{hOpE iN hEaVeN}

Close your eyes, and picture it..........

The cold December night air on your face. Warm jazzy Christmas music to charm the ambiance. Crisp white Christmas lights setting your eyes to drink in all the gorgeous baskets and gifts from the most generous of hearts. Taken away by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and an elegant table of decadent desserts that almost sing to you. Precious person, upon precious person there with the same desire. To be a part, in someway to come alongside broken hearted mommy's and daddy's to remind them that all is not lost! There is indeed a purpose behind their sorrow. A purpose far greater then they could think or imagine. A purpose, that although extreme in it's level of hurt now, can be cradled by something only a God that loved us, so much He sent His son could provide. Cradled by a Hope in Heaven.

On December 15th, 2008 The Greatest Blessing Ministry is hosting it's 1st annual Silent Auction and Dessert. The money raised will go towards the growing of a ministry, that I know from very personal experience, is desperately needed. In the hospital I was given a simple satiny box to hold my son's belongings. His cap, his ID bracelet, a lock of his hair, and his delicate hand and foot casts. It was all nice.....but how do you put a limit on the degree of kindness and love when someone has been given such a rocky road to journey upon? His hair was in a zip lock bag, and the box was bulging and most definitely made in China. (no offense) Just not the perfection that should hold my sweet boys things.

The Greatest Blessing Memory Boxes,are intentionally created with a heavenly aura, and not overtly "baby boy", or "baby girl". To me, that is intensely depressing..... the idea is to help get minds off of the temporal, and onto the eternal. After all, there is no doubt, saved or unsaved, all agree that our babies are in a place of paradise and happier then anyone of us could dream, conjure up or attempt to pay for ourselves! Jesus already paid for it! The goal is to fill each box with gifts to help heal mind, body and spirit.

Organic Sage, Parsley and Rose Bud tea to aid the body in halting the lactation process.......

A beeswax candle to light in remembrance of the sweet life God blessed you with........

A unique to each box, journal. A place to pour out thoughts and prayers.....

A bookmark with a scripture message....'faith comes by hearing the word'..........

A beautiful and soft hand-made heart shaped flax seed and lavender pillow, that when warmed in the microwave will feel nice on those especially lonely nights.........(no image right now. I will get one soon....)

A small coordinating box to hold the little things....hair lock, ID bracelet, etc.....

A silver angel "mommy" pin to wear to act as a voice for those who might feel like being quite, but still let the world know who they are and what they helped create......(no image right now. I will get one soon....)

Heaven by Randy Alcorn mini-booklet to help, scripturally, answer those questions we all might have after someone we love dies. (no image right now. I will get one soon....)

Honestly....My hope is to have this box so packed with gifts, that closing it is a real challenge! To spill out love from a box that represents King Jesus. And all that He puts "into" us.

Come, save the date and step out into the December cold, and the promise in it's air that Jesus brought on that night in Bethlehem. Come celebrate Macsen Danforth's birthday Home, December 15th. Be there to support a cause that although new, is quite old in it's primace:

Love your neighbor as you love yourself. ~Galatians 5:14

The Greatest Blessing Ministry is hosting

{HOPE IN HEAVEN}

A Silent Auction and Dessert Event

To benefit families that suffer infant loss and to celebrate the life of Macsen Danforth and his 1st birthday Home!

at Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon

Monday,December 15th 2008 7pm-10pm

*Tickets will go on sale in the foyer of GGBC. $10. each. Contact Megan Gebhardt directly to purchase now. 503.953.2252

A small taste of items to be auctioned off are:

• Photography package donated by Full of Grace Photography (NILMDTS volunteer)

• Autographed Randy Alcorn book, Heaven
• Autographed fiction book Deadline by Randy Alcorn
• Autographed fiction book Deception by Randy Alcorn
• Autographed fiction book Dominion
• Get Out of That Pit Beth Moore book
• Jesus the One and Only hard cover devotional book by Beth Moore

• Hand made designer jewelry by Christa Collection
• 2 Car Details by 4 Wheel Fellowship
• "Starbucks or Bust" Gift Basket
• "Hand Over the Chocolate and No One Gets Hurt" Gift Basket
• All About Kids gift certificate

And much, much more! All utterly appropriate and special to give to your loved ones on Christmas, and all for a cause so worth while!

{A pRiViLeGe}

There was nothing quite like the nurses at Mt Hood Legacy Hospital, that unspeakable day in December. Their tenderness, care and genuine heart for us as we faced this rocky and unsure journey, was nothing less then the heart of Christ working in them all! It was one of the many ways I had the privilege (and yes you read that right....the privilege) of seeing God at work, and expressing His love for me so loudly. My sweet son being chosen to not have to face
this world: privilege. To be chosen to, prayerfully, be a beacon of light in the midst of Satan's signature....his ally or sidekick really-death. Privilege. God must have thought a lot of how He would be allowed to move through me in this time. He will not give us more then we can bare, and yet this happened? He knows all....He made it that I am more then a conqueror in Christ (Romans 8:37-39), and that this would be an ideal expression of that! Painful, yes....but He didn't even spare Jesus pain! Jesus, His only son whom He was so pleased! Jesus' pain had purpose. SO DOES OURS!

I have jokingly said (although I am very serious), I have a perk in Heaven, a lot of other people do not. Not only will I be in the presence of the ultimate lover of my soul, my creator, my best friend, my intercessor and biggest fan. The Lord Himself. Before my very eyes. I also, have the privilege of a formal introduction to my one and only son... Macsen Danforth. And as I am on my face with praise and adoration for my King before me, I will be at eye level with the sweetest little face I have ever seen. What an AWESOME day awaits me!
(I know...your almost jealous!)

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ~1 Peter 1:6-7

{iNfAnT lOsS rEmEmBrAnCe DaY}

Let me be perfectly honest....over the years, Megan has gotten less and less political. Politicians are phony and slimy and frankly, when asked who I am voting for in the coming election, my pat answer is: "None of the above! Is there a place on the balled for 'THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST'?" Cause I will so be all over that!!!!!!!!

All kidding aside though, I know we are called as Christians to speak our voice and do what we can. We live in the most prosperous nation in the world. Technology abounds here, and our medical quality is acclaimed as being top rate! Confusingly, however, the stillbirth rate is higher in the United States then in any other country in the world! Please let that soak in for a minute! Higher then in places where there are zero prenatal vitamins? Zero ultrasounds performed.? Even lack of hospitals?

If you don't have means to pursue the following actions.....do homework to know what it is you can do! This hurt is one that I can attest to being one, that if avoidable, we want to avoid it! Honor all the families today, that have a little one living with King Jesus. Pray for their hearts today. And pray that God would begin to reveal life through their pain.

P.S I love you Macsen!

_________________________________________________________________

October 15th is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States. More than 25,000 children are stillborn in the United States every year leaving mothers, entire families and communities devastated. Estimates of the rate of occurrence of stillbirth make it at least as common as autism.Stillbirth is not an intractable problem. Greater research would likely significantly reduce its incidence, but good research requires good data. H.R. 5979: Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act is under consideration by Congress. This proposed bill would standardize stillbirth investigation and diagnosis, thus providing more data for the needed research. Better research means fewer children born still.On October 15th, remember the thousands of unfinished children lost and the families who remain to grieve them. Honor them by taking action. Let's help pass H.R. 5979.

Action Steps:

Step 1. Use Your Blog to Enlist Others-Copy the contents of this entire post and publish it on your blog immediately.GOAL: Enlist 10 of your readers to spread the word

Step 2. Use Your E-mail to Enlist Others-E-mail 5 bloggers and ask them (nicely and in an unspammy way) to publish these action steps on their blog. Consider contacting celebrity bloggers, political bloggers, medical bloggers, or bloggers who are not part of your reading community.GOAL: Enlist 3 bloggers outside of your normal blog sphere to spread the word in other online communities.

Step 3. Help Pass the Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act-By October 15th, publish a post on your blog supporting H.R. 5979 Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act. For maximum impact, title your post: "Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act."GOAL: 1,000,000 Google results on October 15th when that term is searched for. Currently, Google only returns 20,400 pages - most of which have nothing to do with the bill.

{ThE qUoTe...AnD mY pRaYeR}

This is a quote I just stumbled upon. It has sung to me in a very needed way tonight! Jesus, thank you for the pot holes You ordain....they always remind our feet, to tell our eyes to stay focused on YOU!

Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future;
faith is having the courage to dance to it today.
- Dr. Peter Kuzmic

{tHe ImPoSsIbLe}

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
~ Matthew 19:26

(* The picture is of Macsen's box....the original inspiration to go on and share hope with others!)

The last couple of years of my life have been extremely unforgiving. Challenges and cliffs have seemed to be at every turn. And in it all, my God has been willing and anxious to be there and see me through. There is nothing else that has been. Everything and everyone else asks, "what's in it for me?" God's economy is so far off from ours, and I for one am grateful it is. It most definitely doesn't always make sense to me, but in hind sight it is always what is best.



In the midst of these "impossible" times I can see the fingerprints of one that sees the beginning from the end. He sees it.....and He is unshaken by it. In fact, in my finite thinking I would for see the need for real quite and normality, but I have actually found that in those times (when I think I know what should be....funny), God then throws things in that put me absolutely out of my comfort zone! "Really God? Are you sure? I think you got my file mixed up with someone else! Do you remember what I've been through? What I am currently going through? That's crazy! You want me to do what?" Crazy huh? So was asking Peter to step out onto the crashing waves. So was instructing Noah to build an ark that would take years to construct. So was placing Joseph in multiple gloomy situations. How about when I told Moses to go back to a place he had been thrown from. Need I say more? Because I could......


I sit back, and scope all that God has asked me to do in times of trial, and I see IMPOSSIBLE. And then, our helpmate, the Holy Spirit says, All things are possible with God. Oh, how I hate to think of attempting to do any thing without you! Thank you for loving me with such an undeserved love!



Now I'll close my eyes....and step out of the boat!

{LeGaCy}

What person could honestly say that when they die, that they don't hope their life left some kind of a mark? One to grow from, learn from or be inspired by? A mark that encompasses the hope they had, the things they loved, and ultimately the part they played in having been used through their own hurts, pain, regrets and mistakes. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, turn it all around in a way that brings glory to God and the heart He has for His people. I for one want desperately to leave that kind of mark! That kind of legacy. He is very much in the business of redemption! It is His specialty, and His delight! And it no doubt is what brings Him the most glory!

For me, a "legacy" reaches easiest in terms of my little one's and the impression my every move makes upon them. When I look back and really ponder my own childhood, and all the memories I have, I am astounded at what my mind has been able to retain! Small things, yet huge in their ability to really depict those moments I ponder of my youth. ( It helps me to stay mindful of the small minds I now am a mommy too. God help me be bright!!!!)

The small things are small, but they remind me of my true first brush with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. So many things....small-yet huge. Like the smell of home made bread.The time taken to remind me that others have feelings, and sharing and being kind are right, and necessary. I can remember vividly, as if it were yesterday the times my mom would put extra creativity into things! Those things have so stuck! Huge part of why I now strive to be an *oober* colorful mom. ( Oober was so borrowed from a " mentor/ friend-mom"of mine, Debbie. Hi deb! That word is so great!) Every birthday was special, unique and had something involved about it. Like one year she made a detailed Super Woman on my birthday cake with frosting. (You could even see her little arm bands! I loved Super Woman! ) Small.....but big to me. We lived out in the country. Way out in the country I might add, and I can only imagine what a struggle it must have been to dream up things to have us do so we didn't kill each other, nor drive our mom to utter "crazy"! I can so more appreciate that now that I have small people that are ferocious in the "entertain-me-right-now-department". I remember once my mom having my brother and sister and I go out in the October Montana cold to walk around the house a few times on Halloween, only to come through the back porch to a hauntingly fun feast. The lights were dimmed , only lit by candles, my mom was in a costume, (for whatever reason, I have deleted the what costume it was from my mind! RANDOM) and the table was set with crazy, sugary treats, scary prizes and spooky everything! All translated by my small eyes as: LOVE! She put time, energy, thought, time and SELFISHNESS into being a mommy. Being a good parent, i am seeing, can be pretty much rapped up in that one word. I still have to work on that.

I pray that as my babies look back upon the life of their mommy, that they see a woman that first and foremost loved! Loved them, loved God, loved life and all that He had written for the life He had for her. I pray that they see that despite the pain that came my way, and the heartache that I did not choose nor create: Mommy faced it knowing that she is loved by a God that surpasses our own reasoning, intellect, and our own human ability to love. It was Him. It was Him that carried mommy. It was Him that gave her ability where it looked impossible. It was Him that whispered visions into her ears. It was Him that kept her striving towards hope. It was Him that never did leave her nor forsake her. It was Him. It was always Him. He is so good. He loved my mommy, and I know He loves me!

I know that each of us, as mother's, friend's, daughter's, and wive's desire to leave a legacy worthy of leaving! And I pray it's a desire to leave a legacy that doesn't embellish us .....but instead magnifies HIM! I love you God.

The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the
name of the wicked will rot. ~ Proverbs 10:7

{He WiLl NeVeR lEaVe NoR fOrSaKe}

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

~Ephesians 3:20-21

Meditation upon that verse alone can transform every facet of our lives. It encompasses hope. It is all about FAITH. Something I must admit that has been rattled more lately, then in all of my days before. I KNOW that I love Jesus. I know that His word is TRUTH. I know that He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me. I can hear my sweet pretty little Mia Brooke saying, "mommy what does forsake mean?" Once more my 6 year old leaves me stumped to know how to answer her in a way she can grasp. A way I can grasp?! So again I am drawn to a source beyond myself....
THE DICTIONARY. (I for one am grateful for it....humble enough to admit I use it often. As I do the thesaurus, and my most favorite-the spell check! Thank you Lord for the person you implanted with that vision! So awesome, and so awesomely needed!!!!!!!!)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Forsake For*sake"\, v. t. [imp. Forsook; p. p. Forsaken; p. pr. & vb. n. Forsaking.] [AS. forsacan to oppose, refuse; for- + sacan to contend, strive; akin to Goth. sakan. See For-, and Sake.]
1. To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart or withdraw from; to leave; as, false friends and flatterers forsake us in adversity.
If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments. --Ps. lxxxix. 30.
2. To renounce; to reject; to refuse.
If you forsake the offer of their love. --Shak.
Syn: To abandon; quit; desert; fail; relinquish; give up; renounce; reject. See Abandon.

As I go through the process of learning how better to answer my sweet baby girl that has a hunger to know this God I speak of, I am also brought to tears as I learn of His most incredible love for me. A love that I have not seen from any human, nor will I ever. He is there always. Really, whether I like it or not...He is there.

Jesus, even when we are going through the fire, YOU are there. Just as you were with Shadrack, Meshack, and a Bumblebee. (Sorry...seen the Veggie Tales one too many times....Abendigo.)
Thank you that you are there. Nothing gets past you, and nothing happens to me, around me, or inspight of me without first going through your Sovereign hands. And how that makes me love you more! You are always Faithful, True, and Good. You are beyond what any person can offer, pretend or try to imitate! You are the BEST thing that has ever happened to me! And as you are in the presence of all of those that have gone before us, that we dearly love and miss, we are left down here knowing this:

YOU ARE GOD. YOU ARE AWESOME. YOU LOVED US ENOUGH TO SEND YOUR ONLY SON, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH YOU FOREVER. THAT IS SOME HEAD-OVER-HEALS-LOVE IF I HAVE EVER SEEN IT! SWEEP US US ALL OFF OUR FEET AS ONLY YOU CAN! I LOVE YOU MY KING. KISS SWEET MACSEN FOR ME!