...and We Continue Our Journey...

We turned in our resignation at our church in Independence two weeks ago and said our goodbyes to everyone last night.  It is always hard and very sad to leave people that mean so much to you, but right now we know God is calling us away for a time of rest and healing before He moves us on to our next place of ministry.  We love our church family so much and we are so thankful that they allowed us to be the youth pastor to their students.  We love our Journey students beyond words, they have been an incredible bunch to lead and it has blessed us to watch them grow in their walk with God over the past two years. 

Thank You

Our pastor that did Owen's graveside is the pastor of my parent's church (the church I grew up in), and he said something at the service that kind of hit me and opened my eyes.   He talked, through tears and with a sincere heart, about how Owen was loved by so many people, and how many people had joined in prayer for him.  I knew people had prayed for my baby to be healed, but I guess standing there looking at Owen's casket, hearing those words, and being surrounded by a group of people who prayed and now they hurt for us and with us, opened my eyes.  So many of you opened your hearts to us in our time of need.  Churches prayed, prayer groups prayed, small groups prayed, Sunday school classes prayed.  Our family prayed, our friends prayed, and their friends prayed.  Many of you sent us messages, notes, emails, texts, and called to tell us you were praying.  And many contacted our family and friends to let us know that you were praying.  We have received card after card in the mail to tell us still you are praying.  To know now that those times when we felt hopeless and didn't know what to pray or just didn't have the strength to pray; you prayed, you called out to God for our baby boy for us.  You opened your hearts to us in our time of tragedy, and you prayed.

Brad always tells our teenagers that "prayer changes things."  And it has.  I believe that because of prayer, God increased the fluid around Owen for two weeks.  I believe that because of prayer, God gave us 7 more weeks with our baby.  I believe that because of prayer, God gave Brad and I the strength to face this time in our lives.  Because of prayer, God gave us calm and peace in the hospital when Owen was born.  Because of prayer, God has given us comfort in our time of sadness.  Because of prayer, God gives us hope, He gives us joy. 

Thank you for your prayers.   2 Corinthians 1:11

"HIS Love Reaches Me Everywhere"

It was very difficult Tuesday morning getting ready and driving to Owen's grave.  Just knowing that we were saying goodbye to our baby.  Our hearts were broken, that we could not hold him or watch him grow, and how much we missed him already.  When we got to the cemetery, we waited in the car for a while and had one of Lauren's Veggie Tales CDs on for her.  Lauren crawled up in the front between Brad and I and started to sing the song that was playing. - Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heaven above, Deep, deep as the deepest sea, it my Savior's love.  I feel so unworthy, still I'm a child of His care.  For His word teaches me that His Love reaches me everywhere.- How sweet and wonderful that God used Lauren to let us know that He loved us and His love could reach us right where we were that day, sitting in a cemetery, with broken hearts.

 Our family was able to be at Owen's grave side service (minus one of Brad's sisters and her husband, but we know their hearts and prayers were with us), which gave us so much support and strength.  And we are thankful that friends were able to come too.  All the love from everyone there was overwhelming.  The service was beautiful.  And yes- it was cold and snowing, but we thought it was peaceful and just fit.

Lauren wrote a note to Owen so we tied it to some blue balloons and she let it off at the service.  Unfortunatly it did get stuck in a tree, but I don't think it bothered her.

Lauren talks about him some.  And she understands that he is not in my belly any more, that he is in Heaven with Jesus.  She prayed the other night that Jesus would take care of Owen and help her not to miss him.  I just keep praying that God would give her perfect "4 year old" understanding.  I'm so glad that she had such an attachment to and love for Owen while I was pregnant with him.  She is a wonderful big sister, the best. 

I think Brad and I are doing OK.  Still missing our Owen and wishing we could hold him again.  We know and believe that Owen was a gift to us, and we wonder "why" a lot, but we trust in God's plan for us.         Jer. 29:11

One more picture.  I love this pic of Brad holding Owen.  It just reminds me of what a loving and great man of God, he is.