Tuesday, September 16, 2008

4 Months and Lindsay Baskets



Well today marks 4 months of Lindsay being with Jesus. It sure feels some days like only yesterday and other times it feels like way longer. Still not a day goes by that we don't think of her or talk about something silly that she did. Tanner loves to remember things about her and how silly they were together. We are doing good and still taking one day at a time. Today Tanner and I are going to have lunch with Jon at work. We got 4 balloons to let go today to. Yesterday I went and picked up some roses and gave Jon's parents 4 and the rest are sitting on my counter. Just a little reminder of how special Lindsay is. Last week Tanner and I went and had shirts made up for Emma and Sam for there birthday's. We put pictures of Lindsay on them and they turned out so cute. I have to admit that it was hard for me last week on there birthday's. Hearing how fun there parties were and wishing that I was there. Also wishing that we could have had a party for Lindsay. I told Julie that she needs to cherish those special days and moments. For those of you that have kids some advice from me today is to take as many pictures during the day as possible. I now carry my camera in my purse to capture any precious moment that comes our way.

O.k. you are probably wondering about the basket part. We have come in contact with a lady who lost her little girl. She has started making up baskets in memory of her little girl and taking them to the ICU at the hospital they were at. This has sparked something in me that I would love to start and to give back to those on 8 south. In fact this lady as of last week has made 100 baskets. I have been praying about this and I think that it would be a great way to share Jesus love and to continue to share Lindsay's story. Here is somethings that we are wanting to but in the baskets:
receiving blankets
soft and or fuzzy socks
note cards
maybe some stamps
a gift card to the places they have there to eat
a little basket
a little bear ( to help the nurses hold up tubes and arms and legs)
All of these things need to be new and not used. A lot of things helped us while we were in the hospital. Right now I have a bunch of bears that my Uncle's church gave to us to give out. If you would like to help out in anyway with these basket's please let me know. You can email me at jonnlaura@hotmail.com. My prayer is that with these baskets we can bring a smile to a families face and share the love of Jesus to everyone who gets one.

We can't thank you all enough for all your encouraging words on the blog, the cards in the mail, and even emails that you have sent. Please don't stop praying for us and please keep praying for the nurses, doctors, and all the babies and kids that are on 8 south. We love you all more than you know.

Lindsay Bear you are missed so much and are loved so much!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Our Pumpkin Patch


The weather here in New Hampshire is starting to show signs of fall. Last week I started getting out my fall decorations. I got the idea to look for pictures of the kids with a pumpkin in the picture to print out to use as a decoration. Last year we got a big pumpkin and I took the kids picture with it. Now these pictures are so precious to me. We have 4 pumpkins in our patch and only 1 of them we will see grow. We continue to take one day at a time. Living each day to the fullest and enjoying each other. God has been so good to us in the last 3 1/2 months and has held us so close in his arms.

I was reading in my devotions this afternoon and this struck me. My daily bread said this; When the question is asked, 'Why did this happen?' perhaps one answer will be, 'So that many will consider where they will spend eternity.'" Trusting in the sovereignty of God can turn outrage into compassion and hatred into concern. Then I read this little saying; The Lord can turn a tragedy into an opportunity to show us that eternity must never be ignored. I also love this verse from 2 Timothy 4: 7,8 Lindsay has fought the good fight she has finished the race, so that we have kept the faith. Now there is in store for us the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to us on that day and not only to us, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Amen to that.

We are all apart of God's pumpkin patch and he gets to watch us grow into beautiful pumpkins that want to live for Him. So I ask you are you apart of God's pumpkin patch and are you growing to live your life for Him. I know that I fail sometimes but I know that God will forgive me and that He will help me grow.

Lindsay, you will always be our little pumpkin and we miss you so much!