Time seems to always be one step ahead of us – or at least me. I have found myself losing days as I try to grapple with coming back from Indiana and settling into a “new normal.” Therefore, this last post has been delayed longer than expected. Time was needed to process all of the emotions over the past month and a half and to come up with the words to express where my family finds ourselves.
Love was humming throughout the school where Amanda taught at on June 16th, and earlier at the yacht club on May 25th overlooking the town of Beaufort where Amanda fulfilled her dream of living near the ocean. Amanda Thompson’s two Celebrations of Life were packed with former students, friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors who showed up to share stories of her. Though there were plenty of tears, there was also laughter and joy – exactly as Amanda would have wanted it. Some also bestowed upon us wonderful gifts, as with this portrait by Fer Past who always brings such a fun and joyful style to portraits and painting that Amanda (and I) loved. She would be honored and embarrassed to know he did one of her. The kids and I love it. Check him out if you have time. We were honored by other gifts as well, and we are thankful for each and every one.
To those that helped organize and execute the events, my endless thanks for making them memorable and perfect in very different ways. Even in the rain the yacht club showed Beaufort at its best. Simply stated, the school felt like home.
I know Amanda would have been shocked at the turnout and the love everyone had for her. She struggled to see how beautiful she was. While she knew she was a good person who was thoughtful, she never realized how many people she changed. Not just in how she handled the last few months of her life, but throughout the entirety of it. I am fortunate to have been the recipient a lot of her love over the course of these 20 years, but I am happy to have seen how many people felt her sun shining on them. There are so many that carry on a bit of her love – some recently and some even years after her warmth lifted them up.
For those I did not get a good chance to talk to at either event, feel free to reach out via Messenger, Facebook, or by submitting a comment on this site. For those unable to make it, we understand and still appreciate your love. We know that is hard to rearrange for the unexpected.
Once again, to everyone: thank you for your love and appreciation of Amanda during these intense and challenging months. I know so many of you have prayed for us, made food for us, donated money to us, and just reached out to make us laugh. Thank you.
We have captured so much of your worry and attention. Now is the time to take a rest and know that everything you did helped. As we drove home recently, Maggie made a comment about being excited about Christmas. I took the opening to ask them if they wanted to carry on with the family traditions of the past as if Amanda were still here. Without waiting for an alternative they said yes. And so my final big ask is for you to please take their cue and carry on with your life and know the Thompsons will be fine – even with our immense loss – by continuing on as normal.
3 Responses
Beautiful post! I wish your family the best!💖
Thank you, Matt, for taking the time to make this last post. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there; Mississippi is so far away. But I pray that you will all continue to be surrounded by God’s faithfulness. Lynn Staley
Matt I have been in awe of your strength and dignity throughout the last months as you have shared Amanda’s fight with us all. Thank you for sharing with us, as I know it could not have been easy on you to do so. You and the kids deserve peace and happiness going forward and you will forever be in my thoughts, along with Amanda. I feel blessed to have crossed paths with her so many years ago. She was a beautiful person, inside and out. Your eloquent words will stay with me for a a very long time. God bless.