Katie

Katie and Sumner were friends since they were about 6 years old.  She was our neighbor and they were "'birds of a feather" in many ways.  As children their play was always so creative. I loved when they got into making "potions" using the water from the stream that ran through her property.  They mixed all kinds of flowers and herbs, packaged them in decorative bottles and even designed a business card, all for their own pleasure.  I'll always remember the day they set up a lemonade stand at the end of our driveway  - you have to understand we have a 150 foot driveway on an unpaved road, there are probably about 20 cars that go by all day and they sat out there trying to sell lemonade.  As luck would have it, the UPS driver came that day and gave them a $10 tip - so it was a good day!  After Sumner passed, it was hard for her to come to our house - she said she was always expecting Sum to walk through the door - so we didn't see too much of her the last 6 years.  She would send the occasional Merry Christmas, Happy Mother's Day, Happy Birthday text, but our attempts to get together with her were always cancelled.  Katie called me a few months ago and told me she was having a baby and had just found out it was a girl - would it be ok with us if she named it Sumner.  Of course we were honored.  Today was the baby shower and a reconnection of sorts.  She is going to be a single mother, her dad is her main support and he's doing an awesome job of it!  They both made it clear that they want us to know little Sumner Mae and be part of her life.  Tearful, but joyful too.  All part of the process of healing for all of us I think.  

"The road of life twists and turns and no directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination."  
William Arthur Ward