Pine Trees and Easter Crosses

Stepped out of my house yesterday morning, a small chill in the air, fog hovering over the lake, and the sound of the birds singing. I said a quick prayer for my mom who is was in MICU and Critical before getting into the car. As I looked up, I saw these amazing tiny crosses (the handy work of our creator), and felt a peace that only God could have sent.

I have lived around these pine trees all my life and did not know they produced these tiny crosses, I felt they were "just for me".! I shot these photos with my IPHONE, and posted them on my Face Book page. My sister couldn't believe what she was seeing either, so she googled "pine tree crosses" and to our amazment there were many stories told about the pine tree crosses. And I wanted to share mine!

It's holy week and this this year its been quiet depressing. My dad has experienced major depression since him and mama were separted due to her illness. I never knew depression could kill you, but I've watched my dad go from a healthy working man, to a frail and helpless man with an irrevocable state of mind.

My mama has struggled many years with diabetes, battled dialysis 3 days a week for the past 6/7 years. She had several amputate operations until her left leg was removed above her knee (16 months ago), and had been at a rehabilitation /nursing center for the past 16 months.

She was hospitalized 21 days ago, and I was able to share this photo and tell my mama about the pine tree crosses while I was staying with her one night. I just knew if anyone had known about these it would have been her, she is was an instrument of God, and makes made everyone she comes came into contact with feel special and loved. My mama told me she had never seen these and was truly amazed at the photo, and the story my sister had discovered.

On April 18, 2011 about 8:40am, just one day after I shared the pine tree crosses with my mama my sister called to tell me: "mama had died."

I had been trying to prepare myself for her passing for the past 21 days, I knew she was very sick and since she had caught pneumonia and was in MICU, she was critical.. It was very hard to see her struggling to hold on, she never complained about anything EVER!, ddialysis treatments 3 days a week, not being able to walk anymore, she couldn't move her rght arm due to a torn rotator and the dialysis shunt. The doctors and nurses in MICU would ask her how she was and she would say; "I'M FINE..

She will be so missed, she was the Backbone of our family.!

Its hard to believe I will never be able to have another conversation with my precious mama, but the pine tree crosses and photo sharing was one of my last conversations with her, so I have hopes of seeing them every year from now on. "A simple reminder of our last conversation"

I don't think any human being could ever prepare for such an empty void. I miss you mama, and love you so much! God you will have to help me and our family with this void, I/we cant do it our self.

My precious mother got to experiencing holy week with the resurrected Jesus. What a blessing for her. and only the hope of seeing her again one day!

MAY YOU REST IN PEACE

Shirley R. Maples Ellis Jan 4, 1937- April 18, 2011

Moss Point Ms,