We had such a sweet weekend honoring my Aunt.
You saw some of the pictures in my P365 post, but I wanted to give you a little history of this place we went.
Some of you have wondered why I went all the way to the hill country of Texas to honor her.
When my mom and Aunt were in HS, they attending a boarding school in San Marcos, TX. On the weekends during the warm seasons, they would take day trips to Blue Hole in Wimberley, TX to swim and picnic. They both had very found memories of it.
Several years ago, when my mom was back visiting San Marcos for an alumni event, she met a man who told her about the EmilyAnn Theatre and gardens in Wimberley.
The EmilyAnn Theatre was founded on August 1, 1998 to celebrate the life of Emily Ann Rolling, a 16-year-old, who lost her life in a car accident in 1996. They had recently lost their offices to a fire and he was telling her about it. Something about the story, made my mom look into it and she ended up donating some money to rebuild the offices.....and the connection started.You can go to the website and read up on this wonderful place.
But Emily Ann was a lover of theatre and especially Shakespeare. Her parents founded this in her honor. It is now a well known summer theatre camp and they put on amazing productions.
However, it is also a place for healing.
Ann, Emily's mother, has built this place to reflect God's love by welcoming those that have lost children or loved ones. She felt the butterfly was the perfect representation of new life in Christ and so started the releasing of butterflies in memory of those we love.
This year, they released over 2000 butterflies!
What is so wonderful is that the whole community takes part by helping raise the butterflies for release and it is a beautiful ceremony that I won't soon forget.
The festival is a statewide and city event. Children from all over Texas send in their butterfly art work in hopes of being awarded the honor of next year's T-shirt.
The Emilyann Theatre and Gardens recently acquired some acreage attached to their property and decided to cultivate it into a garden setting. Our garden was the first one built and will lovingly be called "Mary Nelle's Garden".
What a perfect memorial for her......she was the master gardener.
Her backyard could have easily graced the cover of Southern Living.
And she loved the hill country and the area of Wimberely.
I can't tell you how amazing it was to be on top of the hill, releasing a butterfly into the air in honor of my Aunt.
Those around me were in different stages of grief, but I am convinced that ALL took the next step toward healing.
I know I did.
While we were shopping later that day,
my cousin found this willow tree angel...
How perfect is she?and I have the perfect place for her...
You're always in my heart Aunt Mary Nelle!
Mom, thanks for this perfect weekend, I love you!
21 comments:
oh, Sara, that is beautiful in every way. What a perfect way to honor your aunt. And her garden is beautiful. Praise God for the help and inspiration we can receive when we take the time to help one another. He is good.
I remember when your aunt went to Heaven. What a wonderful person she was to you. It's good to honor her.
I love seeing your pictures and hearing more about the weekend. I'm so glad we got to meet and look forward to some more together-time when you're down this way again!
Looks like a nice weekend.
Wow! Just saw the blog! It really honors your Aunt & the EmilyAnn Theatre. I know Mary Nelle & Emily are looking down and smiling.
Love, Ann
ah! i wish i had known you were in texas!! thats what i get for not reading your blog every day. :(
wimberly is only about 45 min, maybe an hour from me. i totally would have driven to meet you!
its such a beautiful area and i love your pictures from the weekend. what a sweet event to be able to attend!
What a great post, it really hit home with me. Our Pastor & his wife lost their 14 year old daughter 3 years ago on Friday. Such terrible tragedy to have to bear.
sara- what an awesome weekend and way to keep your aunts memory alive. I appreciate you sharing this personnal time with all of us.
Aw ... I love this.
What a beautiful way to make tribute to your aunt. The plaque saying is so meaningful and butterflies are perfect! I love Willow Tree Angels and that one is perect. God knew just where to put it for you to find it!
These are those moments that take your breath away - thanks for sharing this!!! Love it!
What a sweet post. How special the love you shared with your aunt and that you can now share freely with others. It multiplies!! Like thousands of butterflies.
What a beautiful and heartfelt post. I'm glad you had such a wonderful weekend!
This is priceless in every way, Sara! I love this... and yes, it almost seems as though this willow tree was made just. for. this.
Wow, what an incredibly special place. So happy that you were able to do this with your mom.
That is truly amazing. What a great weekend and such a beautiful place with a beautiful story behind it. I love it.
What a wonderful place! It looks very soothing and comforting.
What an amazing place! And the story with it is just so inspiring and loving.
oh, sara, this is beautiful! just beautiful
special memories, indeed!
i love willow tree
:)
I am touched by this beautiful tribute. WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!
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