Poem on stone ~

The memories of your lost loved ones are like stars, they are bright, beautiful and everlasting. The memories you have are ? they are always within you. The memories in your heart are a reminder of what your lost loved ones have said. When loved ones leave us do not cry. Just look at the memories in your eye and do try to be the best you can be on the inside. It the best way to show you love them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the snow on the mountain's rim,
I am the laughter in children's eyes,
I am the sand at the water's edge,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle Autumn rain,
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the star that shines at night,
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Son of Glenn and Ellie Collom
& brother of big sister Victoria.
Benton, MO

Dies of SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death In Childhood) at 3 1/2.

Dearest friends and family,

Levi went home to the lord this morning with papaw Charlie, Papaw Steve, Papaw Woods, Grandmaw Mosley and Grandmaw Sims and all the other friends and family that have passed before I know greeted him with open arms. I know he's in a better place. I know he's not alone. Please keep praying our family is in shock.

Our sweet baby boy Levi Stephen Collem who passed away was loved by all and will be missed by us all forever.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Levi Stephen Collem Memorial fund and sent to any branch of the First State Community Bank.

The funds will be used for a New exhibit at the Discovery Playhouse in Cape, his favorite place to play and just be a happy little boy.

Levi Collom

Tuesday, March 20, 2012
seMissourian.com
BENTON, Mo. -- Levi Stephen Collom, 3, died on Sunday, March 18, 2012, at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis after being transferred from Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. The cause of Levi's sudden death is still to be determined.
Levi's life was filled with joy, a loving family and many preschool and church friends. Levi enjoyed many activities such as going to the Discovery Playhouse in Cape Girardeau, going to Current River with his family and playing with his sister, Victoria. He spent a lot of time riding his John Deere Gator, jumping on his trampoline, playing with his Batman and Spider-Man toys, watching Power Rangers on TV, and Spider-Man on YouTube. Levi's favorite color was orange, and his favorite foods were pigs in a blanket, macaroni and cheese and mandarin oranges.

Levi is survived by his parents, Glenn and Ellen "Ellie" Collom, and one sister, Victoria, of Benton. Other survivors include maternal grandparents, Steve and Viney Mosley of Cape Girardeau; paternal grandmother, Bobbi Collom of Sikeston, Mo.; and great-grandmother, Maxine Woods of Sikeston. Also surviving are two aunts, Cindy St. Onge (Paul) of Fulton, Tenn., Lauren Snider (Christopher) of Cape Girardeau; three uncles, Jimmy Woods of Sikeston, Gil Collom (Christina) of Yuma, Ariz., and Chuck Collom of Biehle, Mo.

Preceding Levi in death were grandfathers Steve Woods and Charles Collom of Sikeston and great-grandfather James (Jim) Woods, also of Sikeston.

The visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ponder Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, with Pastor Ron Watts of Cape La Croix United Methodist Church presiding. Burial will follow at Forest Hills Memorial Cemetery in Morley, Mo.

I want to share a poem from another mother that lost her child. Today is a tough day for us. We are blessed to have Victoria to keep us focused and to continue to love a child.

But...
Nothing will replace the emptiness in our hearts from loosing Levi!

Here's the poem:
I thought of you and closed my eyes and prayed to God today.
I asked what makes a Mother and I know I heard Him Say...
I just had a baby, this I know is true, but God can you be a mother when
your baby is not with you?
Yes, you can He replied, with confidence in His voice.
I give many women babies when they leave is not their choice.
Some I send for a lifetime, and others for a day.
And some I send to fill your womb, but there's no need to stay.
I just don't understand this God, I want my baby here.
He took a deep breath, cleared His throat and then I saw His tears...
I wish I could show you what your child is doing today.
If you could see your child smile with other children and hear him say...
"I went to earth to learn a lesson of love and life and fear.
My mommy loved me oh so much I got to come straight here.
I feel so lucky to have a mommy who has so much love for me.
I learned my lessons very quickly, my mommy set me free.
I miss my mommy so very much, and I visit her every day.
When she goes to sleep at night, on her pillow is where I lay.
I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek and I whisper in her ear,
"Mommy don't be sad, I'm your baby and I am here."
So, you see my dear sweet one, your baby is not sad nor blue.
Your baby is here in My Home, and at Heaven's Gate he will wait for you.
So now you see what makes a mother, it's the feeling in your heart.
It's the love you had so much of right from the start.
Though some on earth may not realize
you are a mother until their time is done,
they'll be up here with Me one day
and know you were the best one!

Note:
Sept. 2012 ~ Levi was 3 1/2 years old when he took a nap on March 17th and didn't wake up. His death is considered SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death In Childhood.) (Levi's family is entering into a research program to see if any answers can be found.