girls really are the sweetest gift  / Melissa (friend of friend of your mummy's )
I too have taken a million photographs of my girl, trying to capture her different moods, her smiles, her frowns, her traits and her magic. Nothing can capture them like the heart and the memories frozen in time, and as desperatley as you try to old on to the memories, they fade.  I think that these pages are a beautiful way to show her the whole world your precious girl, and i'm sure with every key you touch, she hears every word, she is still with you, helping you through day by day, week by week. 

I stopped reading half way through her story, crying with tears flowing, (as my girl just turned 3 at christmas) went in and checked on her sleeping. I have so much admiration for your strength, as i don't know what i would do if i had to live on after her. i honestly don't think i'd have the strength to survive. 

i tip my camera for you,  as i wish you all the strength in the world not to forget a single itty bitty moment. write it all down, every little thing. but don't stress though, i'm sure that should you forget i'm sure she will whisper it to you in your sleep. Ava will be there always, by your side jumping out and saying "boo". Close

Sheye I know your pain  / Katherine Plint
Sheye

We recently lost our little girl Hannah to drowning in 4th October 2007. She was two months off turning three.  It is such an awful year for us both and others that I know too.  We have already had her first birthday and christmas without her and our family is so lonely just like yours. 

My heart aches with yours
My tears cry with yours
My thoughts and love are with you 

May Ava shine the starlights upon you brightly in your heart and you hold those precious memories for all the years to come.  I dont understand why are pretty little Princess' were taken from us.  I miss Hannah just like you do Ava.

May the rain pour out the tears for our Angels as they pour out the rain from the sky now above us.

Much love, tears and sorrow
Katherine Plint
www.hannahsfoundation.org Close

what do you say...  / Jenn(gwennielynn) Stroup (flickrfriend of inkyblack(carol) )
Dearest Sheye,

Any words I could possibly say, just sound insignificant.  I am completely moved by your ability to express so poignantly your grief, memories, and everyday happenings.  You relate them in the most heartfelt voice.  
I wanted to share with you that I have poured over your posts, recounting your days and emotions.  You have powered into my very busy mind the importance of the simply perfect tidbits of the everyday... to not just rush through with trying to be supermom... but glide through being a super mom... listening to the ramblings of my 12 year old... playing with the action figures of my 7 year old... and watching the smile of my 16 year old.  These days fly by, if I'm lucky enough to have them.
I'm sure you have wished for time to rewind a million times since your Ava left.  I, too, wish I could change that for you.  Maybe her love was desperately needed in heaven... to fully be around you always.  I just don't know... but what a glorious angel she is. 
Please know that your blog has changed my soul forever.  Isn't it strange that you are on the other side of the globe and yet were able to touch my heart and soul here.
Thank you for giving a little piece of Ava to all of us.
God's blessings to you always.
jenn Close

So Sorry  / Karlee (Passserby)
I have tears in my eyes reading the story. I am so sorry for your loss, Ava sounded like she was a remarkable little girl who i'm sure will be treasured forever. Close

First Christmas Without You.  / Mummy
My darling Ava. The days leading up to Christmas have been so so hard. I have some days where I'm just missing you. Where I just miss the little things like waiting behind the door when you'd run in from kindy to say "boo" and hear you giggle. Like watching you steal yoghurts out of the fridge then not eating more than a spoon of each and replacing the lids like they'd never been touched, quietly popping them back on the shelf. How you'd call Luca and Mason "the boys" and how you'd climb into bed with me in the mornings..only staying for a minute before you'd want to go downstairs. We could never convince you it wasn't time to get up if the sun was out. I miss your big eyes and your little feet, so so much. On those days, I just miss you. Then there are days where I can't stop thinking about the way in which we lost you, the not knowing what reallly happened to you. The overwhelming panic when I realise how my worst worst worst fear came true. That it's real and it's happened and I'm supposed to somehow accept it. I can't get rid of the dread in the pit of my stomach, knowing it's forever. It wakes me at night, it polarises me during the day. The tears and the wishing and the disbelief. Will it ever stop? So today was all of those. But we tried so hard to make it "normal" for Ivy and the boys. We had a pink breakfast..Nanny made it lovely..and we spoke of you a lot. It felt nothing like Christmas, it was as empty as all the other days and I ached for you as much as always. I just hope and pray with all my heart that they have Christmas where you are and that you had the most beautiful day. My sweet Ava, Iloveyousomuch. Close

Merry Christmas Super Princess  / Lea (Mummy's friend )
Well it is Christmas Day here Ava & I have been listening to my girls laugh & run around all morning. I am smiling sweet girl but deep in my tummy I have that horrible ache knowing that Mummy & Daddy are so, so sad today. How I wish things were different, that you could be there today & every day.
Bailea & I picked out a beautiful pink & white spotty christmas bauble for you, it is on our tree & every year we will speak of you as we hang it up.
Your Mummy rang me during the week to see how I am. She is so selfless, in my time of need she can still pick up the phone to check on me even with her world in turmoil.
I have pink candles on our Christmas table this year and they smell so delicious!!!
We are coming in Brisbane soon & can't wait to go to Keira's yummy cupcake shop to buy the famous Ava cupcakes.
I miss you princess & think if you everyday.
Merry Christmas sweetheart, how I wish you were here.
xxx Close

Ava Pink Cupcakes  / Keira (Mummies Cousin )
Hello little sweety! I'm sure you have seen all the little girls are the first ones  to buy the little pink sparkly Ava cupcakes :) They are not nearly as pretty as I hope them to be but we will get there, I hope you will give me some inspiration as I am next decorating them! We got your Carousel print in the mail, it is so fitting! We can't wait for all our guests to ooh and ahh over how beautiful you are on that carousel. So fitting, we hadn't even thought of that picture when we named the place but you must have given us a push hey? Much love to your mummy, luca, mason, ivy & grandpa! Thinking of you always! xx Close

Beautiful Fairy  / Thea White (Unknown)
Sheye,

As of Christmas my  daughter will be the proud owner of 3 of the Ava series of prints by Mandy. Why? because she said she wanted that beautiful angel on her wall.... she is only a bit older than Ava (she was born in April) and could be a long lost twin of Ava in everything she says, is and does. Close

Hi Sweet Girl  / Vanessa And Kara XXX (Admirers)
Ava Sweetheart, 

In a couple of days, we are going back to where we met you ~ it's made me think about you even more than usual and I'm actually a little nervous. Kara is excited but confused ~ when we met you I told your Mummy we would be coming back to see you both because you just stole our hearts ~ you all did. It's just so wrong how things have worked out....

I will never forget the day when you came back to the resort with your brothers. It was absolutely FREEZING cold, raining and before we knew it, there was lightening and thunder. Despite that, you guys just wanted to swim and go down the water slide.... I remember the look on your Mummy's face when you said you wanted to go down the slide. I am so so glad that I took you down with me ~ it's a memory I hold so very close to my heart Ava. I feel so fortunate that I was able to give you  a tiiiiiiiiny bit of happiness by doing that :) After that, we went back to the room and you ate our treats ~ for such a tiny Super Princess, you managed to eat so much chocolate!!!!! 

Thanks Princess for such lovely memories for both Kara and I ~ you will be thought of so much whilst we are away, as indeed you always are.

Sweet Dreams xxxxx

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Super Princess  / Sue B.
Hey Gorgeous Girl
I come a visit your site and my heart still skips no matter how many times I see your Gorgeous smile.  You can see the love from your Mummy in every photo.  They all love you so very much.
Lotsa Love Sue xx Close

Pink Blooms  / Melinda Cannady
We spent Saturday in the park and I saw the most beautiful flowers.  No one knew what they were.  Each bush had a large white bloom that looked as delicate as paper mache with a smaller pink blossom right next to it.  I've never seen anything like it.  I thought of you Ava, and Mummy.  She will have a tiny pink blossom with her forever. Close

My heart goes out to you  / Claire (none)
I found our site through ILP and I just wanted to offer my deepest condolences to you and your family. I looked through every picture on your blog and you can just tell that Ava had a very happy life. She is just beautiful....as is the rest of your family.  

All my best, 

Claire Close

Everything but you.  / Sheye (Mummy)
Hello my darling girl.
This has been another hard week. I'm not sure why I ever bother saying that, they are all so hard.  Just to get to "okay" is our hope, every single day.

Yesterday I went into your room.  I found your play piano and when I pressed the button, it said, so brightly "Peekaboo, I see you" but I couldn't see you, could I?.  There I was, amongst all your beautiful things, your tutu, your shoes, your blocks...but no you.  The sadness was, is,  so engulfing.  

I drove past kindy this afternoon and found out that if I peer into the right spot, I can just see your flowers..."Missa Jemma" planted them into a heart and they are getting big.  I love that they are there but it should be you.  You should be in there, playing in the sandpit, squealing as I walk through the door. 

We went to the new house again today - I have found a nice place for your special things and can't wait to choose your tree.
Ava, with every single breath that I take, I miss you.

Mummy xxxxx Close

sinceres wishes  / Nicky Lam (un known )

Dear family of Ava's
I read your moving tribute to Ava in tears. I have a 7 yr old don and a 3 yr old daughter and I love them as much as you obviously love your children.
Whatever we say cannot take away your heartache, but maybe knowing that Ava even in her young little life had lots of fun times and was surrounded by love, you know that it was a happy life.
My heartfelt , sincere wishes go out to you and your family
Nicky

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Forever / Megan Anderton
I am brought to tears by your loss. But I know that our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ are holding your baby girl right now. She is looking down on you with so much love in her heart for the wonderful family that she had the chance to be a part of. I know that families can be together forever through the gospel of Jesus Christ. You will see your princess again. God bless. Close

The Pink Tree  / Sheye Mummy
The days are hard right now.  They all are anyway but today I look around and half of the house has been packed up and moved. I wish I had have waited now - the bare rooms are so hard.  Just one more photo..why didn't I take one more photo of the lounge where you'd sat?   It's such a long wait now until we move completely.

I've decided, for now, that when I feel it's hard to breathe, when I start to panic about not being able to stop time, I am going to think of your tree.  Daddy has had a beautiful idea that right outside the new house, we will get the biggest, pinkest tree we can find.  We will fill it with fairy lights and put a beautiful bench underneath.   That way, every time we look out the window, every time we arrive home, we will see your tree and see you. 

It's all I can do today, darling girl..to think of your tree and try to ignore the butterflies in my tummy.

Iloveyousomuch.

Mummy xxxxxxxxx

(How I wish, with all of my heart and soul, that I could say "see you in the morning time", just once more.) Close

PRINCESS AVA'S TRIBUTE  / BARBARA (^MIKE GRACY^ )


HONORING AVA HER FAMILY & FRIENDS- ALWAYS! Close

Hold Mummy's hand.  / Sheye (Mummy)
My darling girl..
This week our new house settled.  I am excited to go to be near Nanny but at the same time, I can't quite work out how to get from here to there. 

I don't want to pack up your room..I can't stand to think of changing a single thing.  I see your bookcase and all the special things in it and remember how you would pest to wear your gold bracelet or see the decorated eggs at bedtime.  Your nursery ryhmye book still waits at the top of your cubboard..remember how Mummy would sing the whole book at night?  And you would sit so quietly just looking at the pictures right until the end. (And ask for me to read again, of course). 

We still have your sparkly pillow and Dora and all your shoes where you put them.  Sometimes Ivy wants to play in your shoes -she loves your room but Mummy tries hard to keep it tidy and how you like it.  I'm sorry there is so much in there now but you know Mummy and Daddy have gotten so many special presents since you went and I need to keep it all safe. 

I don't know what to do Ava. I don't know to step forward without you. If I let go of your hand, even for a second, what if I don't find you again?  If I can't sit on your chair and stare at your bed, will I forget you climbing up over your safety rail and snuggling in?  If I can't stand and look through your dresses, will I lose those precious memories?  I don't know where you've gone and these memories are all I have.  I am scared.

I saw the beautiful big pink flower at the new house...all by itself in full bloom.  I like to think it's from you.

Love, love, love forever and always.

Mummy. Close

Our thoughts are with you  / Lanne Beattie
Just a little note that our thoughts are with you. My son is a few days younger than Ava and we explained to him what happened to her and reinforced car safety with him. That was back in Feb. Not a week goes by when he doesnt mention her. He says lovely sweet things about her and hopes she is well and happy where she is now. We think of you all, and your pain and loss and hopefully send good thoughts you way. We released pink balloons to memory of ava, and four balloons from my son's birthday in memory of her too. Thinking of you all.. Close

MANY LOVE FROM GREECE  / Maria Messari (a friend of Greece )

The earth was too small and angly to deserve such a beauty.....anglel Ava! I LOVE YOU HONEY!!!!!

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