JOIN US IN REMEMBERING AYDEN/IVY

On Friday, March 1st and Saturday, March 2nd, we will be marking the one year anniversary of our precious Ayden/Ivy’s death. It’s hard to believe that an entire year has passed since we last heard his voice and hugged him!

One of the activities we plan to do is on Friday night and this is an open invitation to any of you who wish to participate with us. Here’s what we’re doing:

On the evening of March 1st, we will be launching some lanterns on our backyard pool as a way of remembering the journey Ayden took in the wee hours of March 2, 2023 as he moved from the physical to the spiritual realm. We plan to launch the lanterns at sunset and leave them burning for 24 hours to symbolically light the way as they ran ahead of us to heaven a year ago.

Before launching the lanterns, we plan to decorate them with messages to them or notes about them or about this past year of life without their physical presence.

This is where you come in: whether you are local or distant, we would love for you to also share messages or notes you would like written on the lanterns! 

All you have to do is write your note/message in the comments below and we will transcribe it onto one of the lanterns for you. 

If you would like your own handwritten message on a lantern, please write it on a blank page, take a picture and email it to me at lwachs@mac.com so I can then have it printed on a lantern. 

Either way, please submit your comment by the end of February (which is next Thursday) so we have time to prepare the lanterns next week.

If you are local and want to join us, please feel free to come by our home between 4:30 and 6:30 pm Friday, March 1st to decorate or write on, and launch your own lantern. Sunset is at around 6:15 pm that night.

If you plan to attend in person, text me (Lisa) to let me know so we can have some snacks and beverages available. We will finish our activity by 6:30pm that night so that our family can have some private time together on what will likely be a very difficult night of remembrance.

Love to all of you who miss and continue to love our precious kiddo!

Ayden/Ivy’s Mama, Lisa

I remember Ayden in my Sunday school class in Kindergarten and first grade.

And I was so impressed when he answered a rather difficult question about the Bible.

It was clear that he had spent time learning about God.

He was so cute and so full of wonder.

Thank you for posting the memorial online. It was so beautiful. 

Thinking of you Ayden! 

 I am visualizing  your beautiful smile after receiving a smoothie... I never did tell you how much I loved that smile!    

I have so many awesome memories of small group nights when we hosted at our house years ago with our friends from New Break. I was heartbroken to hear that Ayden passed away. It seems like just yesterday all the kids were running around our yard having the best time! Those nights are so special and memorable to me. When I think about Ayden, I remember his supercool style, even as a kid. I loved that hat he wore!!! 

My heart breaks for you,  Wachs family. ❤️

I haven’t seen Ayden in probably like 12 years, but I was absolutely floored when I learned he had passed. Cheryl Lundgren often babysat the three of us- Corbyn, Ayden and I- together when we were little. I was the oldest and even though I remember often feeling annoyed at the two energetic boys I was around, I remember those times fondly. Some of my earlier memories as a kid involve them. 

Ayden was always so sweet, always the first to say sorry. I remember one time coming to Cheryl and telling her they were bothering Abby Depuy and I when we were trying to play (I think Ayden knocked over like a ton of hair clips? Something inconsequential but VERY important to a 9 year old.) and that was when I learned a very important lesson, “They just want your attention, even if it’s not positive attention, even if you’re mad or annoyed at them, he just wants you to pay attention to him.” she told me. I remember seeing them differently after that. I’m praying for you, Robert, Lisa and Corbyn, as you continue to do the hardest thing you hoped you’d never have to do. I pray the Lord continues to give you the strength you need for each day❤️

Rob, Lisa and Corbyn:

As we know all too well, there are no words  that can ease the pain that the loss of your child and brother brings.  Nothing can prepare you for a loss like this. Cherish the good memories that you have both of Ayden as a young person and of Ivy in their later years and hang onto all of the stories that others have told about their caring soul and desire to help others.  

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this unimaginable time.

Gord and Joanne Chapman - Canada

This will be a long one.  Pastor Robert and Lisa.  You were there when we moved back to California. 2011.  Presenting yourself as our next-door neighbor in your front yard on our day one.  Don in his Detriot Redwing shirt.  Lisa, a Canadian, had a connection.  Pastor, you said you would like to help us to find a church.. Not promoting NewBreak.  But we attended that Sunday and heard Pastor Mike's sermon.  Heard the word GNARLY and we looked at each other and said "we are home"!  Forever grateful, Neighbors!! 

IT WAS A GOD THING!!

You invited us over for dinner.  That is where we met your sons. Beautiful boys, with beautiful eyes. Eyes are the entry into the soul? Then beautiful souls they have.  Ages maybe 6 & 8.?  

Ayden offered dinner grace. I don't remember his sweet words but remember opening my eyes and watching him.  My heart melted and was full and happy. Every encounter with Ayden after that always filled me with joy, smiles, and love,  Even backing my car out of our garage to run errands, if Ayden was in your front yard and saw me, gave his very best exuberant wave hello. Not a ho-hum hand wave.  A WHOLE body wave. Thank you Ayden!!

Don remembers that first dinner with Ayden saying he wanted to sit next to Don.  Somewhere during the meal, Ayden put his arms around Don's neck and called him Donnie. No one, except me, called him Donnie.  Making a new friend.

Thank you for filling my patio time, relaxing, listening to your boys play, argue, be brothers,  It was always such sweet music to my ears.  Accompanied with Lisa's piano playing.  When you moved, that beautiful music left with you.  Quiet for a while, but our new grandson, Landon filled the void, followed 4 years later with his brother Ethan.  We lost connection with you for a while. But you were NEVER from our thoughts and prayers.

Bringing over Christmas baked goodies.  Ayden opening my front door and with no two big front teeth, just smiled and just melted my heart again!! Your boys were always polite and well behaved.  My grandsons would have been frailing in agony on the floor having to endure such adult conversion.

Your boys both rocked Fedoras well before they were hot.  Ayden has his mom's lips! Ayden's book is still being written on earth because his legacy lives on.....but His first chapter in Heaven , oh my, will be spectacular!!!!

Thank you for your honesty in your pain, composing an email no one ever wants to ever compose.

Your life has changed forever.  A club you never wanted to be a part of.  Losing and burying a child.  Losing a child to Fentalyn.  You are sadly joined by tooooooooo many members.  You will get through this. You will move forward, as you must. With only Jesus as your strength and power and healing .  

Take each day, one by one. Savor it. Good and bad. High and low. Support each other.  Hug each other.

Praise our God.!!! Redeemer and savior.  Comfort and healer.  Merciful and forgiving. Healer and protector. THANK YOU JESUS FOR BRINGING YOUR WONDERFUL SON AYDEN HOME TO YOU !!

Pati and Don Forrest       xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

I don't think I can add much to what Pati said. I remember every moment she spoke about. I don't know about you but I have had to have some talks with God that gets things off my chest. I think he's okay when I tell him I don't think it's fair, and I yell why, why, why did a certain event have to happen? I have been through those sad and hurtful days too many times it seems. And yet, given enough time his love and his Spirit's presence will finally calm me down and let me be at peace. It's amazing and it's wonderful. I know it will be for you also, because that's what he does and that's who he is.

Our grandson Ethan, age 7,  and Ayden could pass for brothers, not only do they look so much alike, but their energy, smiles, and zest for life are so similar. I guess that's just how little boys are, but some are more special in their approach to others. I will always remember the happy times we shared with Ayden and your family. 

 We will be praying daily, as I'm sure the entire Newbreak family will be doing also, for God's amazing Holy Spirit to lift you up to that special place.  A place that only he can bring, but it's more real than anything this world can offer. May his engulfing peace be felt and you will realize God is near. One day at a time my dear friends, and I know that doesn't ease the pain, but it's what we get. I know God will indeed lead you to new paths, he will bring you strength to carry on and help you honor Ayden.  He will never be forgotten and always be loved, and that's exactly how it should be.  Try to be at peace and I know it's hard, there will always be some difficult days, but you know Gods Word far better than I do, so I'll let him do what he says he can do. He is with us always.  Thank goodness, because we need him.

Don

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