The Adventures of EverlyCat

Flat Stanley, the traveling gnome, Where in the World is Matt Lauer?  You know...those traveling characters and people who pop up in various places.  These are all fun to follow and illicit a sense of adventure!

So begins our own journey with our EverlyCat!

EverlyCat

Formerly known as Jellycat, EverlyCat came to our family in December, a gift for Everly from Go Shout Love's 25 Days of Christmas.  Well, actually all three of our children received one.  Everly's sweet gray rabbit, though its title on the tag is Jellycat, stayed with her at St. Joe's Children's Hospital in December and January and also traveled with her to the Children's Hospital of Atlanta.  It rested snuggled up to her neck, her hands and under her IV-stuck arm. 

In her final days, it lay tucked next to her cheek providing touch and offering protection in the way only an innocent child's stuffed animal can. 



Opening the box with Jellycat at Christmas

Everly receiving her Jellycat at Christmas

Sweet pea with her little Jellycat

When she left this earth, it was that little rabbit that accompanied her to the funeral home when mommy couldn't stay with her.  When she returned home to us, it was that little rabbit that followed her then, too.  When it was time for our final goodbye, again it was JellyCat that stayed by Everly's side.  When our precious baby's belongings were ready for pick up, it was that tear-stained rabbit we laid our tired and worn out eyes on first. 

This stone gray soft bunny now offers our family the same comfort and company it did for Everly.

Shortly after Sweet Pea's return to Heaven, it was suggested that JellyCat be a part of our family's activities...traveling with us, participating in family photos, experiencing life with us. 

And in that moment, EverlyCat was reborn with a new purpose:  a tangible way for us as a family to celebrate and experience life with our Everly...close to our heart and fresh in our mind. 

Now please don't get me wrong here.  There is not one person in our family who actually believes this rabbit is the reincarnation of our daughter.  Honestly.  But, rather, it is a way for us to process the changes our family must experience with such a loss, to keep the boys' sister a relevant member of our family and a healthy way for us to remember that she is gone but not forgotten.

And, to top it all off, we are having fun doing it!

The boys try to top each other with where sissy's stuffed animal should be photographed...hanging off the ledge at the top of the lighthouse or riding waves on the boat.  Daddy's specialty is remembering to bring her before we leave for somewhere special.  She doesn't go with us most places...usually only if it's something significant...though she was forgotten when we attended the St. Joe's Memorial last week.  Yikes!  I personally like to include her in pictures of significance to Everly's Angels or in how we are remembering her...post office, t-shirts. 

We have a hearty stack of EverlyCat photos to share now as I had intended to write about her many weeks ago and start posting her pics then.  Since it didn't happen, I'll blast you here with all of EverlyCat's Adventures thus far! 

Just chillin' with my peeps at the store.  lol

It's Easter!

Checking my girl Everly's mailbox

Yay!  Sissy got some mail!

On our weekend getaway...see me on the wall

Sending out Team Everly shirts! 

All these pretty colors...wish they had one in my size!

More pretty packages with Team Everly shirts...I should get an EverlyCat shirt!

As most of you know, Everly and our family had a beautiful year completing so many things off of her bucket list...from riding a ferris wheel to meeting Santa to climbing a mountain.  However, there are so many more things we would have wanted her to experience. 

So, in the the spirit of adventure and moving forward, we invite you to take EverlyCat on your own adventures!  Thanks to my friend Michelle for the idea and Jennifer for the printable!  Each family can have their own EverlyCat.  Just print out the picture, laminate for durability if you'd like and off you go!  Hashtag #everlycatsadventures so we can follow her journey on IG and on Love for Everly's Facebook page.  



#everlycatsadventures



#everlycatsadventures

#everlycatsadventures

EverlyCat heading to the library
#everlycatsadventures

EverlyCat rescuing a turtle from the road
#everlycatsadventures

#everlycatsadventures


 

DOWNLOAD your own EverlyCat  HERE

How exciting will it be to see all of the places she'll experience in spirit as everyone heads off in different directions and in everyday life!  Don't forget that some of Everly's bucket list items were normal family things like having her brothers carry her and participating in a Nerf war, so be sure to include those as well! 

Hope you all enjoy the ride as much as we are now!  What adventure will YOUR family take EverlyCat on now?

With love and appreciation,

Crystal (Everly's Proud Mama)