are mostly playing together as friends, our bedroom is full of snuggles, and laughter fills the air.  We have spent a lot of time during this pandemic in nature, staring at the stars in the sky, collecting rocks and pinecones, and general meandering. The complexity of emotions prevails in grief, even when you are feeling happy. 

 

I’d like to think that honoring Louie is being present in the highest of highs and lowest of lows.  I would trade anything to have a little boy take up space in this house in the midst of princess dresses.  It’s hard to imagine how different the girls would be if their big brother was around. But we continue to love him and honor him.  We hope you will join our family in remembering him and so many other little ones as well

Happy 6th Birthday!

Dear Louie,
It's your 6th birthday. What I can say is that it is truly an unusual time in the world right now. 

We are currently in the midst of a COVID19 pandemic.  We have been watching the expansion of this disease, the case counters, and responding to the changes daily and almost hourly. 

Schools are closed.  Work has been moved to WFH for those of us who can telecommute.  Churches have moved online.   Any gathering >50 people will be postponed for the next 8 weeks.  It's weird to think the best way we can protect our society and most vulnerable is to distance ourselves.  And yet, that is where we are.  And that is the best thing we can do for others.

During this time, I have often thought about those who have and will lose loved ones.  I hope that our hearts expand to include those who we don't know.  I hope that our patience grows beyond the inconveniences of what we need to do differently.  And most importantly, I hope our gratitude for life and each other emerges as part of this crisis.

I know these are lessons that you taught and continue to teach me.

Your sisters brought you their favorite watering can. They knew exactly what to do when I said we were visiting Ge Ge (big brother).  In this particular case, Ellie eventually woke up from her nap and then remembered how it was her favorite and would not leave it for you.  I trust that you will understand as any older brother would.  We're grateful for you. We miss you every day.