Our most sad Christmas ever. Lord help us to get through this special day and to remember why we celebrate Christmas. Just as You gave up your son for the world, help us to stay focused on You today and not our own selves. You feel our pain and sorrow, You know what we are going through, and only You know why. I know something good is going to come out of our tragedy, it is just so hard to comprehend it right now. Let your loving arms surround all of us today, give my mama and Shirley and Chris and Amy and Haley an extra big hug of your gentle spirit. We all need You so much in the coming days. Take away any bitterness we may harbor towards anyone so when we call on You we will have a pure heart. Help us to keep our joy that comes in our everyday communion with you. Let us abide in you so you can abide in us. Without You ,Lord, we would all die of a broken heart. Keep us with your mercies, which are new every morning. Forgive me for my anger and bitterness, and fill me with your love that my light might shine in a dark and lost world. Mold me into the kind of person that only reflects the Son-Light. The joy of the Lord is my strength, I need my joy in You multiplied right now, Lord. I know this is the day the Lord hath made, and I WILL REJOICE and be glad in it. Thank you, Jesus! You are always there, just a whisper of your name away. How Awesome you are! Amen and Amen
Leah's First Christmas with Papaw and Janie 12/25/09
Leah I am so sad, then I got to thinking you are in the presence of the Lord. That is Awesome! You will be celebrating with Aunt Janie (who went to heaven in 1967) and papaw Boling (went to heaven in 1987) There are lots of family with you, and God's word says we will be known as we are known. What a promise for us. We are sad, we didn't want you to leave us that day, but God knows it all. I thought about the bracelet I gave you for graduation with the inscription from Jeremiah29:11. God knows the plans He has for us. We have made lots of friends through your memorial website, people who have suffered losses of loved ones, some who went to Heaven the same way you did. We are not alone in our grief. We will miss you for the rest of our days, but we have hope of a great reunion someday. Won't we be shouting! I just want you to know how much we all loved you. You were more than a niece to me. You were like one of my children, especially since all I ever had was boys. We know God is going to help us in our fight ahead. Please visit us in some dreams, that would be so sweet and comforting. I believe you have, I just can't recall them, but when I wake up I just feel your presence so strong. Look up Missy's sons Lance and Zacc. Krystal's sister is there too. We will never be the same, but God is helping us to endure because joy comes in the morning. Love sweet Leah forever, Aunt Jo
Sweet Leah, The day you went to Heaven, Haley and I saw a rainbow. There was not a cloud in the sky. Little did we know at the time what it meant. In just a little while, we got the terrible news that changed our lives forever! I still cannot believe you are gone. I miss you so much. Haley misses you so much. What am I going to do without you?