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Today is the first time I have left Baby Nicholas since the PICU in May, leaving Nick to take care of our little guy for 2 days. I am heading to South Carolina to see Nicole and be with her family. I have never been to South Carolina, it's so different from anywhere I have ever been. She picked me up from the airport, we grabbed lunch and then headed to her home where people filled her home, family and friends and knocks at the door from neighbors bringing dish after dish to her home. I now know what southern hospitality really is. I hung out with Miss Lauren, Nicole's 3 year old daughter and she's just a total doll. Sweetest little girl dragging me outside and inside, then inside, back outside again. I was glad I got a chance to know her since the only time I saw her our children were always sick from chemo and counts were low so we never got to do anything together with our kids. She's an amazing little girl and so much like her Momma!
During my flight I read a book another mother from St. Jude gave me and it's called "God's in the tough stuff". I read a piece that was about David losing his baby and that he had said, "One day I will go to you, but you can not return to me". I don't know why but during the flight I cried and I felt like I needed to read that piece about David to Nicole. The next morning during the service the Pastor said the exact same thing - that message is important and I am posting it because I know there are other families reading this right now that are fighting this same fight - this message tells us that one day we will be able to go to all our loved ones .... though they can not return to us ... and we have absolutely no control over anything - God is ALWAYS in control. The Pastor took the time to tell everyone that people have been touched by Baby Wade's life - the room was filled, and some of them were strangers to this family but knew about them and had been genuinely touched by this little child's life. I pray people will not only honor Baby Wade, but all the children fighting cancer and will become more aware of what the simple little gold ribbon stands for and to give when asked.
Nicole, Wade and Lauren drove me back to Jacksonville after the service. Felt like I had been gone longer than just 2 days. I am going to miss little Miss Lauren! Though I made sure Nicole promised to visit while we are here in Jacksonville.