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!!
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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