August 29, 2005

Thoughts about Michael

8th birthday crew.jpg
Michael and Michelle at Evan's 8th birthday party May 2004

Evan remembering Michael:
Evan remembering Michael.jpg
Evan's drawing in memory of Michael (Click)

HC 05 Mike n Matt.jpg

I built a fort with Michael and Evan and Michael's dad. It had a meeting room and a work table. We made ink on the work table out of ash and water. Michael was the one who put water on the ash. We had tried to build a fort for a long time down by the creek behind the church, but we never got it done while he was alive. We got one built at Horn Creek that Michael could go in.

It was fun to play with Michael. I miss him. I'm glad that he was my friend.
Matthew
August 28, 2005

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Yesterday, in our church service, we sang Psalm 16. The psalm was chosen before Michael died.

"I have set the LORD always before
me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my
tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to
the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One
see decay.
You have made known to me the
path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your
presence,
with eternal pleasures at your
right hand."
Psalm 16: 8-11

This Psalm was ultimately fulfilled in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and because of His Resurrection, we have the hope of the resurrection and of dwelling joyfully in the Presence of God forever.

The boys of the congregation went down to their fort in progress after the church service and posted a picture of Michael as a beginning of a memorial to him. I was pleased to hear about how the kids of the congregation are talking about Michael and comforting one another.

Last night, Michael's family requested that we be present at their house when they returned home for the first time. Shannon was expecting it to be very difficult, but she actually received comfort by being in their home filled with many good memories. We stood around in Michael's room and cried and laughed together as they shared memories, pictures, drawings, and stories that he had written.

Michael's Grandpa shared with me that Michael usually did not sing in church due to his shyness, but during his last few weeks, he began singing quietly.

Eric, Michael's dad, shared that Michael always slept with a light on...until he came home from Horn Creek last week. On his first night home, he told his dad to turn the light all the way off, because he was no longer afraid.

Shannon held a hairy stuffed monkey on her lap as she sat in Michael's wheelchair. She told us that when Michael was three, he was afraid of the toilet. He thought that there was a potty monster. His Grandma bought the ugliest stuffed animal she could find and snuck it into the bathroom with her. She staged a mock battle with the "potty monster" complete with sound effects. She stuck the woeful monkey in a sun tea jar and brought it out to Michael, telling him that she killed the potty monster. He was not impressed, saying, "That not potty monster. Tufted animal." The monkey became a member of the stuffed animal collection.

Michael and his family were able to visit Disney World with the Make a Wish Foundation. While we were at his house last night, the family found Michael's collection of his own designs for handicapped accessible amusement park rides. He dreamed of designing an amusement park that would outdo Walt Disney! Evan looked through the drawing and giggled and explained how the rides would work.

Posted by melissa at August 29, 2005 09:24 AM