while we were away
We have joked ever since Cora went to heaven that maybe we should go somewhere far away. Somewhere that didn't make us sad, where our problems didn't follow us, and where we didn't have to face reality. Well, we decided to do it...
Actually, we just went on our summer vacation. We skipped the country and headed to Canada to visit my aunt and uncle.
We had a wonderful time and it was so good to spend time together and be away for awhile. My aunt and uncle are FABULOUS hostesses and made us feel so welcome. The scenery was beautiful and the weather was very un-Kansas like. Perfect.
Here is a peek at one of the amazing places we visited.Unfortunately, your heartache does follow you--we found out first hand. I had my moments when I just broke down because it seemed so wrong to be on our "family" vacation without Cora. And poor Joel had to walk with me through the airport with tears streaming down my face on the way home. I knew we were going back to reality. Back to our "real" life. And that was hard.
I have tons more pictures to show you, but those will have to wait until next week. For now, let me tell you about a few exciting things that happened while we were away:
Last week on Wednesday, as we were sitting in the airport waiting for our next flight, we got a call from Joel's sister with the news that their baby boy had arrived.
Meet Heath Alan. His proud big brothers Henry and Harrison are holding him. We got to meet him for the first time yesterday. He is a sweetie. Congratulations Ben and Leah!Also...
Things were very busy at the Cora's Playground sight. All the equipment got installed while we were gone. We went by on Thursday and it looks great! I love the equipment. The colors are so bright and fun, just like I imagined.
I was told that the cement was poured on Friday. I will try to get some pictures of that tomorrow when I am at church. We are working on the final details of the flooring colors. Hopefully the flooring will get installed by the end of next week. It is coming together!That's all for today. Many more vacation pictures and stories coming soon!
posted by the mcclenahans @ 5:53 PM
38 Comments:
So glad you got to find some time for eachother. That view IS STUNNING!
Whoa, you skipped the country!
What a beautiful picture.
I know you know this, but it's never going to feel "right". :( Everything is just horribly different from now on without Cora.
You will, however, someday get to tell Baby Mac about the time he/she went to Canada... :)
Oh, and I forgot to say, Congratulations to your entire family on baby Heath!
It's so exciting to see the playground coming together. Look at that slide! My kids would be so jealous!
It's okay to be a little emotional now and then. You are still healing. And you're pregnant! Just blame it on the hormones. Glad that you and your husband got to spend some quality time together!
So glad you got to get away for a while! And Cora's playground looks beautiful. Take care!
That picture looks painted. How beautiful! I'm at a loss for words on Cora. Just know I'm praying for you.
It's so fun to see the playground coming together! I'm glad you were able to have a nice time on vacation, it's hard coming back to real life! Congratulations to your sister in law on the birth of her third baby boy! I think it's so funny that I too have a Harrison and Henry, I guess I know what name I should consider if I have another boy! Congratulations!
I hope I get to see such places one day. The photo is breathtaking. I'm glad you got to get away. It's not fair that Cora couldn't go with you in person, though she is always with you in spirit. I know you will always miss her. Always. And that hurts.
The playground is awesome! The kids are going to have so many hours of fun on that equipment. You made some great choices and I can't wait to see the final product!
--Kelley in GA
I'm so glad that you guys were able to get away..... I just wish that the pain didn't follow you, but I know that isn't possible. My heart just aches for you and it brings me to tears every time, I just so wish that Cora was still here with you and that you didn't have to hurt like this. I think of you guys every day and continue to pray for you and Joel. I am so excited to see Cora's playground coming together!! It looks wonderful!
Hugs and prayers,
Heather~ On the Homefront
Congratulations on your trip and the playground!
The first trip my husband & I took without our son was the same as yours. At that time we had been without him for about 7 months. We missed him constantly and yes, I too cried in the airport on the way home. He was 16 when he moved to Heaven and during the time away I kept thinking I needed to call him. We are 19 months into living without Peyton and it does get better.
Canada looks beautiful!
Cora's Playground is wonderful! It is going to be a blessing to so many families... including yours when you can take baby mac to his/her sister's playground.
Take care of yourself and baby mac!
XOXO
The playground is so beautifully bright and colorful! The kids will surely love it! So excited to see it's progress and thanks for keeping us updated!
Thanks for posting..Beautiful picture. So glad you guys got away for awhile. I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR HEARTACHE. I can't imagine how hard your days are. Know that you have lots of people thinking about and praying for you. I know that doesn't take your pain away, not really sure what it can do for you really. Just letting you know we are here..and it is OK to shed tears over your sweet baby girl. Love the progress on Cora's Playground..
CONGRATS ON YOUR NEW NEPHEW!
Hope you and baby Mac are doing well.
In my thoughts and prayers EVERYDAY!
So glad you got a bit of time away ! Just curious was that a spot in Alberta ? It looks very much like the mountains in Banff or Jasper. We live in Calgary, AB and head that way at least once a month.
I am so sorry that you must ride this restless sea. Grief is filled with so many whitecaps. May our unending prayers give wind to your sails until you reach safe harbor. Until then, may you be cradled against this raging storm. One day, you WILL reach shore. In Christ alone is safe haven. God Bless.
Wow, that picture of Canada makes me want to go!!!
I love the playground so far! Can't wait to see more!
Oh, the playground is looking like so much fun!! I am glad that you got to go away. I hope you are doing well.
So glad you got to get away. The playground looks amazing!
So glad you had a vacation and praying for continued strength.
When I look at that beautiful mountain scene, and then think about your situation, I just want to yell at that mountain, "It's not fair! Bring Cora back!". I know the view is so pretty, but when your arms are empty, it is hard to appreciate any view. My heart aches for you, and I hope someday God can give you a good explanation for why things had to be the way they are. It sure doesn't make any sense to me.
i am so glad you were able to go on a trip & you had a good time. what a beautiful picture, i cannot wait to see the rest! and i am so excited about the playground and how it's progressing! if we are ever in kansas i'll have to visit your church just so my 3 year old son can play there! :) blessings to you, joel, & baby mac!!
I do know first hand how your grief follows you. It's in your heart and you can never escape that.
I can tell you that I'm a year ahead of you in this walk. Our vacation last Summer was just about survival. It was not fun. I was not happy. But this year, we had a wonderful vacation. We were happy. We were joyful.
We will always be sad that Nate is not here with us. That's where he should be. But we have found peace in understanding that this is our life now. This is our walk and we are determined to make it the best one possible.
We are still trying to get pregnant again. I'm really glad that you didn't have this challenge too. But even with another trial, we are becoming happy again. You will too.
Hugs!
Trisha
Hey Jess,
I'm so glad that you and Joel got to spend some time away. I know that things like vacations will never be truly whole, but all the same, I know it was good to get away. I continue to keep up with your blog. It's so great to see much progress they have made on the playground. Next weekend Jason and I are going to the farm to see the family and we'll stop over in Newton to visit Jason's grandmas. We'll be sure to stop by and see it!
I wanted to invite you to look at my blog. Today I posted some pictures of Allison wearing one of Cora's dresses. She looks so cute when she wears it. My blog is www.froelich-family.blogspot.com. Anyway, I thought you might like to see a little girl wearing one of your beautiful creations!
As always, you are in our prayers.
Valerie
hi Jess,
I just had to tell you that when we pulled into church this morning and parked on the back side, Caden was SO excited about the new playground equipment. He practically leaped from the car and was shouting, "That park looks awesome! I can't wait to play on it!" I asked him if he knew whose playground it was and he said, "I's Cora's Playground.Cora is in Heaven."
Just had to share with you that Cora's life is continuing to touc big and little lives everyday!
I'm glad you go to go on vacation, but so sorry that Cora wasn't with you in person - of course she was with you on that beautiful mountain, looking down on her sweet parents. Ya'll are still so much in my prayers!!
How exciting about the playground, I can't wait to see it finished!!
So beautiful!! Glad you two got to get the heck out of Dodge, though I know it is so hard every day without your baby girl...
And, I don't know if I had congratulated you yet on your pregnancy...so CONGRATS! Can't wait to meet this little one!! Hint, hint...we should get together some weekend, even before baby Mac arrives :) It's been SO long!
What a gorgeous view. Surely that is a postcard, and not really a photo that you took! I'm so sorry for the sad times that will always mingle in among your fun times. May it always serve as a reminder that this world is not our home.
Yeah for the playground progress!!! How FUN!
That picture is amazing. Looks like it could be a postcard.
Cora's playground is looking awesome!
That lake is AMAZING!!
And Cora's playground looks great so far, LOVE all the color! So glad it will be finished in time for baby Mac!
We did the same thing about 8 months after our little girl died. I was 16-17 weeks pregnant again with a difficult (physically and emotionally) pregnancy. It was so great to realx, but I too had my moments where I felt the emptiness that should have been filled with my child! That being said, it was still a great thing to get away for a week! Reality hit when we got home as a friend of mine who was also 16-17 weeks pregnant lost her second child in a year to premature birth! I will tell you it never goes away, but it does get easier even if it is only slightly easier!
Love the playground!
It looks very much like Alaska where we just went. Absolutely wonderful! I am so glad you had that trip. The playground looks fabulous! I love that cute little house. Kelly
Awesome, awesome, awesome playground. It makes my heart swell seeing those. I'm glad you were able to "get away" from the home...course your heart will never be able to "get away" from the pain. I continue to pray for you both that the pain eases with time. The photo of your vacation spot looked glorious...just stunning! Take care and hope you have a great week!
You often come to mind and I pray for you every time. It was good to read of your vacation, and sad too. Although we don't know each other, I will continue to pray for you.
Juliann, Gurnee, IL
(friend of Megan D. from when they lived in IL).
It's so nice to hear that you got to go someplace beautiful together. It sounds like a great way to spend a (late?) anniversary.
The photo of the lake is beyond amazing. It looks very serene.
I'm sure Cora was happy to see her mama and daddy celebrating together.
Happy Anniversary.
With prayers and love for all of you.
XO*Tricia
What an awesome view!
Beautiful!! Praying for you and Joel always.
Blessings,
Liz
Wow! I knew that place the minute I saw it... Lake Louise is one of our favorite day trips! :^D Had I known you were in town I would have wanted to meet you and have you over for dinner. (Just so you know I'm not a freak-o I knew your husband's cousin, Andi, back in college.)
We just got back from vacation too... it was a wonderful trip but I now have Labyrinthitis (which is basically hell in your inner ear that makes you feel like you are constantly on a boat and can't get your footing.)
The playground is looking fantastic!
Oh, that is where I honeymooned...it is as breathtaking as ever, I see. Lake Louise...beautiful!
I am glad that you are taking baby steps in your healing process and continoing to depend on God for the increase. Praying for you.
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