​I’ve always heard that holidays and vacations will be the hardest to get through, that statement couldn’t be truer. I still grieve Thomas every day, but I agree that holidays and vacations are the most difficult times throughout the year to overcome. This past summer, Buddy, Alexandria and I took a family vacation to the beach. Of course it was fabulous, fun and exciting; it was Alexandria’s first extended beach trip. It was such a joy to watch her play in the sand, and let the water splash her sweet little legs as she and her daddy would watch the waves crash against the shore. We had an amazing vacation, but something, someone was missing… Alexandria’s big brother Thomas. I didn’t get to watch my children build sand castles together, splash in the water together or play in the pool together, I never will during this lifetime. It is heart wrenching to know that Alexandria won’t grow up with her big brother. The only way I can explain it is that I have physical pain.

While on vacation, we took family pictures on the beach every evening. We have a bear that a sweet friend gave us that has a small blanket attached with Thomas’ name monogrammed on it. We use this bear to represent Thomas in pictures. He is not here physically with us but he will always be a part of our lives and this is our way of including him. Unfortunately, it’s the only way we can include him. One of the evenings we took pictures, we sat Alexandria down on the sand facing the Gulf and sat our Thomas bear beside her and took pictures of them. Oh my heart, they were the sweetest pictures I’ve ever seen. Honestly, I was speechless. All of the pictures turned out so good. While the pictures were breathtaking, my heart ached because Thomas wasn’t physically in them. Of course I would never wish Thomas out of Heaven, I’m thankful he’s healed and no longer suffering. But I would be lying if I didn’t say I wish he would have been healthy at birth and now getting ready to celebrate his little sister’s first birthday.
 
We miss Thomas more than I could ever describe. As I’ve stressed in previous blog posts, soak up every moment you have with your children. We are not promised tomorrow; anything can happen. I long for the day that I get to watch Thomas and Alexandria play together, wow, that thought is glorious! I praise God for the hope that we have that we’ll be with our son again one day soon.
 
Some beach
Somewhere
Daddy, Mommy, Thomas and Alexandria are all together, as a family, playing in the sand without a worry, without a care
Mommy can finally breathe; it’s like a breath of fresh air
I picture myself right there
On some beach, somewhere...

​Team Thomas participated in the Baby Steps Memorial 5K for the second year in a row on August 13. Several of our family members and friends joined us to remember our precious son along with many other babies that have gone on to be with Jesus by participating in the 5K and One Mile Fun Run. It was such a special and unforgettable day. It blessed our hearts to receive so much love and support from our friends and family who got up early on their Saturday morning to be a part of Team Thomas. We would like to thank everyone who participated; we love and appreciate you so much!

​This year looked much different to me than last year, probably because last year it had only been a few months since Thomas passed away, it was our first year to participate in the Run, and I was pregnant with Thomas’ baby sister. This year I had a better feel of what the day would look like and could better prepare myself. As I reflect back on Saturday, I think about the sadness, yet joy I felt. While my heart hurt because we were running in memory of Thomas and other sweet babies, I also experienced joy to see so many people show love and support for their friends and families. It can be an extremely emotional day and to know you have people there walking alongside you means a lot. The morning began with the 5K and One Mile Fun Run, followed by pictures with our family and friends. There were a lot of fun activities the kids were able to enjoy. To close out the day, there were giveaways, of which we had several winners, and a balloon release. I did fine emotionally all morning until right before the balloon release… we were standing there and my little sister started asking me about the Pandora bracelet I was wearing. Buddy gave it to me as a gift after Alexandria was born. It includes five charms: a little boy to represent Thomas, his birthstone, a little girl to represent Alexandria, her birthstone and a heart in the middle that says, “Mom.” I was explaining to my sister that I wear the bracelet the way I do so that Thomas is closest to my heart. I tear up as I write this…

​We would like to thank all those again who came out to be a part of Team Thomas; we are truly grateful for your love and support. Be sure to check out the race results. Also, be sure to check out pictures from the day. Proceeds from the Baby Steps Memorial Run benefited The Amelia Center, a comprehensive grief counseling center that provides free individual and family counseling to children and teens who have experienced a death, or to adults who have experienced the death of a child. This organization has been very helpful for Buddy and me during our time of grief over Thomas. If you didn’t get to participate in the Run but would still like to help, you can make a donation here. Please be sure to make your donation in memory of Thomas Alexander Lambert V so that we will be notified of your gift. Thank you again and go Team Thomas!

Buddy and I would like to invite you to join Team Thomas and participate in the 8th Annual Baby Steps Memorial Run benefiting the Amelia Center of Birmingham, Ala. The Amelia Center is a comprehensive grief counseling center that provides free individual and family counseling to children and teens who have experienced a death, or to adults who have experienced the death of a child. It is a non-profit program of Children’s of Alabama that has been serving grieving families since July 1997. The Center operates by donations and continued support from community members. All proceeds from the Baby Steps Run benefit the Amelia Center. CLICK HERE to learn more about the Amelia Center.
 
Buddy and I have received exceptional support from this organization over the past year and a half and would like to help support its cause. We would love for you to join us and run in memory of our precious Thomas! The Baby Steps Memorial 5K and One Mile Fun Run will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, at Tannehill State Park, 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla, AL 35111.
 
How to join Team Thomas
CLICK HERE to register. If you are participating in the 5K, “Team Thomas” should already be selected. If it is not, please select “Team Thomas” from the dropdown menu. The team registration is for the 5K only. If you would like to register for the One Mile Fun Run but still be a part of Team Thomas, no problem! Just register for the One Mile Fun Run and then e-mail us at: [email protected] to let us know. Please include “Thomas Alexander Lambert V, 5/22/14 – 12/5/14” in the “Running in memory” box. Online registration ends July 31. If there's enough interest, we will order Team Thomas T-shirts again this year. Pricing TBD.
 
Participants will receive free admission to the park, a race T-shirt and swag bag. The 5K will begin at 8 a.m. and the One Mile Fun Run will begin at 8:15 a.m. Door prizes, awards and a balloon release to our angels in Heaven will follow the Run. This will be a fun day for the entire family! There will be games and various activities for kids. CLICK HERE to learn more about the Baby Steps Memorial Run.
 
We hope you will join us on Saturday, August 13, to run in memory of our sweet Thomas. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to seeing you at the Run! 

Buddy and I presented our first-ever Thomas Memorial Scholarship in May 2015. We are committed to educating people about Thomas’ condition as well as to remember and recognize his precious life. We believed a scholarship would be a great way to honor him. I am the communications and event coordinator for First Priority Greater Birmingham, a ministry that connects the church to the school campus to share the hope of Christ with elementary, middle and high school students. We have amazing students that lead their First Priority clubs. Each year, we plan to present a scholarship to an exceptional First Priority student in memory of Thomas.
 
At the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, I spent time attending First Priority clubs, and after much observation, chose a student for the scholarship whom I believed best exemplified the qualities of our sweet baby boy. Thomas may have only lived a short life here on this Earth, but he made a huge impact on many people’s lives all across this world. To be a young baby, he exemplified the qualities of strength, hope and love. Thomas was such a strong fighter. He fought a long, hard and painful battle. He never gave up. Thomas gave us so much hope. Our faith in God was strengthened and we prayed like we had never prayed before. God chose to heal Thomas completely in Heaven, so we now cling to the hope that we will see him again one day soon. An abundance of love surrounded Thomas. He gave and received eternal love. Kaleb exemplified those same qualities and made a huge impact on other students’ lives in his school and community.

Our goal is to make the Thomas Alexander Lambert V Memorial Scholarship not only big, but HUGE. We would love to be able to give away more than one scholarship per year, and we plan to do this for the rest of our lives. We look forward to holding fundraisers to raise money for scholarships and also to create awareness about KID Syndrome. If you are interested in learning more about our ideas or would like to make a donation to the Thomas Alexander Lambert V Memorial Scholarship Fund, please e-mail us at: [email protected]. We appreciate your support! We hope you’ll take a moment to view pictures from the recent scholarship presentation.

​Sweet Thomas sitting upon Jesus’ lap and the two of them laughing together, and our family members and friends who have gone on crowded around them singing Happy Birthday, and everyone stuffing their faces with endless birthday cake, and dancing, and lots and lots of laughter… that’s the celebration I picture when I think of Thomas’ second birthday in Heaven (if birthdays are even celebrated in Heaven). Oh, how I wish I could have been there.

​The birthday week
The week leading up to Thomas’ birthday was very hard for me, especially the Friday before for some reason. It was awful, worst day for me in a while. That morning we had presented the Thomas Alexander Lambert V Memorial Scholarship to a very deserving student. On the way home, the song “Thy Will” came on the radio. Here are a few of the lyrics:
 
I'm so confused
I know I heard you loud and clear
So, I followed through
Somehow I ended up here
I don't wanna think
I may never understand
That my broken heart is a part of your plan
When I try to pray
All I've got is hurt and these four words
 
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
 
I heard this song for the first time that morning and wept the entire time thinking about my sweet Thomas and how my heart still aches that he's not here with me, not here growing up with his little sister. I have questions; I will never understand why Thomas had to be born with KID Syndrome and why his time on Earth was cut short. But, God's plans are far greater than I could ever imagine. Whatever you may be going through, just give it to God and say, "Thy will be done." Trust me, I know that's hard, but He is good and His plan is perfect. We're never going to understand, we just have to keep our faith and trust in Him.

​Thomas’ 2nd birthday – May 22, 2016
We decided to do something a little different for Thomas’ birthday this year; my mom actually came up with the idea. We celebrated at the cemetery where Thomas is buried. Our family and a few close friends joined us for a balloon release and cupcakes. Everyone wrote a message on their balloon to sweet Thomas; the kids loved that part of it. Having Thomas’ baby sister in our arms during the balloon release was very special. After watching our red and white balloons drift into the sky, we all enjoyed cupcakes and a time of fellowship. His party was simple but different and meant a lot to Buddy and me. It was never the party I imagined we would be having for Thomas’ second birthday, but I trust God’s will, not my will. So I will end with this: Luke 22:42 of the Bible says, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
 
We would like to thank all of our family and friends for your prayers, love and support; you will never know how much you mean to us. We hope you’ll take a moment to check out pictures from Thomas’ birthday celebration. 

​First of all, I want you to know you’re in my thoughts and prayers. Facing each day is not easy, believe me I know. And, if you’re anything like me, this particular day is going to be especially difficult to overcome. Please know that however you feel about this holiday is totally normal. If you want to lie in bed all day, that’s ok. If you want to go about your day as normal, that’s great! I would just like to share with you how I survived my first Mother’s Day in hopes that it can be of benefit and encouragement to you.
 
As Mother’s Day approached last year, I wouldn’t say I dreaded it, but I would say I was afraid to face it. Every day is extremely hard for me, but I knew that day was going to be even harder because I would be more aware of it and its meaning. When the thought of Mother’s Day crossed my mind, all I would think about is lying in bed and crying all day. I certainly didn’t think I would be able to make it to church, and I really didn’t want to get out and do anything. Honestly, I didn’t know if I would even be able to make it out of bed. As Mother’s day drew closer, Buddy and I began to ask others who have lost a child what they did for their first Mother’s Day after their loss. One couple told us they visited a different church in a completely different city from their own. A friend told me she wore a Super Man shirt to church to display that she’s a super mom because that’s what it takes to give a baby back to God. Our grief counselor told us that many couples go out of town to get away for the weekend. Go out of town, that actually sounded really good to me and that’s exactly what we did. The following is how I spent Mother’s Day weekend to try to survive. I hope these ideas help you.
 
Getting away for the weekend
Buddy had been following a Jeep Grand Cherokee for sale in Kentucky for quite some time and felt ready to make a move. So I told him that Mother’s Day weekend would be the perfect time for us to travel and purchase the Jeep. I knew this trip would be beneficial for both of us. Not only would it get me away for the weekend, but it would force me out of bed on Sunday because we would have to travel back home. Even though we weren’t doing anything too exciting for the weekend, Buddy still wanted to make it special for me. He booked us at a nice Marriott resort in Tennessee. After purchasing the Jeep on Saturday, Buddy took me to a really nice restaurant for dinner and then we saw a movie. It was a tough day, but we made the most of it and Buddy made our date memorable and special despite our circumstances.
 
Visiting my mother, family and doing a balloon release
After we returned home on Sunday, I was ready to see my mother. I went to my grandfather’s house where she was. I had something special planned for us to do together. My grandmother, my mom’s mother, passed away almost three years ago. My mom has had a very hard time since then. I got two balloons and told her I wanted her to write a message to Mawmaw and I was going to write a message to Thomas and then we would release our balloons to them. She loved the idea and immediately began writing her message. My mom, dad, brother, grandfather and myself all went outside together and released the balloons to our angels in Heaven. It was a very special moment for all of us, and it especially meant a lot to my mom. We then went back inside and my older sister and nephew joined us for cake to conclude the evening. As hard as the day was, I had such a great time with my family.

​Getting away for the weekend, doing the balloon release with my mom and spending time with my family definitely helped me get through Mother’s Day. And, if you choose to partake in any of these ideas, I pray that they help you just as they did me. However, the real reason I survived Mother’s Day is because of my faith. I am constantly reminded of the story of David and his son in the Bible. David had hope that he would see his son again. 2 Samuel 12:23 says, “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” I cling to this same hope. Thomas will not return to me but I will go to him, and what an incredible Mother’s Day that will be! However you choose to spend Mother’s Day, I hope you’re able to cling to that same hope that you will see your baby again one day.

Buddy and I would like to invite you to join Team Thomas and participate in the 8th Annual Baby Steps Memorial Run benefiting the Amelia Center of Birmingham, Ala. The Baby Steps Memorial 5K and One Mile Fun Run will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, at Tannehill State Park, 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla, AL 35111. We hope you’ll save the date now and plan to join Team Thomas. We had a blast last year; it was fun for the entire family! Check out our blog post and pictures from the 2015 Baby Steps Run.
 
The Amelia Center is a comprehensive grief counseling center that provides free individual and family counseling to children and teens who have experienced the death of someone in their life, or to adults who have experienced the death of a child. It is a non-profit program of Children’s of Alabama that has been serving grieving families since July 1997. The Center operates by donations and continued support from community members. All proceeds from the Baby Steps Run benefit the Amelia Center. Learn more about the Amelia Center. Buddy and I have received exceptional support from this organization over the past year and would like to help support its cause. We would love for you to join us and run in memory of our precious Thomas!
 
As soon as details are released and registration begins, we will post all information. We hope you’ll mark your calendars now and plan to join Team Thomas on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. Learn more about the Baby Steps Memorial Run.
​

​“God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.” We’ve all heard this powerful statement. One of the many ways God demonstrates His goodness is through His amazing grace. Buddy and I struggled with infertility and two baby losses for nearly two years before becoming pregnant with Thomas. This was not the case with Alexandria. Thomas passed away in December and we found out we were pregnant with our rainbow baby at the beginning of February, two short months later, no fertility treatments. You can’t tell me Alexandria isn’t from God. She was a part of His plan all along. Every time I look at her sweet face, I am reminded of God’s amazing grace. It makes me want to shout to the rooftops how good God is! He blessed us so soon after Thomas’ passing with a beautiful daughter who brings us unthinkable joy. We have traveled a heart-wrenching road to get to this point. This is not the life I would have chosen. In the life I would have chosen, we wouldn’t have struggled with infertility, our first two children would have made it to their birth days, Thomas would have been healthy, and Alexandria would be growing up with her big brother and other siblings; we would be a happy family of 6, plus our sweet dog Max! God never said life would be easy. Actually it WAS supposed to be; it was supposed to be perfect. However, sin entered this world and now there is pain and suffering. God never intended for Buddy and me to struggle to become pregnant and lose our first three children. However, good can and has come from our grief. People have turned their lives over to Christ, we have been able to counsel others who have walked in our shoes, we have met or connected with people we wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s not the journey I would have chosen, but I couldn’t be more grateful for God’s amazing grace through it all.

​When I look at Alexandria’s sweet face and am reminded of God’s amazing grace, I also think about how He demonstrated His ultimate grace by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. We are so undeserving, but because of God’s grace, we can have life after death, a perfect life, a life full of joy, happiness, no sickness, and unending praise of our RISEN Savior. That’s what we just celebrated through Easter…
 
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” – Luke 24:1-7
 
Thank God for Easter and His amazing grace. Because Buddy and I have chosen to follow Christ, a free gift, we can rest assured that we will see our sweet Thomas again one day soon, hallelujah! I hope you too experience God’s grace as we have. I will close with one of my favorite old hymns:
 
“Amazing Grace”
 
Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found, 
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, 
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come, 
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures; 
He will my shield and portion be, 
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, 
And mortal life shall cease
I shall possess within the veil, 
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun, 
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

​My original plans for this blog post took a turn Thursday evening when my mom and I received the opportunity and pleasure of taking my nephew Brayden to his Valentine’s dance. My sister was sick and unable to go with him, and when Brayden called with such a heartfelt request for us to take him to his dance, we couldn’t resist. The dance was in an hour so we had to quickly get ready. Buddy rushed home from work to stay with Alexandria so that I could go. While making the 25 minute drive to Brayden’s school, I began to think about Thomas and how I’ll never be able to take him to his Valentine’s dance. The more I thought about it, the more I sobbed. I won’t be able to dress him in a little suit, buy a corsage and candy for his sweetheart, help him make Valentines for his friends at school or attend his Valentine’s Day party. Instead, we visit him at the cemetery and put flowers out on his grave. As I watched all of the kids dance and run around, my heart sunk in my chest. And while the song, “My Valentine” played, tears swelled up in my eyes. I’ll never get to experience this with my sweet Thomas, my Valentine, and the love of my life.

​Because of John 3:16 in the Bible, on this Valentine’s Day and every day, I can have joy on this Earth in knowing that I will be able to dance with my little Valentine for all of eternity in Heaven: “For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I long, dream and even wish for the day that our family of six will be reunited. Six? Yes, Thomas and Alexandria have two older siblings in Heaven that never made it to their birth days.  
 
This Valentine’s Day, I hope you’ll take a moment to really love on your children and husband/wife. And mamas of boys, enjoy the Valentine’s dance with your son, and squeeze him extra tight and thank God for blessing you with that moment.
 
“We love because He first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19

​As I reflect back on 2015, the first thoughts that come to mind are how hard the year was, how good and faithful God is, the healing He has placed over us, and the joy we have received through our precious rainbow baby Alexandria. This year was filled with countless tears… tears of sadness and tears of joy.
 
The year 2015 began very dark and gloomy; our firstborn son had just passed away a month before. I had not worked in months. I cared for Thomas 24/7 from the time we brought him home from the NICU until he passed away six-and-a-half months later. As I sat in our den at the beginning of the year, I felt lost, alone, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. The year was supposed to be a year of “firsts” with our precious son. We were supposed to make Valentines for daddy, wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, dress up in our best on Easter, have our picture made with Big Al at the A-Day game, celebrate my first Mother’s Day, go swimming, and eat smash cake. Instead, I found myself calling Buddy at work multiple times a week in tears seeking his Godly wisdom and comfort. We also joined two support groups that include couples who have lost babies up to two years of age. In the midst of unexplainable grief and depression, I had no idea what God had in store for the remainder of the year.
 
February through June
I went back to work in February. I have the most amazing job where I get to witness students come to know Christ for the first time each week of the school year. I work with a staff like none other. They cry with me during the hard times and rejoice with me during the good times...they're family. Also in February, we found out we were pregnant with Thomas’ baby sister, just two months after he passed away. We had a flood of emotions that ranged from shock to gratefulness. In April, we announced that we were pregnant, and our families and friends celebrated with us. May was a big month. It is Ichthyosis Awareness Month and I spent a great deal of time trying to educate people about Thomas’ rare skin condition. Buddy and I traveled out of town for my first Mother’s Day. It was extremely emotional and Buddy did everything he could to make it very special for me. He surprised me with a beautiful necklace that included a picture charm of our sweet baby. We presented our first Thomas Alexander Lambert V Memorial Scholarship to a First Priority student who exemplified those qualities of Thomas. On May 22, we celebrated Thomas’ first birthday as if he were still here with us. It wasn’t the celebration I ever imagined because my sweet baby wasn’t physically in my arms, or swimming in the pool with daddy or eating yummy smash cake. However, I took comfort in knowing he was having a birthday celebration in Heaven that was much more beautiful and fun than I could ever even think about giving him. Also in May, we launched this blog in hopes that it would help, inspire and positively impact others. In June, we announced Thomas’ baby sister’s name: Alexandria Hope Lambert. Her name has a special meaning… Thomas’ middle name is Alexander, so we thought using the name Alexandria would be a perfect way to remember his precious life. My middle name was Hope and Buddy always thought that would be a beautiful middle name for our daughter. Now we love the name even more because of the hope we have that we’ll see Thomas again.
 
July through December
In July, Buddy and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary. We also went on our youth’s beach trip and went camping with the Life Groups we help teach. We have had such a fun time with each of our students and getting to know them. God has used them to help us with healing. In August, we organized Team Thomas. About 50 of our friends and family members joined Team Thomas to remember our precious son along with many other babies that have gone on to be with Jesus by participating in the Baby Steps Memorial 5K and One Mile Fun Run. At the end of the month, my close friends gave me a sweet baby shower to celebrate and prepare for the arrival of Alexandria. I also started experiencing preterm labor so my doctor placed me on bedrest at 33 weeks pregnant. In September, at 36 weeks, Buddy and I spent the night in the hospital for monitoring, but thankfully all was well. In mid-September, I experienced new grief, a different kind of hurt than what I have with Thomas. I found out that one of my closest friends was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is one of the most Godly, wise, loving, caring and supportive sister in Christ you will ever meet. At a time when I was supposed to encourage her, my sadness over her sickness took heed and she ended up encouraging and inspiring me. I will never understand why she got cancer, but she is a true fighter just like Thomas, and she is determined to win this battle. On October 3, our precious rainbow baby was born, one of the happiest days of my life. When I first laid eyes on her, I thought she looked just like Thomas. Wow, God is good! He knows exactly what we need and in His timing. Alexandria brings unexplainable joy to our lives. Words could truly never describe how much we love her. At the end of October, I had to be readmitted to the hospital for almost a week (this will be a blog post at a later date). We celebrated Alexandria’s first Halloween in the hospital. In November, Buddy’s grandfather, Thomas Alexander Lambert, Jr. was reunited with his great-grandson Thomas V, and his wife Mary in Heaven. He was a very special soul to so many people and is greatly missed. We are thankful he’s healed and praising our Lord and Savior. Also in November, we celebrated Alexandria’s first Thanksgiving. December 5 was the anniversary of Thomas’ passing. While it was very emotional, we praised God for Thomas’ healing. To help us get through that day, Buddy and I attended our first Alabama football game of the season, the SEC Championship game, in Atlanta. On December 25, we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, as well as Alexandria’s first Christmas. Throughout the year, several of our friends and family members were blessed with babies. We are thrilled that Alexandria will grow up with them.

As I sat in our den at the beginning of 2015, with unstoppable tears running down my face, I had no idea the joy and healing God had in store for the year. It was and still is difficult to continue living life without my precious baby. However, God’s grace is sufficient and He is the only reason I am able to endure in this life. His blessings poured over Buddy and me during 2015. It was a year of sadness; it was a year of joy. We look forward to the plans God has for our family in 2016. This is my prayer for you as you begin this new year: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26
​