Amy's Birthday

The Seine River in Paris

Amy would have been 32 today. 
She will always be loved and missed by her family and friends.
See you on the other side, Amy!

Amy's Birthday

I've been thinking these last few weeks, "Amy's birthday is almost here!"

The beginning of June, especially, always makes me think of Amy. First her birthday, then mine-when we were young teenagers June was an eagerly anticipated month.

Now I wish Amy were here and we could know each other as adults, and watch our children grow up. It's bittersweet-missing her, but being happy she's in a place I can only dream about...

Amy would have been 31 today.

Amy's Birthday

Happy Birthday to my friend, Amy, who is spending another birthday in a beautiful place. I miss you dear.

If I could send a note to Heaven...

Dear Amy,

Happy Birthday! What, you are 28 already?!? Seems only a couple years ago we were celebrating our 13th and 14th. June was a much anticipated month since our birthdays are so close. I admit, though, I'm not nearly as eager to turn 27 as I was to turn 13! You know, I've still got that magnet you gave me for my 14th birthday. It came attached to a Marjolein Bastin card-we both shared a love for her artwork and I think her cards were the only ones we exchanged. The years added up to a whole pile of them. I sure do miss sending and receiving one from you in June.

Lately I've been thinking about you and Skittles and how you loved those things. I always contended that chocolate should take first place, but you insisted that Skittles were the winner because they didn't melt! Most years I gave you a bag of Skittles and you gave me a chocolate bar. It was a happy arrangement.

Today I'm remembering you and June days of the past, and the beauty of your friendship and the Lord's love in our lives.

I'll be seeing you-I'm not sure when exactly, but when we're together again we've got some June birthdays to catch up on.

Love,
Rachel

P.S. Enclosed is a bag of Skittles!

Important Things I've Learned From The Women in My Life, Part 1

This is a condensed version, of course. I know many beautiful women who continue to impact my life and from whom I am always learning. The few I have listed below have been a part of my life for a very long time.
And I'm being humorous here, so don't take everything too seriously. :)

Mom: Always scrape the bowl clean. That little bit of dough clinging to the sides? It'll make another cookie or muffin.

Butter, the Real Thing, is good for you.

Don't be afraid to drive in a little snow and ice. We're die-hards, you know.

Mara: Laugh in the elevator. Why waste time just standing there? There is always something to laugh about.

When in doubt, use lots of hairspray.

Rowena: Chocolate is good. So is Dr. Pepper. In combination with a really funny movie, you can relieve a lot of stress this way.

Be careful driving in snow and ice. It is preferable to stay in one's warm house.

Candace: All those yummy gourmet dishes that sound fabulous? Make them. Better yet, make them with a friend. There is nothing quite like good food and fellowship. Hours cleaning up messes in the kitchen together tend to make you bond.

Jessie: Go on adventures. You won't regret them, but you will regret not going.

Amy W: Tell your friends and family, "I love you", whenever you talk or write. It may be the last time you ever do.

On This Day...

On this day, 9 years ago, Tom asked my Daddy permission to propose. We were happily married 3 months later, on December 11, 1999! September always makes me think of our special days of falling in love. What a happy time! My heart was full of wonder for all that life would hold.

On this day, September 10, 2000, I miscarried our first child. My world seemed to stop. Here are some excerpts from my journal entries at that time:

"Our little baby is in heaven with Jesus. I miscarried Baby Peace this afternoon, and we buried our little one under a big oak tree. I was two months pregnant, and the miscarriage was a shock. I trust my Lord, though. I'm so thankful we were able to see and hold our little one. What a tiny, amazing miracle! Our firstborn-Baby Peace. Even though the pain is great and it seems the tears will never end, His peace is so comforting. Burying our little one was the hardest thing we've ever had to do. I remind myself that our baby is not in the ground, but safe in the arms of Jesus.

Still, the grieving is very real. I feel a loss that is hard to understand. We only knew a new life for so brief a time. Why?

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. " John 14:27

"Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever."

Psalm 73: 23-26

On this day, September 10, 2002, God filled my arms with a son! Caleb Thomas entered this world just as the evening sun was flooding the sky with it's brooding fall light. Gentle, quiet, dark-haired, he delighted us completely. We remembered our first loss and felt thankful God chose to give us another child on the same day He took one home.

On this day, September 10, 2007, my dear, beautiful friend Amy went to be with Jesus forever. She was 26. You can read about her journey with leukemia here. Her words still inspire me.

The picture above was taken of us a couple years before her diagnosis.

It has remained on my fridge this past year along with this verse:

"We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:18

My heart aches when I think of her grieving husband, Brandon, her son, Gary, and her lovely parents and siblings. I know her presence is missed everyday.

Today I pulled out my collection of letters from Amy. They brought back so many memories! I was amazed at how much she quoted scripture and poems that inspired her. Her letters were full of them. Sometimes, that's all they contained! She loved to research a topic and was always giving me definitions and illustrations from various sources on whatever it was that she was studying. Here are some of her thoughts:

February 3, 1997

I really enjoyed Mr. Nisbett's teaching yesterday. Every now and then there is a message that seems to be talking about me. The '"get-your-attention'" "slap-in-the-face" kind. Ouch.

'Earthly pleasures vainly call me;

I would be like Jesus;

Nothing worldly shall enthrall me;

I would be like Jesus.

Be like Jesus, this my song,

In the home and in the throng;

Be like Jesus, all day long!

I would be like Jesus.'

James Rowe

I also like:

'Sound the battle cry! See! the foe is nigh!

Raise the standard high for the Lord.

Gird your armor on, Stand firm everyone;

Rest your cause upon His holy word.

Rouse, then, soldiers! Rally round the banner!

Ready, steady, pass the word along;

Onward, forward, shout aloud, hosanna!

Christ is captain of the mighty throng!'

William f. Sherwin

I could fill pages of paper with excellent hymns! There are so many!

Some wisdom:

God's will: Exactly what I would choose if I knew all the facts. (IBLP)

Wow! How true!

I have been thinking a lot lately about the days of my youth. This is the time I have to serve and learn. It is the time to serve God wholly as I have no husband. I have the time to spend in God's Word now that I won't have in the future. It seems so tempting to just "go through the years of youth", to be entertained, and to just have fun. To be as an "ox led to the slaughter", just "ho-humming" along! (Not that oxen ho-hum) :)

'It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth.'

Lamentations 3:27

I am beginning to realize that it is the world that just has fun, but that we, the elect, are "called unto a purpose". 1 Peter 2:21- TO FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS! That is our purpose!

Not that we cannot do fun things (I still want to go to a basketball game with my Dad!) but that our focus is on the Lord and not having fun all the time. Something I am struggling with.

However:

"We need young men and women who are feared in hell for what they can do."

Bill Gothard

If I ask the following questions about activities:

1. What would Jesus do?

2. Will I be feared in hell if I do this or will I contribute to Satan's cause? What change would that bring in my life?

"Do not give the devil an opportunity." Ephesians 4:4

"Therefore be imitators of God..." Ephesians 5:1

Amy went on to share other verses that spoke to her, and closed with this:

"Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all..." 1 Timothy 4:12

I have discovered many pearls of great truth! These last two hours spent in reading entire chapters have been wondrous! I am trying to learn. I've had plenty of trying lessons lately.

"Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith."

"Our hearts find no rest until they find their rest in Thee." St. Augustine

Love in Him...

Because He lives I am....Amy.

On this day...

8 years ago...I married my love! It's funny what sticks with you. I remember eating yogurt and fruit for breakfast. And that surreal feeling, like, "I can't believe I'm actually getting married!...is this really happening to me?!?"
Now, 8 years and three children later, I feel the same way. Wow! Where has time gone? Is it really possible I've been married to Tom this long and am now mommy to a 6, 5, and 1 year old? Makes me want to seize the day and enjoy every moment with my family. Especially when I think of Amy and the short time she had with Brandon and Gary. It's good to be reminded to be thankful for the time I am in and the moments I have, because they go by so, so quickly.

Happy Anniversary to us!