Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Service

Hey all. Thank you so much for your words of kindness and sympathy. They definitely help. We both did get a fairly good nights sleep last night so thank you to all who prayed for that for us. I still have to remember to take it easy since I just had these two little ones...I forget that the body does need some rest to heal...and we need this body to heal so that God can bless us with more children! I just wanted to let you know that we will be having a small graveside service on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. for all who want to attend. It will be pretty brief but we want to celebrate Owen and Cooper's lives and we are praying that God will use this time for His glory. The service will be at Valley Grove...this is where Emmalee is buried and these two will be buried next to her. When we bought our plots last year for Emmalee you could either buy two or four...those were the options. Well we wanted to be buried near her someday so we bought the four...and I told God that we did not need the fourth plot...so don't you go and fill it for us. In fact...Jon and I had said that we better just plant a tree there so it is taken. I guess God does have other plans...plans I do not understand right now. But I don't need to...He will take care of us. However, I have told him that the other two are for Jon and I and so therefore He can't have them! Well thank you to you all for walking with us...God is bigger than we are...we are just trusting Him as He writes this new chapter of our lives. I promise I will get into more details of the day in the next few days and weeks. Please just bear with me...I don't feel like I have the strength right now. But we have already seen how God has taken care of us thus far and I will share that with you some day. I will leave you with a picture...one of my favorites that I have of Owen and Cooper. I'll share more pictures too as time goes on. Thank you again!

Beautiful Feet

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ali and Jon,
They look so perfect--the feet just like in the ultrasound. I still cannot take it in. I will be there for you on Thursday.
Love,
Carrie

Carrie said...

Ali & Jon, you don't know me, I only found your blog yesterday. I just wanted to let you know I am praying for you. My heart is breaking for you and I have cried many tears for your family. But I am also encouraged by your incredibly deep faith and the strength you are finding in the glorious love of our God.

Unknown said...

Hey Buddy
They are sweeter than sweet. What a special picture. I love their little toesies.
We'll keep praying for you.
Love ya lots!!

Candie said...

The boys are beautiful! Thank you Jesus for creating these two precious boys. We will be praying for strength for you two on Thursday. I wish we could be there in person, but know that we are there in spirit. We love you guys.

Anonymous said...

Jon and Ali,

We love you...you are in our prayers. The boys are beautiful....and I love the names you chose for them. We are crying with you--I will give you a call soon.

-Philip and Chelsea

Anonymous said...

What precious little ones. Although we never knew them, we do miss them. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful but sad picture with us all.
Love, Pat and Janet Kruse

Karen & Chad said...

You both are such a blessing to so many! Thank you for sharing lives with us at a time when it would be so easy to do otherwise. We love you!
Karen and Chad

Dana Sassman said...

Their feet are beautiful, and just remember they are walking along in paradise with their beautiful savior. My heart is will you Ali. You are an awesome, awesome lady!

Jane Anne said...

I came over here from Blessed Chaos (Carrie's site). I just wanted to leave you a note to say that I just prayed for you. I will continue to pray because, honestly, my heart is heavy for you. That is a beautiful picture. I am glad you took pictures.
Sending love and prayers.
Jane Anne

Anonymous said...

Such a comforting picture-to see them together. What a special blog for Emmalee. I am so sorry we cannot be there on Thursday. Our hearts are with you and we marvel at and share your strength of faith with others we know! You really are being a blessing for many, even through your pain. Love to all. Lynne and Dave

Anonymous said...

"They are precious...so precious in His sight! Our hearts hurt for you...Those little footprints remind me of the trite poem "footprints in the sand...and the last sentence says..."The Lord replied,“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,is when I carried you.”...May He carry you! We love you...Mike and Pamela

The Athearns said...

What a beautiful picture. Four beautiful little feet, twenty perfect little toes. I wish more than anything we could be there for you Thursday. Know that we are thinking of you and praying for you always.

Anonymous said...

Ali and Jon-

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is hard to find words to say to you at a time like this but i just want to let you know how much you are in my thoughts and many many prayers. There are many people back here in Illinois that love you and we are all praying so much for you. What a precious picture to cherish always.

Love,
Tammy

J.T. and Kelli said...

You've all been on our hearts, and in our prayers. We are thinking of you, and will continue praying. What a great picture of some sweet little feet on those sweet little boys. We wish we could be with you on Thursday. Love to you,
Kelli and JT

Simply Sara said...

I came over here from a link on Carrie's site.
My heart is broken for you. Your kids are all absolutely beautiful!

I am so humbled by the depth and beauty of your faith.
May you be wrapped in peace and love.
I just wanted you to know I am praying for you.

Holly said...

Ali & Jon,
I am Karen & Chad's sister-in-law and Karen has always talked to me about you two, your first little girl and now these two precious little boys. My heart and prayers go out to you two as I have two little ones and could not imagine what you two are going through right now. I always think that God doesn't put anything on anyone who can not handle it and you two seem to have such a deep faith in Him and that makes me want to be as strong as you two. My husband and I have a 4 year old little boy that has a brittle bone disease and with every broken bone he has I think it makes our faith in God grow stronger. You two have a truely inspiring faith and we will continue to pray for you all.
Love and prayers,
Holly B.

Anonymous said...

Jon and Ali,

We are so very sorry to hear about the loss of your beautiful, precious babies. Our hearts go out to you as we continue to pray for strength for you both.
Love,
Justin & LeAnne Fricke

Laurie said...

Jon and Ali,

As I've said before, your faith is humbling. Our hearts ache for you and your family. We and our church family, Leaf River Baptist, will be holding you up in prayer.

Your Forreston friends,

Jonathan & Laurie Schneiderman

Anonymous said...

Jon & Ali,

Your strength is amazing and so inspiring. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Jessica, Chad, Carson & Mason VanZuilen

Anonymous said...

Ali and Family -

We can't imagine the loss you are feeling right now. I hope that the Lord continues to bring you all strength and peace during such a hard time. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

More Forreston Friends -

Mark and Tracey Robinson

Stai Family Farm said...

Wonderful picture. Thank you for sharing. You will be in our prayers... It is a very very sad and difficult time, I'm so sorry that you are going through this. My hubby and I went through this with twin girls. We weren't wise enough to take pictures. I'm so glad that you did. You are brave and it's so important to have the pictures to remember them by. Hugs and prayers,
karla

Michelle M. said...

Ali and Jon, the photo of Owen and Copper is beautiful. We will be praying very hard for you, especially on Thursday afternoon. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Anonymous said...

Ali and Jon,
Our hearts ache with you. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Wesleyan Women
Martha, Nancy, Shelly, Cheryl and Julia

Dan and Karen said...

Ali and Jon,

I am a fried on Suzi's - she sent out the prayer request for you. I can't begin to imagine your pain, know that there are hundreds or more out there praying for you and lifting you up before the Father.

Owen and Cooper's picture is beautiful. Know that their lives have meaning, and they are a miracle of God.

You will be in our hearts, prayers and tears.

Karen

Stai Family Farm said...

Praying for you both.......

Anonymous said...

Oh Ali!

We just heard the news. My heart is breaking for you! Please let us know if there is anything we can do. We'll be praying for you both.

Anne and Taylor

Anonymous said...

I'm so very sorry for loss of your precious babies. May the Lord bring you peace and comfort.
Jen (Aldorfer) Depperschmidt

Stephen and Michelle said...

Ali, I thought of you when I read this blog post, and wanted to pass it along to you.

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2009/02/i-will-never-forget.html

Praying for you...
Michelle

Abbie Burnham said...

Ali and Jon,

I just found your blogs today, and I wanted to let you know that I am praying for you right now. I can't understand what God is doing in your lives, but I know that he has such a big plan for you. I'm glad that Owen and Cooper had their big sister to welcome them into heaven.

Abbie

Anonymous said...

Jon & Ali,
We were with you in thought & prayer yesterday. I can't imagine anything harder than what you two have been through. Do know that we will continue to lift you both up in prayer and your families, too. I admire you so in your strong faith. HE WILL CARRY YOU NOW.
Love, Pat and Janet Kruse

Angie Smith said...

i lost my daughter in april, and i grieve with you. if you ever need someone to talk to who understands, please feel free to contact me at angelac519@gmail.com

angie
www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Dear Jon and Ali - Words cannot express my feelings. I'm sorry for your loss but I am overwhelmed at the testimony you provide. We are human, we hurt, yet you allow others to see that you are trusting God during this time and are giving thanks to God for the awesome gift of EmmaLee, Owen and Cooper in your lives. All three have left their "footprints" on my heart. I give thanks for them. May you and Jon feel the love of those in your life lifting you up in prayer. And I delight in knowing that I'll get to meet your sweet little ones in heaven. What a joyous celebration. Take care and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love
Robbie Smith (Kelli's mom)