A Rough Week

What a week! Monday night Ally started with the stomach virus and all went down hill from there. Nana (my mom) was the next victim with Jon Brent following. I have felt very uneasy all day, but praying that is all I have. Anna Lea has remained well thus far. Praying that continues. Ally still hasn't recovered fully, but she has started to perk up a little this afternoon.
This was to be a big weekend for sweet baby Ally as Sunday she will turn 1!! (more to come on her birthday on Sunday) The family was going to celebrate her big day Sunday after church, but due to the stomach virus invading our house, I decided to postpone the celebration until next Saturday.

Wednesday afternoon when I came in from school, I had a message from the monument company stating Jason's headstone had come in and had been placed at the cemetery. Whoa. I wasn't prepared for the emotions I would experience seeing this. I am including a picture. I hope this doesn't "freak" some of you out, but I thought some might like to see how it turned out.

This picture was NOT at all staged. Anna Lea was very moved by reading the stone. I included all of our names on the back of his stone, which is what she is reading. She was very proud that her name was on her daddy's stone. I was really just trying to get the stone in the picture and when I got back in the car and flipped through my camera, I noticed her standing in the background of all of the pictures. In case you can't read what I included on his stone besides his name, here it is as follows:

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

I prayed a lot over what should be written. The Lord placed this song (In Christ Alone) in my heart and I thought this particular excerpt was very fitting. We sang this song at Jason's funeral. It is such a powerful song and one that Jason loved to sing as well. Jason truly had no fear in death. Did he want to leave us behind? Absolutely not, but he was never fearful of where he was to spend eternity. A dear friend told me how she loved how when people read this stone they'd have to ask themselves if Jesus commanded their destiny. I love the thought that even years from now, Jason's death could still be pointing others to Jesus! I know that would make him proud.

My heart has hurt this week for Jason in such a real way. I guess no different from any other week, but it has just hurt deeply. Praise God He doesn't hurt for us! I can't tell you what comfort that brings me each day. Heaven...what a gift and a promise! I assure you I couldn't make it one day without the reality of heaven resonating deep in my soul.

Please check in with me on Sunday for a little blog entry on Ally's 1st year! For now, thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement. You'll never know how you all lighten the load with your prayers and sweet words! So, so good for my soul...