seven sparrows: another wave...

...bailey's story...

Our story is a story about a MIRACLE. It is not the kind of miracle that is so often shared in Christian circles. We have heard stories about untreatable cancer that disappeared and of a child that was never supposed to walk or talk and is now a healthy adult. These are often the kinds of stories people share with you when you are experiencing difficult circumstances. Stories about the TRAGEDY that was avoided or the near miss that is now in the rear view mirror of life. We value these types of stories and we CELEBRATE them!

Ours was not that kind of story. Our daughter Bailey Hope was born on February 20, 2009. She died on August 13, 2010. The eighteen months in between were horrible and heart wrenching as we experienced our worst fears coming true. We were not rescued FROM heartache and tragedy.

Our miracle was that we were joined IN this journey by friends and family that gave of themselves and by our GOD who held us in unexplainable ways. This is our story. We do not share it to garner pity. There are others who have similar stories. There are so many others who have more tragic stories.

We share our story because it is impossible to talk about our beautiful daughter, without talking about our beautiful God. We must talk about our daughter. We must talk about our God. It is the MIRACLE behind the MIRACLE.

Friday, 19 March 2010

another wave...

i wish i could put words to what matt, heather and their

family are experiencing at this time. i wouldn't even be able

to begin...this moment sits in an entire universe that moves

so differently than most of ours.

the lines of grief run strikingly famliar each day,

each day holds something entirely different for bailey.

that is why many of these updates are simple...

meant to express matt & heather's love and gratitude

for each of you, and to keep you up-to-date

on their current needs.

thank you for your prayers and support for

this precious family.

you have been a continuous blessing-

bringing meals, cards, gifts, and interceding

through prayer...

thank you for listening to what God has been laying on your heart.

please know that there is no pressure

for you to do anything...we know God will

provide and He will use each of us

at different times and in different ways in this journey.

{also, matt and heather would ask for nothing if they could...

these requests/ideas are coming from friends}

if you are able to help,

here are some needs for their family right now.

1. gas cards - heather's sisters and mom have been traveling-and will continue to travel back and forth from lake city to coopersville each week. each trip costs about $20.00. our thought is to send matt and heather gas cards in the amount of $20...that way, each time a sister, or mom comes to help out, they are able to send them home with a gas card to cover their trip.

2. meals - danae continues to sign people up for meals. each meal is extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. if you are looking to prepare a gluten-free meal for their family...check out the blog...i have included some links that have easy recipes to follow!

simple gluten-free pasta

sweet-potato-casserole

baked pesto chicken

gluten-free pasta broccoli alfredo

**if you are interested in sending a gift card to a restaurant...

here is a gluten-free restaurant guide - gluten-free guide to eating out

3. gluten-free meals - we would like to get heather more of the prepared gluten-free meals. if you have interest in helping out on this front, please contact me...jaren

thank you again for being His hands and feet.