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One of Shelby's favorite songs was "legacy" by
Nichole Nordeman. She definitely left a legacy.
I can't believe it's been 3 years since I've seen her.
I miss her hugs, I wish she could hug me tonight. |
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Thinking about her makes me miss her, and not
so much wish her back as much as look
forward to being with her. I don't think I ever
thought much about or looked forward to heaven
as much as I have these last several years. Having
someone so close and special there makes heaven
seem so much more real and alive. |
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This picture of Shelby (above) has become a
favorite of mine. Although it makes me cry to
look at it's so convicting to me. Shelby's expression
in that picture reflected the upbeat and positive
attitude she kept through the whole long trial that
she went through. It's a great reminder to me when
I'm complaining about small and insignificant trials
I face on a day to day basis. Shelby was a very positive
and energetic person to be around, I miss that so much! |
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This picture was one of the last times she was in Haiti.
She already had quite a large tumor in
her leg at that time, and was in pain most of the trip.
Her love for Haiti was so strong however that
this didn't stop her from going.
Shelby had such a heart for missions. |
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The last big project Shelby and I worked really
closely together on was my wedding. Shelby and
Sara both put so much into that day for me.
One memory that especially stands out to me was
the morning I was to have my bridal pictures done.
Sara was doing my hair and we both realized that
we had all completely forgotten to get a tiara.
The picture I had torn out of a magazine to buy was
made of shells with a star fish in the middle. While
I was stressing trying to decide what to do and Sara
was trying to keep me still to finish my hair Shelby
went threw her room gathering shells from her
amazing collection and with a hot glue gun made
an amazing tiara for me that I LOVED and still have.
She was our creative "Martha Stewart" of the house
with meals, organizing, decorating the house for holidays
or planning parties and hosting large events.
Shelby was one of the most creative people I'll ever know. |
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This picture means so much to me. This was the
last team we did where Shelby was full strength.
This was a couple months after Micah and I were
married. Anyone who ever went on a team with us
saw first hand what a crazy hard worker Shelby was.
After spending looong days in the Mexico summer
heat building houses Shelby would go back to the
house and make the meals for everyone, then
up first thing in the morning serving breakfast.
On the job site Shelby was the paint leader for
one of the teams. My Mom and us girls would call her
the paint pig (when we were little we had a book called "Mr. Paint Pig") because she would wear her paint
clothes completely out till she was wearing more
paint than fabric. We've talked about framing
some of the paint clothes she wore.
Shelby was such a hard and energetic worker
who loved to serve in so many ways. |
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I'm so happy Shelby got to meet Heidi before she
left us. I always feel a special connection to her through
Heidi. So many of the things Heidi does (as a first born)
remind me of things Shelby (a firstborn as well) did.
When Heidi was first born we all thought she looked
like Shelby too. She doesn't look quite as much like her
now as she did then. After Shelby went to heaven my
Dad was reading in her journal about Heidi and she
wrote that "people say she looks like me, YEAH!"
I loved that she got to meet her even if it was for a
short time. The night Heidi was born Shelby and the
family were at a hospital in Houston. They all came
as soon as they could to meet Heidi. |
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Shelby and I were very different in many ways,
but she completely spoiled and mothered me
in every way, till I was married and came home one
day completely shocked realizing I had to make
my own food now and clean my own house.
Shelby and I always shared a special bond.
Growing up anytime I got hurt I wouldn't let
any of my siblings come near me except Shelby.
Shelby would always so lovingly take me to Mom
to get patched up. One time during a long hike in
Haiti I fell, completely skinning both of my knees
and elbows and cut a big gash in my arm that I still have
a good scare from. All of my many brothers tried to help
me offering to carry me back etc. but I wouldn't let
them touch me (yes I know I was a brat) Shelby
came and put my arm over her shoulder and very
slowly took me all the way back home which was
at least an hour hike UP. Shelby was the best
big sister I could have had. I miss her SO much! |
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As this weekend comes I'm trying not to think
so much about what happened at 7:15 pm. May 31, 05
but rather how special Shelby was to me through out all
of the years she was here. About how grateful I am that
God gave her to me as a sister to know for 22 years.
I also want to think about Shelby now and what she is
doing. I think that she is dancing. I was supposed to paint
her toe nails purple for her but only got one foot done
that day so she has purple toe nails on one foot and
blue on the other. I think she likes it that way, purple
and blue were her favorite colors. Although Heidi
insists her dress must be pink I like to picture her
in a white dress, dancing with her hair down, and laughing.
I miss her laugh, we loved to make each other laugh,
especially at embarrassing times. |
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I miss you Shelby and can't wait to see you again. |
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