Ellie’s birth mom, Heather, passed away on January 31. Soon after hearing of Heather's passing, Ellie shared with Matt and I that it was important to her to have a place to physically remember Heather. She wanted it to be a place she could always visit, if she wanted, and a place she could bring her own children to see someday. She also wanted it to be a place that she and her brothers (if they chose) could leave cards and letters at, in the years to come.
Matt and I initially thought we would do this in Oregon, someplace close to our home. As we talked to Ellie more, she shared that she wanted to have that place be in Athens, Georgia, where Heather lived and where we visited her last year. She also asked if she could go to Georgia and say goodbye to Heather, in her own way.
Oh Ellie, yes...absolutely, yes.
A plaque with Heather's name on it will hang on the Mausoleum wall at Athens Memory Gardens- The plaque is in the process of being made even as I type this. Directly behind the plaque, in the niche where normally ashes would go, will be the start of a keepsake collection, from Ellie to Heather....For the goodbye now, for the written things in the years to come. and for that someday (to show her own babies).
Our scheduled flight out to Georgia was cancelled two days in a row (snow and an ice storm in Portland and Seattle) last week so we rescheduled for next month. Matt, Ellie, and I will fly across the country, drive the 2 hours from Atlanta to Athens, and make our way to Athens Memory Gardens for a heartfelt and sad goodbye.
We love you Heather.
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