Balloons and Rainbows and Sunflowers….. Oh, My!!!!

Hello Everyone,

I put a post on the Gallery the other day saying that some things were coming up this week and I would give details later. Well, it’s later now. And here is the story.

Last Friday my niece, aka Cousin Kathy, came in for the annual family get together on Father’s Day. The forty plus year old ‘Strawberry Party’, complete with homemade ice cream, short cake, and fresh strawberries and the WHOLE family. Two years ago Kerrie was there. Last year we spent at the hospital. This year it was a bittersweet day for me. Happiness with all the family and the dozens (it seemed like) little kids that had sprouted up over the years. But somebody was missing, or was she? Lots of activities and the highlight was the water balloon fight. Except I scared my guy Jack (5 years old) because he thought I was ‘really’ out to get him with a water balloon. I was, but I didn’t mean to scare him quite that much.

Quiet week, and then came Thursday, the day I have been anticipating with much anxiety. The Compassionate Friends support group was to hold their annual balloon launch. Kathy and I went, it was beautiful. We all picked out our balloons and attached messages for our children. Kathy has a daughter, Becky, who died at birth over 31 years ago. Her twin Mandy, is alive and well, despite many health problems over the years. We are so grateful for Mandy, but for the first time are grieving for Becky. The program was so nice. Music and readings (I did one) and then outside for the launch. It had been raining , but it had stopped and the sun was out. A beautiful song started to play and one by one the balloons went up. All of a sudden it became so intense. The balloons rose in a group, they began to drift away, higher and higher. Soon they were specks in the distance and then they began to approach the clouds. One by one they went behind the clouds. We stood and watched them go. We held each other, we held hands, we cried, we smiled. Such emotion was felt by everyone. It is hard to describe, but so happy and so sad.

We went back in the church for some more readings and music. Oh, how emotional again. So many tears, such longing. When the program was done we went to the vestibule for refreshments. All of a sudden everyone was looking out the window. Right in front of us was the most intense rainbow I have ever seen, and next to it was another lighter one. I have never seen a double rainbow before. They stayed and stayed and stayed. We knew then that the balloons had reached their destination. We knew our children had their messages!

Kathy and I left shortly after and were driving down the road through Rochester when she said “Look, Aunt Joan, sunflowers!” On one of the corners was a huge bouqet of artificial sunflowers, gigantic ones. We drove round the block and parked to go see them. Kathy looked up and said “more sunflowers!”. Across the street on the side of one of the buildings were huge painted sunflowers. I have seen that building a hundred times and never saw the flowers before. We walked around and looked at the sunflowers. They weren’t for sale (didn’t know where I would have put them anyway). As we were leaving I saw some littel sunflowers that were growing in cups. I bought one and it is on my deck right now. It should be opened by tomorrow.

We were feeling pretty awed by that time. We had had enough signs to know that Kerrie was there for the balloon launch and was letting us know that she liked it. We got home and I wanted to tell Jenn and Ron about it. Called Ron’s phone and Jenn answered (they are in VA on vacation). Told her about the balloon launch and then she started to tell me about their quest to find the Chesapeake Bay. Guess they got lost on the way, but Jenn said as they were heading back they saw the most beautiful double rainbow and Robyn was on the phone with a friend (back in MI) who said she could see one at the SAME TIME here. Talk about getting goose bumps! 

Now, I know some of you doubters are rolling your eyes and saying “give me a break”,  but I’m throughly convinced that Kerrie was there and letting us know that she got our balloons (I sent one up from Ron and Jenn, too). There were too many signs for it to be just a coincidence. Kathy and I were just blown away. What a night, what an emotional and healing time it was.

So there you are……The week of the balloons, water ones and airborne ones, and rainbows and sunflowers. I feel very content today…. like something special has happened and it has.

Hopefully Jenn will get back on here again sometime and fill you in on her adventures, like getting lost looking for a bay as big as an ocean or how to house 300 kids when you don’t have a dorm, etc., etc.

In the meantime, everyone, enjoy the nice weather that seems to be here at last…..I think of you all often and look forward to your posts.

take care and love you

Joan