A Pray Date Giveaway

Today is a tough day for me and being I hit 200 posts on my Pray Date blog, I decided to host a giveaway, to help me through this day and perhaps, to help you along your grief journey. You don't need to be a follower to enter, though if you'd like to, I'd love to have you. To enter, click here.

10 Months and a Birthday

Yesterday marked 10 months since Hannah Katherine left us. 10 months. It's hard to believe how fast, yet how slow, the time goes all at once. Yesterday was also my best friend's birthday. She would have been 31, had she not died suddenly 9 years ago tomorrow.

You never know where life will lead you. So many times in my life I have felt like I've been on a "sure" path---the "right" path---when suddenly, the unexpected happens and throws you all off course. It was never anything so devastating as losing my daughter until 10 months ago. That was life changing, not just "path" altering. Life changing. So many times I have sat here and wondered why and searched my heart and mind with questions, finding no answers. I know someday in Heaven I will know, and my reward will be great. To feel her in my arms again. To kiss her beautiful face. To see the sunlight in her hair. To tell her I love her.

10 months. Happy 10 months, Hannah. And Happy Birthday, Erica.

Dear Hannah

Dear Hannah,

My beautiful daughter. How bittersweet life is these days. These months seem so much to parallel those of last summer. Except you are not here. Except I am not the same person I was last summer. You are going to have a little sisiter. I am hopeful for her. I am longing for you. I wish with all my heart that you could both be. That I could have you both.

I haven't written in a while from my heart. I've posted facts or information, or passed on prayer requests, but I've kept from digging too deeply into my heart. Afraid of what I would find. I layed in bed this morning listening for Bobby to awake. I was thinking of you and holding you in my hands. How little you were. How perfect. But my mind always drifts away from these moments to the terrible things that happened in that room. I shut it down. I opened my Bible. I found a beautiful passage in Lamentations. I have come to accept this life. I have come to accept that you are gone. I still just miss you so much. I still just wish it could be different, but now I feel so torn.

I just want you to know I love you. Just because I am quiet does not mean you still do not spend every day on my mind and in my heart. You do. You always will. You are my beautiful daughter.

Online Bible Study Fall

We're so excited to welcome Amy to the Anchored by Hope team. She will be leading our next study set to begin Sunday, September 12 at 7pm Central. For more info or to sign up, contact Amy at amy@anchoredbyhope.com.

Again

I feel like I always come asking for prayers, but they are needed. Ashley lost her brother yesterday in a car accident. She lost her Nolan last year and is currently about 15 weeks pregnant. Please show her some love and keep her family in your prayers. Please also continue to pray for Shandrea.

Sad News

I know you have all been praying and I appreciate it so much. Sadly, Shandrea has lost her third baby. Please continue to pray for her and visit her blog to offer her some encouragement and love.