Thursday, May 7, 2020 by Julie Overlease
When we finally found a house near our church and school and moved in after a total renovation in January 2014, we felt incredibly happy and blessed. I created and framed the homemade craft project pictured below to immortalize the young ages of my children on the day we closed on our new home. We are living through a time in history that will be remembered, so I wish to share this layered, family members’ hand-print-cutouts idea with you. I think it would be fun for your children to look back at it in awe to see how small their hands are once a decade passes. We know time flies and my best advice to parents of precious babies is, “Don’t blink!”
Likewise, after Evelyn’s accident, I invited Evelyn’s siblings to share a reflection on the time surrounding her April 20, 2018 accident. This content was written for my book Hope Upon Impact, but instead, their words are published on this blog. Henry and Vivian were 9 and newly 8 years old two years ago. My motherly advice is to encourage you to devise a writing prompt or oral prompt inquiring about what has brought your child(ren) joy during the Shelter in Place of COVID-19, then record their written or video words for family posterity. Their perspective may surprise you.
Here I share with you the observations and tender emotions experienced by my two youngest children after their big sister was badly injured in a backyard accident at a friend’s house. Olivia’s ever-eloquent account will follow in the days ahead, so please check back.
A Little Girl’s Fear and a Postponed Sacrament by Vivian Overlease, age 8
Before the accident happened I can’t even remember the last words I said to Evelyn. I didn’t want to go pick up Evelyn, and I just kept begging my mom to let me stay home. I played around while Mom was gone. Later, Dad said, “Oh guys, I’m gonna go.” I thought he was going to pick up Olivia. I went outside for a while and a car showed up on the street. My grandparents got out of it. I wondered what was happening because they were running. I was worried. They were stuttering saying that a tree hit her head. I was speechless, and I ran up the stairs trying not to show my tears. My brother came after me. I just stared out the window watching for Evelyn to come home. Henry told me she wasn’t going to come home for the whole day.
In the morning I had a feeling it would be ok. I thought in my head, “Everything will be ok.” Just like in a fairytale everything seems bad in the beginning, but in the end it’s all ok. I kept asking my grandparents when I could go see Evelyn. They wouldn’t let me. My First Communion was that morning and I kept wondering if I was going to go to my First Communion. I figured out during the process that I was just going to go get my picture taken. Aunt Jane, Grandma Jane, and Olivia did my hair and helped me get ready. I felt a little sadness that I wouldn’t be able to receive communion that day.
After photos, I went back home and I wanted to talk to my mom so bad. I went back to the church later that day to take a picture with the whole grade for First Communion. My friends stopped me when they saw me and asked what had happened. They asked why I didn’t receive First Communion. I told them about my sister’s accident. They told me that they would pray for her and I felt warm inside. I felt happiness for one moment.
I went back home after my teachers told me that it would all be okay. I went to bed early, and I slept, but I had a dream that Evelyn wouldn’t be okay. I went downstairs like I would normally do to go to Mom. I opened the door and I looked at her bed. I remembered she was gone at the hospital. I just stood there for a while. I was sad.
In the morning on Sunday I just was so happy I couldn’t even remember why. I had totally forgotten about what had happened to Evelyn. My brother went downstairs. We sat down and we started watching TV. I realized we had Mass, but I didn’t think it would feel like a true Mass without my family. When I went to church, my friends were at church in their First Communion clothes. When it was time to receive the Eucharist I watched as they got it, but I just got a blessing. I went home, and my grandparents told me it would be okay. They had a surprise for us. We would get to go see Evelyn and our parents. I jumped for joy!
When I saw Evelyn I just couldn’t believe my eyes. Sure, she had a bruised eye and a partially shaved head, but she was still there. I was happy with any shape or form she came in. After I hugged her I went over to my mom and dad, and I hugged them and loved them.
Shocked into Silence by Henry Overlease, age 10
I was Facetiming with my friend Leo while we played War Robots when I heard my dad talking on the phone. He was really mad. He said, “How? Really? I’m coming.” He left. When my grandparents told me a tree limb fell on Evelyn, I didn’t think what happened was that bad until I saw her. When I walked into her hospital room a few days later I didn’t recognize my sister because of her swollen, black eye. I felt sad and sorry for her when I saw her head. It was a super bad injury. I asked Mom if Ev knew her head was shaved, and I wondered if she would wake up and feel so sad when she felt she was bald on one side.
I was scared and worried about Ev. She had a tube going into her nose and needles going into her arms. It made me know how serious it was. I just stood there staring at her. The picture of her hurt foot gave me butterflies in my stomach because it was neon orange and pink blood. I brought her a stress ball making kit, but she was asleep. I couldn’t talk to her. I brought Lourdes water and put a cross on her forehead with it. I think that may have been what healed her.
“…clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Over all these virtues put on love, which binds the rest together and makes them perfect. Christ’s peace must reign in your hearts, since as members of the one body you have been called to that peace. Dedicate yourselves to thankfulness. Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you.” – Colossians 3:12-16
