Laura Jo Turns 4!!!!

Little girls in gowns and crowns dancing all around!

                                                          Sisters with their 4 year olds....

                                             Claire is loving it, and can't wait to start dancing!

                                               
           Daddy, I need MORE tissue please!

A Day in May

        A week ago we celebrated Laura Jo’s 4 years on this earth.  It was a crazy fun time with a house full of excited girls in pretend gowns and crowns and there was pizza and laughter and much joy.

However, on that same day a friend of Stacy and Adam’s was burying their little girl.  The Mom (Allison) had a healthy baby girl growing inside of her for 9 months....She was due any day and all of a sudden felt no movement.  She went in, only to find out her little Amelia was dead and the cord was wrapped around her neck.  She had to give birth or is it death to this child and had to deliver her later that day.  So I prayed for Allison and for her loss and the memories flooded back to almost 3 years ago when the same thing happened to Stacy.  Stacy was 5 months along and her baby had many medical issues and Stacy was told that little Hannah would not live.  We didn’t know until a month later after the delivery, that it was a little girl that we were holding that day in May.

A day in May that changed my world.  That was when God came down, held my family so tight, and my baby girl’s girl was ushered into the arms of Jesus.  No better place to be in my books.  But the pain of it, still to this day, is not eased. There are moments when I think about it and the tears flood my lap and the ache is revisited.  And the “WHY’S” are still there.  Why Lord did this have to happen?  Why indeed!  

Yes, Allison has 3 other children, but that does not matter to a mom.  She lost her baby! HER BABY! Her little “me” whom she carried for 9 months!  She had a room all prepared for her....the car seat was in her car, ready and waiting....and is now left empty.  I am just so saddened by it all.  I am praying God fills up her empty with lots of HIM.  I am praying Allison has felt the love of her friends, her church, her family.....

Whenever you deposit a little one into the arms of Jesus it is never an easy release. You want to hold on tight, because when you let go, they take the baby and the next time you see her will be on the other side of this life. 

I have always envisioned me going first, and holding Stacy’s 2 little ones o so tight, until she can join us.  We will make cookies and whoopie pies and play tag until we are laughing ourselves silly.  Sweet tea on my porch and the waiting will be a blink of the eye.  Now that will be a sweet anticipation I am looking forward to.  We serve a very good God!