Family

A Sweet Farewell

The last few days have been difficult and hard on everyone. Today it seemed as if finally some of the strain may have lifted a bit as the funeral for Ashleigh was today. She had many, many people in attendance, so many for her 104 days here on Earth. When I think back at the last time I saw her back in March and then at all the photos I’ve seen of her since then, it is still very hard to imagine that she is gone. Looking at her eyes in the photos, and in the videos with her moving about—-it’s tough. We saw her yesterday in her pink gingham casket and she looked more like a doll than a baby who once lived. She resembled Zoe so much, her little button nose and her full cheeks. I was honored that Curt and Stephanie asked if I wanted the blanket I made for Ashleigh to be buried with her—I said yes. I remember working my butt off to finish it, mostly because I wanted it done before we moved and we left for the hike, but it was finished the weekend before her early birthday.

We sent her off with 104 pink and purple balloons.

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Zoe's Chandler Face
Apparently Zoe has this habit of making a face when a photo is taken; I didn’t notice it when I took the shot. Her Nana, Stephanie’s mom, calls it her Chandler face.

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I was happy to see my cousin Crystal and her daughter Baileigh, who is the spitting image of her mom!

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A beautiful, beautiful day for a beautiful, beautiful little girl.

I now have a photo of both my nieces and will be carrying them along with me to Katahdin. Maybe one day Zoe will get to hike it with her dad, but I will walk it for Ashleigh.

7 Comments

  • Joe

    Oh Misti… I missed your first post about Ashleigh. I’m so sorry. It looked like a beautiful day.

    The trail will most likely give you at times enough and others too much time to think.

    I hope when you make your way by my neck of the woods I will be able to come out and maybe give you two a little treat.

  • Patrice

    I am so sorry for you and your family! I wish we could know the reason, but you are just left with a hole in your heart and no answers. Keep the faith and know that we are all praying for you and your family to get through this tough time! Ashleigh will certainly be a guardian angel for you on the trail.

  • Vicki

    Hi sweet Misti,
    I’m heart broken about this news. I Love you and
    my thoughts and prayers are with your family.

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