Melinda Jean Odum SANCHEZ

Happy Thanksgiving to my Mom and Grandma. This year will be the 2nd that you have spent in Heaven, but to me it feels like the first all over again. Last year we went away for the holiday - I couldn't bear to celebrate what was such a special day for the 3 of us without you here with me. I'm honestly wondering how I am going to get through the day this year, but going back to our traditions is important to Gaige and Leah. It obviously meant something special to them (I let them make the...

To my Mom, my Best Friend. You went to Heaven a year ago today - it was actually on the 8th, but I found you on the 11th and it was then that your journey to peace could begin. I sent you a heartfelt message on few days ago, but it wasn't posted for some reason. I was letting you know again how much I love and miss you. Dan bought you and me beautiful sunflowers, trying his best to brighten my dark days. We wrapped one in a yellow ribbon and tied it on the tree that we planted in memory of...

Thank you for coming to visit me in my dreams last night, Mama. I prayed that you would - these last few days have been incredibly difficult for me, as I'm sure the next few days will be. In my dream, you were beautiful as always. I could smell your hair (I never liked the smell of smoke in your hair, now I long for it). You hugged me and we held hands - I didn't want to let go. You said that you missed us and that you wanted to stay - you wanted to see your grandkids. I begged you not to go...

PS - Gavin blew out the candle (his favorite part). He thinks that every cake and party is for his bday - it's coming up quick (hard to believe that he'll be 3 yrs old in just a week). He kept telling us to wait, because Grammy would be here in 2 minutes (I wish that was true). Then he asked where you were - he doesn't understand the concept of Heaven quite yet. You and Grandma would love him - so funny and full of energy and never stops talking (so animated and advanced for his age - it's...

Happy Birthday, Mama (9/8/14). This has been the hardest day for me, yet. I guess it is because this is your special day - all about you and we have never spent a birthday apart. I listened to your voicemail from last year (yes, I saved it) about plans for your bday dinner - something we did every year. It was so surreal this year not shopping for a gift or making your favorite meal or going out to eat at one of your favorite places. Call me neurotic, but I did buy you a bday balloon and tied...

Mom - there is something else that I wanted to tell you. So many strange things have happened in the last few days leading up to your birthday - I'm hoping that your are communicating with me from Heaven through Leah's letter and now Gaige's dream.
A couple of nights ago, Gaige came into my room and woke me up (he had no idea it was going to be your bday). He was sobbing and said that he missed you and GG. He had his first dream about you. He said that it was Christmas - the last one that...

Mom this is a very touching letter that I found recently. Leah wrote it to you on the day she found out that you had gone to Heaven. For some reason, she hid the letter but I have to share it with you - it is so sad yet sweet:
Dear Grammy,
I loved you so much and I still do. Your really nice. I'm crying as I write this. I already miss you as if you were gone for 1,000 years. We all miss you so very much. Ur so, so nice. So now you don't have to work and ur my everything in grandma's....

Well Mama, tomorrow is your birthday and I have had a very emotional weekend leading up to your first birthday that we have ever spent apart. I haven't written in a while because I was thinking that it might help me to put everything that has happened in the past year behind me but it really isn't helping. I'm still consumed with grief over losing you - my Mom and my best friend. The only thing that really brings me any happiness anymore are my kids. They love and miss you, too. I wish that...