Happy Birthday, David!

Today is his first birthday in Heaven....and I miss him horribly!

I'm trying to imagine the party he is having, sharing so much more than his birthday with our God, grandparents, angels and other saints but I'm a finite being and just can't quite put it all together in my brain!

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.

That verse was just perfect for David...God formed him just the way He wanted to. The death certificate says 'congential malformation of the brainstem.' No matter what, he was my baby brother...and a very special one indeed!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....and David was a huge blessing!!!

God's girl,

Pamela

Memories, Comfort and hopefully a Smile

I thought by now this might be easy...but I was wrong! David has been such a HUGE part of my life since I was 7 yrs old and the hole left behind seems to be bigger day by day. Two weeks from today would be his 35th birthday, which I know makes it even more difficult, and of course, Christmas is just a few days later. All those years ago, he was our Christmas present. Now, he's God's!

I remember when our girls were small, my two and my niece, they would want to be very near to David no matter what he was doing. They would walk down the hallway with him, staying so close to him that he would bump into them as they moved down the way. There were times when we were scared that one or both of them would fall but that didn't happen. However, in the last few days, the memory of our littles running between David's legs down the hallway have been a source of joy and tears for me! He loved his nieces, his nieces loved him.

My youngest, Cupcake, posted a note on Facebook that showed her feelings so eloquently...."My Uncle was special, born with special needs, but to me he's always been just a little boy stuck in a mans body." As she was grieving a few days after we got home, she mentioned that she really didn't think God would take David this time, because "he's always gotten better." That is a big part of the ache we share, that so many times God did touch David's physical life and restore his health...until now.

My CD said,God was gracious in so many areas before he left and for that I am grateful. Yes, He was...gracious to give us David and allow us to love him for all these years!

I was so comforted by the outpouring of love shared through Facebook friends. God used so many friends to give us words of comfort that have been a soothing balm for my hurting heart! I would like to share some of those with you...I hope you don't mind.

From my high school friend, Sean, He as well as you have been the Sunshine in a lot of peoples lifes. I loved him and enjoyed watching him when he was younger.

From Sean's Mom, Miss Jeri, The Angels are welcoming that Precious David into Heaven . No more pain and sickness.I know he will be missed. It was my joy to be his Beginner Sunday School teacher for several yrs. He was always a joy.

From my church friend, Dorothy, I pray that after the tears, the memories would be yours forever and provide smiles and joy.

From my friend, Julie, we were friends before David was born...David was such a joy to be around. I rememeber him and his sweet smile like it was yesterday.

From our Aunt Trudy, David was so precious.

From my school friend, Kim, I'm so saddened to hear about David....I know he meant so much to you and your family and will be missed greatly!

From our cousin, Fonda, David was such a sweet and caring young man. and God Bless him always.. keep looking to God for Peace and Comfort. and try to remember the good times and what Joy he brought to your life.and others. I know personally, he touched my life. all the obstacels he had. he always seemed to be happy. and i do remember him growing up. always smiling.. and anxious to see us when we all went to Nannys' house.

Another school friend, Lisa, Heaven is certainly sweeter with David there.

Another school friend, Richard, Our loss, Heavens gain. David has perfect health now Praise God!!!!!!

My Bible study friend, Linda, Your sunshine is now able to truly shine.

Our church friend, Kay, We remember him from when he was a happy, loving little boy back in the old "Deetsville" days.

My school friend, Wendy, Sweet sweet David I know will be missed!! He was absolutley nothing but sunshine!!!

Another school friend, Penny, David was one of God's sweetest creations to touch all our hearts.

My friend, Melissa (who married a school friend), So thankful that David is running down those streets of gold tonight.

Another school friend, Kristi, I know you all loved David deeply and will miss him terribly. I do rejoice in the fact that David finally has his glorified body and is having a ball in heaven.

Another school friend, Brenda, David was so sweet. Now he is in heaven and your family has its own guardian angel. He was an angel on earth! Now he is in heaven with the Lord.

My friend, Cheryl, who lost her Mom earlier this year, I went to sleep last night picturing David RUNNING down the streets of gold into ...Jesus' arms!

My school friends, BB and Georgia, Cheryl's sister, David was such a special guy with such an impact on everyone who knew him! I bet he is celebrating up there with my Mom!
David was a blessing to all who came in contact with him.

Cupcake's friend, my 'son' Joel, Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.

So, this post is longer than I thought it would be....if you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading! Re-reading these expressions of comfort and love have soothed my heart today. I hope some of them made you smile...they did me!!!

I am so thankful for all the friends that have walked this road with us...including many of you, my blog readers. There were others shared in private messages and e-mails and I am so honored by all who took the time to love on us! Thank you!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....like written expressions of love!

God's girl,

Pamela

Love and Respect for a Lifetime...a book review

by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

I believe I have found a new 'go-to' wedding and anniversary gift!!!

This little gift book packs a whole lot of scriptural and practical ways to relate to our wonderful spouses in a mere 152 pages...and I love it!!! (yes, I pretty much just love books, but this one is really cool!!!)

A quick summary of the book is on page 106..."Winning or losing during conflict is not the goal. Oneness is..." Oh, how true and how my heart was lifted to read these words in black and white!

We are coming upon 22 yrs of marriage and while I wish someone would have given us something similar in the beginning, I think the fact that we have fought through so many areas and issues makes this book even sweeter now...so, it really is for every stage of marriage!

I hope that if you do purchase Love and Respect as a gift, that you will take the time to read it for yourself and ask God to help you apply the principles in your own relationships, not just marriage!

The book is an easy read, and while it can be convicting at times, Dr. Eggerichs is never condemning or condescending, in my opinion. This is a companion book to Love and Respect; The Love She Most Desires, The Respect He Desperately Needs. I'm hoping to read that one soon!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....like my wonderful husband of 22 yrs!

God's girl,

Pamela

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Processing my weekend in the mountains

My Sissy and I buried our baby brother yesterday.

Mom buried her baby boy.

Dad buried his only son.

The mountains of North Carolina have always held a special place in my heart, but now it will be even more special. Now, those mountains hold my little brother's shell.

David was the only one of the three of us not born in October and after the service yesterday, Mom mentioned that October was her month for welcoming babies, not letting them go. I told her David wanted his own special day in October – and special it was for him!

One of the pastors yesterday spoke of “the prison of bones” and David brings a deeper perspective to that. David’s body was never like it was supposed to be; he was born with multiple birth defects including lack of nerves, eyes that would not completely open and just recently we learned no arteries in his legs.

When he was younger, David didn’t let anything stop him…he started walking when he was three – flanked by Sissy and me! He participated in the 50 yd dash and shotput at Special Olympics. He was an honorary rodeo clown for the Mesquite Rodeo as a young teenager. He told everyone about the love and grace of God. He was a busy young man! And, a man who loved the Lord.

His joy was contagious! You couldn’t be around David without cracking a smile at some point!

On Saturday evening, my family had arrived in NC and we were very graciously welcomed by a retired couple that let us stay in their beautiful home. My Dear and I were standing out on their deck looking at the lights below and he began to comfort me. I was having a difficult time processing it at that point. I don’t know what all he said but I thought about the fact that if I asked God to raise David from the dead, he could! I know that sounds just odd but I was really missing him at that point and Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead after 4 days!!!

Then I thought of how David would feel…he is now free from his very broken body! He is now in the presence of our Almighty God, praising and singing at the top of his lungs! And I realized, he would kill me if I wanted to have him back that badly!!!

Tim Surrett sang “Wish You Were Here” at the funeral….a very fitting song to know that it is how David is probably feeling about now! He is no longer a prisoner of that broken body…he is WHOLE! And, in the presence of Jesus –which is exactly where he wants to be!



I still miss him, and I know that I always will. However, I don’t ache like I did at first because I know he is so much better in Heaven! I am also reassured that one day, in the not too distant future, I will see him again….after I get over the ‘shock and awe’ of seeing my Lord for the first time!

I'm praising God from whom all blessings flow....and David was a HUGE blessing!

God's healing girl,

Pamela

I wrote this on the way home yesterday. Didn't want to change anything, though...I'm truly processing these emotions. Thank you for reading.