Merin took this last picture of Daylan and I. I wish you could have seen her with my camera. So cute. So unsure. So beautiful.
8.9.10
08.20.10
I sit here just staring at the screen. There are simply no words for this. No words. I don't think I am ready for this. I can't seem to make it reality. I feel the need to cry more but the tears are stuck somewhere between my heart and throat. My little Merin and her dear Mike were killed in a car accident on August 20 2010 on their way home from a wedding. We had spent a beautiful evening at a family wedding. My memory of the night is beautiful and still. I watched Merin as she glided across the lawn to our table at the wedding. How graceful she is. Graceful in everything she does. I tell her to meet me after the wedding and we will take a few quick pictures on our way home, "just for fun. you and Mike look so cute!" She grins and the plan is set. Every little detail of that night seems to be magnified. The way she looked at Mike. How he held their baby as he tried to get 7 week old Ysa to sleep. How he raced from the table to meet her as she crossed the lawn and somehow had the table cloth stuck to his pants. We met along the side of the road. Their little family huddled together. So perfect. So beautiful. Merin, I am so grateful you were so happy. It brings me a lot of comfort. Mike, thank you for loving my sister. For bringing her the happiness that you did. Merin there really just are no words. I miss you so much I shake. And yet I have complete and utter faith that I will see you again. I am so deeply grateful for eternal family. How much our Father in Heaven loves us. Merin I know I am so blessed to have had you as my sister. To have had you for 22 years. Yet, how I wish you were still here. Thank you for your little baby. We love her so much. Its truly humbling to have her in our home. We all look forward to watching her grow. To see little bits of you and Mike shine through. She is a beautiful, strong spirit.
Merin took this last picture of Daylan and I. I wish you could have seen her with my camera. So cute. So unsure. So beautiful.
Merin took this last picture of Daylan and I. I wish you could have seen her with my camera. So cute. So unsure. So beautiful.
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36 comments:
Oh, Eden, my hearts aches for you. These pictures are so surreal. And beautiful. Thank you for sharing this post. You, your family, and Mike's family continue to be in our prayers.
Much love.
Shanan
I am so sorry for your loss. What a treasure to have those last moments and memories captured forever for you and Ysa.
These pictures are beautiful. I'm so sorry for your loss. Ysa is one beautiful and blessed baby also.
There is nothing like the bond of sisters and without a doubt you and Merin have that. You can see it in these pictures and you could see it whenever I was with the two of you. What a beautiful memory to have.
Without a doubt I would also describe Merin as so graceful, is there a better quality out there? I hope to be more graceful through my life just like she was.
what beautiful photos. they will be a treasure to you & ysa always, i am sure.
love to you and yours ...
What lovely photographs. I love the one where Merin and Mike are both handling Ysa. Getting ready for the picture. These are so great to have. In the future these will be treasures and Ysa will know she was loved and they were in love.
You are right there are no words, but you said it beautifully.
What an amazing gift. Such a tender mercy from Heavenly Father of this last beautiful day. You are all beautiful. I think of you often.
Both your words and the photos give a beautiful glimpse at the love that you all have as a family.
The gift that you have as a photographer has been such a blessing to all, and now more than ever to your sweet family.
Ysa is such beautiful little one.
You are all in my prayers and I do hope that you all feel Heavenly Fathers arms wrapped around you at this time.
It is so wonderful that Ysa will have these to cherish. You are a gem. We love you.
What a perfect moment captured before a heart-wrenching good-bye....no, not a good-bye, but a see-you-later. We love your family and you are in our prayers.
That's really beautiful Eden. You AMAZE me. Lots of love & prayers...
I have been trying to think of how to comment since reading this post yesterday afternoon. All I can think of is that you are right, there are no words - and yet I believe I completely comprehend your meaning. I try not to choke on the grief. I grieve for you - for all of us - how much we miss her and love her. She inspires us.
Thank you for these beautiful pictures. I love them all but I think I may most treasure the two of you 'sisters'.
Love you.
thanks so much for sharing your loving words and beautiful photgraphy with all
you are a very special person.we are so blessed to have you in our family
love from grandma Jan and grandpa Don
For no words, that was beautiful. I can barely breathe, the lump in my throat is too big. I ache for you Eden. I read this post yesturday and cried all afternoon. Again, here I am crying for you. I don't know you well, but I truly love you. I can't wait to bring your things over and just HUG YOU!
Thanks for sharing your words and photos Eden. How nice to have these last photos of Merin and her family to cherish. My heart just aches for you and your family, I just can't imagine.
I'm so happy to hear Ysa is doing well and at home with you now.
You are in my thoughts and prayers
My dear Eden:
I have started this note many times but have needed to stop, as I could not see the screen through my tears. I met your wonderful family through ballet: your mother and I worked warddrobe together and I helped that beautiful spirit that was your sister with her costumes. I was always thanked with a smile and a hug. She was grace, dignity and oh so much talent wrapped up in that petite body. We even have some of your work on our wall. You took pictures of our daughter Meagan. They were a Christmas present for her father and one of your brothers needed to deliver them to the house as, in the first part of your pregnancy with your son, you could not even ride in a car.
Our hearts go out to you and your family, from here to Ontario. My sister is a minister and you and yours have been added to her prayers. Same words to you as I sent your mother's way: please remember to take care of yourself during this difficult time. Thank you for the pictures. They are stunning.
Thelma Simmons
Eden,
You have a very generous spirit to share your thoughts and feelings, and these precious and intimate pictures. Like your mom, I especially like the sisters shots (and seeing Merin's high heels) and the shot of you and Daylan holding each other looking with love at the camera (i.e. at Merin who is taking your picture.)
love,
Roz
Hello that was so amazing to read it i havent been on the computer or looked at your blog i was waiting for more update but that waas amazing to read it made me cry =[ i really sorry for your lost but i know they looking down on you keeping you safe and ysa to
i hope you have good year and safe one to and i hope your family is doing okay and other family doing good god bless you guys
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-and-Merin-Melnyk-who-passed-away-friday-RIP/120117251374437
i just wanted to tell you i made this fan page for your sister she seems like amazing person and loving person and i just wanted to make it it falt right
if you want me to take it down i will
have good weekend
If our loved ones must leave us, aren't these the kind of last moments we hope to have with them - You are Merin look so beautiful and happy together.
We love you, we ache for you, and pray that you and your family will be blessed with comfort.
That was beautiful Eden...your words and your pictures. I especially like the pictures of you and Merin. You are a very special person and I'm so glad to have you as a cousin! You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Love you lots!
Thank you, Eden, for sharing your heart and these pictures with us. I still cannot believe I won't see Miss Merin at the Studio, yet oddly enough, I feel her there. Seeing these photos reminds me of the wonderful, generous-spirited young lady and the quiet, devoted young man who were and always will be truly made for each other. You have helped bring some peace to my heart.
Thank you.
Lori
Eden - I keep thinking of you and wondering how you're doing, how Ysa is doing, how you're all coping, etc. I am in complete awe of you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings and pictures. They are so private and sacred, and I imagine they are hard to deal with and send out into the public ether, but they have made me a better person for reading them. Keep being strong - you are amazing.
much love and prayers,
your friend,
treva
Eden,
This is beautifully written (and photographed). I wish there was something profound and lovely that I could say ... but I think you and others have already said it. Just know that you are surrounded with love. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Much love,
Jenn
I don't really know what to say, just that I am thinking of your family, I simply love Aunt Jan and my heart breaks for all of you. These pictures made me cry my eyes out and every time I think of what has happened it makes me stop and catch my breath. I'm so sorry.
Eden,
My heart is broken for you and your family and all the circles that surrounded her. I know how many lives she touched in her short time and each one I imagine in such a special way. I have always looked at your family with such awe. Your one of strength, unconditional love and acceptance. A family in which something like this can bring them closer together.
I loved her so much and you as well. I wish I could have been closer to Canada and been able to celebrate such an amazing life with everyone who knew her. I've watched from a far and this post has meant so much to me. I can see how much love they had for each other and close you two were. It's a beautiful glimpse into the world you two shared.
Ysa is so lucky to be taken into to such a wonderful family. One that will give her such wonderful memories of her parents. You have such a special piece of them both! I know you and your family will cherish every moment.
All my love,
Katie Smith
What a beautiful post. You and your family have been in my prayers. You can tell that you will be a wonderful mother to baby Ysa. Thinking of you.
oh eden, I have been an awful blogger and have now just read this. I could not even imagine so I do not have the words to express my sorrow for you. You will most definitely be in my prayers. Ysa is beautiful and very blessed to now be with you all.
My heart goes out to you for your pain. Like you I believe you will see your sister again.
You are so talented and you have received a beautiful gift to have these last pictures of your sister and her husband.
I don't know if you have rad it but the book "The Evolution Angel" by Dr. Todd Michaels has helped a number of my friends cope with untimely loss.
Sending you hugs and love and prayers.
Eden, how precious to have had this photo shoot. It's amazing. A treasure forever. For you. For Ysa.
<3
Goodness, words don't really seem to be enough. Those pictures are gorgeous and how bittersweet that you can look back and treaure them but not have her standing by your side to see them too. I am sure she is by your side not so in body but surely in spirit. xx
i just left my first comment on your blog today...after i saw your beautiful home photo on YAMF. I hadn't read your blog before and decided to check it out... now i am speechless. i have a twin sister...i know that closeness...i am so sorry for your loss. you seem like such a lovely person with a beautiful heart.
Hi,
I just wrote a post on sadness and loss and sat there with a few tears. (Quite rare for me. My blog is not like that really) then went in search of something beautiful to make me happy. Somehow i linked onto this. So so beautiful. A funny fate for me to read this today. I have a lot of reading to do on your blog but i just wanted to stop and say what a beautiful moment to treasure from such a tragic loss. Those photos are simply perfect. x
thanks so much for sharing your loving words and beautiful photgraphy with all you are a very special person.we are so blessed to have you in our family love from grandma Jan and grandpa Don
Hi, I just wrote a post on sadness and loss and sat there with a few tears. (Quite rare for me. My blog is not like that really) then went in search of something beautiful to make me happy. Somehow i linked onto this. So so beautiful. A funny fate for me to read this today. I have a lot of reading to do on your blog but i just wanted to stop and say what a beautiful moment to treasure from such a tragic loss. Those photos are simply perfect. x
That was beautiful Eden...your words and your pictures. I especially like the pictures of you and Merin. You are a very special person and I'm so glad to have you as a cousin! You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Love you lots!
I am related to them! So sad!
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