Sunday, September 18, 2011

Heart Walk 2011

This weekend we took our annual trip to Charleston for the Heart Walk .  I truly love going.  We look forward to sporting our pink, walking for our girl, seeing our heart family (other families & medical staff included) and personally delivering another batch of Annabelle Baskets to the hospital…complete with lots more goodies for the step down unit & cookies for the families & staff, too!  I guess I get so caught up in getting everything together that I forget how emotional it is.  Every year it catches up with me eventually…and this year was no different.  As I was going through the pictures from Saturday morning, it hit me.  I could see the joy covering the pain.  It is my life now.  The pain is there…buried deep beneath.  I have gotten so use to living with it that  I hardly even see it most days. 

But, when I am staring at my computer screen at images of our family of four in our pink shirts with me being the only girl in the picture…it gets me.  When I see my third little love snuggling up to the amazing physician that took care of his big sister and that he is named after…it gets me.  When I am savoring every moment of being in my favorite city that only became my favorite city after spending five weeks sleeping on a vinyl sofa in the hospital by my daughter’s bed…it gets me. 

I could not have asked for more out of our weekend away…except that the precious deep blue eyed baby girl that brought us there be skipping right along by my side.  

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“The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.”  2 Corinthians 5:5 (The Message)

7 comments:

The Hardy Family said...

I am so proud of you sweet friend! Your post brought tears to my eyes because I am amazed by you and all that God is doing through you and your 3 sweet boys. Imagine the sweet smile on Annabelle's face as she watches this ministry unfold from heaven! :) Love you!! I missed that sweet little curly head boy of yours in nursery this morning!! :)

Shannon said...

Hugs, friend! Big, big hugs!!

Anonymous said...

It looks like you had an amazing day. I love your heart and the testimony your family has to so many. What a blessing you are.

Evie's Story said...

Beautiful friend. I love you so and was thinking of your beautiful Annabelle on Saturday even though we werent there. What a beautiful tradition and tribute to her life your family gives through participation and giving! She remains precious to so many. Big, big hugs my friend!

Katie said...

So wonderful! What a tribute to your girl...the love you all have for her is so evident. What a special angel she is. So happy you are able to find joy in the walk each year, even though it brings you the heartache as well. You are inspiring and a great example to us all. Love you.

Katie said...

So happy you were able to find joy in the walk this year, even though it brings much heartache... You are such a wonderful example to us all. I love the pink shirts and the love you have for your sweet girl is evident on all of your faces in that beautiful family shot. Love you.

Julia Nickell said...

How can I find out when the heart walk is every year? I would love to do something like that to remember Matthew by. Oh, and I love Brynna! :)