Originally I was having a very difficult time with all the hype of the New Year approaching. I mentioned to Adam...how are we suppose to celebrate the New Year with knowing the first week Abbey would be having open heart surgery, nine days into it would be the second anniversary of Gracie no longer here with us and lastly 30 days into it we would be finding out if Luke is possibly going to be needing surgery soon.
Then after spending enough time being a little sad about what was to come, we decided that we need to focus on all the wonderful blessings we had last year.
Some of those blessings were:
~Our new baby girl, Abigail
~Luke was able to receive a stent and hold off on surgery
~Luke is eating “big boy food”
~God provided us with new strength every morning to get through the days without Gracie
~We continued to realize how incredibly blessed we are with amazing friends and family
The list is long and I could go on forever.
So while it is going to be a hard month to start, we will try to focus on the fact that the Lord will be working on our lives through this and we will still be able to witness our sweet blessings through our good and bad times in 2010.
Hoping the New Year brings you much love, happiness and that you are filled with many blessings!
Promised that I would post some photos of Christmas....
Went out to see Christmas lights with our neighbors
Know that your family is covered in prayer and love!!! I love all of the pics
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at how much of Gracie I see in Abigial! Your children are all so beautiful...know that I am holding you all close to my heart.
Happy New Year! We've been down in your "neck of the woods" (I think) at Oceanside for a week. It's so beautiful and we've enjoyed the warm weather, compared to home (snow and 20 degrees). Thinking of you this month and praying for your family. Best to Abigail with her upcoming surgery :) Heart hugs!
ReplyDeleteKatie (Maddie's mom)
Praying for Abigail and her upcoming surgery. Callie is having a heart cath on Jan. 12. Maybe we could meet, I have been following you guys for a while, I would love to meet your amazing family.
ReplyDeletecaringforcallie.blogspot.com
Abbey is getting so big! Happy New Year to you all. I know exactly what you mean... today (Jan 2) is the 17th anniversary of my oldest CHD son's death. Seventeen years.... Some years it's not so bad and some years it is still very difficult. And I never know what kind of year it's going to be!
ReplyDeleteI try to focus on my other children and thank God for blessing me with my little CHD boy, and showing us His way once again.
Lisa in TN
Mom to 6!
4 HH and 2 complex CHD-1 in Heaven and 1 very much alive!
Can I add to your blessing/positives list??
ReplyDelete1. Through your sorrow you have managed to touch the lives of many people through your blog and life. You have taken the most horrible thing that can happen to parents and have chosen to help others.
2. Based on the photos...you didn't even need jackets over the holiday season. Amen!!!
Hi Terra,
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, I want you to know how much your family is on our hearts, minds and in our prayers this week. So very much.
In spite of a heavy heart for Gracie and impending surgery for Miss Abbey, it looks like you truly did have a beautiful holiday. And a Christmas at home... we know what a gift that is.
I am so amazed that at a time like this you are able to find the blessings in your lives... that your faith grows stronger rather than wavers. It's a beautiful and inspiring thing.
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words on our blog. I was moved to tears. It was through tears a while back (you were pregnant with Abbey) that I shared your story with my mom. I was amazed at your strength, faith and charity toward others at a time when you could be bitter, angry and hopeless.
To have you write on my blog and say such kind things brought me to tears again.
The respect and admiration is very mutual, Terra! I think we share an equal amount of awe for each other's strength (although, I do believe that you are much stronger), positive (as best as we can, when we can be) attitude and ability to love so very deeply. I cannot imagine what you've been through... I cannot imagine what you continually go through...
And not only do you "get through" your days, you live with such dignity, love, faith, honesty, warmth and an amazing kindness and selflessness toward others. You... who you are and how you are... is a gift to all of us, as is your family.
Please know that your new blog friend will be virtually holding your hand on Wednesday.
I look forward to meeting you and your beautiful family when Abbey is healed, home and visit ready :)
With love,
Kristi
Thinking of you all with much, much love this week.
ReplyDeletePraying for you all. Hoping that 2010 brings you all GOOD things - you definitely deserve it. Call if you need anything. Missing you and thinking of you often. Love- The Queens
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