Beauty in Life and Death

This is Matt unfortunately Melissa did not get finish her last entry so I will take it from here.  I will try not to have any typos or grammatical errors.  Melissa would really not like that, but she was my official proof reader for all important documents.

Melissa and I always strived to look for beauty even in the darkest of times.  It is not always easy but it is always there when you look hard enough.  Our situation the last year and half have not been ideal there were lots of tears and dark times, but the beauty was overwhelming. Whether it was a note, meal, flowers, or text a a low point or just the love we felt from family or friends.  The beauty was there. 

We had so many people praying for us and for Melissa to beat cancer once and for all, but I also prayed that Melissa would be pain free and if it was God's will that she passed peacefully.  Melissa was in so much pain last year.  She did not let her slow her down but she was hurting.  She packed more into a year with stage 4 cancer then most people do in a lifetime (London, Scilly, Grand Canyon, Lourdes, Point Reyes, Tahoe, and just three weeks ago Monterey).  But miraculously for the past three months Melissa's been pretty much pain free.  I know God answered my prayers.

For the past two days Melissa began sleeping more and more.  Yesterday she was only awake for very short moments.  One was when the nurse was commenting on her nail polish she was opened her eyes and said she had that nail polish for a week and then went back to sleep.

Last night Melissa's breathing began to become labored and I had a feeling her time with us was coming to an end.  Reagan woke up and sat with Melissa and I for about an hour. Melissa's breath became more shallow and Reagan said we should get Charlie.  Once Charlie was there Reagan played Amazing Grace on her guitar and Melissa turned her head towards Reagan.  Then John Lennon's Imagine came on Pandora and Melissa quietly stopped breathing.  It was one of the most peaceful things I have ever seen. 

I know Melissa was waiting for the four of us to be together before she started her journey home.  I also know Melissa was teaching us that there is beauty in the saddest of times.  You just have to look. 

Melissa was looking out for us and giving us a good memory and I know she will continue to look out for us and she will be with us always in our prayers and memories. 

Melissa and I both believe that God's biggest miracles are the people he puts in our lives just when we need them.  Their are too many of you to thank but you are all our miracles.  Just as Melissa has been put in our lives to inspire us to look for the best in every situation and to remember there is always times to laugh and have fun. 

I can't even begin to convey the appreciation our family has for the amazing support we have received.  So a simple thank you will have to do.