The Hanging of the Greens service is something our church does every year to mark the start of Advent, which is the season that prepares for Christmas. Each year, on a Sunday night, the church holds a family friendly service (meaning that crying babies are allowed to stay) that features Christmas carols, Bible verses about the birth of Christ, and participation from the congregation in decorating the church. Last year, with Nile, our family hung the garlard. This year, Kyle carried Evie up while we hung the wreathes.
The service was very bittersweet for us, because it was hard not to think about last year. I remember being so excited to bring Nile, because I just love Christmas, and I couldn't wait to share the holiday with him. During the service, we sat near our friends, Frankie and Maria, and their 2 young girls, Grace and Leah. Nile and Leah babbled back and forth through the whole service, and I remember hearing Grace repeatedly say, "Baby Nile." Nile also stole the show by getting ahold of our bulletin and eating it, then spitting up.
One of the first things that Kyle did when Nile passed away was take down the ornament he'd hung with him and church. He wrote his name and birthday on it, and put it in a special place on the tree. Our intention was that we would hang that ornament every year as a family. I was so relieved to see it set out for us this year. Unfortunately, it got broken when it fell this year, and we were upset. Still, it is an important lesson that just because physical things come and go, the memories do not. Nile's memory is no less alive because the ornament is gone.
Anyway....this year was very nice. The service was touching, and again, Grace and Leah were there to cheer us up. In times of suffering, I'm so glad that I've had such a great support system to lean on.
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