|
Messages:
March 1, 2009 - Porter's Mom
This October, standing in Le Louvre
surrounded by massive paintings, I felt anger.
Artists spent years perfecting such
masterpieces. My son only had months.
Unexpectedly, my anger melted to embarrassment
and then joy. I was first embarrassed that it
had taken me so long to come to this point,
but then joyful that I at least had. These
artists took years to create their gift to the
world. You, my sweet son, did this in months.
You changed my life, and others' too, with
your innocence, your smile, and the reminder
that what is truly important in life is to
grasp, with whatever size your hand may be,
onto what you love. I then was able to look at
the paintings with new eyes. Looking with you.
And I was able to see beauty again. I stood
there proud. Proud that I was your mother, and
that I, too, held a masterpiece.
March 3, 2009 - Porter's
Uncle Greg
To Porter,
I wanted to write you
a letter today.
I had thoughts of filling it with all
of the things that Smith and I wanted to do
with you when you grew up.
But instead I want to
thank you.
I want to thank you for coming into my
world and making it beautiful.
I want to thank you for coming into my
world and teaching me that life is fleeting,
and should be lived that way.
I want to thank you for coming into my
world and making me a better person.
I want to thank you for coming into my
world and cementing the bonds of our family.
I want to thank you for coming into my
world and allowing me to be your uncle
You sacrificed so much
in order to affect the lives of so many
people. The
price was way too high, but not a day goes by
where I don’t stop, think about you, and
think about the beauty that exists in the
world. You
have taught more lessons to me than I can ever
repay to the world.
In thanks, I promise
that I will never forget the lessons you
taught. I
will always appreciate the simple beauty of
the world.
I will cherish forever the times that I
was able to be with you, enveloped in your
loving smiles.
I miss you.
Love Uncle Greg
March 3, 2009 - Grandma
and Grandpa Lehmann
Dearest Porter,
It’s hard to believe
that you would be turning 1 year old today.
We think of you everyday and try to
visualize what you would be doing with your
big sister, Hudson.
You will always have a special spot in
our hearts and we know you can hear us when we
talk of you.
While we were in Puerto Vallarta
overlooking the ocean, we looked up into the
evening sky, where all that was showing of the
moon was the smallest crescent…it was just
like a little ‘smiley face’ and as we held
hands, with your smile staring down on us, it
brought us such comfort, like we were
together.
That little smile of yours, that you
were so willing to share each time we saw you,
will be imbedded in our minds forever.
You have taught us to appreciate and
love one another always.
We miss you and we love you.
Love, Grandma and
Grandpa
March 3, 2009 - Auntie Michele
Dear Porter,
Today would have been your first birthday
and though geography would have kept me from
partaking in your festivities, I know I would
have seen many photos and heard stories.
However, for reasons beyond any of our
comprehension, you are no longer with us. Though
we are sad, heartbroken and confused as to why
this is the case, it does not mean that we
cannot still celebrate your spirit which
remains very much alive. In your short time
here, you touched more hearts than most people
do in a long lifetime. And through your
family, their generosity and the
generosity of others, you will continue to
touch and help people for many years to come.
Porter, your time with everyone was brief
but your spirit will last forever.
Hugs and kisses,
Michele
March 3, 2009 - Auntie
Lynda
Hey Porter! (great
phrase, and what a wonderful name your parents
picked for you)
Hard to believe it would've been your first
birthday today. Strange, to think of you in a
"place" where "birthdays"
probably have an entirely different
significance than what we think of them,
"here". I wonder what it's like
being where time doesn't exist.
When you "reviewed" your short time
with us here, were you happy with what you
achieved? Was it what you'd meant it to be
like when you chose to join our planet so
briefly? What an impressive impact you had on
our world. There were people cheering for you
in your struggle - far and wide. Yours was a
story that struck a note in people, which
reverberated around the globe. Was that your
plan when you joined us? If so, well done!
You brought so many people together, joined by
a common hope. We reached out to each other in
pain + sorrow, comfort + support, with hearts
stretched to the breaking point, trying to
hold you from leaving us. You left anyway. But
you left us enriched beyond what any of us
could have foreseen. (Guess you knew what you
were doing)
It's said that sorrow is what hollows out our
hearts, so they can then hold so much more,
and become filled with that much more joy.
THANK - You, Porter! Monumental
accomplishment for such a lil guy in such a
short time. Again, I say, Well done!
I saw you once on webcam, when Grandma Lehmann
was holding you. I didn't even get to know you
or meet you in person. Still, your
influence on my life was profound. You
precipitated a wonderful connection with my
own granddaughter and her Mom on our 2 day
trip heading back for your funeral. So,
Thanks! for all that, and everything more,
that I'm not even consciously aware of, let
alone, have words to describe.
Love you lots, Porter! Enjoy being Hudson's
guardian angel, and help everyone who misses
you, to "see" that which brings them
joy, and makes their hearts sing!
XOXOX
"Auntie" Lynda
March 8, 2009 - Gwen
Dear little one, Although
sadness creeps through life, we are thankful
for the moments of joy that your life brought
to so many. I find encouragement in the
image to "overflow with hope"
(Romans 15:13). Your time with your
loved ones did just that: it provided hope
that love doesn't end. Your family will
always have hope that happiness is waiting for
them even when tears muddy the view. With
love, Gwen
(a work friend of your mommy's & daddy's)
Hey Porter,
What a beautiful surprise to see you
smiling at me through the window of Lululemon!
At first I was confused: "What's that
cheeky little grin doing in the display of an
athletic store?" So then my curiosity
dragged me through the psychedelic tiled
entrance, and I picked up a brochure...and
then it all made sense.
Those baby blues are most unforgettable,
and in turn, I smiled, overjoyed at how much
hope and love you've brought into this world.
I mean, a whole bunch of people are going to
congregate and run in a 5-kilometre circle,
and give their money away! You certainly know
how to make people do crazy things. :)
But that's the beauty of your story-it
touches so many, and provides inspiration in
places where there was none.
So, Porter, I guess I'm going to have to
take on that 5-kilometre run, won't I? It
won't be pretty, but I'll do it. And when all
the runners have left me in their dust, and
I'm huffing and puffing alone in the wild, and
some random bird starts singing/laughing at
me, I promise to take a moment, enjoy the
breeze, and remember back to the little guy
whose infectious smile in the display of an
athletic store led me to that very spot.
Payback for having to listen to my
painfully dull monologues? Perhaps. But I'll
do the run gladly. Why? Because you're
such a cute tyke, and your parents' devotion
is something that cannot be ignored.
So-Mrs. and Mr. Francis: I'll be seeing
you on the track. :)
Sincerely,
Angela C.
(one of your mom's students)
Hello sweet Porter
I've written countless letters to you in
my mind since you first went to hospital. I
imagined telling you as you grew up about how
strong and brave you were, how you brought
everyone together and made us love someone
more than seemed possible in such a short
time. With the birth of your new little cousin
Desmond, I'm thinking of you constantly. I can
picture you meeting him for the first time,
fascinated by the new baby, then running off
with Smith and Hudson to play. I miss you so
much! So many of the gifts you've given would
have been here had you gotten better, but
yesterday marvelling at someone's kindness
once again-( we've had such an overwhelming
response to the Run with Porter)- I realized
you taught me that there are so many good
people in the world and I'm grateful for that.
Thank you Porter, and please know that your
Auntie Kelly carries you in her heart and
thoughts every single day and I love you very
much.
With love from Auntie Kelly
|
|
