Elijah Ryan Michael Love

Elijah Ryan Michael Love, 9, son of James and Amanda Love, has gone home to be with Jesus on September 8, 2013. He was born in Columbus, OH on December 15, 2003.

He was a 4th grader at Beacon Elementary School in Hilliard. Elijah enjoyed the outdoors. He was a child of God who loved everything that God created. He enjoyed fishing, swimming and riding his bike. Elijah was always curious about the world around him, asking questions and taking in information. His big brown eyes and beautiful smile will be forever missed by all who loved him.

Other family includes, siblings, Aliyah and Jordan, maternal grandfather, Ryan J. Casey, maternal grandmother, Lisa (Mark) Ridings, paternal grandparents, Sharon and Donald Parker, great-grandparents, Frank and Patricia Kennis, John and Patricia Casey, Bonnie Lou Bowles, uncle and aunt, Greg and Tracy Miller, cousins, Brooklyn and Jaden Miller, Casey Mers, many other aunts, uncles and cousins who he loved dearly.

Visitation will be held from 10:00am to 12:00pm, Monday, September 16, 2013 at the Potters House, 3220 Lowell Drive, Columbus, OH 43204, where a funeral service will begin at 12:00pm, following the visitation.

Burial will follow in Hampton Cemetery, West Jefferson, OH.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Love Family Fund at any Huntington Bank.

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On Saturday night, September 7th, Justin and I were coming home from my 25th class reunion.  About 2 minutes into our drive home, he told me he had gotten a call from Margie, and there had been a terrible accident involving Mandy, Jimbo and the kids...and that Elijah hadn't made it. Impossible words to comprehend - I was still feeling festive after a wonderful evening with many friends that I hadn't seen in years and years.  And while I was laughing, hugging, toasting, chatting and having fun - Mandy's family had been hit head-on...and Elijah didn't make it.  "No" and "impossible" were the only words I could manage, over and over.

And it still doesn't seem possible. Over a month later - Mandy just got out of the hospital, we've packed and moved them out of their  house, Aliyah is with Lisa, Mandy and Jimbo with friends, Jordan with his mom.

Impossible.

Community support, family and friend support - has all been tremendous.  Beacon Elementary has had fundraisers, a few of Mandy's high school friends have arranged fundraisers and the Angels for Elijah page.  Beacon had a little memorial for Elijah after their walk-a-thon.  All the kids from the school blew bubbles up to the skies.  It was beautiful and heartbreaking.

A brief video of the bubble blowing :)

We made picture boards for the funeral - and then another set so that Manda and Aliyah could both have copies of them with them.

I'm sad...so sad to think about what Mandy, Jimbo, Jordan, Aliyah, Lisa, Mark, Ryan...are all going through especially.  I'm sad to think about Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, first days of school, last days of school, birthdays, bedtime tucking in, and everything else that will make everyone's hearts ache.

Memory Bears

Before Grandpa J passed away, he asked that we do something special for the kids so that they have something for a lasting memory.  Through the pastor/minister at the services, Em found a lady that made these memory bears. Each grandkid picked out a Hawaiian shirt and the bear was made specifically for him/her.
We had a few issues getting the bears from the lady but I finally got the package on Friday.  I opened the box there in the post office parking lot (mistake!) and sat and cried for 10 minutes, seeing all of the Hawaiian shirts. It was a little overwhelming. Each bear comes with a BeaRTH certificate and a Hawaiian name.


I think maybe the adults should have gotten bears for themselves too...it's been less than 4 months but it feels like forever. 

A Quickie Update

I keep trying to find time to sit down and do a proper update but that just isn't going to happen...so I'll have to make do with some quickies updates as I can sneak some time in.

Yesterday I slogged around feeling rather bummed out.  Grandpa J's cabin has sold and the closing was yesterday afternoon. While I suppose there should be some relief that it's sold, I'm not feeling it. I just feel sad about it. I have a zillion pictures and memories of my kids running around there - feeding animals, gobbling at the turkeys, petting goats and cows. I'm sad for them, I'm sad for all of us that we won't be back there again.

I also was thinking a lot about Ella's birthday coming up and how we would normally be getting all excited for her party and a visit from the NY Youngers. It's very tough to get excited this year knowing it will be different from now on.
When we were in NY for a visit last March for spring break, I remember watching Jim as we were out at the falls.  His physical appearance had changed so drastically in the few months since we had last seen him.  The chemo and pain had really aged him. It was difficult to see him frail and in pain. I kept thinking that this is what it would be like if Justin and I were his age and he was 80. It was like catching a glimpse into a future that will never happen. 

Silas asked my dad if angels are naked in heaven (because the stone angel statue on their porch is just wearing wings ;) so he wanted to know if Grandpa was naked in heaven too. He still wants to know why Grandpa can't come back.

One a lighter note, Silas has also been rotten as heck.
Last night he bit Ella in the hand when they were playing.  Totally out of nowhere.  Left a pretty good indent and looked like he almost broke the skin.  When I asked him WHY??? he said that he was trying to talk and Ella's hand got in his way. Uh huh...
As we were getting teeth brushed before bed he was very wound up and bouncing off the walls:

me - stop acting like a maniac

Si - it's not me, it's God making me act like a maniac

me - why would God make you act like a maniac?

Si -he has a remote control and does it!

He then proceeds to try to give me a wedgie.  Strange kid.