Merry Christmas #2!

My heart pours to all of the family's stories we read this last month. Families torn by natural disasters, illnesses, the economy, tragic accidents. It breaks my heart to read through their experiences, but I'm moved by the beautiful words written by those closest to the family. Despite the hardness and tribulations in life, many find ways to use their experiences to touch the lives of others.

I wanted to extend one additional family a $1,000 gift from me. Story on behalf of Jan Wall (who will receive a $250 gift from me for taking the time to write Michelle's heartfelt story).

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My cousin, Michelle Boston, has been such a source of strength to all who know her in the face of immense loss. She has been an amazing mother to five beautiful children Jarrett, Connor, Flinn, Briggs, and Lydia Jane (she finally got her girl!). Her eldest son Jarrett was diagnosed with melanoma at age 13. We were all stunned, but he got excellent treatment, and we were all relieved for awhile.

About two years later, Michelle's father, my Uncle William, was diagnosed with renal cell cancer and lost his battle in May 2005. Our family was devastated by this loss as he was the kind of stoic Southern gentleman that provided a source of strength and stability to our family and his daughters. Shortly after his death, we learned that Jarrett's cancer had recurred. He was in high school by this time...a straight A student and quarterback of the football team. Michelle who had been a stay at home mom had just begun venturing into interior decorating. An art history major, she loved creating beautiful spaces for people on a budget. She loved to stretch a dollar and was amazingly talented. After Jarrett's recurrence, she put this dream on hold to help her beautiful son fight this battle...and what a battle it was. Jarrett lost the use of his arm from brain metastases. He lost his vision, his mobility, his dreams....She watched as her gifted son lost everything just before his senior year in high school. He died in February 2006.

She held herself together and chronicled her grief in an on-line journal www.caringbridge.org password: jarrettboston. Not only is she a gifted artist, but she is an amazing writer. Her words moved me to tears so many times. Shortly after Jarrett's death, Michelle also lost her grandmother. She persevered, starting a scholarship fund in Jarrett's name for scholar athletes. She was an amazing source of comfort and support for her younger children. Her family's finances had taken a huge hit with Jarrett's medical bills, so she got back into decorating. She even created Davis' beautiful nursery and hung pictures from Jarrett's favorite nursery rhymes above his bed.

Michelle's next tragedy was so unexpected. The loss of a child puts an incredible stress on a marriage. In his grief, her husband decided to leave the family. Her children were once again devastated, and she was in trouble both personally and financially. She couldn't continue decorating as it certainly was not a recession proof career, so she went back to her original career as a teacher. She now works all day and is on the football field, cheerleading sideline, basketball court, etc. every evening. She is exhausted and struggles to make ends meet.

Michelle's children are her life, and she has always loved beautiful things. I can't think of a better gift for her this Christmas than your beautiful photos in her home.

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