Thursday, January 1, 2015

thank you...

from the prayer service at the wake...praying the rosary...

The last few days have been a blur of grief, tears, laughter and more hugs than I have ever received in my life. My Courtney's wake and funeral Mass were beautiful and awesome. They were celebrations filled with so much love and joy, my heart could barely take it all in. 

 I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who made this process of letting go and saying goodbye survivable. To my prayer group, my dear friends from grade school, high school and collage. To my parish community who has loved us through so much these past 15 years. Words seem so inadequate to express my families gratitude to so many. 
Courtney's wheelchair...no longer needed...

To the eight priests and three deacons who celebrated the liturgy for my girl, never have I been so moved to see how Courtney's life impacted the church triumphant. A saint indeed. To Father Barkett, Father Hayes and Deacon Marques, your prayers, words of solace, your prayers and blessings, your homily and eulogy for my girl were more than we could have asked for. So much love for my Courtney. 

 To my extended family who loved our Courtney from the beginning. I have never been prouder to stand with you. Thank you for everything especially your words of encouragement and love by the graveside supporting me when I didn't want to leave my sweet girl. You are my heart and I am so blessed to be a part of the Green/Stuecken/Lenaburg Clans. Daddy would be so proud of all of you. 
our beautiful girl...now free...

To Jerry and Jonathan, our lives have changed forever, but God is with us. He will guide our steps. Courtney is happy and whole, enjoying a heavenly banquet beyond our imaginings. I am not sad about that. I will miss her laughter, her huge smile, how she feels in my arms and the way she did everything in her own very special way, everyone else be damned. She had guts our girl and she would expect us to keep moving forward, living life to the fullest. So we shall in time. For now, it's one step at a time. One day at a time. 

 To my sweet readers. Thank you for coming to honor our daughter at the wake and funeral. Thank you for your prayers and your practical gifts. Thank you for checking this page and keeping those candles lit for Courtney. I will continue to share here on this page about my life and about my Courtney and how she continues to change the world one heart at a time. 
my favorite image from the day...

We shall passionately persevere...one day at a time...

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29 comments:

  1. HeatherJanuary 1, 2015 at 10:50 PM

    May God bless you and your family at this difficult time. You will be in my prayers.

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2015 at 10:55 PM

    That image of your Courtney's casket under the Pieta is breath-taking! Our Blessed Mother surely knows your pain and your grief, as only a mother who has watched a child suffer and die can. May She give you comfort and strength, and may Her Son welcome your beautiful daughter home to His side. God bless you all.

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  3. Michelle MonkouJanuary 1, 2015 at 10:56 PM

    Prayers up! May the Blessings continue to flow. Hugs

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  4. PeggyJanuary 1, 2015 at 10:57 PM

    The church looked beautiful for Courtney... may you find peace and comfort in His arms...

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  5. Diane KorzeniewskiJanuary 1, 2015 at 11:48 PM

    I offer my condolences to you and your family. I thank you for sharing all that you have. I only found your site about six weeks ago and began reading your and Courtney's life journey. I couldn't stop reading. I think your sharing all of this will surely help untold numbers of others. God bless you and give you all many more graces as you cope with the loss of Court.

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  6. A Mother's LoveJanuary 2, 2015 at 12:29 AM

    I heard about you and your beautiful Courtney on face book, so many people love and care for y'all. What a blessing. I will have you and your family in my constant thoughts and prayers.
    God bless, Kelley

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  7. MCHJanuary 2, 2015 at 12:35 AM

    This is all so heartwrenchingly beautiful. What a legacy she has left. We continue to pray for you and all your needs. I also want you to know that I am (and have been) asking her intercession for some special intentions that I think she understands well, and we prayed again today and asked her intercession for your employment situation as well. God bless.

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  8. jenJanuary 2, 2015 at 1:00 AM

    (((((mary)))))

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  9. Dwija {House Unseen}January 2, 2015 at 1:45 AM

    Oh Mary....words fail me. Bless you. I'm praying. Thank you for all of this.

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  10. RachelJanuary 2, 2015 at 4:11 AM

    Such beautiful images, Thankyou for sharing them and your thoughts. Prayers and thoughts continue for you, Jerry, Jonathan and all the family. I will get started on St Joseph again about the job ;)

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  11. Elizabeth FedorkoJanuary 2, 2015 at 6:17 AM

    John Lennon and Paul McCartney said it best: "Love is all you need." And you, your dear family, and precious Courtney are so very rich in love. God's greatest gift is love.~~~Many blessings and continued prayers for all of you dear ones. XXOO, Beth

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  12. KarenJanuary 2, 2015 at 6:41 AM

    Mary, I'm praying for you. I wish I could give you a hug.

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  13. UnknownJanuary 2, 2015 at 7:52 AM

    Praying for you... Now rest momma you have done the hardest thing a mother can be faced with. Your angel is free!!!! And your family is so loved and prayed for ... Rest in that love... Praying in Louisiana

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  14. janaJanuary 2, 2015 at 8:07 AM

    That was so beautiful! My family continues to pray for you all.

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  15. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2015 at 8:39 AM

    Have been thinking about you all nonstop. Praying you to the next step each and every day. Was sitting in Mass yesterday and was trying to come up with my "one word" for 2015 and thought of your Passionate Perseverance and then settled on purposeful. You've got passion, perseverance and purpose and are making God (and Courtney) proud. I look forward to that long overdue coffee when the time presents itself, friend. #TeamLenaburg !

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  16. ChristineJanuary 2, 2015 at 9:28 AM

    Always in my family's prayers and thoughts. Always will remember your beautiful daughter and the impact she has made on my life because you let me know her. Many hugs to you, Jerry, and Jonathan in the days ahead.

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  17. Darlene GardnerJanuary 2, 2015 at 11:31 AM

    I have a lump in my throat just reading your blog, Mary. May your faith and your family continue to comfort you. I'll keep you in my prayers.

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  18. Laurel WanrowJanuary 2, 2015 at 11:42 AM

    Lovely tribute! Bless you all.

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  19. UnknownJanuary 2, 2015 at 12:38 PM

    You're right... she will continue to change the world one heart at a time. God Bless you.

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  20. ChristineJanuary 2, 2015 at 1:25 PM

    You continue to be in my heart.

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  21. Claire579January 2, 2015 at 1:29 PM

    How lovely, always in my thoughts

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  22. Michele ChronisterJanuary 2, 2015 at 3:09 PM

    Continuing to pray for you and your dear family....

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  23. KrisJanuary 2, 2015 at 4:41 PM

    Your family continues in my prayers. I love reading this post and seeing the pictures of St. Mary's. And knowing that the parish of my growing up years and my heart is still the wonderful community that I remember. Blessings to all of you in this new year.

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  24. LoriJanuary 2, 2015 at 4:51 PM

    Continuing to pray for you.

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  25. StephanieJanuary 2, 2015 at 10:07 PM

    So many prayers.

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  26. ChristineJanuary 3, 2015 at 12:34 PM

    Dearest Mary, God be with you as you continue this journey. My prayers are with you, especially that Jerry will soon be employed again full time. I wish I could be there to give you a hug, wipe your tears and help your family as you get through this. But know I'm praying, and reading, and visiting and holding you in my heart. Love Christine

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  27. stevieJanuary 3, 2015 at 8:51 PM

    Continuing to pray for your and your family.

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  28. BeckyJanuary 4, 2015 at 2:02 PM

    I have never seen such a beautiful funeral before. The last picture is my favorite...continued prayers and support for you and your family. It must be so comforting to know that Courtney is now helping you in a special way.

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