It has been my heart's desire these past few weeks that GOD would collect all of your prayers and lavish them on us when the time came for us to go through Reese's room and closet.
Hope to plan and prepare the nursery again began to invade my heart where only dread and sorrow had been.
The time came this weekend. It was a step I needed to take. I was as ready as I could be.
A sweet friend reminded me "...even Jesus asked at least twice "If there's any other way..." (Matthew 26:39 & 42) and ending with "...may Your will be done." Oh the faith it takes to pray that prayer... I think we are so conditioned to pray for safety and comfort that sometimes we forget His will isn't necessarily about either of those, but His will IS GOOD."
Putting away Reese's clothes and her little pretties represented many things to me, but it mainly meant closing the door on what our family would have been physically on earth with the four of us. Colson (and the LORD, of course) has opened my eyes to a new path of what our family will now be with Reese in Heaven.
GOD answered my prayers and many others yesterday as I felt completely covered with and carried by prayer. Thank you! The LORD was so gracious to allow me to feel such peace in something that could have been impossible to face.
As we emptied Reese's closet and room I wanted to fill it up just as quickly with things we have for Colson. I have been planning (in my mind) and shopping for his nursery for awhile. I have such a peace about having another little boy.
The nursery has been Zach's, Reese's and now Colson's room.
Reese, thank you for filling our lives with beauty eight months ago today. You've made Heaven more real, GOD's Word more alive, and my heart more full.
Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over?
Isaiah 51:10
I've been praying for you daily and will continue to with Colson's new life!
ReplyDeletereading this gave me chills. i can't imagine how hard that must have been. praise the Lord for giving you a peace in the midst of a daunting task. praise the Lord also for the new life of your sweet babe, Colson who will soon fill that room. i'm sure it brings you so much joy knowing that reese's room will no longer be empty. praying for you, sweet katie!
ReplyDeleteIt must have been hard packing away Reese's things. Reese's short life has touched so many, including me. Still praying for you all.
ReplyDeleteThe reese's cups have been in our pantry since easter. They are soo good to eat!!! I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you to put away all of her things. I am praying for you and can't wait to meet the newest member of your family. Please pray that my husband and I can get pregnant soon!
ReplyDeleteYour strength amazes me.
ReplyDeleteKatie,
ReplyDeleteMy heart again goes out to you. I remember when I began packing little Rebekah's items up. It was so hard and emotional, but God carried me through. I know you can attest that His grace is sufficient. I don't think I really understood or "knew" what those words meant until then...
I am so excited about Colson's arrival. I pray that in the coming days, God will continue to flood your mind with peace and joy as you wait for his arrival.
Much love, Karen
Reese is lucky to have such a wonderful Mom, big brother AND little brother! My little girl is sandwiched between her brothers and I think of all the love and protection she will get from them. Zach and Colson will love her as much in heaven as they would have here; she's one special girl!! Someone just commented on my blog "God leads you to it and He will lead you through it!" Words that are so true and comforting. Congrats on your pregnancy!
ReplyDeleteIt must have been so hard to pack up Reese's things. I only hope you know how strong you are and how much of an inspiration you have been to me. I cannot imagine how you were feeling, but just know I am always praying for you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post!
ReplyDeleteYour words are so inspiring. I am always amazed at your faith and it always humbles me. That is so precious to think that Reese has made heaven more real. What a precious little angel she is. Blessings to you and the boys. :)
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 26:3
ReplyDelete3 You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
Been praying for you daily!
ReplyDeleteI know that this was a hard task for you. I am glad you felt the prescence of Our Lord.
IS. 40:31
I think it is complete sovereignty that we both did that yesterday. I completely relate to everything you wrote and I am so glad the Lord's peace covered you in every way. I love that sweet Reese and Tyler are together and that we will now have our boys so close together. I can't wait for Colson and Sawyer to meet!
ReplyDeleteLove you!
I know that must have been so hard to put away Reese's things. I'm so glad that you were blessed with such peace and comfort. Only our great God can do that!! I know He will also bring you so much joy as you begin to fill the room with Colson's things. Sending prayers your ways!
ReplyDeleteKatie,
ReplyDeleteMy heart hurts for you!! I really can't imagine. This is a verse I like a lot!!!
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
Still praying!!! I can't wait to see Colson!!!
Hugs,
Melissa
Katie, I love that you are real enough to talk to Reese here on your blog. Thank you for including us in something so intimate and personal. May you be rewarded in this, may you also continue to feel His peace as you place Colson's items in your nursery. Continuing to pray for your family.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written. You inspire me and I thank you for that. I may not know your pain, but I pray for your healing, health, and family every night!
ReplyDeleteKatie, I can't imagine how hard that must've been! You are such an inspiration to me! Thanks for sharing your life with us! Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteI don't comment often, but you are always in my prayers. I am so thankful that this was something peaceful instead of what it could have been. God is so wonderful to those that love Him. Will continue to pray for you and baby Colson. ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine having to pack up Reese's sweet things. So happy to hear you had peace and were able to have excitement about placing some of Colson's things in his new room.
ReplyDeleteReese's flowers (in the pic below) are gorgeous!
You're always in my prayers.
I am so glad you felt covered in prayer. That was a big deal to clean her room and prepare it for Colson!
ReplyDeleteOh Katie, I can only imagine what you've been through. I am happy that you are at peace with this. I did put on storage all the baby clothes I had this past weekend too. It was though, but it was necessary. The funny thing is I never bought a single thing for the baby when I was pregnant. It seems that God was sending me some message of some kind.Because I only have things that were given to me.
ReplyDeleteI send you a big hug.
Dear Katie,
ReplyDeleteI ran into your beautiful MIL today and she told me about your time in the nursery, another demonstration of your sure faith in our great God. I'm proud of you and Jason and love you so.
"Hear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul."
Ps. 86:1-4
I am praying for you and your family.
Ms. B.
I just caught up on your blog, Katie. Sweet, sweet, sweet. I have so many comments, but I'm at a loss for words right now.
ReplyDeleteYou and your family are precious. I just smile looking at your pictures and reading your words.
My prayers are with you!
I am so glad that God gave you His peace as you started this difficult task. I pray that He continues to provide you new blessings to enjoy Colson's arrival into your family and Reese's constant presence over you all.
ReplyDeleteEver in our prayers
Laura Ann
lauras2littleboys.blogspot
I read Isaiah 65 this weekend in the Holman Christian version and where it talks about the New Heaven, in verse 20 it says "a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days" I couldn't help but think of you and pray for you! Praying for you as you make this new transition in your life!
ReplyDeletethats such a big step....i'm proud of you. praying for you as you navigate these waters....
ReplyDeleteI know how hard it is to clean out a nursery. I am sorry you had to go through Reese's belongings and pack them away. I pray for you guys daily.
ReplyDeleteYour three babies are just gorgeous - and they are so lucky to have a momma like you!
I prayed for you on the 11th. It's always stuck in my mind, as it's our daughter's birthday. She is three months younger than little Reese would have been. So I think of your little Reese, even though I don't know you in person. And I think of you and how hard it was/is/will be. Your nursery time sounded peaceful, rightly timed and sweet. My heart goes out to you.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you and your family.
ReplyDeletei don't even know you but I came upon your blog via Kelly's Korner...and all I can say is wow. you are a very strong woman and although no one can really say WHY these things happen to totally amazing sweet people I do know that God has given you an ABUNDANT amount of grace to deal with it. And there is no end to the grace that He can give. I lost a baby too and my heart goes out to you because I know what you are going through in some way.The way I looked at it was that God just loved that baby so he wanted to spend more time with it until the day she welcomes you into Heaven with a huge Hug and whispers the words "mommy"
ReplyDeleteBe blessed