Good Deed = Done (for now)

Ok, I know I promised to share my story about the person I chose to do a good deed for in my community. I swear I have been trying to carry out my random act of kindness for the past two weeks...the only problem was that the lady I chose was not at work any of the times I tried to do it.

Several weeks ago I was shopping at a store (that will remain nameless) in town and the cashier started talking to me about how her grandchildren were living in a home filled with domestic violence and DCFS was going to take them out of the home.  Instead of letting that happen, she took all three of them in.  They are all under the age of 5.  She said she took them in because she loves them and knew it was the right thing to do, but I could tell she was struggling.

When I prayed a couple of weeks ago about who to choose for my random act of kindness she immediately popped into my head.  I had never really talked to her before she told me the story about her grandchildren, but I do shop at this store frequently and she is always so friendly and cheerful.  I just knew she was the right person to pick.

During the past few weeks I have literally gone into this store 7 times looking for her.  She was not there any of the times I went.  I was starting to get frustrated and thought maybe she didn't work there anymore.  So I called the store and asked if a lady named "Sam" (name has been changed) worked there.  The guy on the other line said yes but he seemed freaked out that I was asking.  Then I asked if she was working right then, he said no.  I asked if she worked during the day or evening...again he was freaked out!  LOL.  So yesterday I decided to stop in the store around 7:30 a.m.   She wasn't there...darn it!  A little bit later in the day, Matt and I decided to run an errand.  I knew we could buy what we were looking for at this store, so I suggested we go there.  Right when we walked in she was there!

I was nervous about what I would say to her when I gave her the money and the letter I had written.  But somehow the words came.  I told her that I had been shopping in the store a few weeks earlier and she had shared her story with me about how she had taken in her grandchildren.  I told her I appreciated her sharing her story with me and admired her for what she was doing to care for the children.  I explained the I <3 MC program that our church was doing.  Then I handed her the envelope and asked her to accept the money I was giving to her.  I explained she could use it for anything: herself, the kids, groceries, gas, etc.

She was very appreciative.  She had tears in her eyes as she hugged me and said that she wasn't able to buy her grandkids Easter baskets the day before because they were so broke.  She said she had also been missing a lot of work due to the kids and she wasn't getting paid for those days.  It really made me feel good to know I had chosen someone who really could use the money.

I wrote her a letter that said the following and put it in the envelope with the money:

This month leading up to Easter Sunday, our church (Eastview Christian Church) has challenged the congregation to go out into the community and do something nice for someone else to show the love of Jesus.  We are calling it “I Love McLean County.”  

A few weeks ago I was shopping at *your store* and you shared your story with me about how you had taken in your three grandchildren due to unfortunate circumstances in their house.  I couldn’t help but to think what a sacrifice this was on your part, but an amazing one for sure.  It was clear to me during our short conversation that you have a lot of love for these children.  

My husband and I have been blessed many times in our life and we want to pay it forward to someone else.  I am honored that you chose to share part of your story with me a few weeks ago.  I prayed about who to reach out to as a part of this program, and you immediately came to mind.  Please take this money and use it for whatever you want/need.  If you want to treat yourself to something, use it for the kids, buy groceries, etc.  It’s completely up to you!  

We want you to know that Jesus loves you and those kids too!!  There is no pressure with this invitation, but if you would like to come to church, Eastview welcomes you.  They have an incredible kids program as well.  

You may still be wondering: “Why would someone I don’t know show me love like this?” Pretty ridiculous huh? It is just like the love that Jesus has given to each one of us! The act of love you just experienced is a simple way for the Christ-followers at Eastview Christian Church to love the people of McLean County in the name of Jesus. 

God bless. 

Like I said before, it felt awesome to do something nice for someone else.  I have truly been blessed in my life and I wanted to pass it on to someone who is struggling to make ends meet.  I still challenge the rest of you to go out and do a random act of kindness for a stranger.  I guarantee you will walk away from it feeling great!  (not sure what happened to this font...but I can't seem to change it...oh well)

Easter Reflections

This year, I gained an entirely new perspective of what Easter is really about.  I grew up going to church and I have always understood what the Easter story was and the significance of it in the Christian religion.  However, before this year I had never been a parent.  I can't imagine sacrificing my only child.  EVER!

If a doctor had approached me in the NICU and told me Braelyn could live if I would choose to die, I would have asked how quickly that could take place.  I would have made that choice in a second or less.  I fully understand sacrificing myself so that my child could live, but I don't understand from God's perspective as a "parent" sacrificing my child so others may live.  Don't get me wrong, I am forever grateful that God sent his only son to die on the cross so that we may all have eternal life and be reunited with loved ones again someday but I just don't think I could have done the same thing.  Maybe it's selfish human nature...or maybe it's just loving someone so much you don't want to let them go or see them suffer.

Today I listened more attentively in church than I ever have to the Easter story.  When you really think about what God did for us it is truly amazing.  I don't know any parents that would sacrifice their child, much less for the sake of other people who live in sin.

It's ironic how a situation so painful can make you open your eyes to what life is really about.  I will forever be grateful for Braelyn and her short time on Earth because it has re-opened my eyes to what it means to live as a Christian.  I have fallen away from that lifestyle, and I'm working hard to make up for lost time.

Happy Easter!  Thank you God for sacrificing your son so that I can someday see my baby and all of those that I love again!  Thank you Jesus for taking on all of the many sins of the world to give us eternal life!

Subject Chosen

A few posts ago I explained the I <3 MC program that our church was doing.  I said I wanted to do something for someone in our community, but I wasn't sure yet who I wanted to target.  Well this morning I prayed that God would lead me to someone who needed my help and to know the love of Jesus. As I was in the middle of praying a person came to mind.  I know for sure this is the person that God wants me to help.  Stay tuned for more...  I plan to do it either this week or next.  I can't wait!!

Maybe I Need A Chill Pill. Or Maybe I'm Just Crabby.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever feel "normal" again.  Although I try to have a positive attitude, well as positive as you can have after losing a child, I have found myself being frustrated three times specifically this past week when it comes to other people and their pregnancy or children.  Maybe I'm over reacting, and maybe you'll think I'm being too sensitive.  But, if you really know me, you'll know that I'm rarely too sensitive...  Let me explain the circumstances surrounding the crabbiness that I am currently feeling.

I'M CRABBY!

First, someone at work, who I thought was a friend of mine, is pregnant.  I found this out from another friend of ours a few months ago.  I thought at the time, she probably isn't telling people because she wasn't very far along, and thought she would tell me when she shared the news with everyone else.  I made it a point during the next several weeks to walk over to her desk and chat with her.  She talked about a lot of things, but no word about the pregnancy.  This is also a friend who went to lunch with me when I found out that I was pregnant with Braelyn and sat there and told me that her and her husband wanted to start trying soon too.  She told me that since they had just gotten married not too long ago, their parents were not enthusiastic about them trying so soon.  We talked about the excitement of wanting to have children and how it was her and her husbands decision, no one else's.  I thought I was a good support for her that day as she vented about things.  I told her I was excited and hoped that they didn't have to face infertility issues like we did.  Fast forward a few weeks after I heard about her being pregnant and after visiting her desk a few times to chat...and still no word about her pregnancy.  I just saw her yesterday walking by me in the hallway and she is visibly pregnant, no doubt about it.  I would guess she's about half way there.  I feel betrayed because it's like she avoids me so she won't have to talk about it.  Things have now become very awkward.  I am not sure if I should say congrats to her or not...it's one of those things that you normally don't comment on until someone tells you their news.  I realized I was angry because something that brings excitement to my friends is something that some of them will not share with me.  Matt says she probably just doesn't know what to say, but I still think she should say something.  I guess not everyone knows how to deal with someone whose baby died.  For now I'll just keep telling myself that she isn't saying anything to me because she's trying not to hurt my feelings...but I'm still mad.  In case any of my friends read this and I haven't already given them this message:  Please do not treat me different.  Please let me share in your excitement of pregnancy, having a baby, and raising your kids.  It's not like I expect people to stop having kids just because something bad happened to me.  I am offended by "friends" not telling me they are expecting.  That is all.

My second issue of the week may seem to contradict what I said in the paragraph above, but I'll try to explain it.  And I want to try and explain it so that my good friends will see that I do not ever want them to keep silent about their children around me (see message above).  I actually think this situation has more to do with the person who was talking than what she was really saying.  So at lunch a few days ago a person I know was talking all about her kids, which is fine.  But then it just did not stop.  This person talks about herself a lot anyway and I do get kind of annoyed about it in general.  She just kept going on and on about how small her kids used to be and how much they had grown.  We heard all about how tiny they were when she brought them home from the hospital (side note:  at least she got to bring them home from the hospital and I would bet "small" in her description was not the same as my "small") and how much they have grown in the last few years.  She was also telling us that when she looked at pictures of how they had grown she could just cry because they were getting older (side note:  at least she has pictures that span more than 12 hours of her children--children also being plural).  I think I'm sounding bitter right now, and maybe I am.  Like I said, I don't want my true friends to stop talking about their kids.  I love being around all of my friends and their children.  I think the main point I'm trying to make is that the people who are my true friends take into consideration my feelings and don't just blab on and on and on.  I just felt in this conversation the person had no regards for what I had gone through.  But then again, this person is someone who is a "me, me, me" person anyway.  Maybe I should have expected that...and maybe I need to avoid it in the future!  

The final thing that frustrated me this week was something that I have had to deal with many times so far after losing Brae.  And I'm sure until I have a child here on Earth with me, I'll have to keep facing.  It's the dreaded question of "do you have any children?".  I never know what to say!!  Part of me feels like I want to acknowledge Braelyn but I think I'll freak people out.  On the other hand, if I don't mention her I feel like I'm losing even more of her or denying that she existed.  I have read blogs of people who handle this situation both ways.  I guess it's just going to have to be a decision I make for myself when I'm ready.  For now I'll just go with a "not yet" and a smile. 

Geez, I sound like a complainer today, but everyone needs a chance to vent.  The situations I encountered this week have made me reflect even more on why I love the true friends and family in my life.  So for now, I'll focus on that positive!  Thanks for "listening" to me vent!  Time to go swallow that chill pill...

See You Later...Not Goodbye

It's been six months since the day we met Braelyn.  It's been six months since the day we lost Braelyn.  Six months... Half of a year...

Seems like the past six months have flown by.  I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that time is going so fast.  Some days I feel like it just happened yesterday...but some days I feel like it's all slipping out of my memory.  I am forgetting what it felt like to have her in my hands because I only held her for a few hours.  But I can remember how much I loved her.  I am forgetting what it felt like to have her tiny hand wrapped around my little finger.  But I can remember how my life changed the moment I saw her.

I don't know if I believe the saying that "time heals all wounds".  I still feel the same sadness every day, the same exact sadness I felt on October 7 at 2:25 p.m.  I guess over time you just learn to live your life around the sad feeling you carry, but I don't know if it'll ever go away.  Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in sitting around crying and sulking all day, but the thoughts of Braelyn are never out of my mind.  For now, I am focusing on being positive and looking towards the future with hope that good things are to come for Matt and I.

I feel strongly that I didn't say goodbye to Braelyn, I just said see you later.  So now I need to keep living my life in a way that will make that a reality some day.  We love you and miss you every single day, Braelyn!

Cute Little Guy

This is random, but I really want this little guy.  Isn't he sooo cute?

Too bad Matt said no more pets :o(

Braelyn's Story

I decided to write down the story of Braelyn from my perspective.  I have been working on this for the last few weeks and now I am ready to post it.  I created a separate tab (above) for the story.  Writing it all down reminds me again how blessed I am to have met her and for all of the great family and friends who surround us.  Although I still have many emotions that run deep around this situation, I am doing okay.  Lately, I have realized I don't want to talk about it much.  For those of you that know me, you know I am good at not showing my emotions on my sleeve.  Still think about Braelyn on a daily basis, I just don't like to dwell on the situation.  I am looking to the future with hope and faith.  I know there will be good things to come.  I hope you enjoy reading the story from my perspective.