Letters

	*Cierra Angelica's Memorial Page*

Balloon Release's

Music: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole'

BALLOON RELEASE 3/17, 2009

I made it through another year. This was Cierra's 5 year anniversary since her death. I have decided this was the last balloon release I will have. I will still spend the day in her memory but I don't want to continue this forever and 5 years seems like an appropriate time to stop. Thank you ALL who continue to come and I'm sure would continue as long as I kept doing this. It just means so much. She's never forgotten and seeing everyone there today helps let me know that. Below are the pix from this year. Love to you all.

XOXO,

Shannen

my husband, George and I

my mom and stepdad

My dad, stepmom, sisters, brother, niece, husband and I

My mom, stepdad, brother, niece and I

one of Cierra's best friends with her half of their BFF charm.

my brother and niece

my grandma and pappy Potter..& pup, Rocky

Trevor, Beth, Caiden and Rick

my dad, stepmom, sisters and I

My dad, stepmom, sisters, brother, niece, husband and I

my lil sister, Dominique and Beth's son, Caiden

me and my grandma and pappy....& Rocky

Trevor & Taylor.. Cierra's favorite people

my mom, stepdad, brother and I

my aunt Gwenn and uncle Dog

Cierra's friend, Marisa and mom, Karen and brother, Aaron

Cierra's kindergarten teacher, Seth & I

my friend, Brooke and Payton

My cousin, Brittany and Steve

Brittany and Erica

my friend, Kathy and Jeremiah

Ayianna, a childhood cancer survivor and her family, Carlos, Steph, Aliya and Caiden

Cierra's first grade teachers, Lori and Jan

Cierra's friend, Sarah and mom, Sheree

Cierra's best friends, Sarah & Marisa with me

my best friends, Missy and Kathy with me

my niece, Taylor and me

up, up and away to heaven

~Gone from our sight but forever in our hearts~

Cierra Angelica

6/15/96~3/17/04

BALLOON RELEASE 2008

THE RELEASE WAS GREAT. SO MANY SHOWED UP AS ALWAYS. YOU GUYS NEVER FAIL ME. EACH YEAR, I GET NERVOUS THAT SHE'LL BE FORGOTTEN BUT INSTEAD, EACH YEAR NOT ONLY DO THE SAME TROOPERS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS SHOW, NEW PEOPLE WHO MAY NAVE NEVER MET CIERRA SHOW, WHICH LETS ME KNOW JUST HOW MUCH SHE IS STILL TOUCHING LIVES!! YOU GUYS REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT MEANS TO ME THAT YOU'RE ALL THERE. I KNOW iI DON'T SAY MUCH AND KEEP IT SIMPLE. I'M NOT A SPEECH KINDA PERSON AND I'M DEFINITLY NOT VERY GOOD AT EXPRESSING MY FEELINGS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT INVOLVES THE POTENTIAL OF CRYING IN FRONT OF OTHERS. EVEN THOUGH i TRY TO KEEP MY "TOUGH EXTERIOR" UP. I HURT JUST AS MUCH AS I DID FROM DAY ONE. IT ONLY GETS EASIER TO COPE WITH AND EASIER TO REDIRECT MY EMOTIONS BUT I DO NOT MISS CIERRA ANY LESS THAN THE DAY SHE DIED, 1 YEAR AFTER SHE DIED, AND SO ON. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL BUT REALLY WORDS CANNOT EVEN BEGING TO EXPRESS WHAT IT MEANS TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. SERIOUSLY!

HERE ARE THE PIX.

WITH DEPPEST LOVE,

XOXO,

SHANNEN

The Clarke Family~Cassidy, Cierra's friend

up, up and away

Amy, Megan ~ coworkers of mine & their families

Jen, Crystal & families

Kathy & Jeremiah~my sister from another mother

my girls~ Anne & Missy

The Baker's & my husband, George~ MY FAMILY

The Godfrey family~Sarah, Cierra's friend

my dad, stepmom & lil sisters

Seth, Cierra's kindergarten teacher~ a heart of gold

The Bowman Family~Marisa, Cierra's friend

my brother, niece & me

my brother, Chad & his daughter, Taylor

Taylor(CiCi's cousin) & Trevor~pure at heart and 100% selfless

The Smith Family~ by my side through THICK & thin. xoxo

MY Grandma & Pappy Potter~xoxo

My Mom & My Stepdad~ my heart

The Hall Family~ cousins

Brittany (CiCi's cousin) & Steve~ she would've done anything for Cierra .XOXO

Brandy, Beth (& Brad, beth's man)~ my coworkers

Julie & fam~ friends since elementary school

My Girl, Brooke & Fam~ always there

The Perez family~ my first make a wish family as a volunteer

BALLOON RELEASE

MARCH 17th, 2007

Sorry it took me so lomg to get these pix uploaded. I was so busy with my wedding in April and then, I've just been slacking. The release was great. So many showed up even though it snowed the day before and there was a foot of snow on the ground (go figure, in March, huh.) But it gave me the chance to see how important Cierra is in so many lives since they beared the weather and road conditions to be there. Thanks to EVERYONE for coming.

With Love,

Shannen

balloon release 3/07

March 20, 2006

Well, I survived another year without my baby. I will definitely agree with all the other Angel moms when they say the days leading up to your child’s eternal life date anniversary are harder than the actual day itself.
Friday, the 17th went ok. I took off work and spent the day with George and Beth, who also didn’t work. We went for brunch and shopping. I was not feeling the shopping. I wished I hadn’t gone anywhere and spent half the day in a rut… regretting ever even getting up! Eventually I caved and bought a few things before going to the cemetery for Cierra’s balloon release. I wasn’t sure how many people would be there and I was a little nervous because my biggest fear is that as time goes by.. Cierra will be forgotten. Well, I definitely can say that has not happened yet! There were 50 people there, bearing the cold night, ready to release balloons. It was great! I was too happy about how many people showed up to even be sad. It was definitely more of a celebration or life than a sad time. That’s exactly what I wanted but never would’ve imagined it would happen. I guess time does heal, huh!? I must admit, I did shed a few tears when a surprise visit from my first make a wish child, Aiyana, and her family showed.
I graduated from high school with Aiyana’s dad, Carlos. Shortly after Cierra died, Aiyana was diagnosed with Leukemia. I hadn’t talked to Carlos since H.S. (10 years.) I contacted them and soon after became Aiyana’s wish granter for make a wish (Since Cierra’s death, I am a volunteer for them.) Aiyana was my first wish child. But she meant more to me. I took her shopping, and out for ice cream, and gave her Cierra’s wigs. I went to Hershey med center to visit and play with her. Something I don’t know how I did, looking back. She’s in remission now and I haven’t seen her for a while. It meant so much to me to see them there. Some of Cierra’s school friends.. Cassidy and Alexandra, who I haven’t seen since she passed, were there. It was great to see some other school friends, Sara and Marisa! I still talk to their family’s more frequently but don’t see them as much. Cierra, Marisa, and Sara were definitely some trouble makers. They were all so tiny and cute. I remember picking Cierra up from school and waiting out front. Amidst all these tall “bigger” kids would emerge Cierra, Marisa, and Sara.. all so petite in their little “diva” style clothing.
Also at the cemetery were many family members and friends of mine. Thank you everyone. Thank you for letting me know Cierra is not forgotten!! Interesting enough, I am feeling pretty good now. I still miss Cierra and would do anything to have her with me but am feeling more at peace with all of this as time goes by. Different things will always trigger me and I will always have sad days but I know I can make it through. Thank you to everyone for their support because I really feel that’s what holds me up.
I think Chris Clarke said it best in her guest entry so I will leave you with her great quote, “ALTHOUGH THE BALLOONS FADED OUT OF SIGHT, I KNEW THEY WERE THERE. IT REMINDS US ALL THAT ALTHOUGH CIERRA FADED OUT OF OUR SIGHT, WE KNOW SHE IS STILL IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER!”

I will post pix from the balloon release here.
XOXO~ Shannen

school friends

uncle Chad & cousin Taylor

George

Aiyana & I

Aiyana & Aliyah

up, up, & away

You'll always be my child~ I think of you each day

Even though you must remain so very far away.

A love as strong as this, I've never felt before

But you had to go away~ up through Heaven's door.

You'll never have to suffer, or feel pain or hate,

just peace and love and happiness~

God has given you this fate.

I hope that you can feel just how much I care

And when my days are over, in a flash~ I will be there.

Pure unbounding joy! We'll never have to part.

You'll be right by my side~ and not just in my heart.

But until that day, when my dream is real

I think I understand just how I should feel...

"Mom, I am fine!" this must be what you would say

"Please don't be sad, we'll meet again one day:

I'm with God above~ so don't cry for me,

Our parting is but a moment compared to eternity!"

We Walked Together

We walked together, you and I

A mother and her daughter,

We had hopes and dreams for tomorrow

But tomorrow didn't come.

We walked together, you and I

We talked, we laughed, we loved

We shared so many happy times,

And for that, I thank the Lord above.

We walked together, you and I

But only for a short time.

For all too soon it ended,

Leaving pieces of a broken heart behind.

And even though I miss you

More than words could ever say,

I thank God that I got to walk with you

Every precious moment of every day.