To a Happy New Year

I want to start this year out in a positive way. I know that since we are here as mortals and cannot fully comprehend what the Lord has in store for us we will have times where the grief that comes as part of being human will take over. In fact it still happens more than once each day, but I look forward, in this new year, to the pain and sadness becoming less and less. I look forward to the time when I can focus more on the joy in Hailey's life and ours. We have been abundantly blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord over this last month and a half and I wanted to share a few of them.



First of all the love that we have felt from so many at church and in our community through selfless acts of service have been so helpful. The Lord has provided us shoulders to lean on through our amazing friends and family. I have received a few special gifts from friends that have meant so much to me. I love and appreciate all of them. The picture above is one that has brought me so much peace and comfort. Christ has my sweet baby girl in his arms. There is no better place for her to be. That does not make my arms ache any less, but it will hold me over until I can once again hold her in my arms. The Lord knew that I needed these special gifts. Multiple friends have said that they "new" the moment they saw their gifts or angel ornaments that it was exactly what they had been searching for. I know the Lord has used our friends as instruments to bring us the things that will bring us comfort and joy whether it be a hug, a phone call, an invitation, an act of kindness, or special gifts. I am thankful for that tender mercy.



Next as we have looked back on Hailey's short life we know that the Lord blessed us abundantly in the way things happened.

• Aaron's parents had come early so that they could be here to help when Hailey was born. They have not been with us for the birth of either of the other two children. They usually come for the blessing weeks later. They were here - able to see, hold and love our baby girl.


• When so many people lose their precious children before they are born or only hours later, we were blessed with 6 whole days to have her in our arms. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Lexy and Nathan were able to hold her, love her, feed her, and connect with her. She only needed a body. She did not need those six day. They were a gift for us.


• So many children have to struggle through days or months spent in a hospital hooked up to IV's and tubes. Hailey passed within 8 hours of us realizing that something was wrong. We feel blessed that the Lord spared her and us the trauma of a long hospital stay.


• Aaron and I had both been prepared through our own separate and personal experiences for Hailey's passing. When it was time to let her go at the hospital we both knew deep down that she had fulfilled her life on this earth for now.


• The Lord blessed my body. Although I had a c-section only a week before she passed and a raging double mastitis infection I was able to go with Aaron to make all of the funeral arrangements and to even carry Hailey's coffin during the service. My recovery from this birth has been faster than any of my other deliveries.

Finally, the Lord has blessed us at the office. We have had a tough, and at times very stressful, year financially at the office. Usually December is one of our harder months - no one wants to fix their teeth when they have presents to buy. This year we had the best December we've had which is a huge blessing for us since we have extra tax expenses due in January. We don't have to stress about where the money will come from on top of everything else we have been dealing with.

As this new year begins I look forward hope for peace. Hope for happiness. Hope for comfort. Hope for joy. I look forward with Hope.