What came to be Blake's final weekend

Had we known this would be Blake’s final weekend with us here on Earth, I don’t think we would have done it any different.

Friday: April 2nd- Good Friday

I was so excited to learn that my office was closing early for Good Friday.  We got the news Thursday afternoon that they were closing the office at 1pm.  I had everything ready and packed for myself and Blake so we could hit the road at 1:05 sharp to head to the valley to be with my family for Easter.  Blake spent Friday morning with Gramma White and danced around like they always do, playing every musical toy in the house.  At 1 o’clock she dropped off Blake and we loaded up the car and were on our way.  Blake slept the whole car ride home.  When we got to Modesto we met Gramma Baptista to do a little shopping.  Blake got a special treat for being such a good boy in the store, a fake battery powered hamster (have you seen these things? It’s my kind of pet).  When we made it to Poppa and Gramma’s Blake was so thrilled to be home!  The first thing he started asking for as we pulled in the driveway was “a ball”.  He could see the shop door open and he knows there is a bucket of golf balls just for him.  After about the 10th time of saying “a ball”, he saw Poppa walk out of the shop towards the car.  He screamed “Poppa, YEAH!!!” so loud.  Then proceeded to kick and wiggle in his car seat until I got him out.  Once he was out he ran straight to Poppa’s arms and said, “Hi Poppa!”.  I LOVE how much he LOVED my Dad.  It always melted my heart to see the two of them interact.

This picture of Poppa & Blake was from Christmas, but I love how it shows my Dad looking at Blake.  He was so proud of him.

Saturday: April 3rd

Saturday was a packed day of seeing friends & family.  We started off the day by going to the Hughson Easter egg hunt.  Blake did not know what to make of this whole event.  He was a little spooked by all the people and by all the kids running everywhere.  He didn’t pick up a single Easter egg, but Poppa snatched a few for him.  It was a short lived event, but we did get to see some old high school friends and their children which is always fun.  After the hunt we were invited to Keith and Tamie’s house for lunch and an Easter egg dying party.  Tammie had a great set up for the kids and we let them go at it!  Blake took the whole thing very serious, but he was the last kid standing.  As we were picking everything up, he was still sitting there with a spoon in one hand and his other hand soaked in a green cup dying his eggs.  We laughed and called him the Hulk the rest of the day because his hand was solid green that would not come off.  Blake got to run around with Caleigh, Giana, Sydney, Ciara, Noah, Jax & Kate.  He was having a blast in their back yard: swinging, going down the slide, throwing balls around, shooting hoops, going on riding toys, you name it they have it in their back yard.  He even got to have 2 of Tamie’s cookies…he was loving it!  After lunch, we went back to Gramma’s for a nap.  While Blake napped, Shawna, Caleigh and myself went to get pedicure for Caleigh’s birthday.  Giana didn’t want to go because she wanted to be with Blake, so she stayed at home with Gramma.  That night we had dinner at home with Jason, Leslie & Jill.  Blake and Jill always gave each other the cutest hugs when they got together.    Aunt Leslie had Blake laughing so hard at the silliest thing, sliding a water bottle on the table.  He thought it was a riot!

Sunday: April 4th- Easter

My parent’s church was having a little Easter egg hunt before church service at the park across the street.  We got there in time for it which was amazing.  Pastor James gave the kids a lesson before the hunt and while he was talking I let Blake roam around a little.  He happened to pick up one of the eggs and a little boy who was probably 4 yelled out, “hey that’s not fair, he’s getting the eggs”.  Pastor James said, “Don’t worry about him, he’s just a little boy”.  Once the lesson was over, the kids were off and in about 30 seconds nearly all the eggs that were close by were gone.  Blake and I walked to the end of the grass to try and get some eggs.  This time around Blake was into it.  An older boy came over and dropped a bunch of his eggs on the grass so Blake could pick them up and put them in his basket.  With the help of that little boy, Blake was able to fill his basket.  My cousins we were working nursery so Blake spent church in the nursery playing with all the kids.  After church we went to my Aunt Sharon & Uncle Eddies house, they have hosted Easter every year for as long as I can remember.  Blake had a blast playing peek-a-boo with his cousins around this little pillar.  He was laughing so hard...it might have been because he was delirious from not having a nap.  My Uncle's brother-in-law kept pinching Blake's cheeks and making him laugh every time.  We were all cracking up because he doesn't even know the guy that was doing it, but Blake didn't care, he laughed and smiled anyways. Always a happy kid.  We left around 4pm to drive back to Novato to see Mike, Lib & Lili.

 

We made it to the deSurville's around 6pm.  Mike was hosting Easter dinner for his family, so the whole crew was there.  We had a great ham and potato dinner, shared some good laughs and just had a normal great night at their house.  Blake and Lili sat and watched one of their favorite kid shows while the adults could set and enjoy dinner.  I remember holding Blake in my arms and sitting on the couch thinking how much I love this boy.  Kissing his cheeks every two seconds, he was nice and tired and just let me hold him and cuddle.  It only happened when he was tired, so I was trying to soak it up.  Reality hit that it was a Sunday and work was around the corner, so we said our goodbye's and headed home.  We got Blake ready for bed, sang the normal night-night song, gave him some motrin because he was running a little fever, rocked him in his chair with his sippy of milk, kissed him goodnight and whispered, "Goodnight sweet boy, I love you".  around 10:30 he cried out a little so Sam went in to pick him up and settle him down.  Looking back, I am fortunate for this because when it comes to bedtime Blake typically doesn't want anything to do with Sam, it's Momma time.  So Sam was able to get in his hugs and kiss him, and lay him back down.  Little did we know that this would be the end.  It seems so cruel, but I am trying to surrender to the fact that we are not in control.   I do believe that everything happens for a reason, I just don't know what that reason is.  Someday when it's my time to go, I will find the reason.  The words I have always believed seem more important now than ever.  The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.

Monday, April 5, 2010

God called home his perfect son

Until we meet again...

My Sweetest Boy, I Love You With All My Heart and More, Much More.