Rainbow Toes

 

Today is the second anniversary of the day that Makiah King went to be with Jesus. Her parents call it her Heaven Day.  In honor of Makiah's Heaven Day each year, everyone who loved her (and many who didn't even know her) paint their toes in rainbow colors. Later, you will understand why. 

Makiah's parents, Rachel and Cameron, are family friends of ours through Matthew's parents. Cameron is a church pastor in Cairo, Georgia. On October 8th of 2010, the three of them were passing through Thomasville on their way home from vacation, when their car was hit by a teenager who was high on marijuana. At the time, Rachel was just a few months pregnant with twin girls. Sadly, 4 year old Makiah didn't survive the accident and she went to be with Jesus that night. Although they were bumped and bruised pretty badly, Rachel, Cameron and the twins survived. This following February, Makiah's baby sisters were born. They are now 20 months old and absolutely adorable. Makiah would be so proud of them.  As if the twins weren't blessing enough, two weeks ago Rachel gave birth to yet another beautiful baby girl.  Maddie Grace was a complete surprise to Rachel and Cameron, as they were told many years ago that it was medically impossible for them to ever become pregnant without medical intervention.  Makiah and the twins were carefully planned, but this baby.....she was a true surprise!  Here are a few paragraphs from Rachel's blog where she made the announcement that she was pregnant..........

"Have you ever been really, truly surprised? I have had a few surprise birthday parties, and of course Makiah's death was a terrible, shocking surprise. But now I can say without a doubt that I have had the best surprise of my life so far. Cameron and I met with the fertility specialist in January to make plans to start the process again this summer. I had a secret, crazy desire to be pregnant now so I was inwardly disappointed to hear that we had to redo some testing and that would take some months. A few weeks later I took a routine pregnancy test so I could start the new meds the good doctor had prescribed, and well, you can imagine how shocked I was when it was positive!! Of course I ran to the store and bought the most expensive tests they had... the ones with the words "pregnant" or "not pregnant" because I was shaking too badly to figure out silly lines! Three positive tests later, I knew it was true!

I had been surprised by love! A little bundle that is now 11 weeks along and will be born in September! After all those years of infertility and interventions and tests that tell me that this is medically impossible... here we are! Pregnant by surprise! And I know in my heart that this is a love gift from the only One who could give this sort of present. And I feel it is no accident that our new little one will be in our arms just a week before Makiah's second heaven day. Another gift of comfort for this mommy and daddy on the anniversary of our emptiness. And something has come alive in me these last few weeks. Maybe it is the inward knowing in my heart's secret chambers that once again I cannot deny He loves me still..."

Rachel started a blog shortly after Makiah died and I have been following it ever since. In one of the very first entries, she wrote this:

"I look down at sparkly pink toes, and they are lonely. Makiah, our last Sunday together you spent the morning in bed with Mommy (because I am on bed rest with the twins). We ate fruit loops and snuggled. We practiced drawing your letters and painted our fingers and toes. You wanted rainbow toes, but I didn't have the colors with me. I promised I'd paint you rainbow toes later. Once we were all pink you said, "I got an idea! Let's put sparklies over the pink, and you have to do it, too, Mommy, so we can be twins!" You are such a princess! So pink toes became sparkly toes. We giggled and hugged and admired our matching feet.

Now mine sit all alone. Ten toes that should be twenty. Sparkles remind me of your glittering eyes and passion for life. I promised you rainbow toes. I kept my promise. Pretty shades of pink, purple, red, and white. Your sweet little toes looked so perfect before they closed the casket. No four year old should be buried with old lady toes. No four year old should be buried. Mommy is so sorry, baby, that you didn't get to see your pretty rainbow toes."

Now you understand the significance of the rainbow toes, and why we all paint our toes on this day each year in honor of sweet Makiah. I would encourage you to read Rachel's blog regularly.  She is a phenomenal writer and I am so captivated by her thoughts and her stories about her memories of her precious daughter.  (Keep some tissues handy, because I promise you won't be able to read it without crying.)  Each time I read her blog, my perspective is immediately put back into focus. I am reminded of the frailty of life and the importance of each and every moment we have with our loved ones. Reading her words makes me want to reach through my computer screen and just hug her and cry right along with her.  Click HERE to read her beautiful thoughts.

 

Kyndall's Rainbow Toes

 

 

Meet the beautiful Makiah.........

 

Sadly, she never got to meet any of her sisters---But I know she is proud!

 



 

Abby and Alena, who were born just 4 months after Makiah went to Heaven

 

And just two weeks ago, Miss Maddie Grace was born.  Look at her teddy bear's toes......

 



 

If nothing else, Makiah's story has taught me to live in the moment and not take a single day for granted!  I pray with all my heart that I never know the pain that Rachel and Cameron have endured, but there is no promise of this.  That's why I intend to savor every fleeting moment and make the most of the precious gift of motherhood that I've been given!!

 

Makiah, you will NEVER be forgotten!!