tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45041081986869067352024-03-13T20:34:53.897-07:004 Days To EternityHelping Those In Time of LossChris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-41178945136963265162019-02-21T16:21:00.002-08:002020-06-16T17:28:27.789-07:00Welcome....<div face=""" style="caret-color: rgb(23, 21, 21); color: #171515; font-family: Khula, sans-serif, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are here after receiving a copy of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Arms-God-Truth-Heaven/dp/0785263438/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283610139&sr=8-1" style="color: #515151; text-decoration: none;">Safe In the Arms of God</a>" by John MacArthur, we want to welcome you! We are praying for you. Our hearts ache for the loss of your little one. We pray that this blog will be a help to you as you walk this new hard road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We will occasionally be putting new posts up that we hope will be helpful. We will even have some guest writers that we hope you will enjoy! There will be stories from others who have walked similar roads and how the Lord has helped them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This blog was made in memory of our son, Mason Fritz. Mason was born 13 weeks early on June 16th 2010, and due to a severe genetic disorder, was with us for only four days. He joined our Lord and Savior Jesus in heaven on June 20th. To hear more about Mason's story click <a href="https://harbourshores.church/4-days-to-eternity/">here</a>. It is our prayer that this blog will be a source of comfort and encouragement to others who have experienced the loss of a baby, whether your baby lived a short life, or just lived in the womb and was lost through a miscarriage, a stillbirth, or by any other means. The message you'll find here will probably be different from what you'd find on most other sites like this. It may challenge your thinking regarding life, death, God and the Bible. Please examine the Bible for yourself and find comfort and truth in the strength of God's Word.</span></div>
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If you do not already have a copy of "Safe In the Arms of God" and have recently lost a baby, please <a href="mailto:4daystoeternity@gmail.com" style="color: #515151; text-decoration: none;">contact us</a>. We would love to hear about your little one and send you a copy of this helpful book.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chris & Anna</span></div>
Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-66389681129784564272016-07-14T07:00:00.000-07:002019-02-21T06:03:59.448-08:00Out of the DepthsLast year in August we shared a <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2015/08/loving-god-who-takes-your-child.html">video</a> of a precious baby boy named Ezra Blaze. In that video his mother shared a line from a song. I wanted to share the whole song with you today. These wonderful words are based on Psalm 130. This song was written by Bob Kauflin and is from the album <a href="http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/Albums/Psalms">Psalms</a>.<br />
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<b>Out of the Depths</b></div>
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Out of the depths, O Lord, I cry to You</div>
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When I am tempted to despair</div>
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Though I might fail to trust Your promises</div>
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You never fail to hear my prayer</div>
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And if you judged my sin</div>
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I'd never stand again</div>
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But I see mercy in Your hands</div>
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So more than watchmen for the morning</div>
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I will wait for You, my God</div>
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When my fears come with no warning</div>
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In Your Word I'll put my trust</div>
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When the harvest time is over and I still see no fruit</div>
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I will wait, I will wait for you</div>
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The secret mysteries belong to You</div>
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We only know what You reveal</div>
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And all my questions that are unresolved</div>
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Don't change the wisdom of Your will</div>
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In every trial and loss</div>
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My hope is in the cross</div>
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Where Your compassion never fail</div>
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I pray that this will be your prayer today, that your hope would be in the cross in every trial and loss!</div>
Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-10999754034778185542016-06-16T04:00:00.000-07:002016-06-16T05:00:05.587-07:00What God Taught Us Through the Death of Our Son ~ Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, on the 6 year Anniversary of our son's birth, we are sharing part 2 of this series. Last week we shared part 1 of this post; you can read it<a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2016/06/things-god-taught-us-through-death-of.html"> here</a>. And now 3 more things that God taught us through the death of our son...<br />
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<b>About looking forward to heaven...</b><br />
Once you have a loved one in heaven, you begin thinking about heaven in a new way. After Mason's death I wanted to know more. What does the Bible tell us about heaven? What truths could I rest on now that someone who holds such a special place in my heart is in heaven?<br />
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I am very thankful for "Safe in the Arms of God" and the books written by Randy Alcorn on heaven. These books helped Chris and I, and our children, learn how wonderful heaven will be and they've helped us to look forward to the time when we will once again will be reunited with Mason. It is a joy to know that Mason is in heaven, free from this world of sin, living with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.<br />
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<b>Sin is hideous but God and His grace is more than sufficient to carry you through the hard times....</b><br />
Death exists because sin exists.<br />
Our real enemy is sin, Satan, hell, and death, and Christ is the only one who can conquer these terrible enemies.<br />
God's Grace comes to us in many forms (His Word, His Spirit, friends, family, etc) and He is sufficient to provide all that we need to live a life that glorifies Him.<br />
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<b>It's good to mourn your loss and it's good to remember your loved one; and everyone will do this a little differently...</b><br />
When you lose a loved one there are many raw emotions. How each person mourns a loss is going to look different from person to person. I remember during the 4 days that Mason was with us, and the weeks following his death, that the hardest time for me was at night, before going to sleep, and early morning, when I woke up. There were many tears shed during those hours.<br />
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I know that for Chris it was really hard the first time he did things agin: The first time he went back to work, the first time back to church, the first time leading worship, etc.<br />
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For me it was hard, as time went on, that Mason no longer filled my every thought. I knew how to love my girls, who were a part of my daily life, but how do I love this baby, who I love so much and who is no longer a part of my daily life? It was hard to let go of him and return to life without him.<br />
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This mourning process is going to look different for each person. It is not wrong to cry a lot, it is not wrong to need time alone, it is not wrong to need time to think and sort everything through. I would encourage you, in your grief, to keep clinging to the Lord and the truth in His word. I would also encourage you, if you are married, to not let this loss push you away from your spouse. You need to help and encourage each other during this time; you need the love and support you will find in one another.<br />
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Each year on Mason's birthday we try to do something special to remember him. We enjoy letting the girls plan out what we are going to do. Each birthday has looked a little different, but each year we take time to look through his photo album and go through all the items in his memory box.<br />
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Thank you for taking the time to read this post. We pray that as you walk this hard road of loss you will be drawn to Christ and find rest and hope in him.<br />
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<br />Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-56435720641024562922016-06-09T05:02:00.000-07:002016-06-09T05:16:12.499-07:00What God Taught Us Through the Death of our Son ~ Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Chris and I were blessed with the opportunity to share with a Bible study group what we had learned through the loss of our son, Mason. It is always a blessing to be able to share with others how the Lord has worked in our lives and continues to work in our lives. I started off our time sharing our son's story. If you are not familiar with it, you can read about it here and also listen to it here. The first thing we learned was....<br />
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<b>What a blessing the church family is....</b><br />
In the days after our son's birth and death we received an outpouring of love and help from our church family. We had visitors at the hospital, cards sent to us, meals prepared, flowers delivered, and our lawn mowed. It was a joy to experience the hands and feet of Christ at work in our local church body! Everyone's love and support was such a blessing to us as we moved through the days and weeks following Mason's death.<br />
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<b>God will provide opportunities to share your faith in ways you never imagined...</b><br />
Over the last 6 years the Lord has brought many wonderful opportunities for us to share our faith in Christ. Many of these opportunities grew from something that started to develop in the months following Mason's death.<br />
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When we left the hospital, we were given a bag with some flyers and a picture book. This bag, and the items in it, were given by the hospital to every family who has lost a baby at the hospital. After leaving the hospital, I also started reading "Safe in the arms of God" by John MacArthur. This book was a wonderful blessing to me.<br />
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As time went on I started to think how neat it would be to provide the hospital with copies of "Safe in the Arms of God" to include in their bags, but I was not sure how this would happen. Would they even be interested in a book that is so clearly based on Biblical truth? I also was not sure how we would come up with the money to purchase these books.<br />
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I talked to Chris about this idea and asked if he would write to the nurse who was over St. Vincent's grief counseling program. I could tell that Chris did not want to, but he agreed to write the letter.<br />
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We were surprised to hear back from the nurse that she was very open to the idea. We came to learn that many of the nurses who help families, who have lost babies, are desperate for a way to help these families. There is really no hope, but that of heaven, that they can offer to these families.<br />
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We found out that St. Vincent's hospital could use 120 books to give away in the year to come. The Lord was so faithful to provide those 120 books through a donation from John MacArthur, through Grace to You.<br />
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This outreach then grew into "4 Days To Eternity". As of today, through 4 Days to Eternity, we are now donating books to 7 hospitals and 4 funeral homes in the Indianapolis and surrounding areas. Thanks to the generous donations of many people, we have been able to donate well over 650 books. There have also been numerous other opportunities to share our story and our hope in Christ. If we are available and willing, the Lord will provide His children with opportunities to share and encourage others.<br />
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<b>You need to continue to be attentive to the needs of others...</b><br />
When you are mourning the loss of a loved one, continue to look outward and be attentive to the needs of others. Do not allow yourself to become self-centered and self-focused. The truth is that there are lots of hurting people out there and God may use you to bless and encourage them. In your loss, God may grant you wonderful opportunities to love and help others.<br />
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Next week we will continue with three more things God taught us through the loss of Mason....Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-20485080458173009802015-12-17T12:12:00.000-08:002015-12-17T12:12:33.996-08:00Suffering and the HolidaysMany times as we approach the holiday season our minds can be filled with many wonderful memories and anticipation as we approach the special days that will be filled with family, friends and the many wonderful memories that will be made.<br />
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For those of us who have lost a little one this season can also remind us of the hurt and emptiness that our hearts feel as we know that our little one will not be apart of the coming holidays.<br />
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How can we move through these months and still have joy? How does the Lord want us to handle these hard emotions and feelings?<br />
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Carolyn Mahaney gives us a great reminder in this post she wrote titled <a href="http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/rejoicing-in-suffering-at-christmas/?utm_content=buffer7ace3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer">"Rejoicing in Suffering at Christmas"</a>. Please click on this link and read her wise words for us all. It is our prayer that her wisdom will help guide you through the coming months.Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-63632056203947124752015-08-10T11:52:00.001-07:002015-08-10T11:52:20.078-07:00Loving the God who Takes Your Child<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Psalm 34:7, 8, 17-19</b></div>
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The angel of the Lord encamps<br />
around those who fear him,<br />
and delivers them.<br />
Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!<br />
Blessed is the man who takes<br />
refuge in him! </div>
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When the righteous cry for help,</div>
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the Lord hears</div>
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and delivers them out of all their troubles.<br />
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted<br />
and saves the crushed in spirit.<br />
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,<br />
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.</div>
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Today we have a 2 beautiful video clips to share with you. These video clips are about Ezra Blaize, a precious baby boy.<br />
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In the first clip his parents are sharing at his funeral about his 54 day life, sharing what they have learned through his life. They so beautifully share their trust in the Lord, where they find their comfort during this hard time, and what they have learned from his life.<br />
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In the second clip, his parents share more of Ezra's story and their hope in the Lord.<br />
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Please take a few minutes to watch these touching videos!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JPd4mETXmOE" width="560"></iframe>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-44909177468058169622015-06-01T08:04:00.000-07:002015-06-01T08:04:09.786-07:00Pouring out my Heart......I want to share a beautiful post with you today by Kara Chupp. You might remember that a few years back I shared one of <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2011/11/worry.html">Kara's posts</a> with you.<br />
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I love and appreciate Kara and her beautiful faith and honesty. She shares her hurt and hesitancy to open up to the Lord. I think that anyone who has lost a baby can relate to this. Kara so beautifully brings us into the hospital room were her precious baby girl was dyeing. </div>
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Please click over the Overcomer blog to read Kara's post "<a href="http://www.overcomeroutreach.com/2014/11/pouring-out-my-heart-to-jesus-when-we-lost-our-baby/">Pouring out my Heart to Jesus...When we lost our baby</a>".</div>
Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-79138510301367175682012-10-15T07:58:00.000-07:002012-10-15T07:59:57.257-07:00A Story Of God's Faithfulness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today we want you to take a few minutes and meet the Harms family. This beautiful family candidly shares their story. Their youngest daughter Ava was diagnosed with Alexandre's disease when she was just a few months old and sweet little Ava lived for just one year. In this short video, the Harms share how they saw the Lord's faithfulness and goodness during this time in their lives.</div>
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<br />Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-74660968465136641182012-09-18T17:29:00.000-07:002012-10-14T14:56:06.445-07:00Grieving a Loss: What's it going to take to get through this?A couple of months ago The Gospel Coalition held their <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/conferences/2012-womens/#media">2012 National Women's Conference</a>. Among the many wonderful sessions and speakers, there was one session that we thought would be a help and blessing to our readers at 4 Days To Eternity. Nancy Guthrie did a wonderful job sharing on how to grieve a loss in the hope of God in her session <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/resources/a/grieving_a_loss">"Grieving a Loss: What's it going to take to Get Through This?</a>". Whether you have just lost a precious baby or a loved one or have unrealized hopes & dreams, this message will be a help to you. Please <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/resources/a/grieving_a_loss">click over</a> and you can either listen to, download the audio,or watch the video.<br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/45450168">Grieving a Loss</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/gospelcoalition">The Gospel Coalition</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-64461110852726274062012-06-15T06:43:00.001-07:002012-06-15T06:50:30.687-07:00Thankful for Life, No Matter How Long or How Short<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This month we'd like to share with you a sweet testimony from a wonderful family that is choosing to delight in the Lord in spite of the challenges their son faces. They remind us that all life, whether short or long, healthy or sick, is precious and should be lived for the glory of Christ. They remind us of what Job said in Job 1:21 - "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We know that the Lord has different trials & joys for us all to walk through with Him. Each family & life is different and our individual stories are all unique and yet, we hope that the truth this family shares will be a blessing and help to you. The truths that they share can be applied to your life, and your family's life, no matter how long or how short your precious baby was/is with you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-25214457193276265452012-03-15T05:10:00.000-07:002012-03-15T05:10:59.007-07:00Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpEgP9tJwExZRfbUYJ1A4IHLe_ByQED4WwFRmdNb8ZYc0uAcSDXYgY6kb5EwGTA_S4LIZ61iMtwMXwY7UYbabu7QtTXc0u9eVsQRSZgd4Al9Zkzgm40uoEe2NzLajoPcggShnX-4wOWs/s1600/62a8c47c6dc711e1abb01231381b65e3_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpEgP9tJwExZRfbUYJ1A4IHLe_ByQED4WwFRmdNb8ZYc0uAcSDXYgY6kb5EwGTA_S4LIZ61iMtwMXwY7UYbabu7QtTXc0u9eVsQRSZgd4Al9Zkzgm40uoEe2NzLajoPcggShnX-4wOWs/s1600/62a8c47c6dc711e1abb01231381b65e3_5.jpg" /></a></div>One of my favorite hymns is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". My mind has meditated on the words of this hymn many times especially over the last several years. This hymn speaks of the Lord's faithfulness, compassion, and the strength He will provide you every day. It also speaks of the Lord's mercies, new every morning, that bring bright hope for tomorrow.<br />
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Our family has come to wonderful blessing and bright hope for tomorrow. We are looking forward to welcoming another son into our family come August. The Lord is so good!<br />
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But...even in the midst of this joy and blessing, is the knowledge of the hurt and heartbreak that came with this same joy last time. I remember finding out that Mason was a boy, going out and buying our first little boy outfit, planning the nursery and making plans for Mason's future. Knowing all the hopes and dreams that were unrealized makes it hard to fully embrace the blessing the Lord is giving us. <br />
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As we plan and hope and dream for this new little one inside of me, there is an apprehension that comes with it. It is hard to think of loving and caring for this new little one when there is a little one that you never got to do the same for. I try my best to keep my eyes on today and what the Lord has given us today, cherishing this little life inside of me. I keep reminding myself of these verses...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Trust in the Lord with all your heart </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and do not lean on your own understanding. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In all your ways acknowledge Him, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and He will make your paths straight.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Proverbs 3:5-6</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Do not be anxious about anything, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>let your requests be made known to God. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Philippians 4:6-7</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">These verses remind me to trust in the Lord, and not what I feel or understand, and to not worry or fret over the "maybes" and "what-ifs" but to bring those thoughts and concerns to the Lord in prayer. If I do this, He is going to guard my heart. Do this mean that if I do this there will not be any more hardship and hurt in my life? No. But it does mean that when those hardships and hurts do come, He will guard our hearts through them. He will carry us through whatever trial we need to walk through. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbXL1SwoX_7eWyVdRGQqLt1SR1dRg1IXv6ySCEz1ZnIuCvvQFIgWs_PQAM5yCXNJKjHA5xLrOK9m08K00o6g6xsZceTKNLn0m0775nfS4uubtPYiDbhrPcRToa11GKUhELQG0gn0XwxE/s1600/43b9be806dc811e180d51231380fcd7e_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbXL1SwoX_7eWyVdRGQqLt1SR1dRg1IXv6ySCEz1ZnIuCvvQFIgWs_PQAM5yCXNJKjHA5xLrOK9m08K00o6g6xsZceTKNLn0m0775nfS4uubtPYiDbhrPcRToa11GKUhELQG0gn0XwxE/s1600/43b9be806dc811e180d51231380fcd7e_5.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
So today I am choosing to focus on the blessing of another little boy... anticipating and preparing for his arrival... cherishing the little life the Lord is forming and growing inside of me. </div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-52233097980230429522012-02-15T06:00:00.000-08:002012-02-14T16:32:01.296-08:00Hug Him Once For Me<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">A few weeks ago I came across a beautiful song called "Hug Him Once For Me". This song was written by Erica and she wrote it after her precious son Braden died. After reading over her and her husband's blog I emailed them to see if they would be willing to share their story here on 4 Days To Eternity. They kindly accepted and so here is their story and her beautiful song.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">It was a beautiful July afternoon. My husband and our oldest daughter were on their first daddy daughter date! I was trying to get together the finishing touches for my yard sale the next day. We had just had a huge hail storm the week before so we had a couple insurance guys coming to look at our roof and vehicle. The first gentleman showed up about a half an hour after my husband and daughter had left for their date. He needed the to look at the van, so I had to call Bradley and have him come home. I had just nursed Braden and laid him down for his nap. Normally, Braden napped for about 30 minutes before waking up and requiring me to hold him, so I was hurrying to get all I could accomplished in that time.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Bradley came home and checked on Braden (making it the second head peeked in on him). He had been sleeping now about 45 minutes. Right when the first gentelman finished up, the one for the roof came so we were hopping. I decided to stay inside because Braden would be waking up any minute. Just then a girl from our youth group showed up and we sat in the living room to chat. Braden was napping in our bedroom which is just off the living room. I could hear even a whimper had he made one.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">A while later the girl left and Bradley came inside to discuss what we were planning to do with the insurance money. We were so excited because we knew we could do the roof ourselves and save a lot of money! We decided we better check on Braden because he had napped for an hour and a half which was EXTREMELY unusual. We walked in together (which had never been done before either) and I picked up Braden. I screamed, realizing he was not breathing. His little feet were cool. I was mortified. I ran outside to drive him to the hospital as it is only three blocks from our house. In the mean time, Bradley was trying to call 911 on his cell phone but could not think to hit send. I had run out without my keys so I was just screaming for someone to help. Just then a city bus stopped and drove Braden and I to the hospital. The whole time, I was crying aloud, GOD SAVE MY BABY!!!!!</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Because we had our, at the time, two year old daughter at home, my husband had to grab the neighbor to watch her and drive him over to the hospital. In the meantime I was there, they had rushed Braden right into a room and stuck me in a room by myself. It seemed like forever, but it was only about five minutes before my husband arrived. The thing I will never forget was my conversation with God in that five minutes. I cried out, "God please save my baby!" And very clearly I heard, "No." I turned around to see who was in the room. No one was there. It wasn't an audible voice I had heard but it was so clear in my heart that it seemed that way. I repeated my plea, thinking maybe it was a mistake. "GOD SAVE MY BABY!" And again the reply, "No."</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Now let me stop here to say, I was born and raised in a Christian family, as was my husband. We were both saved at a young age and attended church faithfully. My dad was a pastor and my husband's dad is a pastor. I am a pastor's wife! All this to show that I KNOW inside and out what I should think, how I should act and what I should say. Now back to my conversation with God...</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">My husband arrived and thus began phone calls, friends, family, our pastor, we had to let them all know to pray. I don't remember a lot of the things that happened outside of my conversation with God. They worked on my son for an hour. All the while I wrestled with God. Bits of our conversation were as follows:<br />
"God, YOU don't understand, I NEED him."</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">"No child, you need Me."</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">"I can't live life without him."</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">"My grace is sufficient for thee."</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">"You don't have enough grace for this."<br />
"My strength is made perfect in weakness."</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">"I know You gave Your Son willingly, I won't!"<br />
"Come unto Me all ye who are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">"NO!"</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">"Let me hold you, rest."<br />
"NO!"</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Then the nurse came in. "Tell me my baby is ok!" "I can't she said, I'm sorry, we've done all that we can."</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">I collapsed into the chair. At that moment as my world crashed, I felt as though I fell right into the arms of Jesus. The peace that surrounded me was more than I can explain. It truly was as if I finally surrendered, I finally realized that I could not change God's mind. I surrendered to Him because I had nothing but Him!</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">The next few weeks were kind of a blur. I never imagined planning my son's funeral. Not to mention we had two. One here in Michigan where we live, the other in Indiana, where we were raised. Cards, prayers, visits all comforted us for several weeks. I was soley reliant on God and His grace. I needed it for every breath. We counted the different ways that God had prepared us for this day without our knowing. We counted the blessings of the trial. We were going to be ok.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Then it hit, six weeks went by, then seven...the calls faded, the cards stopped, the visits no more. The people asking how I was slowed and no one dared to even mention Braden's name. It was as though he never existed. Everyone went back to normal and me, I didn't know what normal was. I had nothing "normal" to resort to. Everything I did, I should have had a baby with me. He was 5 1/2 months old...he couldn't just stop breathing. What does "Cause Unknown" mean anyway!?</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">My life continued as normal as it could...I still did my devotions. I still went to church, I still answered the questions correctly. I still held it together when I needed to. But inside, inside I was dying. My spiritual life was in starvation mode. I longed for something more but didn't realize that I didn't even trust the One I was longing for. I needed grace, but didn't know how to grasp it. I lay in bed one night and finally explained to my husband how I felt. I told him that it was as though I were on a wrestling mat with Satan. No longer was I fighting to stand, but I was pinned to the mat, fighting to breathe. I felt like giving up, like Jesus was in a very distant corner and I wasn't even sure if He cared that I was pinned!!!!!! In fact, there were a few times that I actually fought to get to my knees and then got knocked forcefully back down. When I turned to see who pushed me, I could not tell if it was Satan or Jesus! My husband, being the wise, Godly man that he is answered with the most perfect words, I will never forget. He said, "As you lay there, I want you to look up in the left hand corner." (This is ridiculous I thought.) "There is a rope. Across that rope there is a word written- GRACE. Have you ever climbed a rope?" he asked. "Of course." I said, pondering his thinking. "Then you know it's not easy to climb a rope. It takes work. It's hard. God promises us that His grace is sufficient, not easy. I don't think that it is God being distant from you, but rather that you think it's easier to let go of the rope than it is to climb." His wisdom astonished me. I burst into tears, knowing he was right. I hated climbing. I thought God should always pick me up when it hurt. He continued to amaze me with his answer, "As for being knocked down, obvioulsy Satan will knock us down, but if Mariah (our oldest daughter) were to walk near a fire, your reaction would be to push her away. That would knock her down. Let's say she scraped her knee. She would then cry, "momma why did you hurt me?" But you know that the scratch on her knee, is far less damage than falling in the fire would be. Sometimes it is just Satan, and other times, our Heavenly Father pushes us out of the way of the fire, often scraping our knee." Are you as dumbfounded as I was yet? I could not believe this, as I sat here, knowing that my husband lost the same son I did, he was so understanding of who God is.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">Life has not been the same since Braden died, that's obvious. But I can honestly say, God has completely changed my life. I echo the words to the song "God's Been Good". "And though I've had my share of hard times, I wouldn't change them if I could, cause through it all, God's been good."</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">I truly can say I would not change what God has done in our lives. He has used Braden's death to take me to a walk that is deeper than I could have ever imagined. I'd encourage you to check out our blog to read some more details of how God has used this trial in our lives. You can also see the details of how I came to write the song Hug Him Once For Me on the site. I encourage you that if you do not know the Lord, please please please contact me and I'd be happy to share Christ with you. If you do, continue to trust in Him. He has a plan that far out weighs our thinking. Thank you for allowing me to share my story and I pray that God uses it today to be a blessing. My email is <a href="mailto:ericamcclure31@yahoo.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">ericamcclure31@yahoo.com</a> and our blog is <a href="http://www.bradmcclure.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.bradmcclure.org</a></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IBHEJtqKjkk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"></div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-83027867893047216122012-01-23T16:44:00.000-08:002012-01-23T16:44:31.616-08:00The Winner Is.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDWVr-blzwOXw7jQaFQJQj-EZUG2MsBgVQ4QU_ACSwJnEEHhyV5N5DdOGyRqb9wYCxx8Y73nH_ZDIDGZlvEEbZ6GEta3yc8oXc4FDxDsivbXh-wSndRissjU4ZkVARlFsaBTk-CuHQIk/s1600/51fT-bSQplL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDWVr-blzwOXw7jQaFQJQj-EZUG2MsBgVQ4QU_ACSwJnEEHhyV5N5DdOGyRqb9wYCxx8Y73nH_ZDIDGZlvEEbZ6GEta3yc8oXc4FDxDsivbXh-wSndRissjU4ZkVARlFsaBTk-CuHQIk/s200/51fT-bSQplL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Winner of </div><div style="text-align: center;">"Hidden In My Heart" </div><div style="text-align: center;">is ....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheryl</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheryl if you could email us your address at 4daystoeternity@gmail.com we will send you your CD!</div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-22002020102683849182012-01-16T10:15:00.000-08:002012-01-16T10:15:09.477-08:00Truth for Your Soul and a Giveaway!Keeping our minds focused on the Lord can be a challenging task. It seems like there are so many things that can lead us to worry or cause us to fear. Especially when you have lost a precious little one, the future that once seemed so clear can now seem empty and unknown.<br />
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Thankfully the Lord's word is filled with wonderful truths that can remind us and guide us and bring us back to resting and trusting in the Lord. Here are just a few.....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him." </i>Psalm 37:7</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"... For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' so we may boldly say: 'the Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?" </i>Hebrews 13:5-6</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." </i>Philippians 4:6-7</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"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, then will walk and not be faint." </i>Isaiah 40:31</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_ZiVYNeNktDH3UZIngnEpW1L5g-krSmE-VB5dpocWxr3Flfvdrx6FNfXJeVH_gHHSEl4PdjfUndny3hwGmrnVOcNdqZjtJbIHUuPbnE1sS_e3J-5zzi-uf1yDgV4ksoZ_XW6O9D_lZ4/s1600/51fT-bSQplL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_ZiVYNeNktDH3UZIngnEpW1L5g-krSmE-VB5dpocWxr3Flfvdrx6FNfXJeVH_gHHSEl4PdjfUndny3hwGmrnVOcNdqZjtJbIHUuPbnE1sS_e3J-5zzi-uf1yDgV4ksoZ_XW6O9D_lZ4/s200/51fT-bSQplL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">These beautiful verses and more have been put to song on a CD called "Hidden In My Heart" published by <a href="http://www.scripture-lullabies.com/">Scripture Lullabies</a>. This CD has been such a blessing to me over the last few months. When I find myself struggling with fear, doubt, or worry I listen to this CD and my soul is renewed and refreshed as these biblical truths work on my wayward heart. I know that you might be thinking that this is a lullaby CD, and that lullabies are for children and babies and not for adults. Any child would benefit from listening to this CD, but the truths presented in this CD will also bless any adult. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Now for the Giveaway!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">We want to give away a copy of this CD to one of you! This giveaway will be open until Sunday, January 22nd at mid-night and the winner will be announced on Monday, January 23rd.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
Ways to enter giveaway:<br />
~ Mandatory Entry, comment on this post in any way!<br />
~ Like 4 Days To Eternity on Facebook<br />
~ Subscribe to 4 Days To Eternity.com<br />
(make sure to make a separate comment for each entry)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-62384478513785145752011-12-15T04:16:00.000-08:002011-12-15T04:16:52.325-08:00The Stocking That Was Never Hung<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: dimgrey; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"></span><br />
<div id="post-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://peak313.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_4989-768x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignright size-large wp-image-4374" height="320" src="http://peak313.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_4989-768x1024.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_4989" width="235" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">There it was. I saw the white fluffy top peaking out from behind the Christmas boxes and a bunch of tangled lights. I pulled out the tiny, white stocking and tears came to my eyes. I shouldn’t be surprised by this as every year when it comes time to pull out the Christmas decorations it happens.</span></div></div><div id="post-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">Today I’m going to let you a little bit into my life. 6 years ago we lost our first pregnancy. The tiny white stocking that I pull out every year was the stocking I bought before I knew we lost the baby and it was the stocking I bought to hang on our mantle for our first Christmas pregnant.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">It is the stocking that was never hung.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">♥♥♥</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">My husband and I had been married for nearly 3 years. We knew we wanted children and had been praying about when the right time was to start trying. We got pregnant very quickly, however, I immediately had an uneasy spirit about it. I had no real reason to feel this way. After all, I was young and healthy but I just couldn’t shake it.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">9 weeks into it I had some complications and called the doctor. I remember waiting that day until the ultrasound appointment. Trying to rest in God, knowing that He had everything under control, but that sense of uneasiness came back.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">We went to our appointment and I could tell right away things weren’t right. Sure enough, we got word from my nurse. There was no heartbeat. The ultrasound showed that the baby had passed quickly (at around 6.5 weeks) even though I was almost 10 weeks along. (<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A missed miscarriage is the technical term</em>)</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">OF course I cried and my heart broke<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></em>, but oddly enough, I sensed peace for the first time in a while. With the confirmation that the baby was indeed gone, we scheduled a D&C. I’ll never forget laying on that hospital bed and crying as I was being pulled into the OR.</span></div><blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(231, 231, 231); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">Why, God? We have sought Your will! We waited for Your timing!</span></div></blockquote><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: dimgrey;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial;"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-4441 aligncenter" height="239" src="http://peak313.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_4999-1024x768.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: block; float: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_4999" width="320" /></span></span>After the surgery, the wonderful staff at my hospital told me that what they got from me would be buried at a tombstone with a verse. They also gave me some brochures and one of them referenced <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139&version=NIV" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Psalm 139</span></a>. I read that passage many times before but it took new light for me that day. <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That passage gave me the strength to press on over the dark, lonely days that were ahead of me.</em></strong></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I remember being at a crossroads.</strong></em> I had 2 choices; to let this bring me closer to God or to draw me further away from Him. God had never failed me before that point in my life, so I had no reason to think He would at that moment, so I chose Him.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">♥♥♥</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">I’ve been able to use my story as encouragement to many other women since then. I’ve cried and prayed with many women who have gone through the same thing and have been able to share my hope that got me through it. My wonderful sister in law had her 2nd son just days after our miscarriage and had some complications that ended up taking away the chance to have children again. Here we were. 2 sisters (<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">who married brothers</em>) each struggling with loss, but in different ways. Our hearts were able to bond quickly and share in our pain of loss.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: dimgrey; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4368" height="247" src="http://peak313.com/wp-content/uploads/Jan-2006-007-1024x790.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: block; float: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Jan 2006 007" width="320" /></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My nephew and sister-in law, Sue, a week after my miscarriage.</em></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">You know the rest of my story. I have 2 wonderful children! But this doesn’t take away the memory of my little one in heaven. Every Christmas I am reminded of this painful time in my life but I’m also reminded of how God graced us with 2 more! <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I am reminded of how God gives each one of us a story and that He wants it to glorify Him.</em></span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">I’m also reminded of the crossroads I approached. I shudder to think if I would have turned my back on the Lord at that time and I’m thankful that He drew me to Him in those tender moments. <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dear Sister, are you at a crossroads now? </em>Turn to HIM. He will not fail you!</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">So the stocking? Well, the stocking will always be a part of our family. It may never have been hung, but it’s never going away. It’s a representation of the blessing that God gave to us and then took away, but, <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgOwc2kN-3I" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Blessed be the name of the Lord.</span></a></em></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: dimgrey;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial;"><img src="http://peak313.com/wp-content/uploads/claresig.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: dimgrey;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial;">~~~~~~</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: dimgrey;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #373737; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><img height="200" src="http://www.roomag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ClareSmith1.jpg" style="display: inline-block; float: left; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-right: 20px; max-width: 97.5%;" width="142" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Clare Smith</span></strong></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Clare and her husband and 2 children live in Northeast Ohio. She has her bachelor’s degree in business management and left a promising career to be a stay-at-home mom to her children. She is a certified fitness instructor and teaches pilates and group fitness classes at her church and local university. Clare’s passion (outside of raising and nurturing her children and home) is motivating women of all ages and stages of life to live well physically, emotionally and spiritually. Visit her at <a href="http://peak313.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Peak313</a>and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Peak313" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Facebook</a>!</span></span></div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-5702242356204292402011-11-15T04:12:00.000-08:002011-11-15T04:12:39.139-08:00Worry.........<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After the loss of a little one, after experiencing such great sorrow and loss, how can we not help but worry. We worry about the future and the unknown that the future brings. How easy it is to experience something as little as a headache and before we know it we are worrying that maybe it is a symptom of something bigger and life threatening. </span><br />
<br />
Today I want to share with you a post written by Kara Chupp. Kara blogs as <a href="http://thechuppies.blogspot.com/">The Chuppies</a> and also shares at <a href="http://www.thebettermom.com/">The Better Mom</a>. Kara has walked the path of loss that so many of you have experienced. Back in 2008 she and her husband lost their beautiful daughter Selah <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Noelle who was</span> only 4 months old, to the disease Pompe. Kara knows the worry that loss can bring. She shares...<br />
<br />
"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;"><em>Worry is never over.</em></span><br />
<div style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It’s a constant struggle.<br />
But when I start to sink into a swirling pit of fear,<br />
I want to face and fight the battle–<br />
<strong>With Him and through Him.</strong></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;"> <em><strong>…for God gave us a spirit not of fear, </strong></em><em><strong>but of power and love and self-control. </strong></em>~2 Timothy 1:7</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;"><strong>"</strong></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;"><strong><br />
</strong></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;">Please take the time to read Kara's post "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.thebettermom.com/2011/10/worry-i-wish-i-wasnt-so-good-at-it/">Worry- I Wish I Wasn't So Good At It</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;">" over at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.thebettermom.com/">The </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.thebettermom.com/">Better Mom</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 24px;">. I pray that you will be as blessed as I was to hear how Kara keeps her mind and heart on what is true as she encounters fear and worry. </span>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-90240383656097859912011-10-17T06:30:00.000-07:002011-10-17T06:33:12.404-07:00Verses that Comfort<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i>Over the last few months, Chris and I have had the privilege of speaking at two different hospital sponsored memorial services remembering babies that have been lost while still in the womb or shortly after birth. Here is a summary of what we shared at those services...</i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i>I started and shared about Mason's short but precious life (you can <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/p/masons-story.html">read more here</a> or <a href="http://www.hscaudio.org/2010/07/4-days-to-eternity/">listen here</a>). My husband then went on to share the following... </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Having our son die on Father’s Day is by far the most heart-wrenching thing we’ve ever gone through. </span><span style="color: #1c110a; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">And yet in the midst of our sorrow and sadness we did have and experience the hope, peace and comfort that is found in God. Both Anna and I love, serve and follow Jesus and we have found forgiveness of sins and life in Jesus, through <i>His</i></span><span style="color: #1c110a; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> perfect life, death on the cross, and then resurrection from the dead.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1c110a; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1c110a; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">His grace & love sustained us through our sorrow and we never doubted that He was in control of our situation and Mason’s life. We firmly believe, based on what the Bible says, that Mason, along with every infant and young child that has ever passed on from this life, is in heaven safe with God. And we believe that one day we will see Mason again made whole and complete.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">This morning we wanted to share with you some of our favorite Bible verses that gave us comfort and peace during our time of sorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">God said to a man named Jeremiah...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i>“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” <o:p></o:p></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i>Jeremiah 1:5a </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">God knows us all and loves us all long before we’re ever born.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">A man named David wrote...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i>"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed from me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! </i>Psalm 139:13-17</span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">God Himself is the Creator and the Author of life. Therefore, all life…even a very short life…is a precious life and a gift from God. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">In Mark chapter 10 we’re told about how one day some people were bringing their little children, their infants and babies to see and visit Jesus. The account reads like this… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i>"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them 'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."</i> Mark 10:13-16</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Jesus was indignant, Jesus was angry, that His disciples would try and prevent these little children from coming to Him. Jesus had a very special <u>care</u> and <u>concern</u> and <u>love</u> for these infants and little ones. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Why is this? Why does Jesus love and care for these little ones? Throughout the Bible, we see the truth re-told again and again that God <u>delights</u> to save and use and love the weak and the helpless…and there is none so weak and helpless and innocent and precious as an infant...as a little child.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">So what happens to little ones who die? Where are they? I believe that Jesus has already told us when He said….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i>“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">There’s a man in the Bible named David. He was king over Israel and, like many of us, he had a son who only lived a few short days and then died. After his son’s death, David said something very profound and significant. He said<i>....</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i>"While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”<b> <o:p></o:p></b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">2 Samuel 12:22-23</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">David was comforted/confident in the fact that he would again see his son and go to be with his son.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">As you well know, this world, this life, can be filled with trouble and sorrow and pain and death. That’s a fact. That’s reality. Is there any hope? Is there any comfort?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Listen to what Jesus said in: Matthew 11:28-29 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i>“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”</i></span></div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-90365720599241905102011-09-15T10:26:00.000-07:002011-09-15T10:28:38.090-07:00A Video From "Grace To You"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We hope that this video from "Grace To You" will be a help and encouragement to you! The couple featured in this video beautifully shows their hope and strength in the Lord even in the midst of great tragedy and loss. We pray that it will be a blessing to you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2sGxWLbnNl4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-20260027052693431042011-08-16T18:48:00.000-07:002011-08-17T03:57:30.064-07:00Exciting New Opportunities!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face';">This month at “4 Days to Eternity” Anna and I wanted to write telling you about some exciting new opportunities that the Lord has brought our way!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face';"> A few months ago Anna and I were invited to speak at a “bereavement conference” put on by various hospitals in the Indianapolis area. In attendance were nurses who wanted to learn how to better help their patients who have lost babies. We shared our story with them hoping it would help them better learn how to care for parents who lose little ones. In the course of speaking with them we were able to talk freely and openly about the hope, joy and peace to be found in Christ and we were able to tell them about our outreach “4 Days to Eternity”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face';"> After the conference we stuck around to speak one on one with the nurses and, in the course of conversation, made contact with three new hospitals in the Indianapolis area! They have all graciously agreed to give away copies of “Safe In the Arms of God” to couples and families who lose little ones. This brings our total number of hospitals we are working with up to six! We are also currently supplying books to two funeral homes as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face';"> In addition to the new hospitals we will be donating books too, the Lord has given us another speaking engagement with St. Vincent Women’s Hospital, the hospital were Mason was cared for. We have been invited to speak Saturday morning, August 20<sup>th</sup>, to a group of parents who have recently lost babies. We will share our story with these parents, talk about Christ and His mercy and grace, and offer a free copy of “Safe In the Arms of God” to any in attendance. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face';"> As difficult as it is to re-live and re-tell the story of Mason’s brief life and death, we are thankful for the opportunity to speak of Christ and of His glory and goodness. Please continue to pray that God would open opportunities to share the Gospel and the hope of eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-57332964854932226532011-07-15T04:53:00.000-07:002011-07-15T04:53:07.014-07:00A Prayer of TrustThis beautiful pray is found in "Safe In The Arms of God". It has been a wonderful blessing to me over the last year as it reminds me to fully rest in the Lord's perfect plan and to keep my eyes on Him as we walk the road He's prepared for us. I have this prayer written in my prayer journal where I can easily find it when needed.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Lord, help me to express the joy that is befitting a Christian. Help me to trust You with the timetable of my life and the lives of all those I love. Help me to have a more eternal perspective on what happens to me and to those I love. Help me to learn and to discover what it is that You want me to know. Give me your wisdom. Help me to submit myself to Your will and to do so completely, in every area of my life. Help me to trust You that You know what is best for me. You desire to bring about what is best for my life, and You are at work causing all things to come together for my eternal good and the eternal good of all those I love. I pray this with faith, Lord. I look for the answers You will give as I pray in Jesus' name, Amen" </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i></i>Safe In The Arms of God pg. 149</div><br />
It is our prayer that this prayer will be a blessing to you as you seek to mend your broken heart and let go of the "why" questions so you can go on fully trusting the Lord and His plan for you and your family members' lives.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So are My ways higher than your ways,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And My thoughts than your thoughts."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Isaiah 55:8-9</div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-20665360685502023102011-06-15T06:00:00.000-07:002011-06-15T06:00:04.005-07:00It Was Not Wicked for the Lord to Take Our Son<h2 style="font-family: Georgia, 'Trebuchet MS', serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #40464b; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoGA8JW4RLA9m8maemuCshyphenhyphenzwO_DR-zOkZy4iOab7EvzwhTT1bLlTPEjlL0BooHiWNEWRo9ZVk5DWRH_tBeD2dAilwGxyhbwXVItNl-wQp9DMjEM_62ThemPFZpxtDeOkCetmlh5NJRc/s1600/Haddon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoGA8JW4RLA9m8maemuCshyphenhyphenzwO_DR-zOkZy4iOab7EvzwhTT1bLlTPEjlL0BooHiWNEWRo9ZVk5DWRH_tBeD2dAilwGxyhbwXVItNl-wQp9DMjEM_62ThemPFZpxtDeOkCetmlh5NJRc/s320/Haddon.jpg" width="212" /></a>On March 31, my husband, Ernie, and I walked into labor and delivery. I was 33 weeks pregnant, and we had come to monitor our son’s movement. We had little concern, thinking we’d be leaving within an hour or two. Perhaps I just needed to drink more fluids or get more rest. Not all babies are super active; maybe he was just so big that there wasn’t much room. These were several of my thoughts as I was just waiting. But after six or seven doctors and nurses looked over the sonogram of our son, they quickly decided they needed to do an emergency cesarean because they weren’t sure why he wasn’t responding. Our emotions could not keep up with the events. I found myself changing into in a hospital gown, wheeling around for a spinal shot. I was instantly numb and entering the first surgery of my life, completely unprepared. Haddon Brooks Blanco arrived within about 20 minutes, 6 weeks early. Through a lot of tears, confusion, and fear, Ernie and I still looked at each other with joy that our son was here, not knowing that we had entered into the darkest weekend of our lives.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Haddon struggled through severe anemia and a virus, and his sweet daddy visited him nearly every hour, loving his little son who looked almost identical to him. For 40 hours we were with him, hearing a roller coaster of good news and bad news. On April 2, the Lord took our sweet boy to be with him. Just before he passed, we were able to sing to him. Ernie sang “It Is Well” and I hummed “A Mighty Fortress” the best I could. I held him for the first time, telling him we’d see him soon. I passed him to Ernie, and when the time came to take all the machines off, Ernie quoted Numbers 6:24-26 as the last words Haddon could hear:</div><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 50px; padding-right: 50px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The LORD bless you, and keep you;<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The LORD make his face shine on you,<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />And be gracious to you;<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The LORD lift up his countenance on you,<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />And give you peace.</div></blockquote><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">As our plans as parents have been thrown into confusion and sadness, we are faced with the question of what happens next. I long each morning to wake up to a crying baby to console in my arms. Ernie longs to come home from a long day of work to play with his son, and each time we walk to the garage we have to pass an empty nursery painted in blue. Through each seemingly impossible fear that rushes to our minds, the Lord has calmed us with several great truths about himself and our circumstance.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></em></strong></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Lord Does Not Delight in Wickedness</strong></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It was not wicked for the Lord to take our son. The Lord does not delight in wickedness or evil, his Word tells us in Psalm 5:4. His Word in Psalm 89:14 tells us that his throne is actually built on a foundation of righteousness and justice. I think this is how we can grieve well, when we long to take care and hold our son, to remember God’s foundation of righteousness in all that he does as we grieve in a world of sin and death. Somehow, in the death of our son, God will show us a greater picture of his goodness. Somehow, for our good, this is going to make us look more like his Son, Jesus.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></em></strong></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">God Is Still on Plan A</strong></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ernie has reminded me that God is still on plan A in his plan of redemption. When Haddon died, God was not surprised or needed to start a plan B because something went wrong. 1 and 2 Peter reminded me that all the trials and suffering I will face here will result in praise and glory in the great day of Jesus Christ when he returns again. Haddon’s death has been part of God’s plan from eternity past; nothing is out of his control.</div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Haddon Is Now Looking Upon the Face of Mercy</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">There is a sweetness and gentleness of God that I’ve felt in my pain as I cry out to him, as I sit in Haddon’s nursery, and as I read my Bible. The same sweet, gentle, and kind God is the same God who took my boy to safety. He is in a place where he can see the love of God and hear the gospel of Jesus purely without the distractions of a sinful world. When you watch your son breathe his last, you have an overwhelming sense of not being able to control anything. But I don’t have to worry as his mother about his moment of passing from death to life, because he was instantly and safely ushered into the presence of Christ. Haddon was able to look upon the face of mercy and be sick no more.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></em></strong></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Haddon Will Rise Again</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This same gentle God got us through his burial with an amazing peace. I dreaded seeing his tiny casket, but when the time came the Holy Spirit quickly reminded me he is not there, but only his body, which he suffers in no longer. He reminded me that, just as Jesus rose from the grave, so too will Haddon rise again. The weight of that peace was unlike any peace I’ve experienced in my entire life. I looked around at all the baby graves, which were many, imagining all these babies one day rising to glory. I love hearing myself say it,<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Haddon will rise again.</em> It’s our hope for our little boy.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></em></strong></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Our Eternal Joy Is Yet to Come</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My aching heart is learning to believe that being a mother is not my ultimate happiness. I understand, in a way I never did before, that this world is not a place where we will feel eternal joy. When the people of God finally stand before Christ, who took the punishment for their sin, they will feel the fulfilling, eternal joy that they long to feel here on earth. God has not promised those who belong to him a quick and easy road to heaven, but he does get us there, he promises. Until then, he’s assured us he is “near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></em></strong></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My Greatest Need Is Taken Care Of</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Through many tears and days of great sadness, we want people to know that the only reason we feel comfort in our grief is because Jesus has taken the punishment of our sin, has been raised from the dead, and has crushed death. For the Christian, death is not the end. The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes even calls death “greater than our day of birth” (Ecc. 7:1). For those who do not lean upon Jesus Christ as the great Savior from sin, death is the great entrance to eternal punishment, and their life now is the best they will ever have, because eternity after will be torment. I pray you would know this good news today and trust in Christ, the great conquerer of death.</div><div class="author-bio" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eaede6; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">Lisa Blanco lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband, Ernie, who is a Bible Teacher at Pusch Ridge Christian Achademy. Lisa enjoys writing in her free time.</div></span></h2>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-47350290036787518582011-05-16T04:34:00.000-07:002011-05-16T04:34:32.910-07:00Trusting God with Infertility and MiscarriageToday we have a special message from Lisa Martin. She had a chance to share at a ladies event at her church. She did a beautiful job presenting the hope and security we can find in Christ even in the midst of sorrow, hardship, and trials. I think that this would be helpful for everyone and anyone to listen too. I'm sure it will be a blessing to you and will better equip you to love and comfort those who have experienced the loss of a baby or who are struggling with infertility.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.gracechurch.org/media/6122/trusting_god_with_infertility_and_miscarriage/">LISTEN HERE</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Throughout the message, Lisa shares many wonderful resources. Below you can find links to all of them. I look forward to reading many of them myself!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Right-Thinking-World-Gone-Wrong/dp/0736926437/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304816806&sr=8-1">Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong</a> by John MacArthur and the Leadership Team at Grace Community Church.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trusting-God-Even-Hurts-TRUSTING/dp/B001TK9K60/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304816925&sr=1-4">Trusting God</a>: Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Grows-Winter-Margaret-Clarkson/dp/0802800475/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304817006&sr=1-1">Grace Grows Best in Winter</a> by Margaret Clarkson</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Safe-Arms-God-Truth-Heaven/dp/0785263438/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304817047&sr=1-1">Safe in the Arms of God</a>: Truth from Heaven About the Death of a Child by John MacArthur</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Samuel-Rutherford-Puritan-Paperbacks/dp/0851511635">The Letter of Samuel Rutherford</a> by Samuel Rutherford</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/90-391_Gods-Faithful-Discipline?q=god+s+faithful+discipline">God's Faithful Discipline</a> Sermon by John MacArthur</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Girl Talk Blog Posts:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/no-grace-for-what-if">No Grace for "What If?"</a> by Carolyn Mahaney</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/tell-your-soul">Tell Your Soul </a>by Nicole Whitacre</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/Q_A_-_A_Holy_Longing">Q & A - A Holy Longing</a> by Nicole Whitacre</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/When_Someone_Else_Gets_What_We_Want">When Someone Else Gets What We Want</a> by Nicole Whitacre</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/A_Battle_Plan_for_Fighting_Envy">A Battle Plan for Fighting Envy</a> by Carolyn Mahaney</div>Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-35020166970800760022011-04-29T05:58:00.000-07:002015-05-17T12:52:32.505-07:00Pressing On Part 3<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i>Today we have part 3 of Julie's story. If you missed the first two parts you can find <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2011/04/pressing-on-part-1.html">part 1 here</a> and <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2011/04/pressing-on-part-2.html">part 2 here</a>.</i></div>
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Six more months passed.<br />
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Because no medical reasons had been found for the last two miscarriages, we stepped out in faith again, after much prayer and waiting, to have another baby. Again, the Lord opened my womb and I was pregnant in April. We made our announcement on our parents’ anniversaries-which both happened to be on June 6. They were excited, but with some hesitation due to the recent loss. It was understandable, as Josh and I had been through the same emotions. But we really thought everything was going to be fine this time. What were the chances that we would have another miscarriage? </div>
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Everything was going well throughout the summer. Two of our friends were also expecting around the same time and we were looking forward to having our babies grow up together. In July, we heard a good strong heartbeat at the doctor’s office. But that would be the last time. Within 3 days of that appointment, another life quietly slipped away, unbeknownst to any of us. It wouldn’t be for another 3 ½ weeks until I went in for another appointment that we would learn this information. After having some cramping, I went in a few days early to see my doctor. I figured she would tell me to drink a little more water and try to stay off my feet for awhile. As she began looking for the heartbeat, I heard the same words from 10 months earlier, “Where are you hiding baby?” I thought, “This is surreal. I feel like I’ve already done this before-Dr. R’s saying the same things, but this can’t be real. It just can’t be happening again.” Sure enough, within a few more minutes, I was looking at our baby on a large screen, but seeing no movement or heartbeat. I was supposed to be 17 weeks pregnant. </div>
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At that moment, I went into “auto-pilot.” I had done this before, so I knew what to expect. This time though, my emotions seemed to be hiding from me. The tears and sadness were different, more for how others were going to react, rather than for myself. I tried to praise the Lord, but all I really wanted to do was be alone. I didn’t understand why we were losing another child, but I was trusting in the Lord for the reason. We couldn’t even call our parents that day. We felt numb. In shock. Depleted. And I hadn’t even delivered the baby yet. </div>
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But God was so good to us during the loss. On August 10, the day of our 8<sup>th</sup> anniversary, I was going to the hospital to have another baby that I wouldn’t get to bring home. I was so thankful that my doctor was on call, and that the nurses I had come to know were tending to my needs. Two of our pastors, including Chris Fritz, spent some time with us at the hospital. The baby came quickly, after about 4 hours of labor. My doctor stayed past her shift to be there with us. I had a hunch with this pregnancy that this baby was a boy, and I was right. We named him Matthew Levi. He was smaller than Haddie had been and his color was grey. I wasn’t prepared for that. I cried for the loss of this baby and the dreams we had for him. Another baby of ours was now safe in the arms of God. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.</div>
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I continued to pray, “Lord, what are we supposed to learn from this? What did we miss the last time around? Please don’t let us miss the lesson you are trying to teach us.” </div>
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The placenta was delivered 15 hours later, early the next morning. I was so weak from losing a lot of blood. Somehow, by the grace of God, I was able to make it home that afternoon. But by the evening, I received a call that told me the ordeal was not over yet. Not all of the placenta had been removed, and I was at risk for continued blood loss or infection. I would still have to have a D & C to remove the rest of the placenta. At this point, I really began to think that I could not survive a surgery because I was so weak. After a lot of tears, I finally accepted the thought that I might die before the week ended. And yet, there was a peace in my spirit about that. I knew that I would be in the presence of the Lord, should He decide it was my time to go. I knew that my faith was in Christ and His finished work on the cross that took my sins away. I knew that it was He who gives me eternal life, and I found myself longing to be with my babies who never knew sin. I was ready to go. </div>
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I meditated on the Psalms a lot that week. The Lord helped me to remember that He is my Rock, my Redeemer, my Good Shepherd, my Strong Tower, my Refuge, my very present Help in time of need. He again provided truth for us to meditate on when things seemed so unclear. </div>
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I awoke from surgery and immediately realized I was not in Heaven. God still had a purpose for my life here on Earth. I would still know the joy of being a wife to Josh and a mother to Lydia and Isaac. </div>
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God was gracious to answer our question, “What are we supposed to learn from this experience?” In due time, we learned about a genetic blood clotting disorder that I have, called Factor V (five) Leiden. This was most likely what caused the babies to die-a blood clot that stopped the flow of blood to the baby. In God’s sovereignty, He showed us something that we otherwise would never have known. He didn’t have to, but we are so thankful that He did. We have closure on the past, and information for the future. We also realized that our two healthy children were an even bigger miracle, considering that this condition existed through my pregnancies with each of them. </div>
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Looking back, we have seen how God prepared us with our first miscarriage, so early into the pregnancy, to be ready for the second and third miscarriages. We have seen how His hand was moving and guiding us each time to be surrounded by the people who would show us His love and compassion. We experienced a peace that passes all understanding and strength that comes through Christ to face some of our most difficult challenges as a married couple. We have been blessed with two healthy children that we are striving to raise for the glory of God. We have counted it all joy when we have fallen into these various trials, knowing that our faith has been tested. We have gotten a new glimpse into the character of God. And we have been blessed. </div>
Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-35871009728737484062011-04-22T06:42:00.000-07:002015-05-17T12:52:09.256-07:00Pressing On Part 2<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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<i>Today we have Part 2 of Julie's story. If you missed part on you can <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2011/04/pressing-on-part-1.html">read it here</a>.</i></div>
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Seven months later, our story continued.</div>
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I had wanted a spring baby, so after our time of waiting, we decided to try again to have another baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got pregnant right away in July 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rejoiced that God was going to bless us with another baby and everything seemed to be going along well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the 6 week checkup we saw the heartbeat and the little baby moving around in my womb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We breathed a sigh of relief, and started making plans to tell our families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our daughter drew a picture of our family, and we copied the ultrasound picture of the baby, cut it out and pasted it in my belly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used that picture to announce to our families that we had a new life growing in my womb and we were so excited!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Everything was progressing well and I felt the first kick during a church service at about 16 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled, thinking that this baby must like music!</div>
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On October 26, 2009, things changed again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had gone to a routine doctor’s appointment and had brought the kids along with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lydia was now 4 and Isaac was 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so excited that they would get to hear the heartbeat at the appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had heard it at home the week before with a heart Doppler, so we didn’t think anything of it when my doctor couldn’t pick up the heartbeat right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started praying, “God, this would be a good time for the baby to move so she can hear it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She decided she would bring in the small ultrasound machine to get a better view of what was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was excited that the kids would get to see the baby moving on the screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. R’s demeanor changed when she turned on the ultrasound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wasn’t seeing any movement and still could not pick up a heartbeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was going to have me move down the hall to the bigger machine to get a better view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told the kids, “We need to pray that God will let the heartbeat be heard and found.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was starting to get a little worried, especially since my husband was at work and had no idea that any of this was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not want to carry this burden alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was finally able to reach him on my cell phone and said, “Dr. R. can’t find a heartbeat, she’s taking me in for an ultrasound, please pray” and then my call got dropped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I was looking up at a large screen now, a view of our baby at 16 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things looked normal and I was so happy to see how much bigger (she) was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Dr. R and the nurse zoomed in on the chest, and there was no movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she said, “I’m so sorry. . .” I knew what she was telling me, but in my mind I kept thinking, “Just wait . . . the baby will move . . . .you’ll see the heartbeat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In just a few moments, I went from being pregnant, to having a lifeless child in my womb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do things like this “just happen?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I turned to the nurse and the words just rolled off my tongue:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. . . I guess this baby wasn’t ours to keep.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I turned to my doctor assuming that I would have to have another D & C and she told me that since I was further along this time, I’d have to go through labor to deliver the baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is when the tears went from leaking from my eyes, to a cry of “O God, how can I do this?” </div>
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As we left, I was crying and Lydia asked me why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her our baby died and was in heaven with Jesus now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asked me why the baby died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know, but God did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may not tell us why, but He was still good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was okay with that answer, even if none of us knew the full answer.</div>
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We had just talked on Sunday morning about Philippians 4:4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.” What does that mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means that we don’t rejoice in our circumstances because sometimes, they aren’t good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we are to rejoice in God, in His unchanging character and attributes, on His Sovereignty, on His love and kindness, on His mercy, on His everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s timing was again, perfect, in this situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as we drove home, we began to do just what that verse says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rejoiced in God. </div>
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The day passed slowly as I kept praying for a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that since God had healed Jairus’s daughter, it would be just as possible for Him to let our baby’s heart start beating again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God had another plan, and a few hours later, I was finally able to accept His “no” and move into the next phase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That night, we called our families again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had only been 10 months since we had made similar phone calls, and it was no easier this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it was more difficult as we had already had a time to celebrate, and now we had to face what would be one of our darkest hours in the days to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again, God showed us His compassion through the tears of our family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Interesting things began to happen the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The exact people I needed to talk to called me throughout the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They shared of their losses at 3 and 7 and even 9 months into their pregnancies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They prepared me for the delivery and the emotional aftermath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were a gift from the Lord. And then I got a call from a friend who shared that she’d just lost her baby in the 6<sup>th</sup> week of her pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the midst of my sorrow, God put someone in my path to comfort through the experience of my first loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His timing is perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Two days had now passed, and Josh and I were preparing to go to the hospital in the early morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no hurry this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t slept well during the night, so I had read through a book by Osswald Chambers called<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>My Utmost For His Highest</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I found the passages on suffering to be especially applicable.</div>
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One passage (Nov 1) said, “God breaks up the private life of His saints, and makes it a thoroughfare for the world on the one hand and for Himself on the other . . . Why shouldn’t we go through heartbreaks?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, and says-“Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart.” </div>
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Another one (Nov 5) said, “If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across.”</div>
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Another one (Dec 15) “Always make a practice of provoking your own mind to think out what it accepts easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our position is not ours until we make it ours by suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author who benefits you most is not the one who tells you something you did not know before, but the one who gives expression to the truth that has been dumbly struggling in you for utterance. . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lord, I would bless and praise Thee, but how hard I find it to praise Thee when I am not physically fit, yet why should it be so?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that I praise Thee only when it is a pleasure to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would that my soul were one continual praise to Thee!”</div>
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Again, we marvel at the people God kept putting in our path-to let us know that He was with us and understood our pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My nurse in the morning had lost 2 babies during 2 pregnancies and knew what we were going though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another nurse was an answer to prayer, as she was a Christian and was so kind to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet another nurse during the day would be used to give us hope, a year into the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s timing was perfect, again. </div>
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Our little baby girl, Hadassah Grace, was delivered around 5:30 that evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I held her, the first thing I remember saying and thinking was, “AMAZING!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This little baby, only 3 ½ months old and just over 6 inches long, was a perfectly formed little person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her right hand was laid across her chest and we saw her fingernails on the ends of her tiny little hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her little feet were so tiny, and yet the toes and nails were so clearly seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her tiny little head had closed eyes, and a sweet little nose and tight lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her skinny little arms and legs reminded me of the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t cry at this time, because I was just in awe of the handiwork of God in an infant so young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My thought was, “let no one ever tell you a fetus is just a blob of tissue to abort.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a lie straight from the devil!</div>
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We were given some time alone with our baby, and as we prayed, we cried; and as we cried, we prayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one of the very few times in my life that I have ever seen my husband cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very humbling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I’m so thankful that we took some pictures of our little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the only ones we will ever have of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the only reminder of a life that was so short, but so powerful and meaningful to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRQN7fVUN7xwbQhyphenhyphenAeAP3MIEcgMCy-icBZJ94Hasu1K1ATjc7iNj7iwIPl3A7cOpr9rwiNWsVVAkSeSskDH7ITrklJ3rrs_RwjGwqg6RM_voLyvYM41kRTlBNKYT4WdP23xm7PcZIuA8/s1600/pressing+On+Part+2+picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRQN7fVUN7xwbQhyphenhyphenAeAP3MIEcgMCy-icBZJ94Hasu1K1ATjc7iNj7iwIPl3A7cOpr9rwiNWsVVAkSeSskDH7ITrklJ3rrs_RwjGwqg6RM_voLyvYM41kRTlBNKYT4WdP23xm7PcZIuA8/s1600/pressing+On+Part+2+picture+2.png" /></a></div>
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These footprints are only about 5/8” long, but left a huge print on our hearts.</div>
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We left the hospital empty handed that night, but with a greater view of God at work in us, especially in the hidden places of the womb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We adjusted to a new normal, and moved ahead with our lives, so thankful for the children we had at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<i>Read part 3 <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2011/04/pressing-on-part-3.html">here</a>, and if you missed part 1 you can find it <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2011/04/pressing-on-part-1.html">here</a>.</i></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4504108198686906735.post-88400086751141666302011-04-15T07:28:00.000-07:002015-05-17T12:50:06.453-07:00Pressing On Part 1<i>Over the last few years we have had the pleasure of getting to know Julie Leonard and her family. Julie and her husband Josh have been a wonderful testimony to us as we have seen them walk a road of sorrow & loss and as they have faithfully trusted in the Lord through this time in their lives. Today Julie will be sharing the first part of her story. We'll post the 2nd and 3rd part of her story each Friday of the next two weeks.</i><br />
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Our story began around Christmas, 2008. </div>
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I was 5 ½ weeks pregnant and Christmas was quickly approaching. Our daughter, Lydia, was 3 and our son, Isaac was 15 months old. This pregnancy was a bit more of a surprise than the first two, but we were learning to prepare for another baby. We always liked to share our good news with family in a creative way. But this time, Josh and I were having a difficult time coming up with something fun. We finally decided to include an extra photo matte and frame with a Christmas gift, thinking we would surprise his family on Christmas day. How interesting that when the time came for the gift to be opened, neither of us said anything about the pregnancy. Instead, we played it off like it was “just an extra one in case you need it someday.” Within minutes of that gift being opened, I was in the bathroom and noticed some red spotting. I tried not to panic, but knew I had to share this information with Josh, without making a big deal of it in front of all the family members who didn’t even know I was pregnant! I was able to sneak out for a little while and call my doctor-who told me to take it easy for the next few days. I felt relieved with that, and went back to finish celebrating Christmas that afternoon.</div>
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The next day, I was feeling okay and the spotting had almost stopped, so I figured everything would be fine. We drove out of state that afternoon to celebrate Christmas with my family. We still didn’t make any announcements, and now felt like we really needed to wait a little longer. In the middle of the night, I awoke with heavy bleeding and spent the next 2 hours in the bathroom, convinced that this miscarriage was for a reason and that God had known it would happen, even down to the timing. I don’t remember all the thoughts that went through my head, but one that I do remember was how common early trimester miscarriages occur. About 25% of pregnancies end within the first trimester, especially in the first 6 weeks. I have always thought that it was God’s way of taking care of a child that would not have survived anyway. Looking back, I see that for us, it was really a precursor of things to come in our lives. </div>
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I had assumed that I completely miscarried that night, only to return home and find out two days later at my doctor’s appointment, that the baby was still in my womb. What I had thought was a normal occurrence among women, now became a bigger issue. Over the next five days, I would wait for the baby to come out on its own, only to find that it wouldn’t. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, was call my family and tell them that I had just lost a baby, when I had never first had the joy of telling them that there was one. Through those phone calls and tears, God was showing me what His compassion looks like through people. My family and friends cried with me. They felt the sadness almost as much as we did. I never realized how much a miscarriage can affect many more people besides the mother. I learned very quickly that I was not alone in my plight. So many friends, people I knew, came out with their stories of miscarriages. As they shared their stories, I found myself comforted by their common experience, and realized there was a whole group of people praying for us. Eight days after Christmas, I had a D & C to remove the remains of the baby. God’s comfort and the people around us, carried us through that experience. </div>
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<i>Read part 2 <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2011/04/pressing-on-part-2.html">here</a>. Read part 3 <a href="http://4daystoeternity.blogspot.com/2011/04/pressing-on-part-3.html">here</a>.</i></div>
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Chris & Anna Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349900689543088914noreply@blogger.com0