The Beautifully Possible: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Crescent Cove
Last week I had the honor of speaking at Crescent Cove's Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the a residential respite and hospice home for children in Minnesota. It is only the 3rd in our country and the only one in the Midwest.
This is a moment I have helped champion and advocate for the past 4 years. A moment Levi's life has inspired and challenged us to help make a reality.
What a gift of grace from God to be invited to speak and help cut the ribbon alongside fellow champions in our community.
Here is a link to the facebook live video from Crescent Cove, followed by my text in full (in blue).
Watch CCX Media's 3 minute report on the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Additional news coverage of Crescent Cove's opening:
Local Spanish station, Picosa Radio
Article by local newspaper Star Tribune
Audio article by Minnesota Public Radio
words from MamaShu
We are standing on holy ground
Today we are gathered together
Joined by a great cloud of witnesses
Souls who have lifted off from this earth
and journeyed ahead of us
including Harmon
And our children:
Maryah, Liam, Rory
Wendel, Ellis, Mary, Tristan
Michael, Steven, David, Liv
Jeffrey, Adam, Clayton
Julia, Kate, Marianna
Isaac, Scarlet, my son Levi
...are there Crescent Cove children
who have passed through death
whose names we have not yet spoken here?
If so, please say them for all of us to hear...
(open space for people to share names)
This great cloud of witnesses
who have inspired us and challenged us
to make this home a reality
Today we stand together
united by the love of God
in heart and spirit
honoring each and every one
who has made this sacred moment possible
I invite you to take two deep breaths with me
as we allow the fullness of this moment
to resonate and imprint (our spirit)
Let us breathe in
and out
Let us breath in
and out
Resonating
and imprinting
Crescent Cove
is a community of joy-bringers
who for 8 years have been transforming
the lives of families who have a child with a life-limiting condition
Crescent Cove has strived to allow
the needs and values of families
to shape the organization
propel the envisioning of this home
inform the services and supports offered to families
As MamaShu, as Levi’s mom,
as a Crescent Cove family,
I know first hand the how Crescent Cove
Has brought joy, compassion, and
meaningful support to our community for years.
Even this past February,
in the days leading up to Levi’s death
Crescent Cove was by our side
Relieving our suffering
Providing compassionate support
Helping to make his life and even his death, beautiful.
Yes, it is possible.
Crescent Cove has changed the narrative
of what is possible in life and in death
for our family.
This is an impact that is felt today
and will be felt for our generations to come.
With the grand opening of this home,
a home with an ethos of
love, joy, peace,
compassion, creativity, and honest-presence,
We as a community, have the significant opportunity,
to join Crescent Cove in changing
the narrative of life and death
for children and families in Minnesota
throughout the Midwest, and beyond.
As families arrive under the canopy of trees
passing through the threshold of this home
settling beside the lake
their narrative will change
In times of respite families will shift from
Drowning to buoyant
Fatigue to strengthened
Suffering to resilient
In times of death families will shift from
Fear to peace
Disorientation to reassurance
Aloneness to fellowship
Each child, one at a time
will teach us more
about what is beautifully possible
in life and in death
We as a community of
volunteers, donors, advocates, providers, and community members
also have a place where the legacies of our loved ones
who stand with us today
in our great cloud of witnesses
can be honored and remembered
through our continued acts of
generosity, compassion, and service.
Crescent Cove is the home,
the place of community,
where the beautifully possible
is welcomed, experienced, and supported
Where the collective narrative of the beautifully possible
in life and in death
transforms families and ripples outward,
through Minnesota and beyond.
I invite you, one more time,
to take two deep breaths with me
as we allow the fullness of this moment
to resonate and imprint
Let us breathe in
and out
Let us breath in
and out
Resonating
and imprinting
the beautifully possible
Welcome home!
Photos:
1. MamaShu speaking at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
2. Crescent Cove residential respite and hospice home for children on Twin Lakes, photo courtesy Crescent Cove.
3. Shu Family at Faith's Lodge for a time of family respite sponsored by Crescent Cove.
4. MamaShu with Katie Lindenfelser, Crescent Cove founder & Levi's music therapist
5. One of six rooms for children over looking Twin Lakes at Crescent Cove. A twin of Mr. Fox, one of Levi's favorite snuggle toys, even made an unexpected appearance!
6. Crescent Cove Mamas: Emily Gold, MamaShu, Julie Martindale in front of the interactive art wall at Crescent Cove
7. Front door of Crescent Cove with custom stained glass.
