It is hard to believe we have been without you for 7 years. SEVEN! You continue to be in our thoughts and conversations daily. And God continues to use your short life to shape our lives into something more meaningful.
We love you!
Mommy, Daddy, Harper, and Hendrix
Each year I feel like God uses Jack's life to teach me very specific lessons I need in my life. This year He has reminded me just how blessed and thankful I am for "my people". In a year that has left us all feeling a little more isolated and alone I am beyond grateful that God has given me such a tribe of people. When you are through the hard seasons and can look back it is so sweet to see how God was orchestrating things for years and years. When I went to college I literally knew no one else there. It was a huge leap of faith going. But God used that season to meet me where I was, draw me close to Him, and give me a group of faithful friends that covered me in prayer, supported me from near and far, and kept my eyes on Jesus during the hardest season of my life.
When Jason and I moved to Auburn we searched for a church community that felt like home to us. When we found it, once again, we knew no one there. But God gave us so many people that helped us learn how to transition from newly weds to more mature believers to parents. So many of them sat with us during our hardest days and "stood in the gap" while we couldn't stand. Their steadiness and faithfulness held us through those dark days.
When Jason and I felt it was God's timing to move our family once again we had originally pictured living on a larger lot or on some land. Away from people. But God instead gave us a neighborhood full of people. And over the past year especially have those people become like family. When we couldn't GO anywhere we could go outside and be with our neighbors. We have formed such sweet relationships with many of them, sharing in countless meals, lots of fun, and although most of them never knew us "pre Jack" we have walked through painful experiences together over the past year especially.
I can go on and on. My sweet former coworkers that brought a deep freezer full of meals before Jack was born. My current coworkers that pray with each other or for each other before particularly hard situations. There are SO many ways God has blessed us through people. He did not create us to live life alone. He created us for community. If you have not found your community, take heart. God is with you. And if he is with you then "who can be against you?" (Romans 8:31). Cling to Him. Trust Him. We all are going to go through incredibly hard seasons of life. But God. He will not ever leave you. If you have been "burned" by people or have difficulty trusting people just keep your eyes on Jesus. He will lead you to your tribe, the community He so desires for you. If you need me to stand in the gap for you please contact me. I would love to do that. You are worthy of being loved!
As always, we want to continue to celebrate Jack's life by giving back.
We love the Big House Foundation and their Swimsuit and Towel drive is going on until April 30. If you can't drop off a swimsuit or towel locally then you can donate on their website.
Another organization that is near and dear to our heart is Women's Hope Medical Clinic. They offer compassionate and life affirming care for women in crisis pregnancies.
