Last year, my family made plans to fly out of town for Thanksgiving. We usually drive to a relative’s home, about 8 hours away. My husband teaches and can’t get away until Wednesday afternoon, which has made for some interesting road trips. He is tired, we can’t start driving until almost dark, and then we hit whatever weather you can imagine. So last Thanksgiving, we found a great deal on airfare and booked our 45 minute flight. We wanted to fly Wednesday evening, but we couldn’t get a flight out until Thursday afternoon. And I was frustrated.
Sometime after we booked our flights and made our plans, Paula became sick. Paula was the school principal at my children’s school. She was someone who knew the ins and outs of my children. Someone who believed what I believed. Someone who made every parent at the school feel like her friend. Rain or shine, Paula stood outside the school in the morning, greeting every child that walked through the doors.
It was evident early on that Paula’s illness was serious. Her illness affected so many people. Like many, I wanted to do something to help, but was at a loss. I had photographed Paula’s daughter and future son-in-law for their engagement session just days before Paula became ill. I had heard about how happy she was to see the pictures. Then I had an idea. No one knew how fast Paula’s illness would progress or if recovery was a possibility. I contacted Paula’s daughter and offered to do a photo session of Paula and her family, together. I wanted to show her some of the kindness and love that she had given my family. I wanted to give her what I could; a moment of smiles and togetherness that they all could hold on to.
Once we started working out all of the details, it became evident that Thanksgiving morning was the only time we could do her shoot.
And like that, I understood why we were not able to fly out of town when we wanted. I was supposed to start my holiday a little late, and spend an hour with Paula and her family.
I contacted Paula’s daughter, Kristin, about getting permission to write this post. Here is a verse she sent back to me, and something that has given her some comfort this Thanksgiving season:
“There are no more pictures to be taken, but there are memories to be cherished. For that I am thankful.
There is a missing chair at the table, but the circle of family gathers close. For that I am thankful.
The stillness remains, but the sadness is smaller. For that, I am thankful.
The moment is gone, but the love is forever. For that I am blessed, For that I am grateful… Love was once (and still is) a part of my being… For that, I am thankful. ”
And Kristin’s added line “Paula Beth Nelson is no longer on earth, and I miss her… but she is in Heaven with her Father, and for that, I AM THANKFUL!”
(Taken from “For That, I am Thankful…” by D. Sims)
Here are some pictures from Paula’s Thanksgiving session last year. I know that I was doing this as a gift to Paula and to her family, but I still felt like I was getting so much out of this experience. I can’t imagine that they walked away with more then I did. I was blessed to see Paula with my own eyes, to hug her and wish her well. To give her letters and cards made by my children. To tell her I loved her.
And here are some pictures from Tim and Kristin’s wedding. Miraculously, Paula held on through the wedding and died only a few days later.
Kristin writes this about having her Mom at her wedding – “What a special day that was, that God gave to us. I still can’t believe she was able to be there. What a truly, perfect and special day. And it was what allowed her to go to Heaven, I believe. She knew everyone was ok, and she could go on to a better place.”
Ron, Kristin, Jason and Tim, there are many people thinking about you right now. We miss Paula. She will not be forgotten.
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