{"id":2049,"date":"2016-02-20T02:52:59","date_gmt":"2016-02-20T02:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kandynolesstevens.com\/?p=2049"},"modified":"2016-02-20T02:52:59","modified_gmt":"2016-02-20T02:52:59","slug":"our-sunshine-from-heaven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/?p=2049","title":{"rendered":"Our sunshine from heaven"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey Reed – Today before I opened my eyes, my ears heard the tell-tale signs of rain.\u00a0 My heart was somehow relieved, an acknowledgement heaven was crying with me, with us, on your heaven day.\u00a0 The cold rain fell and the winds blew \u2013 reminding me how grief sometimes storms my heart.<\/p>\n

But then just like this actual day, I am reminded of one little promise.<\/p>\n

And God said, \u201cLet there be light.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The gray skies were still reigning.\u00a0 My heart was with Sawyer, Erin, and Clo hoping that no matter what was going on in their schools today that they were being loved. The unexpected shone brightly and my heart felt lighter.<\/p>\n

And God said, \u201cLet there be light.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The rain plastered the picture window, but the calls, the texts, the Facebook messages, the cards were stronger. \u00a0Laughter peeled when love came riding up in a minivan. There were bended knees and we felt each prayer lifted up. Each kindness sang a melody of \u201cYou are loved. He is not forgotten. You are loved. We are with you. \u201d<\/p>\n

And God said, \u201cLet there be light.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

When I wasn\u2019t watching the rain lifted, and the sunshine came out in full force.\u00a0 I don\u2019t recall the last time the sun shone as bright on your heaven day.\u00a0 I felt wrapped in one of those sneaky from behind hugs you mastered in your time on earth.<\/p>\n

And God said, \u201cLet there be light.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Yours shines brightly still.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I can feel the warmth radiating through glass panes.\u00a0 We still deal with many layers of the grief and the aftermath of this day. Then there are moments when I remember how incredibly lucky we are to have such amazing, resilient and kindhearted kiddos.\u00a0 I think you would be proud of them.\u00a0 The college guy comes home and we forget to tell him we are going to a game with a passel of 5th<\/sup> grade girls.\u00a0 The results melted my heart and remind me of how much you loved others.<\/p>\n

\"pikes\"<\/p>\n

And God said, \u201cLet there be light.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Remember all the hours you spent in the church nursery loving on the little ones.\u00a0 Sister shares those genes.\u00a0 We went to another game, and this happened.<\/p>\n

\"erin\"<\/p>\n

That morning, she didn\u2019t even know those kiddos.\u00a0 By suppertime, they moved their chairs to sit by her at the restaurant.\u00a0 She loves them all. I swear we cannot go anywhere without a little one running up and giving her a hug.\u00a0 It is beautiful and precious and I think you must be doing this every day in heaven.<\/p>\n

And God said, \u201cLet there be light.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Then there is the littlest one.\u00a0 I blink and often I think that she is you.\u00a0 You share so many of the same loves that I forget you didn\u2019t share more time together.\u00a0 We still tell the stories.\u00a0 We share the tales \u2013 lest she forget the details.\u00a0 One day, she sang and sang in her room.\u00a0 I listened to the music, but didn\u2019t hear the words.\u00a0 When she shared, my heart ached for more time, but I now know she won\u2019t forget.<\/p>\n