Contiuned Mercies

Ps 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear

Last week was certainly a harder. Micah hasn't eaten in over a week, sleep is almost ever upon him. Fevers are nearly constant. There are pockets of awake time and we love to hear him chat even though it is rare. He continues to remain comfortable and the pain seems minimal. The meds are so helpful. Days and weeks are hard to plan. We are so thankful for the extended time with Micah as it has given us many special memories and helped our hearts greatly to process, grieve and seek the Lord. We are experiencing new grace and mercies each day!~

Luke was asking me what some of my fav memories have been over the last few weeks, here are some of them for both of us~

~Midnight/ All Night parties with Micah

~Working on the little garden (it's become a special little place to us)

~Holding little man

~Sleep outs in our room and downstairs

~Quiet walks with just the two of us

~Those moments when God has met us and made us more aware of his nearness, compassion, and comfort.

The times have been precious. We are still praying for a miracle but our hope is in Jesus, his saving work on the cross for our sins and the knowledge that we will spend eternity with our baby. I can't even begin to imagine the absence we might feel. Oh how we would miss those cheerful cheeks he still shows us when he points to his cheeks and gives us his wonderful crooked smile! Some days mommy asks him if I can borrow them to this he nods his head yes =) How thankful we are for the days even though they can be long and weary...we are knowing peace, strength and mercies anew. We are fighting for our heart's peace, it is a hard work and at times we don't feel like fighting, and then it good just to pour out our heart before the Lord~ He is the lighter of our souls. And how wonderful having one another, friends, family our church is so important to spur us on to continue to lift us up and to speak words of encouragement and all the prayers! We wouldn't want to go this road alone. Thanks so much! And particularly thanks to the Lees, Sheffers, Campbells, EauClaries, Nancy, our CareGroup, our fam, your words, tears, nearness, counsel, have had an unmeasured impact on us.

For your continued prayers we are ever so grateful.

Specific Prayer

Prayer Request

*Complete dependence on God with Micah

*To be a refuge of love and comfort for each other

* Still praying and hoping for a miracle

* -- That if prolonging Micah's life is not God's plan for our little guy that he would experience no pain, his breathing would be easy, fever would come down, and his passing be quick and easy

*Peace for our hearts, that we would not be anxious
*For our Braeton
*Our extended family, what a hard trial to walk through as they are seeking to help us and deal with their own sorrow and questions. That the Lord would be near to each of them. They would experience peace and comfort like never before

Our lil Project

A little before photo ( wish I had taken more but forgot to)

Inside looking out---- then out front with the kids. Works Starting!

What a fun project this has been and I think everyone has had a hand in it!. Brandon and Nick dug up the front yard, Dad, Paw, & Brandon ran for supplies, Rick ran electric, Luke made pathways, Cameron & Brandon put the rocks in, I know I'm forgetting someone, Mom and Maw contribute the hanging basket, Braet painted me a rock, while we tried to keep CC from eating them! And then the big surprise..... a Mickey Fountain! It is wonderful! We have never used our front yard so much. The kids love sitting on the bench and playing in the water. What a special little place! Now there are just a few finishing touches left and stepping stones to make together!!

“The Hope”

Morning- Spurgeons Morning and Evening, Oct 2

“The hope which is laid up for you in heaven.”

Colossians 1:5

Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainspring and the mainstay of our joy here. It will animate our hearts to think often of heaven, for all that we can desire is promised there. Here we are weary and toilworn, but yonder is the land of rest where the sweat of labour shall no more bedew the worker’s brow, and fatigue shall be for ever banished. To those who are weary and spent, the word “rest” is full of heaven. We are always in the field of battle; we are so tempted within, and so molested by foes without, that we have little or no peace; but in heaven we shall enjoy the victory, when the banner shall be waved aloft in triumph, and the sword shall be sheathed, and we shall hear our Captain say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We have suffered bereavement after bereavement, but we are going to the land of the immortal where graves are unknown things. Here sin is a constant grief to us, but there we shall be perfectly holy, for there shall by no means enter into that kingdom anything which defileth. Hemlock springs not up in the furrows of celestial fields. Oh! is it not joy, that you are not to be in banishment for ever, that you are not to dwell eternally in this wilderness, but shall soon inherit Canaan? Nevertheless let it never be said of us, that we are dreaming about the future and forgetting the present, let the future sanctify the present to highest uses. Through the Spirit of God the hope of heaven is the most potent force for the product of virtue; it is a fountain of joyous effort, it is the corner stone of cheerful holiness. The man who has this hope in him goes about his work with vigour, for the joy of the Lord is his strength. He fights against temptation with ardour, for the hope of the next world repels the fiery darts of the adversary. He can labour without present reward, for he looks for a reward in the world to come.

~Brittney, Thanks for sharing this with us.

Happy Fathers Day

Pic Above is from May 2006





Happy Father's Day, my Love!

You are a truly a great man! For those of you who know my Luke, you have observed his tender care for his family. It takes only a few moments to realize Luke's just a big kid himself and there are few things he loves as much as romping with his kiddos.

Baby, there are many examples of your care for each of us... like Slurpee dates and mid-night bottle feeds, the list could be very long but one of my favorite memories is those many nights at the hospital, where you'd climb up in Micah's metal crib to cuddle him and bring comfort. The nurses were smitten with both of you and for good reason! You, have cared for us well! But in this last year and half I must say you have excelled. We are a stronger family because of your leadership. Your love for each of us has shone brighter through your care and the way you continually and joyfully serve us. We love you so!! Thanks Baby!

Psalm 62:1-8 For God alone my soul waits in silence;from him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation,fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,for my hope is from him.6 He only is my rock and my salvation,my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;mighty rock, my refuge is God. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people;pour out your heart before him;God is a refuge for us.
Update on Mikes:
Our little man is has been peaceful and comfy. Lately he has started to run fevers, he also has thrush in his mouth so he isn't eating. Thankfully he is drinking chocolate milk so I've been able to add protein powder to that. He is even wanting us to hold him which has been wonderful, especially since he wasn't really wanting to be held. We love just sitting and holding our baby. We've also been reading and singing to him (a few weeks ago he wasn't really wanting that either). Each day is different, yet there is peace even in our sadness. Thanks for praying for us. Shall we ever know the depth of what your prayer have wrought?! Someday we shall!

Joy in the Journey

Tonight was one such night of Joy in this journey. I wish I could remember every moment and relish it deeply again and again. Tonight Bob (one of our pastors) & Julie Kauflin, Brittney and McKenzie came to our home~ bringing gifts, balloons, bubbles and a beautiful pictogram that Brit made (she's a wonderful photographer and of course I cried seeing this thoughtful gift!) and that was just the beginning~ we visited and then prayer, worship, encouragement, more prayer more encouragement.... Bob led our family in songs of praise:
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,
It is Well with My Soul,
He's Always Been Faithful
God Moves
reminding us of God's faithfulness, strength, help, hope... it was a wonderfully encouraging time for our hearts. And then at just the right moment Mikes sat up clapped his hands and said Yeah! What a time of refreshing!

How kind of the Lord to provide this time for us in the midst of such sadness and struggle. Our hearts our full. We have been greatly helped this night as we have many other nights through many different people and many different means. Our fam, friends, this church! Thanks be to God for his Church, how we love its local expression! We are being cared for so marvelously here. And then the church at large..the prayer, the help, the strength. Oh how grateful we are, we have been so greatly helped. Thanks for walking this journey with us. Much Love

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; Great is you Faithfulness...The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him" Lamentations 3:22-23, 25

Each Day a Gift

Our Baby






Thanks for your prayers the days have been hard, yet we are loving on our boy and so enjoy the special moments together. Micah continues to sleep longer, his drinking is slowing down a little which is a good thing. He is not seeing well and rarely gets down off the couch. He has been pretty pleasant and calls for each one in the fam, just likes to know we are all near. Last week Braet had the opportunity to go to a friends but said, "No, Micah might call for me." And he was right, Micah did call for his Braet, Braet. Braet is kind brother and comes to sit by him or tell Mikes, "Braet, Braet is here."
The waiting and watching Mikes go down is a hard thing. However I was so thankful for Pete Greasley's email to us, reminding me that God is with Micah, giving him grace and comfort, which is very evident by his cheerful and meek heart. Whenever I take our little man a cup of water he responds with his "sweet" voice , "Thanks Momma!" It is such an honor to be home with our little man and serve him in these small ways. He is still eating small amounts of chicken nuggets and cheese pizza. Of course drinking water, rootbeer and chocolate milk.
Luke and I are being refreshed and drawing strength from all the prayers, our times alone in scripture, good books (we are currently reading From Grief to Glory ), prayer, your encouragements, our fam, friends, pastors and each other.

So appreciate your prayers, your standing with us~

Psalms 142
142:1 With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord...I tell my trouble before him...3 When my spirit faints within me,you know my way!...5 I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge,my portion in the land of the living.”6 Attend to my cry,for I am brought very low!Help me..that I may give thanks to your name!

Weekend

In the midst of sadness there is also laughter and fun... This weekend the guys got to play volleyball in the back yard, Mom & Mom made me a wonderful flower basket for the deck (it is so cheerful), we hung out with the fam, visited with friends, the kiddos had great fun with the sparklers (thanks Chris) and mom even made me a hair appt from home. I loved that and Braet thought it was too cool to see me with foil in my hair (I was having highlights done). He thought I looked like Princess Amadala from Star Wars!