Emily’s Smiles through Difficult Trials

Dawn sent an update last night, Sunday. Sorry it took a while to get published! Stephanie

I have been looking at the pictures for over a hour now and didn’t realize how late it was getting. I am so glad Jamie was able to retreive the information and pics. A big THANK YOU to JAMIE HOLLIS for all his time and work in bringing back the site again and keeping us connected. I know it takes alot of extra time in retreiving all the information and pictures.

July and August went by fast, we have had a good summer, difficult without Emily, but Trey has kept us busy. We have spent time at Myrtle Beach earlier in the summer and two weeks ago had a great trip to Busch Gardens in VA. Our first visit to Busch Gardens and Myrtle Waves at Myrtle Beach. This has been a special time for Trey, I think we have caught up what we missed the past two summers!! It’s just so hard not having Emily here with us.

Trey has kept busy with some extra school lessons with Ms. Holiday and Mrs. Schwartz in the mornings and football practice for the last 3 weeks, Monday – Friday in the evenings. I am keeping busy at the dentist office and Eddie at Lowes. Hope everyone has enjoyed their summer too!

This week has been tough , Emily could not wait for the month of August. She so loved to plan her birthday party. She would start in June getting ready, and talking about ideas, and visiting Party City for ideas. ” Mommy, you know I have to have alot of balloons, don’t forget the balloons” , she didn’t care about the cake or icecream as long as she had her plates and napkins picked out, and the color of her balloons. Yesterday, she had friends and family throughout the day visiting her grave and singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY. She had a cake, balloons, flowers, happy birthday flag and seashells placed around her. Trey thought the cake was real as we were driving up, he said “we forgot the plates”. Trey painted her a special angel. What a beautiful day. Of course my sign for this month, BUTTERFLIES were EVERYWHERE I went yesterday. At our home in the morning, when Trey had football weigh-in at the park in Wilmington, at my mom’s house, then back at home again and our visit with Emily at the church cemetery. All day long either looking through the windows of our home or outside walking, butterflies were all around. My friends have said the same, “Have you noticed all the butterflies?” I have not seen this many since Emily’s homecoming service. We all miss her so much, but this gave us a reminder that all is good, and she is looking down enjoying her day.

Monday we are going to Duke to take the gifts purchased from the memorial fund in memory of Emily. We wanted to do this for her Birthday and we thank everyone who contributed in her memory. Emily’s favorite items and games are being sent. These items will help during the long weeks in the hospital rooms. Well its midnight , I know I have left out a few things, I know Monday is going to be hard, going through those doors without Emily. Our “home away from home”. We had a whole seperate life at Duke for 2 years, just 5 months ago. It has been a big change for us getting back to the other. I will let you know about our visit.

Love, Dawn