Sunday, March 8, 2009

I am quite sure, everyone has thought that I am finished with the blog. But I am back! I took a break from the blog, as we got through some rough "firsts" but I am back on track now.
To update all, we are doing well here. We made it through our first Christmas, which was a little tough, but we made the best of it. We changed our Christmas tradition slightly, and included another candle on the middle of the Christmas table. It was a pillar candle with a pink bow tied around it (Caitlyn's favourite colour). It sat right beside our candle we have had out for the last 4 years which represents Jim's mom who was taken from us suddenly in 2005 with cancer. Dylan and his girlfriend surprised us at Christmas with a beautiful portrait of Caitlyn at grade 8 grad. It is wonderful and hangs in our living room now. Of course, Bryanna told me that I had only 2 minutes to cry and then I had to stop, so she was able to add the humour that her sister would have done.
Right after Christmas the girls hockey team from Caitlyn's high school had a memorial game in honour of her. It was great. The school was let out for the game and there was a wonderful turn out. The proceeds went to Brain Child, and POGO in memory of Caitlyn.
Then we had Caitlyn's 16th birthday on February 22nd. That was tough one, but again, we made it through it too. The 4 of us went to the cemetary (wading through the snow) and released 16 pink and purple helium balloons. It was emotional but worthwhile. We had many phonecalls, emails and notes from all to help us through the day.
But now, we are back to moving on. We are working now on the newest event to Saugeen Shores and helping with the Relay for Life that is being held on June 26th at the high school. It is going to be a wonderful event and we are all looking forward to it!! It is our way of keeping up Caitlyn's fight against this horrible disease and to help prevent another family having to go through this.
Until next time!!

Rona

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the update. I am sure there are more than a few of us whom have met your family and would like to know how you are all doing. I am starting to think that if you met Caitlyn you knew Caitlyn. Not to say there wasn't more to her, just that she had the ability to touch people and connect. As for getting to know her, each and every post helps us know her a little better.

-Alex

Anonymous said...

We are so thrilled to see an update from you!! We have been thinking of you often and wondering how everything is going! I am sure Caitlyn was smiling down on all of you on her birthday and loving everyone of those balloons! My mom always reminds me that tears are the price we pay for love and we all know that Caitlyn was loved so very much. So continue to cry and remember all the wonderful moments with Caitlyn. We are always here!

love, hugs and kisses to all of you!!
Bev, Rob, Leah and Joey
xoxoxoxo

Anonymous said...

I still think of Caitlyn all the time. I use her strength to get me by from time to time.

-Alex