I want to start out by again thanking everyone for your prayers.  Today was actually a fairly decent day physically and even managed to make dinner, albeit a “dinner in a bag” type, but still dinner.  I actually find cooking very therapeutic and lately do a lot of it while sitting on a barstool next to the stove.  I noticed Hope decided to practice her “figure 8’s” on the glasstop stovetop with some type of food substance, so I had to clean the top before starting dinner.  As I was rinsing off the cleaner, I heard Jeremy Camp’s “No More Tears” and without warning felt transported to that moment when Bill and I must say goodbye to Faith and just about broke down.  Of course the practical side in me is saying, “Hey you can’t do this in the middle of cleaning now….”   While these thoughts are battling in my mind, the very next song was Matthew West’s “The Motions” which helps me get back on solid ground.  I know I’ve written about this before, but this is where I seemed to get sideswiped without warning the reminder of what is coming.  In the meantime I just can’t let myself become paralyzed with grief.  There will be a time to do so, just not now.

I am looking forward to a time of fellowship this weekend.  A shower/fellowship is being given for Faith and I and I have requested instead of gifts to me that the ladies at my church home would instead submit written prayers covering a list of areas before, during and after Faith’s birth.  One of my friends who is a scrapbooker has generously agreed to help assemble these prayers into a book for us to have as part of Faith’s keepsakes.  What I would like also from my wonderful friends who have been following my blog is to do the same thing, except send them to me by email.  When the time is then right, I will also assemble these prayers into a book to keep as a keepsake.  You can email them to me through the link to the right if you feel led to participate.  If you feel comfortable doing so, please include your name and where you live (you can just list your state), especially if I don’t know you personally.

Prayer Book Topics for Faith Kathryn

Before Faith’s Birth:

1.       Praying for peace as we come to terms with Faith’s condition.

2.       Help us be able to explain to Hope what is happening.

3.       We would have wisdom making the decisions surrounding Faith’s birth plan.

4.       Wisdom for decisions regarding her cremation and memorial service.

5.       There would be no complications that would require an earlier delivery date.

Day of Faith’s Birth:

1.       There would be no complications surrounding the insertion of the IV or epidural.

2.       The doctors and nurses would be able to focus on what needs to be done and not be overwhelmed with the situation and feel helpless to be able to do anything to save Faith.

3.       The delivery would be smooth and that the completion of the surgery would not be too painful.

4.       We would be able to keep Faith as comfortable as possible during her hours here with us.

5.       We would be able to have some family time with her and Hope and Nate.

6.       We would be able to have her dedication in the room and that it would be a time of celebration.

7.       We would have only the kind of peace the Lord provides when Faith takes her final breath and we must say goodbye to her.

When Faith is in Heaven:

1.       My recovery from the surgery would be without complications.

2.       We would be able to explain to Hope where Faith has gone.

3.       Her memorial service would be a time of celebration of where she is and not dwell that she is no longer with us.

4.       We as a family would be able to mourn and begin to heal.

May the Lord continue to be glorified in your lives this week!!