The other day Kaila said "when is Daryn's birthday?"

I said "April 11".

Kaila asked "Is she going to be 14?"

"No - not yet, 13 this year", I said.

Kaila has a hard time talking about Daryn along with tears and sadness - as a matter of fact she gets mad at me when I cry. Instead she prefers to talk about her birthday coming up like she would any of her other cousins. Because she is still one of the cousins and ALWAYS will be. I have a feeling Daryn would appreciate us not always being so sad when we think about her and include her in our prayers.

As we approach your birthday, Daryn, we will celebrate your life! I am thanking God and his son Jesus Christ for eternity......... Knowing that you are in the presence of God is a great gift! Knowing your mom and dad and siblings and grandparents, cousins and family/friends will join you one day is even better!

Just loving her

I love you Daryn Renee' Worpel with my whole heart and soul. And I would like everyone in the world to know that I will be loving you forever and ever, till the end of time. And just because I can smile and laugh does not mean that my heart is not still broken in two for missing you so much, it just means I have learned to do so and still carry you and everything that comes with you in my heart. All the memories all the love all the pain, all are still their. No one will ever know how much sweetheart, no one. Your gram forever.

Merry Christmas Daryn

We celebrated our family Christmas last Sunday. It was our third Christmas without Daryn with us. She was always pretty quiet but I have so many memories of her at Christmas time. One time especially comes to mind was after a Christmas eve party we had with all the family and everyone had left but Joe and Kim and the kids. It was late but they were in really no big hurry to leave. I just remember her sitting on the kitchen stool with her pretty cream colored winter dress coat on with a contented smile on her face. So beautiful like an angel I thought at the time. And of course always her eyes. Just a memory now but that memory comes to me often. This Christmas she was in all of our hearts as we celebrated the birth of Jesus. How can we thank Him for coming and living and dying so that Daryn can be with Him now and so that we can all be together again one day? I guess we have to just carry on and try to do His will untill we get to go to Him. Merry Christmas Daryn, my number three.

Forever and ever, Grandma S

Daryn's eyes

Last week I was taking a walk in the woods behind our house. I walked a long time and I was tired so I layed down on a log. I looked up to the sky and all that I could think was it looked just like the color of Daryn's eyes, the most beautiful blue, a shade just like hers. And then I remembered my mom always saying to offer up to the Lord my pain when I was hurt. Well I said right out loud to God that I offered up to Him this never ending pain of missing her. The words were barely out of my mouth when I saw above me a jet, flying rather low. The sun was at an angle that shone under the plane and it looked exactly like a silver cross soaring over me. I felt that Jesus had taken it to his cross. I just said "Thank you." It was a little blessing for me. Maybe my mom ordered that one up, I could just imagine her and Daryn together pulling it off and laughing together. My two girls that I love more than anything!!!!!!!!! I'm waiting to join them. When God calls.

Grandma Sandy

Forever

I was fortunate to come across a letter written to me by my Grandma Stephens........... it was for my college graduation. She wrote:

"I remember"
Then she went on to tell me a memory of a time when I was a baby and my mom brought me over to her house and I "creeped" over to her as fast as I could and she picked me up and we rocked and rocked. She said she could still feel my little arms wrapped around her neck.

Just a little moment that she etched in her memory. She also wrote that, at night when she can't sleep that she thinks about her memories. AND the best part for me was that she signed this letter

"Love you Forever, Grandma"

Made me cry like a baby!

It IS just those little things in life, when we express our love for one another, that really matters! That IS really what life is all about.

I imagine Grandma rocking with Daryn telling her all of those special things that she remembers! I am so VERY thankful for FOREVER, that God granted to us when he gave us his only son, so very thankful!!!!

I love you Grandma and Daryn FOREVER!
Aunt Mindy

Thanksgiving Day, 2009

It is early in the morning on Thanksgiving Day, 2009. I am as usual trying to figure out how to get through another holiday without my girl. Still so many memories of the happy days that I did not appreciate, did not know it would not always be okay. I take nothing for granted anymore. My heart is so heavy, so lonesome for her. The family will come tonight and fill the house with life and laughter and I will love them all but I will be looking, always looking for a glimpse of her, laughing with Taiylor and Alec, being the oldest kids and enjoying that. Just smiling at grandma and giving me a hug. I've heard it called "aching arms" it is when usually a mother loses a child and their arms physically ache for the wanting to hold that child. My arms are aching a lot today. May God lift our family up today especially Joe and Kim. May He bless us with His grace and love.

Always loving her, always missing her,

Grandma Sandy

Daryn in my dream

I think about you every day, but you have never come to me in my dreams until.....

Early this morning you came through our front door in a red dress your beautiful smile and long blond hair to meet Taiylor before school. It wasn't strange, it was as if you had never left.

I believe dreams are messages from God, and my interpretation of this dream was, Daryn standing beside Taiylor and helping Taiylor on her journey of life. Thank God you are around her, she still needs lots of guidance on this roller coaster ride called "Life" I'm sure with God and you watching out for her she couldn't be in better hands.

Lots of Love Aunt Wendy