Earlier this month, we made the drive down to Georgia to attend the memorial service for my cousin. He was such a funny, charming and caring guy who would give everything and anything he could for anyone he met. More importantly he was an amazing father to two precious little girls and while there my aunt who is also my godmother and I had many conversations about those two girls and how to help them throughout the day, weeks, months and years to come without their dad.
While I am not a childhood psychologist or trained in any type of grief counseling, I am in the same shoes as my cousin's little girls. My mother passed away when I was four and a half years old, she committed suicide as well. Lillian, the younger of the two girls, and my cousin's biological daughter, turned four this year. I am able to relate to them, I know the emotions and hard times I went through after my mother passed away. These girls are super lucky to live close and be close to so many people that will be able to tell them all about their dad and how
awesome he was over the years to come. Before we left Georgia to come back, my aunt gave me one of my cousin's shirts to make into a pillow for the girls (I ended up making two, but didn't get a picture of the second one before I packaged them up to mail to her). His nickname was "Teddy Bear" and my cousin and my uncle had a company together doing general repairs, handy-man services, etc. This was the shirt for their company. The moon and stars relate to something special shared between my cousin and his girls, so it was included too.
Having made things for our families when their child passes away, I thought it would be equally important to create something for the girls to have when they need and miss him most. I know it won't bring him back, but it is my prayer it does provide them with a little comfort. This would have been something amazing to have had when I was a little girl and I am so blessed to have the ability to create something so special for the girls.
Please keep them in your prayers this holiday season, our whole family for that matter, but also keep all of our Gracie's Gowns families and those you know personally who are missing a loved one this year (and every year). We don't realize the impact someone has had on our lives until they're no longer there...remember to tell those close to you just how special they are and that you love them.
Jessica
Please keep them in your prayers this holiday season, our whole family for that matter, but also keep all of our Gracie's Gowns families and those you know personally who are missing a loved one this year (and every year). We don't realize the impact someone has had on our lives until they're no longer there...remember to tell those close to you just how special they are and that you love them.
Jessica
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