An amazing celebration of Amanda's life

What do you say after a day like today?  When Amanda died ten days ago and we planned the memorial service for today, I dreaded the wait.  I dreaded the planning.  I dreaded the service.  I loved the slideshow, then developed a love/hate relationship with it because I had to narrow it down to a time that was entirely too short to tell my Amanda's story.  It was worth every frustrating moment.

Thomas and I both wanted today's memorial to be God honoring and glorifying, while paying tribute to our beautiful daughter's life that was entirely too short.  I have never in my life been more pleased with how something came together as I am with today's celebration. 

The outpouring of love shown today for our family was absolutely mind blowing.  The visual proof of how Amanda touched so many people was a sweet balm for my bruised and breaking heart.

So many of you have reached out and expressed love and support not only through social media, but also through mail.  I have enjoyed the cards so much.  Please know that I have read each and every card, message, text and post.   I have not been able to respond to every one, so I am "cheating" and saying this here - thank you.  Thank you for the encouragement, the support, the words of affirmation and edification and the love.  God's grace is bigger than anything that any of us could ever do on our own.  So if there is any strength or courage you see in our walk on this journey, you must know that it is only because of the strength and courage we find in our Lord and Savior. 

Even though I won't have updates on how Amanda is doing (oh how much it hurts to even think about that reality..) I don't imagine I'll stop blogging, at least not immediately.  Our journey is far from over and this has become such a beautiful outlet for me, I think I would miss it terribly. 

This morning, right before Tom and I walked in to the sanctuary for the service, he reminded me this was not our goodbye.  We had already taken care of that.  This was our time to celebrate the life of our beautiful daughter.  And celebrate we did. 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Amanda's Rock Ceremony table, along with her favorite blanket and puppy and panda.  She never slept without those stuffed animals.

My little artist - she would paint on just about anything!  I adore this one.

My favorite painting that she has done.

 It was very kind of Dell Children's Blood and Cancer Center to allow us to use one of the banners today.  Our beautiful girl.

Her cowgirl boots, riding helmet and a strand of Romeo's tail.  This was happiness for my girl.