Maelee Day

We had a few close friends in our home today to celebrate Maelee Day. Today our whole family- daddy included- is gathering in Buffalo, ND to honor Maelee and miss her together. Oh how we would have loved to be there but we trust that this really is best for all of us for now.

I would have loved to have a bilingual party but I'm not up for that with Matthew gone... so we kept it low key and English only.

I will admit, I got really into making a cake for Maelee Day... as special as I could think of making.

The kids helped me paint a rainbow of colors on top of our coconut cake and we all had lots of fun. I was glad that it turned out really yummy. Maelee would have enjoyed it for sure.

This swirl of colors reminds us of the rainbow resembling an emerald that John wrote of when he attempted to describe his view of Jesus on the throne in Heaven. (Revelation 4) (I really liked the idea of celebrating heaven this way... picked it up from Ann Voskamp.)

And we colored her name... more for Maelee's name book

Even our sweet friend E. colored a beautiful one.

We read from Isaiah 65:17 to the end of that chapter. Then we remembered how Jesus was taken up to heaven in the clouds and he will come again in just that way! We ended with the story version of John's vision of heaven told in the Jesus Story Book Bible. I cried even between snapping at my kids for constant disruptions through what was supposed to be a sweet enjoyable time. But still I cried for that story- so beautifully told, so wonderfully illustrated-

So Great, So True a Story.

We remembered others that are in Heaven with Jesus too: the beautiful Grandma Lynn who loves these kids so much, and our buddy Justice, another great fun friend to play with when that glorious day comes.

So Maelee is living there now- in heaven- eternal life with the eternal God. We love you Maelee. We look forward to playing with you in the new Heaven on the new Earth.

Thank you Jesus for keeping Maelee in perfect joy till we can join you... and inviting us to that perfect joy with you. Thank you Jesus that it is because of you we can come.

We know you are the Way to the Father.

We celebrate You Jesus whenever we think of Heaven's joys.

Yes, Lord Jesus. Come Quickly.