February

Remember Me

Remember me when flowers bloom Early in the spring.

Remember me on sunny days In the fun that summer brings.

Remember me in the fall As you walk through the leaves of gold,
And in the wintertime, remember me in the stories that are told.

But most of all remember Each day, right from the start,
I will be forever near For I live within your heart.

poem put on the back of Shaniel's funeral program

February 4 - Shutterfly book

The Mecham family got their Hogle Zoo shutterfly book today. The kids love it! 

February 10 - Oh! my heart. Shaniel, my dear sweet angel daughter Shaniel.

Why are you gone? I want to wake up from this bad, bad dream. I talked to you only a few days ago. This tragedy doesn't make any sense at all. I want to hear your voice. I want to see your smile. I want to hear your laughter. I need to hold you in my arms. I need to hug you. I need to kiss you. I need to comfort you. I need you near me. I need to tell you how much I love you one more time. Shaniel, oh, Shaniel. How can you be gone? 

The person you should have trusted the most, the person who should have loved you the most... took you away from me, your brothers and sisters, and your children. 

The week is going to be filled with tears and sorrow. Planning a funeral. How can that be? How can I bury a child that should still be here? How can I bury a child before my own passing. You had a whole life still ahead of you. I can't bear the burden of what just happened. Oh, Savior, please take this unthinkable sorrow away from me. I must have faith. I must have hope.

Hope will sustain me. Hope in the plan of salvation, hope in the atonement, hope in the resurrection, hope that I will see my sweet daughter again. Oh... I will welcome that day with joy and gladness.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalms 30:5

February 12 - Emilee

In the middle of this tragedy, sweet little Emilee turned 5 months old today. She is a joy!

February 15 - No good-byes

casket, bracelet and necklace charms, and... flowers for an angel

balloons released at the grave site in memory of Shaniel

PURPLE is Shaniel's favorite color

I can't bring myself to say good-bye. Never, ever, will I. I can't accept it. My sweet Shaniel will always be near. She will be so close to my heart. I will never, ever let her go. 

Audrey and Kelsey bought a bracelet to put on Shaniel's wrist. They went to Deseret Book and picked out charms with heart-felt sayings on them. They actually sat in the middle of the floor, picking out the perfect charms, crying endless tears of sorrow, for the loss of their sister. Shaniel would wear one charm from each of us, and us girls would wear the same charm on a necklace. Even though we could not see her face, it was so comforting to put the bracelet on her wrist, hold her hand, pick up her crooked fingers, and caress her sweet, sweet body. Shaniel was a jewelry girl. We made sure she went out in style. A necklace on her neck, a pin on her lapel, a bracelet on her right wrist, and her watch on her left wrist. She always wore her sunglasses... her signature... on top of her head. We included a set of sunglasses, too. 

We witnessed many miracles during the week. And the tender mercies of the Lord were felt in abundance. I have no doubt that we were able to experience the things we did because we followed the Lord's command immediately after we learned of this tragedy. We forgave. We sincerely forgave. The Savior's atonement took immediate affect. An abundance of love was felt. Even in this tragedy, death was sweet unto Shaniel. I witnessed it. I felt it. Each of my children witnessed and felt the healing affects of the atonement, as well. I am truly grateful. My heart is full.

There is so much to write about, and I can't possibly do it here. I have a Shaniel Journal, just for her. Her life, her death, her near and ever presence today, and our future with and without her. There have been so many sacred and spiritual experiences that have been and will continue to be.... recorded... for the benefit of Shaniel's family, children and siblings. My Shaniel Journal is so special. It goes everywhere I go and it will see me through until I meet her again. There are no good-byes.

February 19

My two lovely daughters, Kelsey and Audrey, and I attended the Logan temple today. We needed to be close to our Heavenly Father. We needed to feel His comfort. We needed to feel His spirit. We needed to be guided. We needed personal revelation. We needed to be together. It was a good day. Another day of spiritual renewal. I am thankful to feel the healing power of the atonement. 

What was the thing I remember the most about today in the temple. LOVE. That was it. That we as spirit children of God... and now mortals, the creation, and all things created were done because God loves us. The Savior loves us. Everything was created and done for us because of that great love. It is so hard to comprehend such love, but I know it exists. I have felt it... even for a brief moment. It can't be explained. But it is real. That love truly does exist. I am so thankful to feel the tender mercies of the Lord. 

February 20 - Orchestra

Makaela plays the violin, and very well, I might add. She takes private lessons. We went to her Orchestra Concert tonight. I enjoyed it. It took my mind off of the sadness of recent events.

February Birthdays

             February 7                        February 12                     February 17                      February 29          

Month in Review