Wednesday, December 30, 2009

So Blessed



A video of Thomas's giggles that make me feel like I am truly alive. And a video of Caroline trying to calm Thomas down for me. At the end we make her say something she said to Travis the other day when he threw a snowball at her-I couldn't believe it: ("Oh Yeah, tough guy, you want a piece of me?) She said she heard that on the Toy Story movie. We watched several movies during her three days of sickness! We watched The Polar Express more times than I would like to admit. She called it "The North Pole" movie.
(Thanks, Dad, for letting me use your camera!)

We enjoyed our Christmas with my family in Fort Smith! (We will head home tomorrow!) For a while we were unsure we were going to have Christmas this year! I am calling this Sick-mas 2009! Caroline got very sick on Sunday and it went through Tuesday night. The doctor treated it as the flu. Thomas had a little tummy trouble starting Monday that went a whole week! THEN just when we decided we were going ahead with the trip to my mom and dad's, Jett got sick! Some how we all managed to be together and make wonderful memories for Christmas. We even had a white Christmas! (Pics to come!) The sickness of the kiddos took a lot of my energy and helped distract me from the sadness.
I have to say a HUGE THANK YOU to sweet Leigh. She volunteered to come Sunday night and take care of Thomas while I tended to Caroline all night. She then stayed the whole next day and night-feeding, loving on him and changing LOTS of diapers!! God ALWAYS provides right when I think I am going to "lose" it! Them Mimi came and took Thomas to Fort Smith for Tuesday night while Caroline continued to recover. Thank you, Mimi!
As I continue my thank yous...Becky and Travis knew I was DREADING taking down my Christmas decorations. It is depressing taking them down every year even without grieving. I just heard from them that they took it all down and packed it away so I won't have to when we return home. WOW! That is LOVE.
I am not sure I will have time to post before Tuesday. I just want to say "Thank You" in advance for all the prayers that will be needed to get through this week. A "thank you" also to Becky and Dori and some others who have planned an amazing tribute for us to attend for my husband Tuesday evening. Becky knows how thrilled I get when a lot of our family and friends get together (we always say that when we are all together it is like what it will be in heaven!) and she is adding singing some of our favorite hymns that night so it will truly be as close to heaven as we can get.
I am so thankful for such awesome support and love that surrounds us all the time.

24 comments:

  1. i love you bonnie and have been praying for you a ton!!!! you know i will keep it up. wish i could be there to celebrate thomas' life with you next week but please know i will be thinking of you, caroline and thomas alexander. love you

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  2. I will be praying for you as you go through this next week. I'm glad that you have such loving family and friends around to help you and encourage you. The videos were adorable!

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  3. Praying for you extra in the upcoming week. I've never met you but many times thru out the week your name crosses my mind - and I pray for you and your family. I believe that the Holy Spirit places your name on my heart when you need it the most. I was the secretary at the school Travis attended...

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  4. Oh I love you SO much! I know how difficult this is, but you are doing well... looking to the Lord each day and keeping your focus where it matters. I have prayed for you every single day this week and will continue to do so. I only wish I could be with you. Leigh is awesome, how great to know such wonderful people!

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  5. Will be especially faithful to lift you to the Father this coming week. What joy it was to watch your little Thomas giggle so much; Hadley just started that too and it makes me LOL so much and feels my heart with joy. I know his giggles and the sweet songs of Caroline do the same for you. May He continue to comfort you and give you strength for each day. May the days of 2010 be filled with more joy than they are will pain.
    In His love, Brenda Elmore

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  6. Oh dear goodness. That video of Caroline was hilarious!

    Many prayers for you in the coming week.

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  7. Sending extra prayers your way this week. I love the videos of your sweet kiddos!

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  8. There isn't a day that goes by that you, Caroline, and baby Thomas don't cross my mind. I am so happy to see that you are surrounded by those who truely love you and those that can help you when you need it the most! Having been a single mom, although our circumstances vastly different, I know it takes alot of strenght to do all the things you need to do....and the things you want to do at the same time! The Lord is your ROCK and lean on him, family, and friends when you need to!
    My thoughts continue to surround you and I will continue to lift you up in prayer....now and always!
    Sending love your way,
    Amy Jo

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  9. Love you bonnie--your friends and family are amazing! Extra prayers will be sent up and I know you will press on. You HAVE to keep a journal of Caroline's funny quotes! I started doing that with adalyn when she was just about to turn 2 and I absolutely LOVE looking back and reading them! I read one the other day where I asked her to ask daddy if he wanted mustard or mayonnaise on his sandwich and she said "Do you want mustard and panties on your sandwich?" kids, gotta love em!

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  10. Bonnie,
    Just want to let you know that you have been and will be specially remembered in my prayers this week. I love you!

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  11. I am praying for you and your sweet babies this week. Your story has touched my heart.

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  12. I love the videos! Look how happy baby Thomas looks. And Caroline is a funny girl. I am praying for Him to hold you close this week (and always). So glad God has surrounded you with friends and family who are able to fill in when needed. God is good!

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  13. I may never know you in person, but am happy to call you a sister in Christ. I have followed your story over the last year.
    I am thinking of you and your family this week. Praying that you feel the peace that passes all understanding.
    What a tribute you have given your husband through your writing. You are an amazing woman! I have often marveled at your ability to stay strong in your faith during these difficult days.

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  14. Bonnie, I thought about you a lot yesterday, and I'm pryaing for you today.

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  15. Bonnie -

    Thinking of you especially today. You and your children are in my prayers.

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  16. stopped by to tell you i am thinking about you today.....

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  17. I'm praying for you today...for God's sweet comfort.

    Elizabeth

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  18. Sending extra prayers your way today.

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  19. Sending extra prayers your way today.

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  20. My Dear Sister, I don't know you but I know you are my sister in Christ and I just think you are so precious and beautiful and my heart hurts so badly for you. I'm so very sorry for your pain, for your broken heart and your shattered everything since you lost your wonderful husband. I'm so sorry for the people who love you so much that they are in pain themselves to see you hurting this past year and oh how they miss your wonderful husband as well. You have walked with the Lord this past year in the aftermath of all of this and you have endured pain and intense joy and healing and then new, deeper pain and then more joy that only God could provide. God has given you a strong resolve to keep pressing on for your precious children, it is amazing to read in your blog, you have endured so much and I am praying so fervently that you have the peace of God that surpasses understanding and for abundant grace on every single detail of your life with this extremely hard job of being a mommy without your special love next to you. God is softening the pain of your reality and giving you new perspective for how to embrace your new life; and wow, what a tender heart for Jesus you have. Keep pressing into Him, read the Psalms daily, let the Lord speak directly to your heart through His word. You really are so precious and beautiful and the Lord has amazing and magnificant plans to LIFT your soul and heal your broken heart. He has so much compassion for how much pain He sees you in and NONE of it will go to waste. Your children will be raised by an incredible mother who knows the Lord's touch in a way that not many others know - God will not waste one ounce of this strengthening and endurance He is building in you. Your children are gaining, not losing!! He will use this to bless you and your children and He will not stop healing you and holding you. When Jesus died on the cross, He bore every bit of the pain you now know so intimately and He is going to work out the daily healing in your very sweet heart that is already completed in eternity. Set your eyes on things above, when you take your eyes off for a moment, just put them right back..above..that's my prayer for you. Jesus will give you everything you need. The Lord is so near to you.

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  21. Bonnie, Caroline, and Thomas,

    Sending lots of extra special prayers your way today, as your remember your husband and father, and all that he was to you. Know that many people (including those like myself who don't know you) are praying for your healing not only today, but everyday.

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  22. Sending lots of extra prayers your way today. We pray that God is with you, and that you will always find him with you even when you're at your lowest. I think of you and your children often, I have the same ages, big sis and little bro. Praying that God will hold you in His hand and carry you.

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  23. Bonnie,

    I've been praying for you and your family all day long. I know that the evening's time of praise and worship will be so uplifting for you and all of you and Thomas' family and friends.

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  24. I'm thinking of you here today and missing you. I pray you have a very blessed day today with your kids and your church family as you all worship and praise God together. I pray for comfort and peace to fill you. I wish I was there to spend some time with you. I love those precious videos you posted! :) I can't wait until Jakub laughs like that. By the way, Jakub likes the bouncy seat you and Becky got him. Thank you so much for that gift! Love you!

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