Guest Post from my Big Sis!

Me and my beautiful big sis, who flew to Germany FOR A WEEKEND to be my maid of honor...! Fall 2010

We've been sick.  With a horrible virus.  But we're getting better, finally!  Just falling a bit behind with everything... so my big sis is helping me out with a guest blog post.  She's the best.  Thanks again Anne, I love you!

Enjoy:

On a personal note, I am Stacy’s older sister and I can’t imagine being strong enough to make all of the choices she has had to make AND deal with what “life” has thrown her way. 

Keeping in touch with skype!! Christmas 2013

Way back to the summer of 2010 Stacy made the tough/easy choice of leaving everything she had known as a life and family in the United States to join her wonderful husband, Sebastian, in what is now their homeland of Germany.  It was the beginning of not just one but many journeys- partnership, motherhood, joining a new family, new civil society, learning the language, etc. And through it all, Stacy and Sebastian have made a loving environment for each other and their children.  Germany offers them so many opportunities to raise an amazing family and be in love, but leaving your homeland and family behind – WHEW, not easy!  I wonder if I could have done it all if “the shoe would have been on the other foot”.

Then, not too long ago, they also decided to add another dimension into their lives, trying out India as a place to raise a family.  A goal for both of them, they made it there, gave it an 100% (A+) effort, but decided that it was not the right time to move their family to this unique continent.  Again, such an amazing adventure, but I cannot imagine… India, although a very spiritual and healing place for their lifestyle, India does still have the plague so NO THANK YOU (my words, not Stacy’s or Sebastian’s words)!

Back to Germany to expand their family, and this time a beautiful baby girl, who unfortunately was not meant for our world.  Saranda’s birth and death was a journey I do NOT wish on anyone, but we are all so different because of it, I am not willing to “forget” about it.  The grief, the physical pain, exhaustion, and bleakness… just no words.  Lots and LOTS of wishing we could be there to give hugs, get hugs, give kisses, get kisses, share looks, hold hands, walk, talk, sing, maybe laugh, and definitely support the needs of the boys and their marriage. So hard, on many fronts, again, I do not wish it on anyone.

Then, throw in one more horrible revelation… the “c-word”… Cancer!  Feeling that your body has betrayed you twice within such a short amount of time has been so defeating for Stacy and her family.  We all know how well they take care of themselves and each other, for something like this to happen is just unimaginable.  Plus, to be so young and have so much going for you, none of us would have ever expected to be given this diagnosis.

Watching from afar, and loving oh so dearly, I truly appreciate the amazing, strong, considerate, and amenable woman my sister has become over the years.  For sure, as Stacy gets through this she will become even stronger (if not physically, certainly mentally) and I hope we can all continue to be a part of it.  For that reason and so many more, I hope each of us can share our love of and for Stacy by helping her raise the money she and her family need to be the  strongest, most courageous, and healthiest family they can be, this year and beyond.

 https://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/stacy-needs-your-help-healing-from-cancer-and-loss-of-child-/312142

Love to all, Heather Anne