Wow, it's hard to believe that the last time I wrote on here was on April 18 of this year. I think most of you know that when it comes to writing on Mari's dedication site I've always only posted things when I felt led to it. I don't want to be untrue to what I created this site for, although it's continue to evolve from when I first created it. I no longer need to write on it on an almost daily basis, sometimes more than once in a day. This site helped with the healing process of … [Read more...]
Knowing when a joke isn’t funny
I think back to the last time I wrote something on here and it was for Mari's 14th birthday back in December. In only two and a half short months my life permanently changed seven years ago. July will always hold a place in my life of sadness. However, at least I have hope because I know through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that I will get to see her again one day. I feel blessed that I am a believer because then I know I will get to see her again once I join her in … [Read more...]
Reflecting back over the A to Z Challenge #AtoZchallenge
I've now done the A to Z Challenge two years in a row. However, this year I took on an added challenge of my own by not only doing it on this site but also my author site (kristenatunstall.com). I may not have always got my post up on time, which only happened a couple of times, I did get every letter written in the month of April on both sites. Just like last year, for this year's challenge I chose to do each letter about Mari in some way. In a way I hope people could see through each letter … [Read more...]
Z is for Zoom Zoom #AtoZchallenge #acfw
Zoom zoom. When I think of Mari and her constant energy, I think of her zoom zooming all over the place. She was constantly on the go doing something. Mari would be in her room playing. She lined up whatever it is she's playing with. Then she would flap her little arms and go, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa." I still don't know exactly why she did that but I think maybe she just needed to make her sounds. It helped her in someway. As she would draw on her Magna Doodle drawing whatever new picture she was … [Read more...]
Y is for Young #AtoZchallenge #acfw
When people hear that I've had a child who passed away when she was 8 1/2 years old, they almost always say something like, "She was so young." And she was, but I'm always amazed at just how much someone so young has touched so many people's lives. This morning I called Todd Hochberg to ask for permission to put some of the photographs from my daughter's last day in the memoir I've written about what happened and he said yes. When he gave me the photographs he asked if he could have permission … [Read more...]
X is for eXceptional #AtoZchallenge
When I think of exceptional I think of Mari, and I could talk about everything I think that is exceptional about Mari but I think I've done that already this month. However, as many of you know I've been writing a memoir about what happened with our daughter and how we lost her. In the story I'm including some very special pictures that were taken by a very special man who has a big heart. His name is Todd Hochberg. He is a professional photographer who gives of his time to those parents who … [Read more...]
W is for Water #atozchallenge
Mari and water, a dynamic combination. Mari loved being in, playing in, basically anything to do with in the water. From the time Mari was a baby, she loved to go swimming. My husband's family was always amazed that I could put her in the swimming pool and she had the time of her life. She didn't mind if the water got in her face. She just giggled and had a blast. As most of you know I've been writing a book about what happened with our little girl. In the book there is a dedication section … [Read more...]
V is for Vibrant #atozchallenge
The word 'vibrant'. When I think of this word immediately Mari's sweet angelic face pops in my head. I can see her vivid blue eyes. Her bright shining smile. She had a zest for life I think most people wish they could have. I sit here thinking back on Mari's life, and while there are those time that made raising her very hard due to her autism and her inability to be able to communicate and understand safety awareness, she was a very happy little girl. Her vibrancy seemed almost contagious at … [Read more...]
U is for Unique #atozchallenge
A uniquely different kind of girl. Mari had one of those personality that sticks with you. If you'd met her, you remember her for the spunky little thing that she was. She rarely got upset but when she did you heard about it. She'd be playing with a toy and every seemed to be going fine when all of a sudden she'd scream at whatever it was she was playing with or doing, then either throw it or destroy whatever it was she was making. I know so many children who have autism have meltdowns on a … [Read more...]
T is for Time #atozchallenge
Time, is there really ever enough of it? No, not really. How many times have you heard someone say they wish they just had two or three more hours in a day to do something? I've heard it many times throughout my lifetime. It's probably been like this since the beginning. However, no matter how much we would wish it to be true, we will always have just twenty-four hours in a day. The thing is even if we did have those two or three more hours in a day those wouldn't seem enough either. We'd … [Read more...]
