For a flower always in bloom...

After hearing about Andrea's brilliant idea to plant a purple flower in memory of Madeline Spohr, my boys and I set out Saturday morning on a mission to make a very lonely planter in our backyard beautiful again in celebration of a little girl who left us a year ago Wednesday.

I still miss her. I still think of her constantly. I can't see a shade of purple without thinking of Maddie's infectious smile. And then I ache. For her parents Heather and Mike, as a parent, as someone who held this precious little girl just a few weeks before...

As we drove to Home Depot, I told the boys what we were doing. Why we were doing it. Rather than complain or scuffle their feet in reluctance, the boys were oddly intent on helping.

We picked out the purplest rose we could find

and the boys took turn smelling how fragrant it was...

We picked out a couple of the most purple African Violets we could find

and took our bounty to the car and loaded up, ready to get to work.

Shovels in hand, my boys ceased their normal fighting and bickering to pitch in and be helpful

turning this box of nothingness into a beautiful garden for Maddie.

They each had their questions. Hard questions. Ones I wasn't quite sure how to answer appropriately so I did my best to be honest. 

I had to swallow back tears several times. Teetering between putting myself in Heather and Mike's place - God, what if it were one of my kids? While completely in awe at my own sons - Wow. Look at how much my boys care about a little girl they never met.

"But why did she get sick, mommy?"

"How come some people get to live to be 100 years old, mom?"

"Do you think she'll like these flowers, mom?"

"Will she see these flowers, mommy?"

"Maybe we can have her mommy and daddy over for dinner so they can see them. I'll bet they would like steak."

I had to catch my breath.

As we finished patting down the soil around the last flower, I stood back and admired the garden, telling the boys, "You guys did a great job. You should be proud. Look at your beautiful flowers!"

 
And that's when my 5 year old said quietly, "No mom. Those aren't our flowers. Those are Maddie's flowers. Aren't they pretty?"

***

To Mike and Heather:

My heart aches for you every single day. I love the way you keep Maddie's spirit alive through blog posts and photographs and stories and the foundation. You are amazing people.

To Maddie:

Little girl, we miss you so much. Those of us who had the pleasure of meeting you and the hundreds of thousands of people who have simply read about you and forever been changed by your story. You are a bright spirit and a flower always in bloom.

_____________________

Count the garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall.
Count your life with smiles and not the tears that roll.
 ~Unknown

Comments

[Miss Grace]

So fitting for darling Maddie, who is in all of our thoughts.

[Kristen]

Bawling my eyes out. Lovely post for a beautiful girl and her parents.

[claudia w]

Your boys made a beautiful garden for Maddie. And you have made me a little teary eyed, remembering Miss Maddie.

[Lisa @letstalkbabies]

A beautiful garden for a beautiful little girl. Amazing post, amazing tribute.

[Karen Chatters]

This is so beautiful. What a wonderful thing for you and the boys to do and great lessons for them. The tears for Maddie have been flowing all day.

[Kristeneileen]

Megan, not only are you an incedibly talented photographer, you're a gifted writer, a fabulous mother and a really, really great friend. I enjoy you even from afar. Thank you for honoring these friends we all love so much in your particularly beautiful way, and thank you, too, for sharing it with us.

XO

[Nancy]

Awesome. What a great tribute and lesson for your boys.

[angryworkingmom]

Love this, love this! What a sweet lesson for the boys! Oh and I noticed...a Crimson Tide shirt..where do you guys live?? I'm on the other side of the fence..but we can still be friends right!??

[mrs.notouching]

You and your boys are beautiful. You truly are.

[Dawn in Austin]

That is a beautiful story. I cried, but it was a good cry, knowing what wonderful, thoughtful boys you're bringing up. We're lucky to have them.

[moosh in indy.]

And I'm even more in crush with you now.

[sarah]

what a beautiful post.

[PrincessJenn]

Made it through the whole post with a smile until I hit the last line '... they're Maddie's flowers....'
Bawling now. You owe me some mascara and a box of Kleenex for not posting a sob warning on this.
The flowers, though, are beautiful. What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful little girl.

[Jolene]

I found your blog through Nanette since I was reading about Maddie. I read Heather's blog all the time. I feel compelled to comment - this gave me a lump in my throat. I had to swallow back my tears. What a beautifu tribute for a beautiful little girl. I hope my children someday have a giving heart likes yours do.

[Elly]

Oh <3, hey. This was a beautiful thing for you and your boys to do.

[Jen]

You are raising three very special boys! I know Maddie's parents are so very touched, as we all were. The roses are gorgeous. I know they will grow like crazy since they were planted with so much love!!!

And if you send me a mailing address, I will send all three boys an Auburn University t-shirt to replace that abomination your little man had on. Around here, dressing him like that is considered child abuse. Please let me fix it!!!