4th of July fun

This year as a family, we made posters and wrote what we miss and love about Cooper. We took them up to the cemetery together.

Happy Easter

EASTER falls perfectly in the spring when everything around us seems fresh and new. Spring has come with the anticipation of beautiful weather. With it, also brings evidence to our souls that we have a Savior who LIVES. We love him. We know he LOVES us. Through Him, a more than perfect plan was put into place. CHRIST died for each of us. But more importantly, He was RESURRECTED. He made it possible for the Plan of Happiness to give us HOPE. Hope for blessings yet to come and an ETERNITY filled with FAMILY.

Easter morning, our family went up to the cemetery, (in our pajamas) with bubble wands that were left by the easter bunny. Cooper had received one from him pre-school teacher, Mrs. Shack last May. With many thoughts of him, we ran around with bubbles magically floating in the air. It was an incredible sight.

St. Patricks Day

So LUCKY to have an eternal family. We find joy in every day knowing we will be with Cooper again... Soon!

Valentines Day

Valentines... A time to reflect on those we love most. Cooper remains ever more in our HEARTS.

Christian Buss was Coopers best friend. He came to our home to play with Lincoln and Duncan one day. When he left, we found this drawing that he had created on Kennedy's art board.

Cooper's Bench

Our experience with Cooper has definitely not been exclusive

to our family alone. Many many people whom we love and who have shown us extreme love in return, have shared their hearts with us, lightened our burdens, cried with us and mourned with us!

We still miss Cooper nearly every minute of everyday. But we are lifted and carried by those who have continued to extend their kindness towards our family. Let us share with you one of the most amazing things that has been done for us and has softened my heart each time I look at it...Coopers Bench!!

Our neighbors all contributed in giving us an incredible gift. They purchased a tree (which we can pick out in the spring) and with the meticulous creativity of Ben Sutorius and design of Jared Connor, a bench was made. It captures Cooper and his love for the outdoors PERFECTLY!! Ben fabricated it from steel rods and

molded them to look like the sticks that cooper loved collecting.

As you can see there is nothing in the world like it. Ben masterfully went to work and caught my vision ever more than I even expected. Its so perfect... more than perfect. Lastly the finishing touch. Shannon and Ben took Coopers flip flops, had a mold made and duplicated them in Bronze! (yes bronze!!) They sit perched on the bench as if cooper left them there and ran off to play.

There are no words to tell how my heart feels when I sit quietly on that sweet bench. Thank you to all my neighbors...especially Ben and Shannon. We love you all!

These are some of the pictures that I just received from our baby-sitter. They are of Lincoln and Cooper playing in the yard last summer. Had a good long cry as I longed to see them play just once more. I miss my two little buddies, always together. Now I have (thankfully) just one.

The Songs of my Heart

These are some of my new favorite songs. They are the songs of my heart. I hope they will help you to feel what I feel. Most of all, how I look forward to the day I will see My Savior again. Because of him, I feel peace, I press forward in faith knowing I will be with Cooper again.

(I could not figure out how to post them on the blog, but I will list them.)

When He Calls My Name--Hillary Weeks

Just Let Me Cry--Hillary Weeks

Tender Behind the Mercy--Hillary Weeks

You Give--Hillary Weeks

There are so many more, but these are the ones that speak to me.