Followers

Thursday 30 August 2007

Remembering a special person....



Today I am remembering a very special person - our grandson Reece. It would have been his 17th birthday today. I am taking some flowers to the grave that he shares with Sophie, our granddaughter, in the little church on the hill. He passed just before his sixth birthday and endured so much pain during his short life, but he taught us so much and will always be remembered, loved and missed.


The Red Admiral Butterfly has much significance in remembering Reece. At the end of the service for his funeral, in the little church on the hill, as the last notes and words of "Wind Beneath My Wings" rose to the eaves, a Red Admiral butterfly swirled and danced over the tiny white coffin, soaring ever upward until it disappeared. Our little grandson's last gift to us - his goodbye.




God Bless Reece, we love and miss you.

42 comments:

RUTH said...

A {hug} to you all.
Rx

la bellina mammina said...

Happy anniversary Reece.
big hug for you and family, Akela.

Queenie said...

I only met him a few times but feel so lucky that I did. My thoughts are with you darling, speak soon.

Flowerpot said...

I've heard of several instances when this happened with a butterfly - quite amazing. So sorry to hear about Reece.

Lo Kelween said...

huggies for you, akelamalu. he is almost same age as me. i am sure he lives in your heart forever, and sees him grow still. take care!

Shaz said...

That's a beautifully moving post from the heart of a Grandmother, hugs & kisses x x x

CG said...

What a beautiful tribute to a little angel: I'm so sorry to read about Reese and Sophie. Hugs to you xxx

laurie said...

oh i am so sorry.
but the butterfly...how lovely.

Anonymous said...

Morning Akelamau,

Thank you for sharing this beautiful and touching remembrance of Reece.

One of God's "special" little angels!

Be well my friend~

Ron

josie2shoes said...

What a beautiful memory of a very painful time, Akelamalu. Now you have your very own little angels about you until the time when you are back together. I can't imagine how hard it would be to let go of a child or a grandchild, but I know from everything you have written and shared in your blog, that these children knew how very much they meant to you! (((hugs)))

Julia Phillips Smith said...

That's an amazing story about Reece's butterfly goodbye. Our departed ones can speak to us if we just listen and look carefully.

Patty said...

How very sad. As a grandmother I can only imagine your pain. I am sending a hug your way

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

oh my word, what a lovely story about the butterfly honey. and i am so sorry for your loss. there are no words to express this i know.

hugs, bee

Pam said...

lovely story...the part about the butterfly is amazing. (((hugs)))to u ake.

Heather said...

Rest easy handsome Reece with lovely Sophie. Get up to lots of mischief!

Jenny! said...

You have me in tears! Sorry for you loss and my thoughts are with you and your family!

Gledwood said...

that's v sad... big huggz 2u2

gleds
xx

Dumdad said...

I believe the Red Admiral is a very special butterfly and my spirits always lift when I see one.

the rotten correspondent said...

Your strength is so evident in this entire post. Know that you're receiving cyber hugs from all over the globe right now.

I'm so sorry for your family's loss.

ann said...

I've just come here via Queenie
and Annelisa and this is the first
post of yours I have read...

I am so sorry for you and your family's loss

you have written beautifully
and so poignantly about something
obviously very painful... now
everytime I see a red admiral I
shall think of you and your lovely
little grandson

lotsa luv ann xxxxx

Anonymous said...

Amazing post. Thank you so much for sharing. Hope you have a great weekend.

HAR said...

My heart stopped for a moment when I read this post. I can't imagine the pain.
Thanks for allowing us to see a picture of Reece and know that so many of us will think of him today as well.
That goes for your grandaughter too. Many hugsXXXOOO

the laughing gypsy said...

tears now streaming....

and a silent "thank you" for a blessing I never knew.

Linda said...

That is so nice that he was able to send you a sign like that. No matter how long he's gone, you will always have his memory in your heart.

Take care.

david mcmahon said...

What an amazing story. We'll all join you in honouring Reece's memory ...

Neoma said...

Oh my what a heartache. Hard as it is to lose an adult from your life, but to lose a child, it makes me sad beyond words, but what a wonderful sentiment. And the butterfly, it does seem as if it were a sign.......

I take my children's good health for granted most of the time, and then I am reminded we really shouldn't, we should count each day as a blessing.

lettuce said...

that was a wonderful butterfly visit.

i was thinking of you yesterday.
xx

headless chicken said...

Oh Akelamalu, I do admire your strength and wonderful attitude....thankyou for sharing with us the joy that Reece and Sophie gave you.x

Annelisa said...

I'm so sorry that you had to watch your little Reece go through so much pain. That must have been awful!

What an amazing thing, though, for that butterfly to fly over his coffin - it's not often butterflies get inside buildings... it was definitely meant! ((((hugs))))

Pig in the Kitchen said...

The butterfly thing is lovely, my Mum hides in shooting stars.
Pigx

Akelamalu said...

Ruth, Bella, Queenie, Flowerpot, Elween, Shaz, cg, Laurie, Ron, Josie, Julia, Autumn, Bee, Ciara, Orange Blossom, Jenny, Gleds, Dumdad, Correspondent, Ann, Crazy Working Mom, Har, Laughing Gypsy, Linda, David, Nea, Lettuce, Headless Chicken, Annelisa and Pig In The Kitchen

Bless you all for your kind words and for joining me in remembering Reece's birthday - it means so much. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Barb said...

God bless him and your family.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

My blessings for Reece and you

JoAnn

Her indoors said...

Have just hopped over from Jo Beaufoix's site. Children bless us in such a way that it's easy to forget until they have gone. It's so sad that they leave before their time. Thank you for sharing about Reece. The butterfly ending is so beautiful. It reminded me of a funeral that I attended last year where at the end of the eulogy a beautiful dove flew up into the eaves. I too saw that as a goodbye from a truly wonderful lady. With love and light 21st C Mummy x

katie eggeman said...

I have read your recent post about Sophie and now Reece. You are very strong and loving to be able to share your sweet grandchildren with us!

Jo Beaufoix said...

Akelamalu
I can't imagine how hard it must have been for all of you.
This is a beautiful tribute.
It's good Reece and Sophie were born into such a loving family.

Elaine Denning said...

I am so sorry that Reece and Sophie were taken from you so soon. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain...

Your strength is amazing, and your words are a wondeful tribute to your two precious grandchildren. Sending all my love to you and your family. x

BoggyWoggy said...

My daughter turned 17 this summer. How nice that you've reminded me to treasure her!!! My thoughts are with you now.

Akelamalu said...

Skittles, JoAnn, 21st Century Mummy, Bankerchick, Jo, MissU, Boggywoggy thank you all so much for stopping to read and for joining me in remembering Reece's birthday. xx

Akelamalu said...

21st Century Mommy I don't seem to be able to get onto your blog - thankyou for callin in to mine anyway.

Sheila said...

I know the hurt won't go away. So young and not to have had much of a chance at life.

Akelamalu said...

Thanks Sheila. x