~Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause~

We remember my 11 long weeks of bedrest & sleepless nights.

We remember the way McKenzie cried herself to sleep every night when I was in the hospital.

We remember the day we had to say goodbye to Lexie & Izzie as they drove away to Ama's house for six long weeks.

We remember the sounds & smells of the hospital.

We remember the unknown future...

would she even take her first breath?

We remember the frightful emergency c-section

...and her first breath.

We remember our dear friends who stood by our side.

We remember feeling hope.

We remember the sweet result of fasting...

We remember the hour she pulled out her own intubation tube.

We remember the powers of heaven that were opened up because of prayer.

We remember the amazing Dr.'s & nurses.

We remember the day we learned she may need ROP surgery.

We remember the week they thought she had Necrotizing Enterocolitis

and weren't sure if she would make it.

We remember that first time I was able to kangaroo-hold her fragile body.

We remember the day she met her siblings for the first time.

We remember the setback when she was diagnosed with hemangiomatosis.

We remember her MRI's.

We remember ALL of the tender mercies...

We remember the faith we'd been endowed with.

We remember not understanding,

but being willing to take this journey.

We remember all of the little acts of service & love in our time of need.

We remember the 100 days she was in the NICU.

We remember all of the emotions so close to the surface.

and we remember that ALL of our prayers were answered.

And so because of this we serve those moms on bedrest in their time of need during what should be a joyful season...

And at Christmastime we try to spread some cheer and bring a smile to the face of those families struggling with a mom in the hospital or a fragile baby in the NICU.

Those small moments of JOY make all the difference to them and to us.

We are busily working to pull it together for this year's service project at Sharp Mary Birch Women's Hospital. You can read about our experience here and our service projects here and here. Or scroll down to the bottom of my blog and see Vivie's video if you don't know her story.

A non-profit for this very purpose is my dream. But for now, it's a family operation. And it's untapped. The social workers are so grateful that we're doing this, and every year we'd like to make it that much bigger.

This year my mom is helping by crocheting beanies for those little preemies. She's making minky cozies for them to lie on which is 100x better than hospital issue....

I am making necklaces for the NICU moms similar to this one. I have finished two quilts and planned on making receiving blankets, burp cloths, nursing covers, frames, buying journals, magazines, soduku puzzles, lotions, slipper socks, making peppermint bark, fudge, banana bread, chocolate covered pretzles, etc. etc. etc.

So we are asking for help.

So many of you have amazing talents. Or perhaps you just want to donate other kinds of resources to this effort.

If your family doesn't have a meaningful service you are anxiously engaged in and would like to be a part of this effort to bless the lives of 10 different families... PLEASE contact me.

There is no token too small--especially when it's an act of service.

We don't ever get to meet these NICU families since the coordination takes place behind the scenes. But I have received letters detailing how this simple act of service blessed their lives. They tell me about their journey and it makes me even that much more grateful to have made a difference in their

experience.

Knowing you have helped bring JOY to these families during the trial of their lives carries a feeling of warmth and satisfaction that's indescribable.

So won't you join us?

Please email me/leave a comment if you have something you'd like to make, buy, and/or donate to these 10 baskets.

FIVE moms on bedrest (thus, 'bedrest' items) and

FIVE NICU babies (3 girls, 2 boys).

sidenote: I know many of you are already 'anxiously engaged in a good cause' doing your own service that is meaningful to your own family... I'm not asking that you take your focus off a cause that's close to your heart. I just know that during the early days of our marriage/family we searched for opportunities like this and so that's why I'm putting it out there. I struggled with knowing whether or not to 'broadcast' it, but I feel like the need is so huge that it could greatly bless many lives.