Celebration Of Life Service

Many of you were not able to be there for the services so I've uploaded all the video. Sorry about the quality.... it's just a home video shot by a volunteer high schooler! (Thanks Cooper!) The only real thing you miss in the video is that at the very beginning when the violin is playing "You Are My Sunshine," Joshua and Jonathan are bringing a wagon full of Jacob's stuff down the aisle. They were very shy and Joshua literally hid his face in his own shoulder the entire way down the aisle! It was very sad and cute at the same time. I've also uploaded a copy of the program from the service as it has some neat testimonies from blogland about how Jacob impacted people's lives. Take a look here - maybe you were featured! Here's some shots from before the service of all our prep work and some of the pretty tables and such:

Here's a shot of the wagon that the boys brought down the aisle. It had Jacob's cremated remains and all his favorite stuff... check the program for a list of everything in the wagon!

Overall the service was incredible. We had many people tell us it was the "coolest funeral" they'd ever been to. It was "inspirational" and "beautiful." If you were there, please feel free to comment what you thought of it as you sat there... except for "it was stinkin' hot!" I know, I was sweating for like 5 hours straight! If you missed some parts because of a barking dog or a crying baby make sure you go back and re-watch that part on the video! :) If you didn't stay for the reception afterwards and we didn't get a chance to talk we'd love it if you shot us an email or posted a comment to let us know how Jacob impacted your lives... it's part of what keeps us going these days!

So many people came up to us after the service and told us how "inspirational" we were... how they admire our "strength" and "don't know where we get the strength." And at the time we didn't do a very good job of deflecting that praise or answering that question. We had hoped that it was evident from the service where that "strength" comes from. We politely said, "Thank you" and continued on because we were weary and tired and missed our baby. But looking back we don't wish to have anyone be confused or misguided. We don't wish to have anyone think that somehow we are "special people" who have been able to do something extraordinary of our own power. One of the songs sang at the service states, "I look up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." We aren't strong or inspirational. Honestly, we are broken, weak, hurting people with all the same heartaches, temptations, trials and failures that each of you has. The only difference may be that we have trusted Christ as our Savior and pray that the Holy Spirit would guide our every action to bring glory to the Creator who made us. He is our Rock and our Shelter. Our refuge in times of storm. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run into it and they are safe" (Proverbs 18:10). "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:30-31). Philippians 4:13 states, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." We want our actions to show that there is a God who loves and cares for us regardless of how terrible life may seem. We want that to be appealing to you because we would want you to know God in a personal way so that He may guide and strengthen you as He does us daily. To many "religion" is about a church or a set of rules or some mysterious unknown or some thing that you have to do. And, really, that is what "religion" is. And it amounts to nothing. But a relationship with Christ is not a religion. Religion tells you all the things that you have to do to please God. It's you attempting to reach up to God and pull yourself up by your bootstraps. But with Christ, it's about God reaching down to us and lifting us to a place we could never attain on our own. Knowing that there was nothing we could do to earn favor with God, He sent His Son to DO it all for US! We must simply realize that we all fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23) and because of that we deserve to be separated from Him forever through death (Romans 6:23) but while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) and if we would simply call out to Him in faith He is faithful and will save us (Romans 10:9-13). That's it... no churches, no programs, no secret writings, nothing more for you to do than believe... it's a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9) that will transform your life forever! 1 John 5:13 states that there should be no guesswork involved - we may "know that we have eternal life" by "believing on the name of the Son of God." If you haven't done that would you do it now? Simply call out to God by faith and ask Him to forgive you of all your sin because of what Jesus did on the cross for you. He loves you and is just waiting for you to ask Him to do it!