Matthew Epp passed away January 2, 2009. Once again our house is filled with saddness. Many people knew Matthew - he was a celebrity - on tv, the radio and with his book. The Matthew that I knew was as my nephew and my friend. When I first met Matthew I was only 15 and he was 6, even though there is 9 years seperating us it always seemed like we were more friends, I still remember summers spent jumping on the trampoline with water, four wheeling and just sitting around eating. I consider myself very lucky because I was able to watch Matthew grow up into the amazing person he became. Matthew had a special place in his heart for Zander - no matter how he was feeling he always seemed to find strength to pick Zander up and give him a hug and a kiss - I know Zander loved Matthew and he would refuse to go to bed if he knew Matthew was going to be coming over for a movie at our house! I am very thankful that Matthew got the chance to meet Madison and I got a picture of him holding her (I know me and pictures) but once Madison is older I will get to show her the picture of her cousin Matthew and tell her all about him! Even though we knew that Matthew was going to eventually pass away it was still a shock and is still hard. The night Matthew passed away I talked to Dwayne and we were going to go visit him the next afternoon, we never got the chance and that is something that I am going to always regret. At Zanders birthday Matthew talked about christmas and how he couldn't wait, I believe that he willed himself to live through the holidays and once they were over he could peacefully go to heaven.
The funeral service was very well attended and it was nice to see some of the people that Matthew's life had touched. If anyone would like to read about Matthews story Nicole has a website: http://www.caringbridge.org/canada/matthew/
if you go under journal history you can go back and read about everything he did - it is an amazing story!
At the viewing the night before the funeral we took Zander and Madison with us - I decided that I needed them with me there. When we walked into the room Zanders first words were: "Auntie Melanie" (he was pointing at Matthew). I told him no that it was Matthew and he replied that Matthew was an angel. Zander was at Melanie's viewing and it made me wonder just how much he remembers - it has been close to 5 months and he still remembers seeing her. Now at night time and morning we say "good night" to Matthew and to Auntie Melanie and he blows them both kisses. I have to say that Melanies passing has helped me cope with Matthews as I picture them together watching over us. It helps to know that Melanie was waiting for him and will take care of him for us.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Christmas - holidays
Well Christmas and the holidays are finally over! We had a very busy time. For christmas eve we had my parents and Kaitlyn over, Zander enjoyed it a lot - grandma epp read Kaitlyn and him an x-mas story before bed and he's been requesting the same story every night since! When Zander woke up on christmas morning the first thing he saw in the living room was the present from Santa - a tool bench! His jaw dropped and he ran to it, it was a perfect christmas moment, of course he didn't want to open any other presents as he was happy as could be fixing things! On christmas morning we went to Grandma and Grandpa Rawsons to open presents - Melissa, Jody, Aidan, Michelle and Jody 2 were already there. I think Zanders favorite thing was Aidan new electric 4-wheeler - needless to say come spring Zander will be getting his own for outside! Zander was a very spoilt boy from his grandparents and aunties and uncles - I'm not sure where we are going to put all the new toys in our house :)
After opening presents it was off to the civic center for Hill family christmas. There was tons of food and lots of great company. Zander had an amazing time - he loved all the girls following him around playing with him - thanks so much, Chelsea, Michaela, and Shantelle! Christmas afternoon for us was spent napping! We left to go visit Grandma Tyson and instead fell asleep at Grandma Rawsons house and slept the afternoon away - I guess that's what happens when you have a two year old and a newborn! But we were able to get a quick visit with Grandma Tyson and then headed back to the civic center for more food! Madison got held lots on Christmas day and did really well.
Boxing day and the 27th were spent with my family at Grandma and Grandpa Epps. It was a much smaller christmas than last year, and a little sadder with the adsence of Melanie. I find myself really thinking about her at this time of year and talking to Zander about her lots, I didn't realize I was doing it until Zander asked me one morning "Auntie Melanie sleeping still?" and I realized that he was waiting for me to say "good morning Auntie Melanie, we love you". I'm glad Zander still remembers her and talks about her, that's something I want to keep going. Chris took Zander skating for the first time over the holidays - just with skates that hook to the boots, Zander wasn't all that interested in skating and enjoyed it more when he just went with his boots on the ice. Christmas was also nice spending time with nephew Matthew. By Christmas time he wasn't able to eat much but he still loved being around family and he would still get into debates. The last picture I have of him is with Emma and Nicole, his mom, he was wearing a tuxedo t-shirt he got from Uncle Michael and Aunt Joanne and he was so proud of that shirt! So it was another wonderful holiday season with lots of memories made and good times had.
After opening presents it was off to the civic center for Hill family christmas. There was tons of food and lots of great company. Zander had an amazing time - he loved all the girls following him around playing with him - thanks so much, Chelsea, Michaela, and Shantelle! Christmas afternoon for us was spent napping! We left to go visit Grandma Tyson and instead fell asleep at Grandma Rawsons house and slept the afternoon away - I guess that's what happens when you have a two year old and a newborn! But we were able to get a quick visit with Grandma Tyson and then headed back to the civic center for more food! Madison got held lots on Christmas day and did really well.
Boxing day and the 27th were spent with my family at Grandma and Grandpa Epps. It was a much smaller christmas than last year, and a little sadder with the adsence of Melanie. I find myself really thinking about her at this time of year and talking to Zander about her lots, I didn't realize I was doing it until Zander asked me one morning "Auntie Melanie sleeping still?" and I realized that he was waiting for me to say "good morning Auntie Melanie, we love you". I'm glad Zander still remembers her and talks about her, that's something I want to keep going. Chris took Zander skating for the first time over the holidays - just with skates that hook to the boots, Zander wasn't all that interested in skating and enjoyed it more when he just went with his boots on the ice. Christmas was also nice spending time with nephew Matthew. By Christmas time he wasn't able to eat much but he still loved being around family and he would still get into debates. The last picture I have of him is with Emma and Nicole, his mom, he was wearing a tuxedo t-shirt he got from Uncle Michael and Aunt Joanne and he was so proud of that shirt! So it was another wonderful holiday season with lots of memories made and good times had.
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