Luminary

A couple of dear friends of mine from our ward participated in Relay for Life this year. I am so grateful that they did because it gave me an opportunity to get luminaries for Shelly and Connor. Ellen helped me decorate them and I think they turned out fabulous. Something that they really would have appreciated.

DeeDee Murphy and Leslee Thomas. The sweet ladies in my ward.

Making the luminaries was actually not as hard as I thought it would be. I enjoyed being able to create something that people would be able to look at and see something of them. I really wanted to do pictures of them and chose a couple of my favorites. Ella then drew on the back, on Shelly's she drew a picture of Aunt Shelly with Ellen and Trevor. On Connor's she drew a picture of Connor's birthday party. (The last thing she really remembers doing with Connor.)

We went out to Relay for Life to show the kids what happened with the luminaries. Landon and I had never been to it either. It was really fabulous to be there and feel the support that everyone had. Most people who participate in the Relay have been touched by cancer just like we have. I saw friends who have lost parents and people who knew and loved Shelly and Connor. In fact, I found out that two of Michelle's really good scrap booking friends were on my friends relay team. What a better tribute for my sister than to have her friends be walking and lighting her luminary.

We were not able to stay to see the lighting ceremony, but even just seeing all of them lining the track and knowing that each one was for someone that was loved and that battled with courage that most will never have to face was touching. I am grateful that there are people who are willing to put together these functions to keep the memory of our loved ones alive.