Healing

Yesterday and today turned out to be far better than I could have ever expected. I honestly can't believe the strength I have felt in the last two days....a lot of kind souls must be offering prayers on our behalf---we sure feel them. 

>>>God is good<<<

I really can't help but acknowledge God for the things in my life. 

He has a plan, I just feel it.
He has healed me and guided me.

The strength I get is from the one on high.

It is very interesting to me that the lower and harder you fall the higher you will climb due to the strength you have received after fighting your battle.  

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls;

the most massive characters are seared with scars."

-Kahlil Gibran

I am STRONG and so are each and every one of you reading this.
Have some faith in yourself. 
 

^^^^^^^^^^

Yesterday sweet Poppy woke up asking if she could get her ears pierced. She has actually asked for months but, never really wanted to when it came down to it. 

I don't think for a second that it was a coincidence that she asked. We had wanted to do some special things as a family and this was just that. 

 

She got a tiny star earring.

How can we not have a good day with little missy in our lives.....

We also went to dinner at a new restaurant and a man without any children just adored Poppy and told her if he had children like Poppy he would have 10. I think it warmed this old mans heart and he wanted to buy Poppy pink ice cream....so he did. 
What a kind gentleman.

^^^^^^^^^^

One of my favorite songs lately...thanks Carly! 

Lennon and Maisy.  

Check these sisters out here

 

Family Dynamics

Lately, I have been really having a hard time since moving, because Poppy has been pooping and peeing her pants several times a day and regressed to being a baby. She wants to be big, but I see in her wanting to still be a baby. She still needs her mommas attention. She has been through so much in her 2.5 years. I am constantly reminded to be patient with my precious child-she is grieving her brother too.

I lay awake in bed at night thinking of how different our life would be if Ollie were still living in it physically.  Poppy and Loxxley's would have been a perfect addition to our life we had with Ollie-pop.

In my church many people believe-as do I, that one day Chris and I will get to raise Ollie again from the age he was when he left this earth-2 years old. I long for this reunion.

But what about NOW.

What about all the memories we create together as a family here and now.
Someone is always missing. A feeling of unrest is always present at every family gathering and activity. I totally believe that I will see Ollie again and be his momma forever and also raise him and watch him grow-in the eternities, but I want him NOW. I just want my family to be complete-and it never will be here upon this earth.

Joseph Smith-A prophet of our church said: "More powerful to me are the thoughts of annihilation than death. If I have no expectation of seeing my loved ones again, my heart would burst in a moment, and I should go down to my grave. The expectation of seeing them in the mourning of the resurrection cheers my soul and makes me bear up against the evils of life. It is like their taking a long journey, and on their return we meet them with increased joy...."

So I look forward to my death and to the next chapter of my existence in the eternities with hope-if I have no hope my heart too would burst from sadness, but today I live each day as if it were my very last.

Really, Life is so Damn Precious. I can't bold this statement enough and damn doesn't even do justice for the power of how precious life is. Our God who gave us our breath may take it at any moment in time.

Live and live well my friends. Make today special and make today count! You never get this day to do over.

^^^^^^

"The only difference in the old and young dying is, one lives longer in heaven and eternal light 

and glory than the other, and is freed a little sooner from this miserable, wicked world. Notwithstanding all this glory, we for a moment lose sight of it, and mourn the loss, but do not mourn as those without hope." -Joseph Smith

How To Help Someone Say Goodbye

I have gotten several emails and text in the last few years-especially the last few months, from family and friends asking how they can help a friend who has just lost a child. I feel so compelled to reach out to them and offer some help along the way, as so many did with me.

I thought I would again share some ways to help. Tragedy is all around us and I believe we can truly help carry each others burdens.

Chris and I needed all the help we could get that tragic day, from the heavens on high and here on the mortal earth. 

We were lost.
We were broken and others are to. 

We were in shock and our minds couldn't think clearly, we welcomed all the help.  Please lend a healing hand to someone who is hurting. 

//I share this tender picture only to show the devastation on my face---pure devastation//

-Pray, pray and pray some more for the family to be uplifted daily and for strength to endure what they are unwillingly facing--prayers really will carry them through the shock. 

-Try lightening their heavy load and daily responsibilities in life so they have more freedom to grieve and be in the moment. This could be, bringing over meals or snacks, grocery shopping, cleaning their house, paying bills, arranging their carpool, etc…

- When you mention their child, speak as if they are still here-in present form.
 
- Remember holidays and birth dates of their child through the years-grieving the loss of a child is a long journey and will last a lifetime.

- Ask direct and to the point questions. Don't beat around the bush. Ask them if they want to talk, to be alone or if they would like your company.

- The first week after a loss is often a good time to take care of business. God has given us the emotion of shock- this numbness allows us to function and take care of business. Once this wears off, parents can collapse and go through periods where they simply cannot handle even daily routine-life can get to be just too much.

- Once the shock wears off, people often look for ways to start over or regain control of life that seems to be making a downward spiral.  Encourage Your friends or family to make decisions slowly. They might look at moving their home, adopting a child, changing jobs, divorce, etc… Often times people are desperate and are trying to push away the grief--it will never leave them.

- Watch out for when the parents are unable to take care of the basic responsibilities such as paying the bills, house cleaning, sorting mail, or going to work, etc… these can all be too much to handle. They may need some major interventions from close family and friends. 

-I know this list can be overwhelming, but most importantly try to let the family know you LOVE them and haven't forgotten their child.

- The goal of the journey through bereavement is not to leave grief behind-the loved one will never disappear- but to become functional grievers and to know they are loved.

Read more ideas on how to help  here

Please buy a washing machine lock here