A Note to Ellie

When we arrived at our beach cottage this June, we met a family renting the house across the street:  grandparents with one granddaughter.

“My granddaughter, Ellie, lives with us,” the Grandpa said, looking over his shoulder that June day that I unpacked the car.  A petite 8 year-old girl, peeked shyly across the street.

“Come and play, sweetheart!” I called, waved, smiled.

So come and play, she did.  We played all summer.  Then yesterday we said good-bye.  Believe me, if you knew her, you would miss her.  Circumstances being what they are, I will miss her for the lot of us . . .

ellie pond-3

September 14, 2014

Dear Ellie,

We are leaving today so I am bringing you the last of the summer flowers.  The Blacked-Eyed Susans and the Moonbeam. Also what is left of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust.  There is a note from baby James tucked inside the bible we gave you.    A letter within The Letter- keep them both close?  Both to remind you how much you are loved.

Thank you for a summer of adventure.  You are fearless and fun, brave girl.  I admire the way you plunge head first into the cold Lake Michigan water.  Water so cold that my breath catches in my throat but you just laugh and laugh.

ellie swims

You must have asked me one thousand questions this summer.

“What is baptism?”

“Do you like pink?”

“What’s a garbage disposal?”

I hope I did you justice.

Thank you for helping to mommy my dear boys and for giving me an excuse to play dolls in the grass while the sun beat down on our heads.

We love you, dear one.  You are in our prayers, which really is as close as one can get.  As F. Scott Fitzgerald would say, “that is the beginning and the end of everything.”

ellie wynn ice cream

Until January, then, sweet girl.  When the snow drifts across the beach and nature in her beauty lies perfectly frozen.

Erin

6 Comments

  1. It sounds like you were Jesus’ hands and feet to that little girl. Hopefully her grandparents will return again next season and you can continue where you left off, because it looks like some seeds were planted that need watered!

  2. That must be so special for her! I love that you gave her a bible. 🙂

  3. Beautiful images. What a lovely little girl! You can see in her eyes that she has a real zest for life and a sense of adventure. I love the flower crown she was wearing wading in the water… Makes me wonder what she was imagining or pretending to be.
    You can tell that Wynn loves her giving her that little kiss on her shoulder too. What a great playmate for the boys and a summer that you will never forget! I’m glad that you were able to share the love of Christ with Ellie and welcome her into your sweet family for the summer. I know she will treasure that Bible and you’re right, prayers will keep her close to your heart until you meet again. Thanks for sharing this and your transparency. 🙂 Makes me want to take up blogging just to get some of my thoughts out into the world. I’ll let you know if I do!

  4. Wow, you do so much photo editing! I bet we would barely recognize the originals.

    I think that’s interesting at the very least.

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