Friday, September 21, 2012

Mindy from Dallas

As I said before, I'm derailing from my usual topics of grief and losing a baby to join Kelly's Korner to show of my amazing single friends :)
Mindy lives in Dallas, and she discipled me while I was in college (We met once a week, and she would pray with me and encourage me in my faith).  I really looked up to her as a spiritual mentor--she is bold, loves the Lord, and has a heart for the Nations.  She has great administrative skills and is also great with people--not afraid to make new friends.  While we were in Germany, she was doing mission work in the Middle East.  I loved when she would come stay with us while she renewed her Visa--it was a treat to get to hear about the amazing things God was doing among her and her friends.  Needless to say, she has a great understanding of world events and other cultures. 

Mindy has a radiant, fun personality.  She is easy-going, a great listener, a loyal friend, well-spoken, wise, not afraid to try new things, and she is close to her nieces.  She is active and also enjoys going to sporting events--especially Ranger games.  And since she's originally from California, it's still in her blood--she loves the beach, sunshine, convertibles and a good glass of wine. :)

You have to meet her!   Leave me a comment or send me an e-mail at Rachelle@cradled.org if you would like to get in touch with her.

Heather from Chicago

Today I am completely derailing from my usual topics regarding grief, loss of a baby or other deep thoughts :)  I am linking up with Kelly's Korner, because I have 2 amazing friends that I want to show off.
Heather with her family (on left)
Heather with her brother


Heather is from Chicago.  We met a few years ago after I had graduated from college and instantly became friends after being forced into doing a skit for the singles retreat.  I have such great memories of that year we spent together in Charleston, SC, and I really found a true friend in Heather.  She now lives in Chicago, and we still keep in touch and get to see each other fairly often.
She is wise and thoughtful with a bit of a dreamer inside, COMPASSIONATE, adventurous--I have fun memories of mountain biking and ballroom/swing dancing--and during that time she helped out the children's ministry at a church with low-income families.  She enjoys and appreciates all kinds of music and arts.  We could turn on the silliness, but at the same time I love calling her for deep conversations.  She is caring, loves the Lord, has a sweet demeaner, loves to laugh, and comes from a great family.  She is not afraid to try something out of her comfort zone!

She wants you to know that she enjoys running, biking, dancing, cooking, photography and would prefer to be active than watching a lot of TV.  :)

She would love to meet a Godly man who desires to serve the Lord and do the adventure of life together.

You've got to meet her!  She is gold!  Leave me a comment or e-mail rachelle@cradled.org if you are interested in getting to know her better!


Heather running a half marathon

Friday, September 14, 2012

Nona's Girl

I really don't have words for today.  So I don't even know why I'm writing a blog post, but I feel like I just have to sit down and write.  This post is more for me than for you--I just don't have the energy to pick up a pen and write in my journal.  It's been a long week of waiting (moreso for my friend than for me).  Her 23 week old baby had Trisomy 18 and had conditions that were incompatible with life.  As I have said before, it's not enough to lose a baby, but what you have to go through to get the baby out makes it even worse.  She had wanted Cradled to be there to help take care of the baby after she is born and to take pictures to remember her by.  The difference this time is that we were friends before Cradled was even part of my life, so I would have been there, regardless.  The other reason I felt like I needed to be there, was because her mom had passed away a year and a half ago, so she wouldn't be able to be with her.  No one should go through this alone.  So, we had a hospital chaplain friend who had also lost her mother, me who also lost a baby to Trisomy 18, and my Cradled friend Rachel to take the pictures (who had also taken this family's pictures before).  (and of course, her husband).
All of the fears that I had during my experience were the same fears she was having--having to lay in a hospital bed for potentially 3 days, knowing full well why you were there and dreading what was to come.  She checked in to the hospital yesterday afternoon to be dilated and begin the pitocin.  So, Rachel, Sarah and I rushed there last night to keep her company as we waited.  In spite of the situation, we were able to have some good conversation and pass the time.  Once the doctor said she was only dilated to a 1, I decided to go home to get some sleep.  We left knowing that she was about to get an epidural and the last one of us left once she was asleep for the night.  This morning I dropped the girls off and stopped by again.  The doctor checked and by noon he said she would deliver later today (we were all relieved that it would not take long for her sake!).  At this point I had to leave for a couple of errands and picked up the girls.  I had planned to go back to the hosptial tonight whenever Scott came home.  At 3:10 my friends called and said she would deliver in an hour and not more than 2.  I scurried around to find a place to drop off the girls, and at the last second a friend called back that she would be home.  I ran the girls there and made it to the hospital at 4:10.  We were talking and all the sudden my friend made a face and said she felt something really weird.  She checked, and yes, the baby was coming.
Baby girl had problems, but she was beautiful.  It was all so surreal; but yet I will never forget it.  There were some beautiful moments--borderline holy moments.  But I've already forgotten a lot, because it was such a blur.  We had no idea what to expect or the right way to bathe her delicate skin, but we figured it out as we went along.   Once all of the nurses and staff had left, we put her in a diaper and the prettiest blanket.  There was a lot of peace.  We sang a blessing, and I could see that mother's love in my friend's eyes and for a brief moment some smiles as she lovingly looked at her little girl.
No mother should ever have to deliver a stillborn.  But it happens.  The rest of us can leave the hospital and go back to our lives--although our hearts and minds are forever changed from seeing this precious, tiny, sleeping baby.  My friend will awaken tomorrow to suddenly not being pregnant anymore and doing the hardest thing--leaving the hospital without a baby after going through labor.  Then all the awkward questions start from innocent people--"how many children do you have?"  Praying that the Lord showers them with His love.  Lord, we need you, as so many are suffering around us.

Monday, September 3, 2012

You Were There

This song by Avalon gets me every time.  I cannot get to the end of it without tears streaming down my face.  Part of it is tied to the fact that I first heard the song while Scott was in Iraq, in the midst of danger, but also how God got me through emotionally.  No matter what your situation, it speaks to God's grace to help you through it.  David must have been so afraid when he faced the giant, Goliath, but God gave him power in his swing.  When Abraham faced obedience that didn't make sense (being told to sacrifice his son), God provided calm faith and a solution that kept God's promise to Abraham and spared his son.  As the song says, He is there in the midst of danger's snare and when things seem unclear.  Jesus is the risen Lamb of God, and with that, we can get through anything, because He provided a way for us to have relationship with Him--in our weaknesses and trials, we can cry out to Him, and He will love us and help us have strength and peace to get through it.

the only good video I could find was a live version, but it's good :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvgwrTf08G4

You Were There by Avalon
I wonder how it must have felt
When David stood to face Goliath on a hill
I imagine that he shook with all his might
Until You took his hand, and held on tight

'Cause You were there, You were there
In the midst of danger's snare
You were there, You were there always
You were there when the hardest fight
Seemed so out of reach
Oh, You were there, You were always there
You were always there

So there he stood upon that hill
Abraham with knife in hand was poised to kill
But God in all his sovereignty had bigger plans
And just in time, You brought a lamb

'Cause You were there,
You were there
In the midst of the unclear
You were there, you were there always
You were there when obedience
Seemed to not make sense
You were there, You were always there
You were always there

So haven't I learned that my ways
Aren't as high as Yours are
And You alone keep the universe
From crumbling into dust
You are God and though we would
Not have understood You
There You were

Hanging blameless on a cross
You would rather die than leave us in the dark
Every moment, every planned coincidence
Just all makes sense
With Your last breath

You were there, You were there
During history’s darkest hour
You were there, You were there always
You were the Victor and the King
You were the power in David's swing
You were the calm in Abraham
You are the God who understands
You are the strength when we have none
You are the living, Holy one
You were, You are and You will always be
the Risen Lamb of God

You were, You are and You will always be
The Risen Lamb of God