"Heavenly" Weekend...

"Grace has called my name..."  - Celeste McCormick

 

As I mentioned a few days ago, we went to Celeste's Memorial in Atlanta on Friday night and, to date, it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life.  I am not exaggerating when I say that the second I walked in the door, I was crying my eyes out.  Seeing pictures of Celeste's face with her loved ones and watching the memories of her life flash across the screen made a huge lump form in my throat.  I have it again just thinking about it.  But beyond the tears and the heartache of losing her, it was a beautiful tribute to someone who made such a difference in so so so many lives and such a testimony of her love for Christ. 

 

 The name "Celeste" means "Heavenly"...how fitting is that?  

 

 

I think the moment that will forever stand out to me is when we were being led through the worship portion and everyone was sitting in their seats, singing "How He Loves".  There were few if any dry eyes in the place already but there were none when Ryan, Celeste's husband, stood to his feet and raised his hands toward heaven, as if reaching out to God for His comfort and reaching up toward Celeste.  His family quickly stood up beside him, honoring him and offering up their support...and soon after, people began to stand all over the auditorium, raising their hands in praise and surrender to God's will for Celeste's life.

 

Even in Ryan's grief, he continues to look...and reach...heavenward.  And, because of that, I know that he will be ok.  I know, without a shadow of a doubt his best friend was looking down on him from heaven and smiling her approval upon his strength and grace.         

 

Oh, How He loves us...

Oh, how He loves us...

 

And we are His portion and He is our prize

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes

If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest

I don't have time to maintain these regrets

When I think about the way

 

He loves us...

Oh, how He loves us...

Another moment that bears mentioning, was when the pastor of Gwinnett Church, and Ryan and Celeste's boss, looked directly at Ryan and commended him for what an incredible husband he had been for Celeste and how he had loved her well.  His voice wavered and broke aw he said to him, Well done.  Well done."  Again, not a dry eye...but for good reason.  Everyone agreed...Ryan and Celeste loved one another so well...and loved others well, too.

 

After the service, DW and I were able to spend time with two of our other closest couple friends from Georgia, Daniel and Jessica.  It did our hearts so good to be able to hug them and cry with them...and, most of all, begin to heal and laugh with them.  They have been such a gift to our friendship, our marriage, and our faith.  Daniel and Jessica moved to Wilmington, North Carolina for a position he accepted at a church there around the same time we moved to Birmingham.  If you're in Wilmington and need a church home, go to Impact Church and give it a try.  Get to know this couple.  They are the real deal.  

 

Please excuse the fact that I look like a hot mess...I'm pretty sure I'd cried off every last stitch of my makeup.

Daniel and Jessica

The next morning, DW and I decided we had to eat at our favorite breakfast date place in Atlanta, West Egg Cafe.  Pretty much every Saturday morning for 3 years were spent in this place and it has such good memories for us of sweet time together.  We thought it was only fitting that we introduce LC to the yumminess that is West Egg. 

I died and went to heaven as I ate my Black Bean Cakes and Eggs with skillet potatoes...and I shared some with LC...

This was her asking for more...she was a fan, too.

 

After breakfast, we spent some time piddling around and, as you can see, LC was only too happy to help us do some shopping.

 

Other random pics from the weekend...

This is a picture I took on the ride home from Atlanta.  Every time I looked back at her she would smile and her little eyes would light up...and I just thought, I know I'm the Mom so I can accept that I'm biased...but I just luuuuuuurve how blue and expressive her eyes are.  Love. 

Tonight, as DW was holding LC and talking to me, LC went in for the kill on his ricecake.  As soon as she sees him eating one, she walks over to him and begs for him to pick her up and signs "Please, please, please..." like a maniac, trying to get him to break her off a small bite.  In this case, who needs to ask when you can just do it yourself?

Man, I am so thankful for my little family and I just can't help but hold them a little bit tighter in my arms and my heart these days.  If you feel so called to, please keep Ryan in your prayers as he heals and begins to face his new normal.  I have no doubt it will not be an easy road but the prayers of many will continue to carry him. 

 

And, can I just say, how grateful I am for the people that come to my tiny little spot of the internet and actually care about our life enough to read about all the ups and downs? Grateful for the ones who have grieved with us and rejoiced with us over the last 7 years I've been typing out my random thoughts on this page...it has meant so much to me to have a sense of being able to share our life, as simple as it might be. 

So thank you...with all my heart, thank you.