Safe in your hands...

Today is "International Bereaved Mothers Day", which is a week earlier than "Regular Mother's Day" and which I didn't even know was a thing until just a few days ago when a friend sent me a post from A Bed for My Heart.   This day is for loss mothers to have their children remembered and to have their names spoken all over the world, thereby creating a scenario where they can never be forgotten.  That is a real fear for loss mothers, that no one else besides the immediate family will remember that they existed.  I don't have the fear mentioned that I won't be considered a Mother still... I have Reed and Riley and lots of "kids" at the school who call me Mom (and a few that call me "MOther Fu@&er when Im not looking).  But the fear that Rye will be forgotten is very real.  It is physical and palpable.  So for those who didn't know him well here is a little more of our Rye story. 

Rye was one of the most compassionate and empathetic people on the planet.  His goal was to make things better for everyone he met, to keep them safe always.  He worked hard to understand what people needed and then to help them achieve their goals.  Every heart was safe in his hands.

Each trip we took we would take a picture of all three of the boys - our two and our Nephew Chance.  They almost always ended up lined up exactly like this with Rye at the top, Chance in the middle and Reed at the bottom - our little guy.  Rye always has his hands wrapped around the others, holding them close.  Not sure how Reedo got missed in the above picture in Hawaii.  It was our first trip, and a very exciting thing for the boys.  It was Chance's first plane ride even, and when we took off in the plane he asked "are we blasting off?"  It was awesome!

Here are all the boys - again in Hawaii, but we also have pictures just like this in Arizona and in a few other places that might not be so far from home.  I havent been able to find the really good "lineup" pictures since the earthquake.

Rye loved kids, any and all.  He could easily have been a teacher and he was working on starting to coach hockey when he passed.  The above baby is my cousin Angel, we call her neice most of the time and she was born about two years before Reedo.  Rye checked in with her often and made sure she was getting along ok. This picture is a favorite of ours.  Safe in his arms.

We also have Riley in the family now, and she tells us of Rye picking her up for events, or taking her places, or rescuing her on the road, or taking her for Razr rides and listening to music.  He would sometimes call her to see how her day was or to check in and make sure everything was going ok.  Just making sure she was safe.  

Here they are above - Rye on the very left and Riley in the orange coat with Sammie M, and Reedo on the right holding up fishing gear of course!  One of our last Kroto Creek memories with Rye.

When Rye was tiny we got both of his Grandmothers a locket with his picture in it.

When Granny passed away,  Riley got Granny's locket with Rye's picture in it.  

He is now, safe in her hands. In a heart given to her by family where he was always safe in their hearts and that will carry on his name.  Out loud and often, remembered and loved.

Blessed be.