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Full of Emotion: First Shipment of Bibles Arrived, 1st Birthday Approaching, Race Coming...

4/24/2015

 
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12:15 a.m.     Earlier this week we received our first shipment of bibles. We have 50 total thus far and are hoping and praying to order many, many more. Tonight Ben brought over the labels that have been printed thus far that are ready to go in the bibles; we have all the labels except the 'Let Your Light Shine' logo stickers that will go on the front, which should be ready early next week. Thank you Ben! I have placed the first set of prints in our first bible!! One of the things Josh thought of was to do a dedication sticker to place in each bible, so when someone gives it to a/their child he/she/they are able to say who it's to and write their own name(s) on the 'From' line; also on the "From" line, Josh had the idea to add "God." After all, He wrote it and has given it to all of us. I just finished our first bible and selfishly wanted this first one for us...except the roles are reversed from what they normally would be.

To: Mommy & Daddy

From: Your daughter Avelyn KayLee Grace & God

Tears after writing this on the bible she and our God have given us... So many emotions. Over a week ago when we were nearing finalizing our prints to put in the bibles and I had just placed the order for the bibles, I was so excited. Absolutely thrilled to get this ministry going and start handing out the children's bibles. Then it hit me. Immediately after literally being thrilled, I was devastated. Emotions began to overwhelm me. None of this would be happening if I would have been holding our daughter at that moment. Bam. We will never understand this side of earth why this is. As Ron, Nathan Stiles dad - with The Nathan Project, shared with us: Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." A verse I have had memorized for a few years now, but now look at in a whole new 'light.' Like Ron said, when he gets to heaven, he will either finally understand - or once he's there - with our Savior and his son, he won't care. So true. :)

Back to the dedication sticker... I truly believe Avelyn wants me to have this bible. Quick story...since Avelyn passed, I have always kept a few pictures of her on my phone's photo gallery. When I went to transfer the attached pictures from my phone to the computer so I could attach them here, instead of pushing the back arrow on my computer to scan through the most recent pictures, I accidentally pushed the wrong arrow. Immediately after the picture of the bibles, her picture popped up, and it happens to be my favorite picture of her. Tears again. She's encouraging us. She wants us to have this bible. She & God want you to have this bible, or another bible, in your hands to read and learn and grow in Him. No doubt about it.

Someone asked me yesterday how we have done all this - the race, the bibles, etc. The short answer - we haven't. There's no way on earth my own strength has allowed any of this to happen. I give all the glory to God. He has surrounded us by so many people praying for us & so many people helping us along this journey - from our logo, which our friend Pete helped us design shortly after she passed, to now - holding this bible in my hands. More tears. Indescribable. Amazing. A miracle. My hope and prayer is that there are many, many, many more of these bibles to order and to get into the hands of God's children. You.

Please continue to pray for us along our Avelyn SonShine Journey. Also, if you would like to help in other ways, we would love to have you join us for our 1st Let Your Light Shine Mile Family Walk & 5K event on May 23rd!! ALL proceeds from this event will go toward buying more children's bibles. Sign up before May 7th and you will get a t-shirt (thank you to our sponsors!). If this does not work for you but you would still like to help in other ways, please go to our website www.letyourlight-shine.com and click on the 'Donate Now' button. This link takes you to our fund we have set up through The National Christian Foundation, and they will send us an e-mail alerting us of your donation. Again, all the funds donated here will go to buying more children's bibles. A HUGE thank you to those of you who have already donated to our Avelyn SonShine Journey fund or our memorial fund!! And most of all, keep praying - as Avelyn would be having her 1st birthday on May 7th...and as we continue our race planning. Through all this, I will remember Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Thank you!! We appreciate you all so much!!


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Humbled.

4/12/2015

 
avelyn_-_let_your_light_shine_registration_form.pdf
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11:30pm

Humbled. And I'm sure there's more of that to come.

"God is at work." Those are the words in an initial e-mail our new dear friend Ben sent us; he is helping us print stickers to put on & in our children's bibles we will be handing out. God is always at work, but this past week He has really opened my eyes to this more, and Ben's words put it perfectly. The last time I posted, I mentioned how Satan was over-powering my thoughts; God has given me so much strength this past week, and with His help I have renewed my mind (Romans 12:2) to focus on all He is doing in our lives. Some things are still being worked out, but He is helping us push onward to get so many things done, as well. As far down as I felt just a couple weeks ago, God has pulled me right back up and back on the journey He has us destined for. Praise God. I feel so humbled and extremely blessed by the way He helps to literally pull me through.

And the race goes on... Yes it's true! On Thursday we got the approval from the city we needed to make May 23rd our official race day for the 1st Annual Let Your Light Shine Family Walk/Run & 5K. All proceeds will go toward the purchase of children's bibles, which we are absolutely thrilled about. We still have some money from Avelyn's memorial funds that we will use to go ahead and buy some children's bibles - so we can start getting these out and allow others to see them before race day; thank you again to all who gave to these funds! Others will be blessed because of this!

We ourselves have been blessed by others these past few days in getting things out and ready to roll. Our registration form is now complete. Thank you dear friend!! We have had our friend change and adjust...and change and adjust...and change and ad... this thing so many times, she may not want to call us friend anymore. :) Yes, I do want the form to be the best it can be - easy to read, easy to fill out, look nice, etc, but in some ways I think as much as I want this race to happen, I am scared as well. Today she finally said in the most gentle way possible, "Let's get this thing out!" and I think that's what I needed to hear. A little push. She probably wanted to give me a big push (over the edge), but she gave me just what I needed. Thank you Amber. :) I don't believe I can attach the form on the caring bridge site, but it is on our website!! Please go to www.letyourlight-shine.com and you will find it under the "Family Walk/Run & 5K" tab. And for those reading this on our blog, the file is attached above! :)

I will never attempt to understand why our 16 day old precious baby girl passed away. That being said, it gives me peace to know God has us on a journey that will hopefully change the lives of others, by getting children's bibles into the hands of as many families and children as possible. I pray His Spirit will continue to lead us and guide us as we continue to embark on our Avelyn SonShine Journey...

Thank you ALL for your prayers these past few days, weeks, months. They continue to get us through. Please keep them coming! We have been humbled & blessed many times over because of each of you. Thank you!!

If you are able to join us on May 23rd to walk/run in memory of Avelyn - and to help raise funds to buy children's bibles, we would - again - be completely humbled AND honored. And equally so, if you are unable to join us for this event but would like to contribute to our ongoing fund to get children's bibles into the hands of others, please go to www.letyourlight-shine.com and click on the 'Donate Now' button for your donation to go directly into The Avelyn SonShine Journey Fund, the fund we set up through The National Christian Foundation.

Thank you, thank you, thank you...and May God Bless each and every one of you. *HUGS*

    Michele

    Avelyn's Mommy - Lover of Jesus - Receiver of God's GRACE

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