Levi has Lifted off to Heaven

At 6:43pm on Sunday February 19th, Levi heard the Lord call his name and lifted off to heaven.

Over the past four days Levi was saturated by your love and prayers from near and far. Our home was filled with many kinds of music as Papa joined nearly every musician for collaborative play.

Every encounter with Levi was a sacred one. In the shifting from life to death, he continued to teach us all and transform our understanding of what love looks like.

On Sunday, the Issac Initiative came to capture family photos at 2:00pm (Mama's wish).

A prayer and worship time resounded in our home and at a church in St. Paul with live music, singing, prayers and dancing from 3:30-5:30pm (Papa's wish).

This gathering echoed the prayer gathering that happened the night of Levi's birth and arrival to the NICU. Mama was upstairs with Levi and Music Mark.

The NICU worship vigil and the end of life worship vigil were bookends. Thresholds of our Heavenly Father passing the baton of Levi to his earthly father, and back again.

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 2 Timothy 1:13-14

Levi was so very peaceful and soaked in every ounce of Love.

As a result of the worship, Levi's room shifted from being a sacred space to a holy space. An inner sanctum. The presence of the Lord was tangible in every way.

Following the time of worship a handful of close friends had the opportunity to come in 2's and look upon Levi with their love, blessings, and tears. To enter his holy space.

He was so so peaceful.

At 6:40p Levi's breath stopped as his heartbeat continued. (what a strong heart he had, in every way). With Mama and Papa by his sides, savoring his final moments, his life was suspended till Auntie M stated at 6:43p his heart had stopped beating. ...lift off Levi is free

Levi's presence remained in the room with us as we (Mama and Papa) grieved and till Younger Brother had his time with us. As we three overlooked Levi's body we could feel the totality of his spirit rise up and out of the room, hand in hand with the Lord. Evidenced also by the significant shift in the warmth of his physical body.

The Holy Spirit's embrace of us all was tangible.

We were all well supported as friends who had lingered long after the worship gathering remained with us. Giving us time to see Levi's body, grieve, and helping support Younger Brother in meaningful ways.

Late Sunday night, after Younger Brother had fallen asleep, and our home was quiet, Nkuku and I washed and anointed Levi's physical body with fragrant oils as we told stories and shared memories relating to each body part.

We echoed the historical and biblical work of tending to Levi's body as the women had done to Jesus. After all of the care we had given to Levi's body 24/7 in life, we could not miss these important steps in his death.

The previous four days, the weather was warm and sunny in the 60's. Younger Brother loved playing in the summer-like weather and windows in Levi's room were open day and night. Late Sunday night the temperatures began to drop, same time in which Levi's physical body needed to cool.

Today it is cool and rainy.

Curiously perfect.

Levi has been a teacher to us in his life, passing into death, and after-death care. We expect this nature of his to continue in all our lives.

...I am out of words. It is time for me to rest. This grieving is hard work...

love, MamaShu

We will share memorial plans as they become available.

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.

But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.