The little girl

As I was driving to pick the girls up from school today, my sister - in - law, April, sent me a text telling me that she had some pictures she wanted me to see.  I didn't have a clue what kind of pictures she was referring to.  I honestly thought she had came across some pictures of me and my brother when we were little or something.

I couldn't have been more WRONG!!

This might be a little hard to follow, so read carefully and follow along!

Her next text said "The lady that cuts my hair lives beside Mt. Gallagher and she said her 3 year old granddaughter loves to go to the graveyard.  She had no clue who Erik is because she didn't live here then.  She was just talking about it and someone told her to show me the pics".

I was still clueless as to what I was about to see.  Here is the first picture I got:

April told me that the little girl was straightening up Erik's toys.

I still wasn't quite sure what was so special about the pictures for April to insist I see them.  I thought it was sweet that the little girl was cleaning up around Erik's grave, but several people have told me that they've done the same thing.  I'm very appreciative of that too, btw!

Then, a third picture came through.  And I about had a heart attack.

OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!!!

April went on to tell me that the little girl told her grandmother that they were glad we took the Jimmie Johnson flag up because it wouldn't fly right.  I had to ask what she meant by they.  April said that the little girl talks to people while she's visiting with Erik.  She never says names, but whoever it is, she refers to as "him".  My response to that.... "holy shit".  The little girl is only 3 years old, so she can't read.  She has no idea what his gravestone says.

While you guys are trying to let all of this craziness soak in, let me just back up for a minute.  April and her sister get their hair done at the same salon.  April's sister, Brittany, was at the salon this morning and overheard the conversation the grandmother (hairdresser) was telling someone else in the salon.  Brittany told April about it.  It just so happened that April also had a hair appointment this afternoon.  Like April said, Erik knows what he's doing.  What are the chances of April and Brittany getting their hair cut on the same day during a time when the conversation between the grandmother and whoever was going on?!  April's hairdresser (grandmother) has only been doing her hair for a little while.  I think today's appointment was the third time April had been to her. 

April continued telling me about this little girl.  My heart continued to skip beats and I was crying so hard at one point that I had to slow waaaaay down so I wouldn't wreck.  The little girl and her grandmother go visit every weekend.  

OK - another back story.  The weekend after Easter, Kyle and I went to clean off Erik's marker and get his Easter decorations taken up.  It seems that every time we visit him, someone has put another small toy or something on his grave.  I thought that we needed to clear some of the toys out, so I asked the girls to take the gravel rocks off and put them back into the graves that were covered in gravel instead of grass.  We also took off a few other things, including the Jimmie Johnson flag.  April said that the little girl told her grandmother that "he needs his rocks" and has to fix his toys because "he says they aren't right".  Talk about a freaking heart attack.  I was boo-hooing by this point!!  I told April about me taking the rocks off and couldn't believe that Erik wanted them back.  I know now not to mess with his stuff!!!

I was in such shock and amazement that I really didn't know what else to say, so I told April to tell the little girls' grandmother thank you and to keep me posted on their visits.  April said she (grandmother) was going to show the little girl the last picture (up top) just to see if she would say anything regarding Erik.

Whew!  That was a lot to take in right?!  Tell me about it!  I'm still trying to process it.  Don't get me wrong, I've felt Erik around me before, but to get confirmation like this, well, it just blows me out of the water!!!!! I cried off and on the rest of the evening just thinking about what kind of conversation this little girl is having with my baby boy.  I can only imagine what he's saying to her!  I will admit though, I'm slightly jealous that she can talk to him and possibly see him and I can't. :(  I would've gladly taken his Jimmie Johnson flag off a long time ago if I would've known he didn't like it.  And I surely would've left all the little rocks if I would've known he liked them so much.  I'm thinking it's about time that I go and really visit with Erik.  Almost 30 months after he died and I've never just sat at his grave and talked to him.  I've never related his grave to him being there, so spending time there seemed silly.  But after seeing the picture above, my thinking has definitely changed!!!

Thank you, Brittany, for being in the right place at the right time today.  Thank you, April, for loving my boy like you do and sharing these pictures and stories with me.  Completely made my day!!

Dear Cowboy - 

You really know when I need you to make yourself known, don't you?!

You are still just as sneaky as ever!

I'm glad that this little girl takes good care of your grave - 

I promise I won't mess with it anymore!!

Could you promise me something?

Come visit me sometime.  I miss you more than ever and a visit from you 

would REALLY do my heart some good!

Mother's Day is right around the corner, ya know!

Sunday would be a perfect day to visit!

I miss you.

I love you.

Love,

Mama

PS - Please keep Avery's family and Makiah's family in your prayers today (Friday, the 11th).  Today is Avery's first birthday in heaven and I know how hard this day will be on his sweet Mama.  Makiah is also celebrating her birthday in heaven and her Mama needs some extra prayers today too. <3