Friday, July 18, 2008

A Beautful Journey


I got in the car this morning setting out on yet another journey outside my comfort zone. I drove fast on the country roads listening to Bethany Dillan anticipating what my day would hold.....embracing a new friend or being kidnapped by someone I met on the internet?!?! J/K! I was on my way to meet yet another mother who has experienced a loss. It is funny how God knit us together but the trail was perfect and all we had in common was that Trisomy 18 had taken our babies from our arms much too quickly. Dear Lisa lost her baby girl just under 5 years ago. I found out a month ago that Lisa had quietly followed Jacob's story, cheering on his every victory and shattering with his every set back.....she knew his blog so well....and that just encourages me so much to have the love of others even from afar. Up until Jacob's passing, our stories were so different. While Jacob was here, all we had in common was that we both had babies with Trisomy 18. But then, May 31st, our stories collided. I entered into the world of a grieving mother and now we had everything in common. We now viewed life through the same spectacles she had worm for 5 years prior. She now had every reason to contact me and she did. Oh, I am so thankful for our babies bringing us together. Lisa has a loving husband, beautiful children, supportive friends, family and church family. But you all know, that there is nothing like being around someone who 'just gets it." Lisa didn't have 7 other mothers to travel to Atlanta with, she didn't have bloggers to hold her up with encouraging words, she didn't have the internet world to let her know she was not alone....that others have gone through it and live to share their baby's stories. You know what she did have and still does? A Savior. That is who she clung to. That is who made her whole again. That is who continues to walk her through her walk of grief. She is a hero in this journey called grieving. She has done it hand and hand with the Savior and she is so beautiful because of it. She is ok. Her baby is a part of her family today just as much as she was 5 years ago....she has touched lives from Heaven. Lisa is a beautiful testimony to God's perfect parenting....God our Father, gives us things that we just cannot see why it is best for us. But He does. Lisa is my big sister....she has the same Daddy who chose to parent us in a similar fashion and only He could see the beautiful connection that would be the only earthly way to bring us together to walk this path and encourage each other as sisters should do. I was honored to flip through the pictures of her beautiful Hannah Rose.....Lisa and David held her for 9 hours and shared her with there family and friends until she had to give her back to Jesus. Regardless of our different stories, we experience similar struggles along the way and our emotions get the best of us for similar reasons. As we sat in a restaurant in Rochester and talked for hours (our poor server just wanted to go home!) we just talked like old friends. We laughed, we teared up, we stopped a few strangers to take our picture in Wegman's parking lot....we were sisters in the Lord. There were things that we "just got" and didn't need any explanation because of what united us. We knew just what the other was talking about. We understood each other. God has united us through brokenness. Thank God for Jacob Ryan and Hannah Rose....they are united in heaven together in the arms of our Savior. Their mommies unite as testimonies of God's true joy.... over pancakes, bacon, eggs, biscuits and lemonade.....oh, how our earthly lives pale in comparison to what our babies have right this very instant! I can thank God for grief. It is a beautiful journey that has so many wonderful surprises....you wouldn't think it did.....but it does. That is what has brought me a new dear friend. I love you Lisa!

11 comments:

Randi said...

Thinking of you and your beautiful family. I am missing Jacob right now, but am sure he is so happy that you are making more lovely friends Karen!~
Randi Booth

Anonymous said...

Karen,
THank you for sharing. I still check your blog and enjoy all of it.

Blessings,
Jenn in CA

Emily said...

Yay! How awesome is God?! I had a night just like that with Kim again last night. :) I love your heart, sweet friend, and I thank God that He is continuing to use you and your sweet boy to touch others' lives and more importantly, that He continues to unveil His plan of hope and a future to us. Incredible.

And yes, I promise I'll email you pics soon. I'm a slacker. And YOU love me! :)

Michelle Jamie said...

Hi Karen,

Haven't commented for a long time. I still pray for you guys. I still have you in my daily thoughts. You all still have that special place in my heart.

What you said near the end about everything being pale in comparison to what your babies are experiencing - God and heaven - reminds me of a point that was brought up this weekend on a ladies camp that I went on. Paul was encouraging us to keep our eyes on the prize and when we fall get up and RUN, not walk, stroll, dust yourself off....RUN!!!!! If we keep our eyes on the prize everything does pale in comparison.

lovingly serving in prayer
Michelle

Stacy@hiswaynotmine said...

Karen-What beautiful gifts God has given you in the Godly women He has brought into your life through the blogging world...women who have experienced and know your pain well....women who can all encourage each other in the Lord, comfort each other and pray for each other. Thank you for sharing this God appointment with Lisa, with all of us.

I am rather new to the blogging world and am so amazed at the tapestry of people God has woven together as a result. I, too, was gifted with a son who had Trisomy 18. Joshua Isaac was born on August 14, 2002 and went into the arms of Jesus on December 11, 2002. He was such a gift from God. At that time, there wasn't a blogspot, that I knew of...there were no common threads, no one really knew what we were going through...and many times, it was a lonely road...but God used Joshua to teach me so much about HIM. I give Him all the praise for the work He did in and through me. And for bringing us through each step.

Joshua is one of the reasons, I joined the blogging world....and as I have read your blog regularly and the blogs of all the women you met at the Deeper Still conference...I was/am so moved and touched by this world and group of God fearing women that God brought together. I hope to keep Joshua's memory alive to others through blogging and it has been very theraputic for me, to be reminded of all that God has done and continues doing.

I have listed your blog on my sidebar, as well as those of the other T18 mommies....I hope that is ok? Please let me know if it isn't.

Thank you for sharing from the heart of God your journey, and the life and death of Jacob. I am praying that God will continue to strengthen you and use you to share the love of Christ.

In Christ,Stacy

Anonymous said...

Hey Guys...I'm really missing you guys!!!! I keep checking the blog and nothing... How are you guys doing? I know your probably really busy with your 2 beautiful boys and it being summer but I really need a fix!!!! Hope to hear from you soon!!!!

Stacey Piadlo

KellyMomof2Angels said...

I just wanted to say thank you soo much for sharing your precious angel with me. I have followed your blog through his life from the moment I found about my son Kayson. Jacob's precious little face is burned into my very soul. My 2nd angel Kayson Tyler was stillborn at 18wks 4 days due to Trisomy 18. He had HLHS, PDA and Double Outlet Right Ventricular Septal Defect, as well as the clenched fists, he had the cysts on his brain, and only one kidney. That is what drew me to Jacobs story. I am forever greatlful to have shared part of his life with you. He is now a piece of my heart. I know he is up there with Kayson and his older brother Aiden who passed at 15wks 1day due to blood clot in his cord on March 14th 2007. God bless to you and your family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. If you ever want to email me. My address is Arzshawn@yahoo.com Take care and lots of love, and angel kisses sent to Jacob. Kelly (Angels Aiden and Kayson's Mommy)

KellyMomof2Angels said...

I just wanted to say thank you soo much for sharing your precious angel with me. I have followed your blog through his life from the moment I found about my son Kayson. Jacob's precious little face is burned into my very soul. My 2nd angel Kayson Tyler was stillborn at 18wks 4 days due to Trisomy 18. He had HLHS, PDA and Double Outlet Right Ventricular Septal Defect, as well as the clenched fists, he had the cysts on his brain, and only one kidney. That is what drew me to Jacobs story. I am forever greatlful to have shared part of his life with you. He is now a piece of my heart. I know he is up there with Kayson and his older brother Aiden who passed at 15wks 1day due to blood clot in his cord on March 14th 2007. God bless to you and your family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. If you ever want to email me. My address is Arzshawn@yahoo.com Take care and lots of love, and angel kisses sent to Jacob. Kelly (Angels Aiden and Kayson's Mommy)

Cathy said...

Karen,
I still check in to see how you are doing. I am so happy for the friends that Jacob has brought into your life. Thank you for taking the time to keep writing.
Cathy & Annabel

Bobbie said...

Just want to see how you are doing and letting you know that I am praying for you.

Sonja said...

A note to remind you I am still praying for you and your family. I check in daily to see if you have any updates on how things are going in your lives. I have a journal with Jacobs photo on the front and that is where my prayer request go. Thank you
God Bless