Loss of a Baby or Child? ADVICE?

I received this picture long ago from a friend as I was mourning not being able to have a biological child. She gave this picture to me as encouragement that Jesus was HOLDING my future child/children and had them "all picked out for us" in HIS TIMING. I remember my heart being SO SAD during that time & this "lifting me up". It still hangs on the mirror in our bedroom.

BOY, has GOD BEEN FAITHFUL to our family and filled our home to the brim with adoption from foster care, private adoption, 3 different sibling sets and giving us the blessing to carry a child through embryo adoption.

But today I look at this picture differently as the oldest had a 20 year old pregnant friend who was doing GREAT last Monday at her OB check up, went into labor Thursday and when she got to the hospital, her precious one was already gone....

I see Jesus holding her little one in His arms in heaven.

I come to you all for advice as I KNOW many of you have suffered the unbearable loss of a baby or child.

1. HOW CAN WE encourage this young mother in the weeks, months and years to come?
2. What helped you get through it?
3. Are there any books, websites etc.. that I can send her for strength?

And please say a prayer TODAY as she lays her precious one to rest as I type .

ME..On THIS DAY-20 Years AGO!

At 6pm, September 29, 1990

I had just given birth to my sweet angel-the oldest at age 20..

I was so young with such good skin..

My parents were SO SUPPORTIVE to me, their unmarried daughter.
I will never forget it.

How my dad went and got me a Big Mac and Fries after delivery...

How my mom stayed to help me for weeks after as my baby girl spent time in the NICU...

How we got our first photo together at K-Mart :)

And all her sweetness...

The oldest and I grew up together, side by side.

Now she's a grown up, married girl-all on her own, with her own hubby *sniff*!

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

WE MADE IT!

I am proud of you and love you so much!

Baby's First Concert....

The Captain got a wild hair while at the salon getting the boys haircuts yesterday..

He called me from there and said this...

"You wanna go to that concert? (BON JOVI)"

(We had friends that were going for their anniversary and I expressed my jealousy a time er thirty)

"LIKE DUH!!! OF COURSE I DO"

About 7 hours before the BON JOVI concert (which was 2 hours away)

We got tickets and called the oldest to see if she could babysit-she could!

Baby Nineya rocked out to Richie Sambora but was quiet during most of Bon Jovi.

It was so much fun & brought back SO MANY memories!

And might I add, Jon is NOT BAD to look at!

BUT, this guy is even BETTER to look at!

I want to thank The Captain today for

• BEING SPONTANEOUS
• Taking his PREGGO WIFE to see Bon Jovi
• Laughing at me as I drooled over Jon
• The great conversation & quality time
• holding my hand
• making sure the baby & I were pampered throughout the evening
• my over-priced XXL concert T
• Not laughing at me for bringing my pillow, blanket & pajamas to change into for the ride home.
• Getting me home safely at 2:00am
• AND JUST BEING DOWN RIGHT FUN to be around!

I LOVE YOU HONEY!

Our NEWEST Family Member!

THOUGHT IT WAS A BABY DIDN'T YOU??? HA...FOOLED YOU!

Meet our new son-in-law aka SIL :)It was a simple ceremony at the court house...It came on very quickly.

They are young & in love.

Our new SIL leaves for Iraq in September & I think this played a large part in the urgency to commit their love.He was a trooper today!

Less than 24 hours after the I DO's

He not only met my entire side of the family....

But also got broke in by my mom on one of the family traditions-

THE GAME OF FARKLE !

Here is OUR NEW FAMILY of 10!

The Oldest-my first born had this memorized as a very young child and tonight I pray this over "my baby" and her new husband.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

Lord we thank you for our new SIL. We pray that you will remain at the center of this marriage ALWAYS and that you will bless their union. We pray that they will turn to you and back to this verse when there are any signs of trouble. Marriage is hard. The only way through it is with YOU at the center. We pray that they live their lives to please you.