"The Dance"
By Garth Brooks



Looking back on the memory of


The dance we shared beneath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right

How could I have known you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I the king

But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Yes my life is better left to chance I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance




"With Hope"
Steven Curtis Chapman



This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...
We can cry with hope

We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again
And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand

And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you

Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...
We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so ...
We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope






These are the two songs we played at Ava's funeral. We picked these two songs because it felt like we could have written them ourselves...they spoke right from our heart. I often go to bed singing "The Dance" to Ava. Another song that makes me think of her is "One More Day" by Lonestar. I just felt like sharing these lyrics with you all and pictures of my beautiful angel's life here on earth.

Baby girl, you are continuously in my thoughts. There is not a day that goes by that I don't wish I could see your face again, hold you again, kiss you again. I love you more then words could ever say. You and your brother are my pride and joy. I wish that I could have had more time with you...oh how I wish. You have taught us along with so many others so much about life. Thank you. Love you forever...mommy