Happy 16th to my sweet girl..

This week has been a very challenging week.  It started with our Fridge/Freezer going down.  We have been without a Fridge/Freezer since Friday and it makes for a very difficult time.  Jake has been asking to move into Ellie’s room for this entire past year and when his dresser broke and we needed to replace it and he said instead of getting me new furniture just let me have Ellie’s. So, we decided to finally let him move into her room.  This was probably the most challenging move for me.  It was so emotional but as a mom I stayed strong and continued on. 
 Ellie’s room is much larger so that’s why Jake wanted her room.  I have to cover my sadness and emotional distress because how can I expect him to move on and handle the loss of his sister when his example is breaking down.  It takes double the effort to keep it together.  I belong to a Childhood Cancer Bereavement group and I constantly read how the parents shut down and don’t have normal holidays anymore and I just think what about the existing kids.  Keeping things moving forward is important not only for our sanity but also my other child as Ellie was only half our world we have another ½ that we need to live and move on for.  
 
Well then like they say when it rains it pours and did it pour here in Lemont the other night.  Our Garage/House sadly flooded. I stored all of Ellie’s Stuff downstairs and in garage, we lost a bunch of memorabilia it was extremely hard.  We are in the process of the cleanup process which is long and exhausting.  So far we rented a dumpster, Pod, De Humidifier and the Drywall guy is coming to give us estimate tomorrow.  Because it was storage, and everything was floating we lost so much.  Today I had a Dr. appointment and on the way I got the phone call from Insurance that nothing is covered.  This is going to be a huge hit to Dave and me.  So, on the way home from doctor I was feeling so down, depleted, exhausted, and ready to give up.  And then a Green Semi Truck passed me by.  It was like Ellie saying pep up and remember to be #Elliestrong it made things better in my mind. How can I be so down when Ellie was so strong?  
 
Well Today is Ellie’s 16th Birthday.  A time where I should be taking her to get her drivers license taking her shopping and just enjoying having a girl to spoil on her 16th Birthday.  This is another challenging day.  On top of it the COVID put a wrench in all my Birthday Plans I had for her.  But when you get knocked down you maneuver and find a new direction.  Although all the amazing plans we had are on hold I came up with other ways to celebrate Ellie.  If you drive around Lemont you will see green ribbons and lawn signs to celebrate Ellie.  Also, a bunch of restaurants here in town are offering green items in honor of Ellie now through end of the month and with each order there will be a RAK card (random acts of kindness card given).  The first 50 #elliestrong orders at each restaurant will get a #elliestrong bracelet.  In honor of Ellie's birthday, please make sure you kill the restaurants will kindness and flood them with love. 
 
If you don’t live in Lemont its ok travel here in all our spare time we have during lock in place order.  Pickup an order, eat and enjoy Ellie’s garden or picnic in Lemont. Make your rounds and get your delicious dinner and then the amazing desserts that are available. I am making my way through all the elliestrong items as my goal is to try each one by the end of the month. 
 
Secondly please RAK someone, perform at least one Rak (Random Act of Kindness) before the end of the month in honor of Ellie and post on Elliestrong Facebook page.  I really could use some lifted spirits and the photos from the Ellie strong food Items and RAK’s will truly lift my spirits.  Help me blow up the #elliestrong Facebook page with kindness and show Ellie that her 16th means so much and #elliestrong is still going strong.  

I attached all the photos of elliestrong specials here in lemont 

---