Lavender Banks was a precious, beautiful child who was adopted from China in 2007. Tragically in May 2008 her life was taken by someone who was supposed to love and protect her.
This site was created to honor the memory of Lavender Banks. Many people knew her, many followed her journey home, and many more have been touched by her story. May she rest in peace in the knowledge that there are those of us who will keep her in our hearts, who will seek justice for her, who cannot and will not forget her, who will be her voice, and who refuse to let her story go unnoticed.
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Who was Lavender?
Lavender Banks was a precious little girl adopted from China in 2007. In May 2008 her life was tragically taken by someone who was supposed to love and protect her. Many people knew her, many followed her journey home, and many more have been touched by her story.
This site has been set up in her memory. She is gone but she is not forgotten.
40 comments:
Dear precious Lavender, may you rest in the arms of your Heavenly Father.
With love-
Brian, Myndee, Gunner, Bryce, Madyson (one of yoru Datong sisters) and Emylee.
Dear Lavender,
I remember when it was time for you to come home- there were so many people that were excited! I thought to myself, "Lavender will have a family!!!" I thought how you would have a chance to be loved and have a chance to become healthier.
Many of us read your blog and watched videos when you met your family, and followed as you grew. Even when your sweet little mouth couldn't quite smile, your eyes always showed joy!!! It was so hard to wait for new pictures and stories about you! You were growing more beautiful each day.
Lavender, I am saddened I will no longer get to see you grow and blossom. Our Lord will have this privilege and I know eternal life with Him will be so much better and that is my comfort.
Love you, sweet baby Lavender.
Sinthea
mom to Kimberli Jane- Dang, XuFang, your Datong sister
Sweet Lavender,
My heart is heavy as I write this, but we all will find comfort in knowing that now you rest in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.
peace our sweet Datong girl....
Maryellen mom to Sophie-Dang, XuCan your Datong sister
A brief life, so much pain for such a little one, you have touched more hearts than most people who have an entire lifetime will. And now you are home and at last safe. the Sorensen family
God picks a flower
Sometimes God picks a flower that's still in full bloom.
Sometimes the flower that is chosen, we feel He's picked to soon.
We're at peace knowing; in God's heavenly garden,
He has placed the ones we treasure.
You have changed our lives forever.
--author unknown
Dear Lavender,
Know that we will never forget your sweet smile or your delicious pony tails. In life you inspired us to act against injustice and your death has challenged us to take up that fight once again. We take comfort knowing that you are finally at peace. We hope that you take comfort knowing that your name will be remembered and celebrated. We will honor your memory and we will never, ever forget.
-Jen, Jay, Jack, Annie, & Ben (your Datong brother)
May your death not be in vain. Reforms need to occur in post placements. Rest in peace angel.
I will NEVEr forget your sweet smile, before your lip repair and after. Your eyes melted my heart each time I checked to see how you were growing. I will always hold a special place in my heart for you, as will your Datong sister Dang KangYang, now known as Sera. She sees your photo and tells me that you are her special firend from China. You always will be! She remembers you with such fondness. Your sweet smiling eyes have definitely left a treasured mark on our lives.
Sweet Lavender,
We are so saddened to hear you have left this world. Please know that you will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace, beautiful angel.
Amy, Roger, Jake, RJ, Nathan & Liya(your China sister)
Sweet Lavender, I am so overwelmed by your story. I can not believe some one can be so gruel to a little child. The sweet smell of Lavender will all way's remind me of you. You will not be forgotten!
Wilma mom of a Datong girl.
Little Angel Lavendar,
May you know the peace and love that we all feel for you. May you know a greater joy in Heaven. How desperately sad for us that your had some so early. We are sure you are nothing but smiles now.
Erin, Bob, Walker, Murphy, and Lola (your China sister)
SweetLavenderChild,
Oh that a warm mommy could have held you close and safe.
The many of us who cheered and prayed you home have wept rivers of tears.
You deserved but you didn't get.
-MommyWanda
Lavender - you are such a loved little girl. Though we are sad for us, I am SO HAPPY that you are in the loving arms of Jesus! You will no longer know anything but love, peace and happiness. You will stay in our thoughts, and you WILL NOT be forgotten. We love you sweet, sweet Lavender. See you in Heaven little one!
Joy
Louisiana
"Like a comet blazing across the evening sky,
Gone Too Soon"..............
There will be justice for you.
Rest in peace, little one
Sweet Lavender,
Others have said it better than I, but please know that we all loved you and will grieve your passing.
Precious Lavender, we are so sad that we will not see you grow, we will miss so many wonderful things I know you have to offer what a great loss to us all, We Love you Darling!
The only Peace we have in this is, We know that she is Loved for eternity and never to be hurt again, never to suffer any loses again.
We will never forget you Angel Lavender You are Loved by Many here on earth that you never had the chance to know I just Pray that in Heaven God shows you that there are those of us here that do loveyou and love you uncondiionaly You are Precious and so very special to us always
All our Love to you!
Debbie, Gary, & yourforever friend Katie "YouYuan"Read More
Dear Sweet Lavender,
May your short life on earth remind us to cherish ALL children, protect ALL children, and love ALL children.
I know you are happy and safe at last in God's arms. You will not be forgotten and will be forever loved.
Stacey (mom to two beautiful children from China)
Sweet Lavender,
We will never forget you: you were Meixu's (Dang Xuguo) sister in your fosterfamily. You will live forever in our hearts.
Ernst, Annemieke and Meixu (your Datong sister)
If tears could build a stairway
And memories were a lane
We would walk right up to Heaven
And bring you back again
No farewell words were spoken
No time to say goodbye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why
Our hearts still ache in sadness
And secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
No one will ever know
But know we know you want us
To mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
Life still has much in store
Since you’ll never be forgotten
We pledge to you today
A hallowed place within our hearts
Is where you’ll always stay.
Pigeon :) ~ 58
DH - J.J. ~ 49
DD - Frances ~ 8 Guangzhou, Guangdong
~D.O.B. 10/15/00 ~D.O.A. 9/02/02
DS - Paul ~ 6 Nanjing, Jiangsu
~D.O.B. 11/30/02 ~D.O.A. 11/16/04
Sweet, Precious Child,
God your Father wraps you in His loving arms now & forever. He has loved you with all of his heart from your very beginning, and He will love you & hold you for all of eternity. You have always deserved a loving and tender home; one like heaven.
Margaret Leigh
God bless you and keep you dear little girl. You are so loved and will be remembered always. Your time on this earth was too short--but you touched the lives of so many people all around the world--you have had and will have an amazing impact on the entire adoption community.
As you rest in your Father's arms--know that you are finally home dear one.......
Lavender,
I am confident you have caught up with my angel, Chelsea by now. I hope you are having so much fun in Heaven. I wish more could have been done to help you and I will never forget you!!!
kathy in Alaska
Sweet Lavender - I looked forward to seeing your beautiful face lighting up the screen of the computer. Your eyes were always dancing. I have thought of you often and my heart aches that you are not here but I know you are in a better place dancing with the angels. Know that you will never leave the hearts of so many people who loved you! Rest in Peace sweet angel!
Jen - mom to 2 china angels
We're praying tonight for all children who are abused by people who are supposed to love and care for them. If only this little one could have grown up with all the joy, good health, family, and hope she was promised and should have received. And that was taken away from her.
--A China sister
Sweet Lavender-
As a community we are stunned and grieving the loss of your precious life. You touched many lives in a short amount of time.
We advocated for your adoption; with cheers and prayers we welcomed you to this country. We will advocate that justice be done for you, that your death won't just be a statistic.
Your short life was filled with a multitude of pain...rest with the angels, darling girl. You deserve it.
I pray you are dancing with the angels.
Dear Lavender,
I hope your having fun in heaven with all the angles. Your life on earth was cut way to short but the time you were here left an impact and we will never forget you. I hope you've met my Son
Hunter. He too left earth way to soon too. I hope you are dancing & playing together.
With All My Love,
Sindy
Dios Bendiga a Lavender. Preciosa, hermosa nina. Love,ZenXiaomay25 Jiangsu
....Thoughts and prayers for you little one. Rest in Peace.
Sweet Lavender, you touched so many lives in your short time on this earth. You will continue to touch lives as you enjoy eternity with God in Heaven. So many of us spoke out against injustice before you came home to your family, and we will continue to speak out against the injustice that ended your life so tragically. Rest in peace, precious child of God, and know that you have changed lives forever with your own.
We won't forget you, angel. You now know unconditional love, peace and wholeness in your forever home in Heaven. Love, Lori, Katie and family
Rest in peace little one- we will fight for justice for you and we will not forget.
I know God will take your tragedy and make SOMETHING positive come from it. I pray you are experiencing all of heavens joys my angel.
Dear Lavender,
may you find the love and eternal peace in the
loving arms of Jesus Christ that you did not find on this earth.
Dear Lavender,
We love you forever!
You are in our hearts.
With love, Marco, Marjolijn, Joost, Frank, Annemijn, Jingjing and Qi-Jun (Dang XuJun)
Lavender, darling Lavender:
It is best to remember the truth that you are whole and healthy and laughing and free, safe in the arms of your eternal Father.
I cannot wait to see you someday! I will look for you, as soon as I arrive, gentle sweet lovely Lavender.
'Aunt' Teri (from Iowa)
Sweet angel of God. You were and are loved by so many. May you be dancing and twirling among the angel and saints.
We love you, Lavender,
The Bombardier Family
Sweet Lavender,
I watched your journey home so thrilled that you finally had a forever family. I enjoyed watching you grow and learn through your blog. Your beautiful face has left impressions on the hearts of your China adoptive family. We won't forget you.
Rest, Child, in the arms of the One perfect Parent. The One who has wiped away all tears from your sweet face. The One who created you for a purpose. Though your life was cut short, He knew all the days you had before you lived them.
Rest, Child, your burdens are lifted. You are made perfect and now you begin your life, in eternity. You now know as you were known and were always known and loved by Jesus.
Rest, Child and wait for us at the door in heaven!
a small part of your China family,
The RamblingMother and G (China cousin)
I still think about you all the time, sweet little Lavendar.....Your life here on earth may have been way too hard, but you are blossoming in Heaven!
Deb Harrop
Mommy to two China kiddos (Marie & Ross)
Lavender,
Even though I did not know of you until you had already climbed the stairs to Heaven, know that your story has touched me deeply.
May you have great joy this Christmas as you attend the birthday party of Jesus, sharing it with other children who left their families, oh so soon.
Rest in the arms of Jesus until we join you there.
I just heard about you, Lavender, and it is so tragic to have lost you so young.
Rest in peace, little angel. You lived a pure and innocent life.
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