Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am a diamond glint on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush;
I am the swift uplifting rush.
Of quiet birds in circled flight;
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.
We later found out it was a gas explosion... it blew Tray and Autumn out of the house, but Stacy was trapped. She died from smoke inhalation. The fire fighter that found Autumn said that she was crawling out of the rubble, screaming... and was between the house and the car. The next day... we saw that her crib was on top of the car... above where she was found. She ended up with 3rd degree burns on 10% of her body, but is doing much better now.
Tray was found on the other side of the house, already in shock. He had 4th and 5th degree burns on 45% of his body. We almost lost him too... but he is a fighter and made it through.
When she came to me and told me she wanted to get married, and that she was having a baby... it broke my heart. It meant my baby was becoming a woman. She was growing up.
Yes, I though that she was too young to become a mother, but she proved herself to the world and became a WONDERFUL mother.
She had so many dreams and aspirations for herself, and for Autumn. This made me so proud of my baby. She grew up to be a better person than I could ever imagine her to be. I wish she was still here to live those dreams with me, and to live them with her husband and daughter. We all need her.
I don't think I'll ever understand why the Lord took her from us... He has a plan for her that I don't feel fits. But He does what He does for a reason.
My life will never be the same without her. There will never be a day that passes that I don't expect to get a phone call from her. Or to hear her laughter. Or to see her smiling face. I will visit her in my heart and memories, and I will make sure to share these with Autumn, so that she feels like she has known her mom all along. Like Stacy was never really gone.
Stacy, I hope you can hear my silent prayer. Daddy loves you very much, and was and still is proud of you for what you've become. I only wish we could have had more time together. I miss you baby.
Love, Dad
Yes, Stacy was only 19 years old, but she was more mature and a better wife and mom than most 30-year-old women I know.
Stacy was a vibrant person, she had so many dreams of what she wanted out of life, and how she wanted our daughter raised. I just hope that I can make her proud and see that all of the dreams she had for Autumn can come true.
At our wedding, when the minister said "till death do you part..." I never could have IMAGINED it would have been this short. I value and cherish the time I did have with Stacy, but it just wasn't long enough. I don't know why the good Lord needed Stacy, and I don't want to be greedy... but our daughter and I need her more. Stacy will always be in my heart, I will never let the life we had just become a memory, and our daughter will always remember her mother, and how much she loved her.
I wish I could remember what our last words to each other were. And I wish I could tell her one last time how much I love her, and how much having her in my life has meant to me.
I hope that Stacy can hear me when I say thank you... Thank you for giving me Autumn, thank you for giving me you, I love you for now and always.
Love, Tray
I feel that I lost something very special. See, Stacy and I didn't grow up together as close as she did with others. Yes, she did live with me for a little while, but I can't seem to remember enough of those times.
And I can't get those back. But, we were sorta working on getting to know each other again. And I didn't have enough time to really get to know her again, as much as I would have liked. I just have other peoples memories... and sometimes the ones that do come back to me. Like everyone else... I thought we had forever to catch up.
I really am sorry we lost such a great person. And if I could turn back time, I would want to do whatever I could to make sure that nobody was in that house that night.
This has taught me a valuable lesson though... to not take anything for granted. And to not leave a fight to figure itself out over night... what if tomorrow never comes? I wouldn't want it to end with my last words to someone I love to be in anger.
I love and miss you Stacy,
Tamika
Please feel free to sign the guestbook... I plan to print the entries out to save for Autumn, Stacys two year old daughter. I know that later in life... this may mean so much to her. :)
