JOY IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM

November 29, 2024

JOY IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM

November 24, 2021
I met my good friend from college, Britt, at A Piece of Cake in Greenwood and picked up Brighton’s cake pops for our gender/name reveal that we are going to do with our families on Thanksgiving. I am so excited to share who he is with them!

Halley, my best friend from my summer in Yosemite and Ann’s best friend, sent me the most encouraging message. She said that someone had told Ann that when she gets to Heaven, she will have someone completely new to get to know in her daughter Ember. I so look forward to the day I get to meet Brighton and get to know him even more.

Halley also had a conversation with Ann early on after finding out Ember’s diagnosis and told her that “God has a purpose for you and you could be meant to help someone else out.” I’m sure Halley and Ann never dreamed I would be the one needing her help but I am so grateful. Halley also told me a story of how Brighton’s life is impacting others already. She was buying a gift at the Catholic book store and got to talking to the lady working there. She told her about me and Ann and the lady was really touched, and told Halley she would be praying for us by name. That is so powerful.

I have found in the last few years so many people have been touched by Brighton’s story and my testimony. By being vulnerable and not being afraid to touch the pain of our loss, I have connected with several others who have lost babies or children, sometimes in time periods where it wasn’t common or looked highly upon to talk about their loss. It’s important to say our babies names. They matter. Their lives matter. They will always be a part of our family.

November 25, 2021
Seven years ago today, Kyle took me on a hike on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, completely surprising me when he dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. We would never have expected the paths our marriage has taken so far, but I know without a doubt there is no one else I would rather be on this journey with. He is my rock and I’m so lucky to be his wife.

We had such a fun day with all of our family. We had a brunch with Kyle’s parents and his youngest sister’s family. Then we facetimed with Kyle’s other sisters so we could surprise them with Brighton! We had cake pops and I had sent name cards to everyone not in person so they could feel involved too. Everyone bit into the cake pops and found out we are having a BOY and then opened the cards to read about our sweet BRIGHTON WILDER BIRT! Everyone was so excited.

Sharing the good news with Kyle's parents

We left after lunch and headed to Turkey Run State Park to meet my family. We had the best time – I had told everyone I really wanted this Thanksgiving to be a time of celebration and not mourning. I couldn’t handle a sad holiday. We stayed in the cabins by the inn which were great, ate our Thanksgiving meal at the inn which was seriously delicious, took the boys swimming (a total blast!), went hiking in the 20 degree weather and hung out with everyone.

Lassen being brave and Brighton's first time swimming

Family hike

We chose to do our gender/name reveal in the big room at the inn, with the fireplace and Christmas trees and people playing board games all around us. It felt like a Hallmark movie, just not the way I would have thought we would ever do a gender reveal. Fortunately, my family is amazing and joyful and no one ever would have suspected why we were doing what we were doing. It was funny because my mom was 100% convinced it was a girl and her face when she saw the blue cake was complete surprise. I was really thankful both celebrations were joyful, sweet, fun, and happy. Thank you Jesus for joy in the middle of a storm.