Christianna's Celebration

I am not yet ready to write about the events of yesterday, but a friend of ours has sent out a dialog of her experience, and I will share some of that here along with some pictures.  I know there is more to come in future days.

"In the next few days some of Christianna's funeral service pictures
will be posted on the blog, Including her white casket placed on
a cart pulled by a fiesty white young horse and drawn to the Graschaap
cemetery, followed by a long line of cars. During the service, both
parents, 13 yr old sister/best friend, Acacia, and both sets of
grandparents shared about their relationships & love for Christianna.
The service included piano playing, violin, ballet, her family, and
then the horse: all the loves of her life. Older sister Acacia joined
the ballet dancers onstage...the littlest sister in her white dress &
blonde curls joined in at the very end. A slide show of photos
covering Christianna's life with lovely & inspiring music concluded
the 2hr. service.

 We were each given a sticker entering the sanctuary, another activity

Christianna loved, and we were asked to wear bright colors of the

rainbow to celebrate her life. The blog explains her connection to

rainbows. Two colorful Balloons were attached to each pew, and before

the funeral the hallway behind Central Wesleyan's sanctuary was full

of flowers, videos, pictures, letters, and people greeting the

parents, etc.

                 
                     The hardest part of the service for me was seeing her parents and 5

siblings walk her decorated-by-children casket down the aisle for the
service, and then walking along side of it back out afterwards. The
parents spoke of their dreams & prayers for walking that aisle with
her instead for her wedding, to the love-of-her-life, the man they've
been praying about for her. Which is what, they said, ultimately
happened...she was the young bride who met Jesus her groom, who
whisked her on to the rest of her journey thru eternity. The best part
of the service for me was a testimonial about two family friends who
had God-given Visions of seeing Christianna in Heaven with Jesus. What
Wonderful affirmations for a hurting family!

Dr. Paul Hontz & his daughter Rev. Christy Lipscomb led the service
which began with Christianna's favorite praise songs.

As usual when I share a story I include more of you who I think would
appreciate it, in this case - a sacred happening. Pray for this dear
family as they come to your mind, though you might not know them
personally.

Thanks, & Christ's Love to you,
DVD
...who will remember how 10 year-old Christianna lived out her name:
Christ's Joy, J-Jesus, O-Others, Y-Yourself: how can we do and be any
less? & Thankfulness for Rev. 21: 1-7