As you may know, the meal schedule for the Lee family is still active (and filled)! Thank you. Meg Kelly has graciously offered to help me send out reminders to people a day in advance, since many of you signed up weeks ago. I'll try to keep the number of adults in the household updated, though I encourage you to verify that number closer to your date in case anything changes. If you want Meg to send you a reminder the day before, please include your contact info (either email or phone call or text) and she will do so. I will adjust the meal schedule as needed. Thanks for your continued ..read more

(From Esther): We have continuously been blown away by the extent of love and support we've received. During a time of intense grief and loneliness, we have been entirely surrounded by the lavish love of God. Thank you for joining us at Ava's memorial services on site and online. Our prayer has always been to give God all that He deserves, which is our praise and our whole selves, even when it comes at a sacrifice. The pain is great and we anticipate it to increase as reality sets in and we learn to face the rest of our lives without Ava. In a sense, our journey has just begun. But this is ..read more

Thanks for your patience! We welcome all who loved Ava to join us via live stream for Ava's Memorial Service at this YouTube Channel. See you there ..read more

The plan is for Ava's memorial service to live stream on YouTube. Information on how to join is still pending. We'll post the information as soon as we can. Thanks for your patience. For those attending on site at Willow Creek North Shore on Saturday, you'll want to park/enter through Entrance A or D (the entrances are next to each other, as the building is circular). Thanks for your continued prayers for the Lee family ..read more

Hi Friends and Family, In order to plan for our service, we ask that anyone who plans on attending the service please RSVP by tonight. Please note that the service will be held at the Willow Creek North shore location in Glenview. For those of you who already RSVP'd, we look forward to seeing you. For the rest of you joining us via live stream, we feel honored to have you celebrate Ava's life with us, as you have sent much love and prayers on our family's behalf these past three years. We hope to post information about how to join us via live stream by Friday. We ask that everyone come to t ..read more

A Memorial Fund has been set up for people to direct monetary gifts to the Lee family. It's actually the same YouCaring site/link that was created over a year ago (and has been listed on the blog under "Ways to Help"), but has been updated with more current information. For those who are interested in donating miles, points, (even timeshares?) for the Lee family to use on a future trip to Asia, please contact Hannah at:  Thank you for your continued support and prayers ..read more

As previously mentioned, Ava's Memorial Service will be two weekends from now. Ava's Memorial Service Date: Saturday, January 14th Time: 1pm Location: Willow Creek North Shore                    2200 Shermer Rd.                    Glenview, IL 60026 For now, there will be a private service on Friday (Jan 13th) for family and close friends. However, if it looks like the Saturday service will likely fill to capacity, we will consider opening up the 13th as well to accommodate more friends ..read more

(Esther's post on Team Brighter Days FB page): Since I have no words, I am posting Mike's letter to our church in hopes that it will be an encouragement to you. We know many share in the deep ache of missing our girl, Ava Bright. Though it is tempting for us to lay down and give up, we look to the example of our sweet girl during her last moments on earth. She galloped toward the finish line, even when the oxygen no longer reached her lungs - until the final beat of her heart. It will be my absolute privilege and honor to, one day, share about Ava's last few hours before going to heaven. Fo ..read more

Thank you for everyone's patience. Details are still being discussed, but Ava's memorial service will be two weekends from now (Jan 13/14), with Friday night being a private service. It is a wonder how far and wide Ava's story has spread; people from all over the globe have prayed, wept and supported Ava and the Lee family - family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. However, in order to keep attendance at a reasonable number, we humbly ask that the Saturday service be limited to guests who actually knew Ava and the Lee family: Mike, Esther, Uncle David, Uncle Matt, the Lee grandpare ..read more

As many of you already know from Esther's FB post, Ava is in the presence of Jesus. We wonder what joyful things she is doing: singing praises with the angels, worshiping her Heavenly Father, dancing and using her pain-free legs, laughing and being free of wires, ports and tubes... perhaps even knowing all sorts of things that remain a mystery to us on this side of heaven. Despite the comfort of knowing that she is in the best place ever, the sorrow she leaves behind is real and deep. Mike & Esther have so appreciated your partnership in their journey, from near and far, friends and stran ..read more