the "club"

one of the nicest surprises to come out of blogging about our experience with jonathan, is that not only is it very healing, but i've learned that the blogosphere holds an entire support group-like network of moms like me who have walked a similarly devastating path and who cling to the promises of our Lord for comfort and healing.  (ask any of them...it works.)

we blog about our experiences and then we go searching for blogs like ours in order to glean anything we can in order to learn and grow from each other.  we spend time encouraging each other through our blogs by commenting and sending emails.  and while there is no doubt each of us would do just about anything to give up our membership in the "mothers who have lost a baby" club, i would say that for the majority of us, if we have to be members, then we are going to make the best of it. 

so i am honored to be nominated by lori at lori does maryland for the beautiful blogger award.  i already follow lori's blog regularly to be encouraged by someone walking an even more difficult road than i, and who does it way more gracefully than i ever could.  thanks lori for your beautiful blog!

i'm also happy to share a few blogs with you that have encouraged me on my journey.  the common threads, of course, are that we have all lost a baby within the last couple of years, and we all love the Lord and trust in His purposes for our losses.  i hope you will visit them and pray for these wonderful women:
 
shelley at the talbotts
lindsey b. at our hope endures
katie at our little piece of paradise
katy at in hannah's honor
amanda at blessings 4 life  (just said hello and goodbye to her precious caroline a week ago.)
rachelle at hailey's hope
molly at the pipers
and angie at bring the rain
(the last two are very well-known blogs.)

*****

speaking of networking, a couple of nights ago, i had the privilege of meeting the momma of joshua, who is due in april and has been recently diagnosed with trisomy 18.  over a mexican dinner with a mutual friend, we shared the terrible moments of learning something was wrong, making the decision to carry to term, birth plans and DNRs, holding jonathan as he died, and other depressing subjects that no one should have to discuss when speaking about their child.  however, in spite of the mostly dreary subject, there weren't many tears at all.  our conversation was very comfortable and was actually punctuated with laughter here and there.  i don't think anyone would have guessed that our main topic was preparing for the loss of a baby.

but then, the common thread we shared was our faith in Christ. 
He gives us the strength we need to get through something like this.
He gives us hope, reminding us that we will see our babies again one day.
He gives us the courage to move forward in life; to be able to smile and laugh in the midst of difficult circumstances.
He comforts us, so that we might comfort someone else who needs it.
...and we can't imagine life without Him.

please consider praying for sweet joshua and his family.