Dealing with the pain after everyone’s gone home.

You’ve all heard the story of my dear friend that lost her baby girl to SIDS last week. Many of you left comments and words of encouragement for her and she was so grateful that she asked me to email them to her to be printed and kept.

I spoke with her today and I’d like to share a bit of that conversation with you. My heart aches for her so I’m asking a HUGE favor from you. One thing she mentioned was that she went to the mailbox and it was the first day she didn’t receive a card. I’m asking any of you that are willing to send her a card and/or leave her a comment here.  (If you’ll leave your email address in the comments, I’ll send you her mailing address.)

I’ve never felt the pain of losing a child and Lord willing, I never will. I’ve lost many friends and so many times I’ve wondered, “how does life continue to keep moving as if my friend hadn’t gone”. The thought of her feeling this way tears my heart out.  Listen to her story and please, take a short moment to drop a card in the mail. She really needs it right now.

Katrina: Hi sweetie, how are you doing.

Christi: one second at a time.  Thank you for everything.

Katrina: I am sooo sorry sweetie, I can’t  imagine your pain but I am praying for your comfort.

Christi: thank you. I am not sure how to move forward. I know I must but I am not sure how.

Katrina: That has to be the hardest part. I told my kids about it..they were so upset and have been praying for you ever since. It makes you realize how short life really is.

Christi: oh wow.. love and cherish every second. My only fear is that people will stop praying.

Katrina: how can I help you? Does it hurt to talk about it?

Christi: no. It is really comforting

Katrina:  I can only imagine I’d be questioning God. I mean I know he has his reasons but why. I don’t question His reasons..but what are they? That is my question.

Christi: Yeah….He has trusted me with so much pain and I only hope that I can deal with it the way He wishes. I am not sure about this part of it….maybe someday I can to help others. Right now I am just sooooooo broken.

Katrina: How is your husband?

Christi: crushed, but he stays strong most of the time for the kids. She was his heart and he had to give her CPR
and then tell her goodbye.

Katrina: how devastating.

Christi: SIDS.. I just don’t understand. I mean I have been told there was nothing I could do.

Katrina: I don’t think anyone understands SIDS. I  hope my post “I know how you feel” helps. I didn’t know what else to do but write.

Christi: it did.  I haven’t read all of the responses. It was perfect, really!!!! I would love for you to send them to me via e-mail. That way I can print and save them. That would be great. I went to the mail box today…. the first day there was not a card

Katrina: I’m so sorry, Sweetie.

Christi: I would have liked to believe they could do something but you and I have been around long enough to know
but you still hope. she went to bed her usual cheerful self  and they tell me just simply fell “asleep”,  very peaceful. We can only hope to go to heaven that way, you know?

Katrina: Certainly.

Christi: Thank you for listening and all you have done. I am going to watch a movie with the boys and hang on to them for a while.

Katrina: I’m here if you need me.

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I’d like to flood my dear friend with cards and letters. The hardest time is when folks go home and the house is quiet. Just a small note in the mail goes a long way. If you’re willing, please leave your email address and I’ll forward her address to you. Please leave her a note here and I will email them all to her. You are the most amazing viewers anyone could ask for.

 

Down right depressing…or is it?

With the economy crashing as fast as I can make a pot of coffee, I can’t help but wondering what steps I should be taking to prepare myself. I mean, how well can you prepare for a great depression? And is there more to it than a depression on the way?

I can only speak for myself as a Christian when I say, I believe there is a LOT more to it than the fall of our financial status as a country. I believe it means we are actually living in the end days and we’ll see Christ’s return sooner than later. With that being said, the thought of the depression simply depresses me.  Our days are numbered (in a stronger sense than living to die)

I found this article this morning. http://www.worldnetdaily.com Take a look at it if you have a minute. So much of it rings true and it doesn’t look good. I asked my husband to read it. His comment, “interesting”. For me, it’s frightening.

It’s odd. As a Christian, I should not fear Jesus’ return. It should be something I long for. Something I’m ready for. Truth is, it scares me. I know what’s coming. I know I’m ready in the sense that I’ve completely given my heart to Christ and am ready to meet Him. But I have a fear (as irrational as it may seem) that I will get there and not be able to locate my kids. We joke about my daughter hanging out at the feast, my youngest son hanging from a tree, and my oldest stalking DC talk to a live concert. Either way, what if I get there and I can’t find them. As odd as they may sound, I’m just not ready for the rapture for that reason.

As far as the depression. As a family, we are attempting to live on as little as possible. Looking into staying in a small house as apposed to buying a larger one with a larger payment. We’re storing food up and spending a lot of time in prayer.

What about you? What is your view on this? How are you preparing for the depression this country/world is headed for?  Does the thought of the rapture bring you comfort or fear? Am I alone in my worries? Your comments and thoughts are no only welcomed but greatly needed today.

 

The Boy Without Arms

Want to win 6 autographed novels??  Check this out..read all the way to the bottom.

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Think you got it bad?  I’ve got a special treat for you today.  So, grab your kleenix and your credit card and pull up a chair. You won’t want to miss this.

I recently met an amazing man on Twitter. Ah, twitter. My dear friend Marvin Wilson turned me on to it and I’ve been hooked ever since. Mostly because of people like Jeff Powers.

He’s a pastor turned ultimate Pay It Forward do-gooder. My kind of man. He works with a company called Global Hope Network. Together, they go into some of the poorest parts of the world and lend a hand up. This time, they’ve out done themselves.  And you thought Extreme Makeover was good….

See what Jeff Power and Global Hope Newtwork are up to now:

48 hours to change a life… and a town… Jan 29-30!

We’re going to turn an awful situation around, with a hand up not a handout.

To do it, we need the help of friends… $10 at a time.

Meet Aschelew. He lives in Woliso, Ethiopia. Together we’re going to change Aschelew’s and his brother’s lives (and demonstrate how to change more).

In Global Hope Network we help the poorest communities of the world develop. We show them how to develop holistically and sustainably.

We’re helping Woliso find ways to care for its multiplying AIDS-affected families, orphans and widows. Aschelew & his brother are two of them.

Here’s the painful story: Several years ago Aschelew was depressed over his parents’ AIDS, and his family chained him up to keep him from killing himself. The chains cut off the blood to his arms and he ended up losing both of them. Now his parents have died and Aschelew and his brother are alone.

Their story is one of the worst. And the town is eager to see how to help them.

Our PLAN!

Here’s what we’re gong to do, and it’s the SOLUTION to lifetime dependency: We’re going to help Aschelew and his brother launch a sustainable source of income.

Your gift will make it possible.

We sat down with them and the town leaders and worked out a plan. Aschelew’s brother is able to drive a donkey-cart and bring in some income that way. And Aschelew is naturally organized and can run a small store (with some hired younger help), and complete their income needs that way.

So we’re going to build Aschelew and his brother that store! (plus, it’ll be a house/store where they can live, instead of on the streets).

Here’s video of Aschelew from our August trip:

A volunteer team is going to Woliso February 15th to work alongside the townspeople to build Aschelew’s store… and build houses for 3-4 more AIDS-affected families, depending on how much money we raise.

Join us to help Aschelew and his brother!

During just two days, January 29-30, we’re collecting gifts from caring people, one gift at a time. Together we’ll build Aschelew’s store and homes for others.

ANY GIFT HELPS! Really! Your gift of $10, $20, $50, $100 or more will help get Aschelew’s store built. (Even $5 helps.)

And to everyone who gives, we’ll email pictures and video WHILE WE’RE BUILDING. That’s right, we’ll email pics and video nightly to the entire “giving team.” (I’ll add each person’s name below, as they give… look for your name to make sure we got your gift).

Just click on the “ChipIn” widget at the top of this page, and contribute what you can. It might mean skipping a meal out for us, but a TRANSFORMED LIFE for Aschelew and others.

We’re going to do this together. C’mon, jump in and have fun with us!

–Jeff Power, US Mobilization Director, Global Hope Network

So…I’m asking all my readers to help out. Any amount helps. We’ve got 2 days to raise the money. What am I doing? Well, I’ve got a basket full of goodys to be given in a drawing to any of you that participate.  Head on over, make your donation and come back here to post your email address letting us know you’ve donated.

Then, at the end of 48 hrs, I will draw a name from the participants to recieve the following:

2  autographed novels by Karen Kingsbury

1 autographed novel by me, Katrina Wampler

3 autographed novelettes by Vickie McDonough.

**** For every $10 you give, your name goes in the hat again.****

Make your donations now: