Where is Heaven?

On August 2nd, Jason and I made the decision to put Abe down. We knew it was time and more importantly, Abe knew it was time.  That morning I found him laying behind the washing machine, which probably took every last stitch of energy he had. I asked Sydney and Savannah to sit on the couch as I struggled through what was going to happen with Abe.  Sydney had no tolerance for me beating around the bush and just blurted out, "So is Abe going to DIE?!" I'm not sure at that moment she really know what that meant. I pulled Abe out from behind the washer and asked the girls to say goodbye before they went to school. Jason had the most difficult task of taking Abe to the vet and waiting with him. That evening the girls didn't understand why Abe wasn't at home. This is about how the conversation went...

Savannah: Is Abe at the Vet?
Mom: No, he is in heaven with God.
Savannah: Where is heaven?
Mom: It's where God lives. It's where you go when you get old or sick.
Savannah: How did Abe get there?
Mom: The angels took him.
Savannah: Tell the angels to bring him back home.
Mom: It doesn't work that way. Once the angels get you, you can't come back. You are with Jesus forever.
Savannah: I don't think Jesus likes Abe.
Mom: Jesus loves everybody.
Savannah: Well Abe doesn't like Jesus so he needs to come home now!

Needless to say it was a tear-filled and very sad night at the Van Camp house.

Abers Van Camp
Born ~1996
Adopted - January 6, 2001
Departed - August 2, 2012

A Parting Prayer

 
Dear Lord, please open your gates
and call St. Francis
to come escort this beloved companion
across the Rainbow Bridge.

Assign him to a place of honor,
for he has been a faithful servant
and has always done his best to please us.

Bless the hands that send him to you,
for they are doing so in love and compassion,
freeing him from pain and suffering.

Grant us the strength not to dwell on our loss.
Help us remember the details of his life
with the love he has shown us.
And grant us the courage to honor him
by sharing those memories with others.

Let him remember us as well
and let him know that we will always love him.
And when it's my time to pass over into your paradise,
please allow him to accompany those
who will bring us home.

Thank you, Lord,
for the gift of his companionship
and for the time we've had together.

And thank you, Lord,
for granting us the strength
to give him to you now.

Amen.

- © Brandy Duckworth, 1998

Ice Cream for Dinner

Tonight was a church fundraiser at Rita's so we got to have ice cream for dinner.  And if you know me, this is absolutely crazy because I am so strict about eating healthy.  So Sydney had vanilla custard with rainbow sprinkles.  She was so thrilled and ate every last drop.  Betty and Duncan enjoyed licking the ice cream off of Syd's face :)

Savannah made my morning very interesting.  I had to leave early so I could drive to Andrew's AFB for a meeting, so was it asking too much for everything to go smoothly...apparently, yes!  Savannah woke up earlier than usual so I got her ready and she played in the pack-n-play while I got Syd up and ready.   When I came back down, I picked her up to put her in her car seat and noticed some wet spots on the sheet.  Then I realize she blew out of her diaper and it was all over my arm.  So as I'm trying to get out the door (on time) I have to clean up Savannah and myself.  What a wonderful morning!  Luckily the rest of my day went pretty well.  And I was very fortunate that my car didn't get towed (next time I should read the signs that say "15 minute parking").

Eight Months Today!

Can you believe eight months ago today, Savannah was born?  She is growing so fast.  Last week she got her first tooth.  She is an expert crawler and is on the go all the time.  She loves playing with her big sister.  It is so wonderful watching Sydney interact with her little sister.  Sydney lets her know when she's doing something wrong...today, Savannah grabbed a cord and Syd said, "no, no, no, Baby".  Hopefully someday Sydney will refer to Savannah by her name and not just by "Baby."

Savannah has her first cold.  Sydney shared hers.  Jason and I will probably be sick by Wednesday.

Sydney got to dance in the rain for the first time today.  It has been 100 degrees or more for 3 days in a row.  This afternoon, it just started to down pour while the sun was still shining...so I told Syd she should play in the rain.  She was all for it.  She spent about 10 minutes on the deck playing in the rain.  I think the downpour only lasted about 2 minutes though.  What a great day!