The Neverending Story

'The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire.'
--John N Mitchell

We set up this website in late October for our wonderful, inquisitive, loving Aiyana. Yana is our eight year old daughter, sister, cousin, niece, friend and granddaughter who was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of leukemia (MPAL).

Aiyana had an amazing life and we are filled with hundreds of heartwarming memories. May all of us take to heart how much a little girl from Lockeford, CA, impacted the world and be reminded and inspired to never let the sun go down without living each day all the way through.

Her Spirit is in every Butterfly.

3.09.2010

You Knew

My memories are strong of our days together and how you made me feel. The family gathered together for what would have been your 9th birthday, in a beautiful cabin in Twain Harte. The cabin held us all, on three levels, each room full of noise and ski bibs, gloves and jackets, and the kitchen counters overflowed with food and snacks and fruit. I think it dawned on all of us throughout the weekend that this is the kind of family get together you loved most, when people all talked at once over the tv set and guitar music coming in from another room.

Avry and Summer were busy exploring and sledding and even went bowling with the older kids. Your aunt won $600 at Black Oak and you should have seen your daddy shoot down the hill on a sled and get stuck at the bottom. He had to be dragged out! And Tim and PJ and Lucy had the best snowball fight of all time!

From all over the house, every window, you could see beautiful trees and the moon was bright and the stars looked close enough to touch. Your Grandpa and Daddy spent time out looking for your star and feeling you close by.

The cabin is being made over, so lots of it is in the process of change. It struck me that this is the perfect place for us to be because we also are in the midst of change and trying to make our way without you. How hard it is to miss you and at the same time feel joyful that you are with God and He is celebrating you every day, right along with us.

Life's meaning is in having people to love. We put out tea lights on the deck in really big letters, big enough for them to glow all the way to Heaven. Did you see them? "We Love You, Aiyana" Did you see your mom made your favorite birthday dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans?

No one would change the part of loving and made better by your beautiful spirit, but we long for you to have stayed with us longer, as long as love lasts, forever and a day. And just like the house, we will go from where we are to where we are meant to be, holding hands and loving each other just like you knew we would.