It has only been 17 days since you went to Heaven but it seems like a lifetime ago. Daddy and I miss you more than life itself. We miss your sweet smile, your contagious giggle and your endless huggy huggles. Daddy really misses coming home from work and you greeting him at the door with your "D-A-D-D-D-Y!!!!!!!" and huge hugs and kisses. Everyone is so sad without you here. We know you must be so happy in Heaven. How many flowers did you pick today? Did you share them with Jesus. I bet He loved your little bouquet you gave to him. Did Jesus's Mommy have on a blue dress today or white? I bet you love the sparkly crown she wears on her head.
We are trying so hard to adjust to having you in Heaven. Grace really misses you calling her "BETTY" and how you would put your hand on your hip when you would say it. Mary is very quiet and likes to sit and think about Heaven. Lucy is VERY busy . She does not like to sit still. She has been sleeping with one of your favorite friends every night. This makes her feel very close to you. Emilia wrote you a very long letter telling you how much she misses you. She is going to mail it to Heaven so you can read it. Gemma, your virtual twin, partner in crime and best friend misses you terribly. She walks around the house looking for you. Even though she knows you are in Heaven she still keeps looking for you. She could not stop holding your hand, rubbing your heart and kissing your head at your funeral. Surely you felt her love. Did you hear her whisper in your ear how much she loves you and she can't wait to come to Heaven and be with you again? She is trying so hard to be brave but she still cries every night for you. She says she wants to remember you forever. Please give her a special hug from Heaven tonight.
I know you see all the wonderful things that are happening in the world now because of YOU! You had such an enormous purpose in your 6 short years of life on earth. You never complained and you did Gods Will with such grace and elegance, like a real princess. You suffered more in 6 years than anyone should suffer in a lifetime. You always had a smile on your face and a hug to share. You taught the world how to love, live and believe in God. God used you , a little orphan with a broken heart who did not have one possession in the world except your little panda bear, and He gave you the one thing you wanted the most , a family . Now He has made the world your family.
Have you seen all the good deeds that are being done in your memory? Or everyone all around the world wearing your Princess Tiaras? Doctors, Nurses, Runners, Surgeons, Girls, Moms, Dads, Flight attendants, Actors, people of all different religions all united in your memory. People paying it forward in your memory. Kindness and love are spreading everywhere! All because you showed the world what love really is. Even though your little body was so weak your spirit was So STRONG.
You would be so proud to know that Mommy and Daddy are going to do everything we can to help other orphans have a family. We are going to help other orphans get the heart surgeries they need before it is too late for them. Every child should know the love of having their own family.
All because of YOU sweet princess the world is changing , one heart at a time.
We Love You More Teresa!
Blessings...
ReplyDeleteWe all miss little miss T even though many of us did not know her personally. She was a shining star in a world filled with so much grieve. I hope some day every child gets the surgeries they need. No child should have to wait so long that the waiting causes more damage. It makes me so mad.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. Thinking of and praying for all of you.
ReplyDeleteI think of your family every day and of the empty place at your table, and most of all of the empty place in all your hearts. The joy of Heaven is a wonderful promise for us, but it sure can be hard when it means being separated from those we love. I pray for healing hours in your days and in your nights. And I pray that when one of you is sad beyond anything I can imagine, another of the precious souls who bear your family name will have the strength to lift you back up and make you smile. Finally, I will plead with God to hold you all close and raise you up in his love day after day as you make this painful journey.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn (in Las Vegas)
Mother to Joy Lin (age 17) Hefei
Ann....
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Heartbreaking. Wonderfully expressed. ;)
Sending you a huggy-huggle!!
--Raelyn
Continuing to lift you all up in prayer and sending up extra prayers for Gemma.
ReplyDeleteJoy
Absolutely touching...I keep up with your posts on a daily basis and they truly touch me with how you describe a hero like your princess...
ReplyDeleteSharon from Ohio
Thank you, Ann. Continuing prayers for Teresa, you, and your family. My heart breaks because I know those special bonds my girls have with each other. I also get the biggest charge when my little ones come running down the hall to greet me when I get home. Thinking of you and holding you all in prayer.
ReplyDeleteDave Stanghellini
I think of your family often and pray for all of you. Teresa's memory will live on in our hearts and actions of all those she touched. How much your little girl and your family have taught me about life, God and the power of love.
ReplyDeleteWe won't forget you Teresa! You are the epitome of LOVE!
ReplyDeleteThis is heartbreaking to read and I can feel your pain in the words....I'm praying for your family as you all work through your grief, minute by minute, day by day.
what a beautiful dedication to Teresa you wrote, very touching...Thinking of you very often. All the best, warm regards, Claudia Huisman, The Netherlands
ReplyDeleteYour family is amazing light for the Lord. May God bless you, comfort you and heal you all.
ReplyDeleteLove & peace. ~The Foro Family
Heartbreaking yet so beautifully touching at the same time. I foundyself smiling through my tears as I read your conversation with Teresa. Your strength and love astound me. It clearly shows the impact you had on Teresa and that Teresa has had on the world. I am sending you and your family continued love and prayers. And know my aunt (Ann Dutrow) is surely doing the same.
ReplyDeleteSusan
Ann - how much I miss that girl! You called her "T" and that is what we call our heart baby from China. I prayed, begged, cried and prayed some more for my RH to allow us to adopt this sweet girl. I'm still crying for her and so much for you and your family. Gemma, you will see her again one day!! I did the same thing when my sister died. I walked around looking for her. She's there sweet Gemma, in your heart, in the wind, in the sunshine, in the rain. She's there in every flower you bend down to pick and smell. In every song you hear the birds sing!!
ReplyDeleteWith much love,
Carla
Praying for your family with tears in my eyes. My girls and I continue to pray for your family and look forward to the day when all orphans get the their heart surgeries early in life. You are a true inspiration and I thank you again for sharing Teresa and your family's journey with all of us.
ReplyDeleteAnne, God has given you a gift to share I believe too, and He has given such voice to it. You are such a testament to His power and strength made perfect in our weakness.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone reading can't at the very least see your strength from our Father God, I would be shocked. I am so humbled to be a sister in Christ with you.
I hope some day you would consider writing Teresa's story in a book. Your words are so touching and speak volumes.
Continuing praying for you and your family. My daughters every night praying for Teresa. Meiling
ReplyDeleteAgain, so sweet. I am reading your posts and feeling for you. You are right when you say she taught a ton of people, including me. I heard about your family on the Today show, and have kept at your blog since. Praying for you. Sunshine,
ReplyDeleteAnn....
ReplyDeleteAs promised, I purchased myself an angel in Teresa's memory. See, I was shopping our local mall today. I then stepped into Hallmark, and there she was!! Colorful, plus cheery, her wings are sparkly. And the best part? She is holding a pink heart close to her chest.... Giving it a huggy-huggle!! Perfect!! ;)
Just thought you would like to know.... ;)
--Raelyn
Ann, I'm thinking and praying for you all often. My own heart beats hard on and off everytime I think of Teresa or your family, ever since little Teresa went to be with Jesus. Along with crying often, I'm a mess, so without a doubt I know that while you have precious knowledge of where Baby Girl is, you are suffering so much and it hurts terribly. Know that I will continue to lift you up to our Redeemer and pray that He holds all of you tight until you see her again. Teresa would be so happy that more Treasure's hearts will be repaired and they will be joining their forever families. Hold onto the Merciful truth that Teresa, your precious little one is Safely Home.
ReplyDeleteJesus, please wrap your arms around each of these
family members and comfort and make your presence
known to them in a special way that they will know that it's you. Amen
Love, hollym.
Dear Ann,
ReplyDeleteI cannot fathom the pain your family endures now. I miss her so much and I never met her. I had everyone I know pray for her, including a local convent who sent me a sympathy card. I will mail that to your family. There were so many extremely righteous people praying for her, but God had other plans. We may not realize what they are, or as they say, see the big picture while we are here on Earth. Since I started following you as you were bringing her home, I know there were many times when her survival looked grim. I truly believe God answered all our prayers for those years and that was her miracle. I also believe she did lead many people to Jesus, so she accomplished His will for her and now it was time for her to rest, be healed, and be in HIs presence singing her Allelujah songs and ride her bike without her oxygen.
May God bless you always,
Lee Ann
Hugs to you all.
ReplyDeletefrom the Divine Mercy Chaplet:
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
That is beautiful Ann. You, Ed, and your family are in my heart and prayers. Teresa is in my heart forever.
ReplyDeleteHolding you guys -
ReplyDeleteBlessings and hugs - aus and co.
I think of you and Teresa everyday and I continue to pray that God will bring you comfort and strength in your grief. I also pray with gratitude that Teresa was able to be a part of such a loving family. You and all of your children are a testament to the power of family and love. - Theresa from Georgia
ReplyDelete