Six Years

Today marks six years since we said hello and goodbye to our first daughter, Brianna Dawn.

It took boots and snow pants to make it out to her grave this year, but we carried on the tradition.  It was really special, too, that Luke’s brother Nate had driven all the way from Chicago and plodded through the snow to bring a dozen roses to Brianna’s grave and sign her memory book (which was over a foot buried in snow).  I was so touched by his thoughtfulness and care to remember Brianna on her birthday.

The kids have had a lot more questions about Brianna this year, probably because Audrey (at 4 years old) is very inquisitive about what happened and when we’ll see her again.  She even asked to see Brianna’s photos and made a few crafts for Brianna over the past few days.  It’s been nice to have these conversations with the kids about Brianna and heaven.

One of Logan’s verses he learned for Awanas is I Thessalonians 4:17:

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

As he worked on that verse a few weeks ago, I was reminded again of the eternal reunion we will have with Brianna and with all those who have gone before us.  We WILL be caught up together and WILL be with the Lord forever.  I take great comfort in those promises.

And until then, we’ll keep talking about heaven, our comfort in Christ, our hope for a glorious future, and our sweet baby girl, the sister that my kids are still waiting to meet.

“But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’” I Corinthians 2:9