11:02pm Apparently every year Children's Mercy Hospital has a Celebration of Life Memorial Service for all those families who have lost loved ones. They invite all families who have lost a child that year or any time prior. I'm sure many families have attended each annual celebration since their loved one has passed. This year it was at the Sheraton Crown Center Hotel. Josh, Brooklan, Aili, and I, as well as Josh's parents were able to attend for our first time, to honor Avelyn. Lots and lots of families were there. They encouraged you to send a picture in of your child, as they had a slide show of all the precious children we were honoring. The service was put together beautifully. Unfortunately I had a hard time focusing because of our rambunctious 4 year old, but what I did catch was very good. :) My favorite part, besides being there with our family to honor our baby girl, was releasing butterflies (they had given each family) outside at the end of the service. I will post a couple pics of this. And it was an absolutely gorgeous, beautiful day to release the precious butterflies into/to be with Our Sunshine. :)
Since I last wrote, God continues to show me how much I need to WALK with Him. Last week, as I mentioned, this was discussed in the Beth Moore study I am doing, with some ladies at our church, on 1 & 2 Thessalonians. This week, the exact same theme was in my Hope devotional book; just to name a couple of the lesson titles..."Listening for the Footsteps of God" and "Walking with God." Hmmm...maybe a hint since all of these lessons have come less than a week apart? Yes, a big one. ;) I am only doing the Beth Moore study bc I felt as though the Holy Spirit had prompted me to do it, despite feeling busy enough with other things (including doing my Hope devotional book daily, trying to read other books to help me through, and of course trying to keep up with our big girls and their activities and all of life's other daily challenges)...but yes, something told me I needed to do it. :) And out of the 365 day Hope devotional book (yes, one for every day of the year), the theme of 'walking with God' JUST SO HAPPENS to fall just a few short days after it hits me square in the face with the other bible study I am doing. Coincidence? I think not. :) My Hope devotional takes it a bit further by also talking about how GOD WANTS TO WALK WITH US. Matthew 28:20 states "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." The writer talks about how God has 'a relentless pursuit' of us.. 'wanting to walk with you through whatever you face.' She mentions how
'so many people see the Bible as a book of moral teaching used to shore up our good behavior. But the Bible, from beginning to end, is a story of God extending Himself, lowering Himself, sacrificing Himself, so that you and I can know and experience the fulfillment of a relationship with Him, the satisfaction and safety of His very presence.'
Not only should I walk with Him, but He wants to WALK WITH ME, too!! And as we talked about in our group at bible study on Wednesday, it's a darn good thing He's right there beside me because sometimes I need Him to carry me! Have you ever heard the Footprints poem, when sometimes we see only one set of footprints in the sand...His?!?! Thank goodness for this...as I have needed Him to carry me a lot lately.
Right as we arrived at the Celebration of Life Service today, we signed in and they handed each parent a small decorative rock with a word on it. Some of the words on different rocks that they handed out included love, wish, friend, dream, etc. The one they handed me said 'Faith.' This one word definitely encompasses how we have gotten through the past few months. Faith that our baby girl is resting in the arms of Jesus, as well as dancing, singing, and playing in heaven. And Faith that He will continue to see us through as we continue to WALK with Him. Thank you God for helping me walk with you in Faith, and thank you for giving me the faith knowing that you are walking with me too. FAITH. The 'Rock' I need today, yesterday, tomorrow, always.
Since I last wrote, God continues to show me how much I need to WALK with Him. Last week, as I mentioned, this was discussed in the Beth Moore study I am doing, with some ladies at our church, on 1 & 2 Thessalonians. This week, the exact same theme was in my Hope devotional book; just to name a couple of the lesson titles..."Listening for the Footsteps of God" and "Walking with God." Hmmm...maybe a hint since all of these lessons have come less than a week apart? Yes, a big one. ;) I am only doing the Beth Moore study bc I felt as though the Holy Spirit had prompted me to do it, despite feeling busy enough with other things (including doing my Hope devotional book daily, trying to read other books to help me through, and of course trying to keep up with our big girls and their activities and all of life's other daily challenges)...but yes, something told me I needed to do it. :) And out of the 365 day Hope devotional book (yes, one for every day of the year), the theme of 'walking with God' JUST SO HAPPENS to fall just a few short days after it hits me square in the face with the other bible study I am doing. Coincidence? I think not. :) My Hope devotional takes it a bit further by also talking about how GOD WANTS TO WALK WITH US. Matthew 28:20 states "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." The writer talks about how God has 'a relentless pursuit' of us.. 'wanting to walk with you through whatever you face.' She mentions how
'so many people see the Bible as a book of moral teaching used to shore up our good behavior. But the Bible, from beginning to end, is a story of God extending Himself, lowering Himself, sacrificing Himself, so that you and I can know and experience the fulfillment of a relationship with Him, the satisfaction and safety of His very presence.'
Not only should I walk with Him, but He wants to WALK WITH ME, too!! And as we talked about in our group at bible study on Wednesday, it's a darn good thing He's right there beside me because sometimes I need Him to carry me! Have you ever heard the Footprints poem, when sometimes we see only one set of footprints in the sand...His?!?! Thank goodness for this...as I have needed Him to carry me a lot lately.
Right as we arrived at the Celebration of Life Service today, we signed in and they handed each parent a small decorative rock with a word on it. Some of the words on different rocks that they handed out included love, wish, friend, dream, etc. The one they handed me said 'Faith.' This one word definitely encompasses how we have gotten through the past few months. Faith that our baby girl is resting in the arms of Jesus, as well as dancing, singing, and playing in heaven. And Faith that He will continue to see us through as we continue to WALK with Him. Thank you God for helping me walk with you in Faith, and thank you for giving me the faith knowing that you are walking with me too. FAITH. The 'Rock' I need today, yesterday, tomorrow, always.
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