2 years...

Taking in today....crossing lines between joy and grief.

we remember sweet Bailey Hope.
oh how we miss your beautiful eyes...
they said more than words could even begin to speak.
your sweet sugary cheeks...snuggling you in your favorite
fuzzy blankets and listening to songs that put you to sleep.
you are missed sweet child...by so many..you are missed.

we celebrate you Alexis Joy.
you turn 2 today. you bring such joy to everyone
who spends time with you. your infectious smile and contagious
giggles remind us that in the midst of devastation, God is near.
that He remains steady...bringing your precious family joy alongside
grief.

we love you.
we remain sitting with you...crossing lines with you.

Season of Pause

Our experience with the life and death of our daughter Bailey has not ended.  It does not sit tied up in a nice, neat, and easily understood package.  We are not who we were, nor are we who we will be.  Heather and I continue to "sit" in a place of allowing and longing to be changed by this experience.  We are acutely aware of our desperate need for God.  There is an intermingled sense of profound sadness and of genuine worship for Jehovah Shammah (ever present one) in our hearts and in our home.  We are taking an intentional season of pause with the hope that we will emerge healthy and whole, both as individuals and as a family.  It is our prayer that this wound will heal into a scar that is a visible and visceral reminder of His faithfulness.

Bailey's Journey

Sharing some of our most precious moments with our daughter...

oh, how we miss her so.  We cling only to the hope of heaven,

that we will one day hold our sweet Bailey again.


A few technical notes...

before you watch it,
go to the bottom of our blog
and 'pause' the playlist. 

if you watch it full screen,
it will be very pixelated because
we had to downsize it to fit the blog size.

Thank you

We want to say thank you to the countless family members, friends, co-workers and even those we do not know for the incredible love and support they have given.  So many individuals and families have given selflessly in such beautiful and unique ways.  We have been blessed. Thank you.

services

 viewing  

monday
august 16, 2010

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

throop funeral homes

214 church street

coopersville, mi  49404


directions to throop funeral homes

service

tuesday
august 17, 2010

11:00 a.m.

coopersville reformed church
423 w. randall st.
coopersville, mi 49404

directions to coopersville reformed church

more information here

From our arms to his.

Our sweet Bailey is finally free. Today is the first day she will not have to struggle or experience pain. For that we are so grateful.

Heaven Stands

Today was an extremely difficult day for us.  Bailey hasn't eaten for about 20 days and our hospice nurse shared that Bailey's lungs are completely full of fluid.  While we know she is dying it's beyond difficult to watch it and hear it, day in and day out.  As I sat there holding our beautiful daughter and crying, the song, "Your Hands" came to my mind.

.....when my world is shaking.....Heaven stands.
.....when my heart is breaking.....I never leave your hands. 

Gods hands literally shook my world two weeks ago.  It was the Thursday night after Bailey stopped eating, she had a very difficult day and we felt as though God was going to take her home.  That night their was the most incredible thunder storm.   I laid on our living room floor holding Bailey's hand, watching the lightning bolts streak across the sky, and feeling the thunder shake our house.  God clearly reminded me of how GREAT and powerful He is.  Heather, I command the earth, I am bigger than death, I win.

What a comfort to know that when our world is shaking, heaven stands.  When our hearts are breaking, we never leave his hands.