+1 for Heaven

Today is the kind of day where you stare at your sleeping child just to make sure everything is ok. It's the kind of day where you question God asking why bad things happen to good people. I wrote a while ago about Shane & Rachel's high-risk pregnancy. Many things have happened in the last few days. You can get details here. To make a long story short, baby Hope passed away in the middle of the night last night at only 22 weeks.

I keep praying for peace for the family and I also keep praying that I don't say something stupid. We're human and we're dumb sometimes. We tend to say the stupidest things when someone is grieving. We think we are helping but in reality, we may not be. We say things like "At least you have other children at home" or "I understand how you feel" when you really don't. I've been through enough grieving situations to know that there really isn't anything you can say except "I'm sorry". The only things you need are arms, ears and tears. Arms to hug them. Ears to LISTEN to them. And tears to cry and grieve with them.

I found a really good and practical article from Christianity Today this morning about the subject. It's really helpful if you have a friend who is grieving.

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Baby Hope,
We haven't gotten to meet yet, but I know we will one day. Your short life has blessed me in so ways. I'm reminded of the song "Glory Baby" by Watermark.

I can't imagine Heaven's lullabies
And what they must sound like
But I will rest in knowing
Heaven is your home
And it's all you'll ever know, all you'll ever know


We love and miss you so much!

Hope, plus 4 boys...

I wrote a few days ago about friends of ours, Shane and Rachel, who were in the hospital awaiting the outcome of a high-risk pregnancy situation. Shane brought his wife Rachel to the hospital on Sunday morning. She is 19 weeks pregnant and started hemorrhaging. The out come of the situation looked very bleak. The placenta had torn and the doctors were worried that the loss of too much blood could result in pre-term labor. A baby at this gestational age would surely not survive. Anyway, after a few days in the hospital, and to make a long story short...they were release from the hospital last night. The bleeding has stopped. The baby is perfectly healthy. The doctors say that the current ultrasounds look completely different than Sunday's ultrasounds. Rachel just needs to be on bed rest for a while and keep this baby cooking as long as possible. Their story is incredibly inspiring. During the first ultrasound, they found out that their baby is a girl. They have decided to name her "Hope". Shane and Rachel have decided to blog their story. You should check it out at Rachel's Hope.

And, another baby story for you guys... Some friends of mine that I went to high school with thought they were having triplets but found out that they are having quads (without invitro!!!). And they are all boys!! Their story of courage and strength is amazing. I'd encourage you to check it out too at Brad & Jen.