Aunt Lorrie's Memory Bears

Every year for quite a few years, Keith's mom has made each of her six children's families scrapbook pages for our families of the year. This year Merina decided to let the scrapbook pages go undone and made memory bears instead. This was our 4th Christmas without Keith's sister Lorrie. Merina had saved some of Lorrie's clothes and this was the year that she could bear to make memory bears. Merina made one bear for each of Lorrie's five brothers, one bear for every member of Lorrie's family, one bear for each of Lorrie's godchildren, and one bear for each of Lorrie's parents. Each bear is outfitted in one of Lorrie's shirts, skirts, dresses, etc. and each bear has a poem attached. Each bear also has a pair of Lorrie's earrings on the vest or one of Lorrie's pins. We received two bears for our house - Keith got one and Cara got one.

This is Aunt Lorrie.

The top of our china hutch is where we keep Keith's memory bear, Lorrie's picture, Relay for Life bears that the girls have gotten, and relay candles.

Keith's memory bear. Keith's bear is made out of one of Lorrie's jumpers and a denim skirt.

Cara's memory bear.
Cara's bear is made out of Aunt Lorrie's pink flannel robe and one of her shirts.

Merina's gift this year of memory bears was totally unexpected, so tears were shed and memories were shared of remembering some of the clothes and pins. There will always be someone missing at holidays and events, but Lorrie will never be forgotten. Lorrie was the eldest of six and the only girl in the family, but she was the Leader of her five brothers. They all listened to her and sometimes sought out her advice. Lorrie was diagnosed with cancer when Cara was one month old. Lorrie was her godmother and Cara was very close to her Aunt Lorrie.

I'll never forget one time when Cara went and spent the night at Lorrie and Randy's house. Lorrie was so excited to watch Cara and that Cara was going to spend the night. Cara had so much fun.

Take care,
Michelle