Allie's Random Life: Markelle's Weekend

Markelle Rae Frei

December 16, 1995 ~ February 10, 2006

To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die:

A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted:

A time to kill, and a time to heal:

A time to break down, and a time to build up:

A time to weep, and a time to laugh:

A time to mourn, and a time to dance:

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones:

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing:

A time to gain, and a time to loose:

A time to keep, and a time to throw away:

A time to tear, and a time to sew:

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak:

A time to love, and a time to hate:

A time of war, and a time of peace.

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8~

The time for all of these things is now. This weekend will be the 3rd annual "Girls Weekend" for myself, Heidi, Amy, and Jamie. The term "Girl's Weekend" might have some thinking about the Vegas strip or Girls Gone Wild... But our purpose is very different from that.

For us, a loss that cannot be labeled binds us and weights on our hearts. Markelle, my neice, Heidi's daughter, Amy's precious patient and Jamie's cousin, entered the gates of heaven on February 10, 2006. We said our final good-bye and had the most wonderful farewell and tribute to her on Valentines Day. Each year we come together on the anniversary of her death to remember her and spend much needed time grieving.

Markelle was the most incredible spirit. So full of life. Her very smile made you want to be a better person. She literally touched each and every life she came into contact with and left a footprint in your heart that will never be forgotten.

Markelle loved being together as a family more than anything. She loved watching the babies play as well as hanging out with her much older girlfriends... her mom... Jamie and Amy mostly... but also her other nurses and caregivers. She was on a level that made her compatible with all ages. She loved art, and baby dolls and pajamas. She loved camping and watching TV, and she loved being just like her big sister Mikalie.

For the four of us.... How do we move on after loosing someone so special? The answer is... we don't... We can get a job, start school, have more babies, move to another state, get married, do all the things we need to do in order to get through life... even enjoying and loving a good part of it, but somewhere inside us, time stands still and at least a part of us will be always be in February of 2006. This weekend gives us the opportunity to return to our grief and share it in a safe place. Together we share our memories, our happiness, our regrets and make a new pledge to raise our kids with as much knowledge of Markelle as possible, to keep her memory fresh.

On the first anniversary, we felt like it was very important to get Heidi away from the stresses of her own life and give her an opportunity to focus only on herself... The rest of us realized how much it helped us too.. No matter where we are, or what we are doing, we will always gather early in February for what has become a very precious time...

So... We will come together tomorrow to eat, drink, cry, laugh and enjoy just being together in a time we choose to set aside to honor Markelle.

Read Markelle's Obituary.