No Empty Chairs: Gratitude

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Gratitude

My heart is overflowing with gratitude and I'm not sure how to express it fully. Thank you to so many people that have given us ornaments for Wyatt's tree. They are absolutely perfect. Each and everyone holds a special place in our hearts. I know so much thought and love went into each one and that means the world to us. They will be forever cherished. I feel such love flowing from his tree as I look at each ornament. It truly is a "TREE OF LOVE." Gratitude will fill our hearts each year as we dress Wyatt's tree and think of all the wonderful people that have helped us through one of the hardest years. How can we possible express our deep feelings of thankfulness for the kindnesses that so many have shown to us? I really don't know. So, please accept these words and know that we love each and everyone of you and are grateful you would share a part of yourselves with us and help make Wyatt's tree that much more special.

7 comments:

Em said...: I love all the ornaments! What a beautiful tribute to such an amazing little boy! Merry Merry Christmas to your whole family!
Heart hugs,
Emily; December 23, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Jill said...: Beautiful ornaments. There is so much love and deep respect sent with each ornament. We love you!; December 23, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Felipe and Erika said...: I am so happy you had a week of some relief. I have been praying that you would. I love you and think of you always. Merry Christmas.; December 23, 2008 at 8:12 PM
Anonymous said...: I just stumbled upon your blog and I am in awe at your strength! YOu have such a strong testimony of the Plan of Salvation and you show great amounts of faith! I can't imagine what you are going through. I was so touched by your story I went through and read all of your posts. I remember the day "Good Things Utah" talked about Wyatt on his birthday I was watching and as Angie teared up so did I..I thought of your family and prayed for your family on that day. I even called one of my girlfreinds and told her how they featured Wyatt on his birthday...I was so touched by his sweet face. Never did I imagine that I would stumble upon your blog! Thanks for being such an example of faith, strength, hope and love! You are an inspiration!; December 24, 2008 at 1:47 AM
Marc and Megan said...: I just wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you. We have loved the ornaments you sent to us. And, that talk you sent has been such a blessing. You have been an amazing blessing in my life! Thank you for all you've done! I hope Wyatt is extra close to you today.; December 25, 2008 at 3:42 PM
New Life in Utah said...: Wow what a beautiful tribute. Every one of the ornaments are just perfect! Sending warm prayers and a hope for blessings your way. Happy Holidays; December 27, 2008 at 6:51 PM
Neener said...: I received your lovely email picture and I just loved it. I have kind of kept away from the blog scene lately as it has been making me quite depressed. I just wanted to let you know I think of you often and I haven't mailed your ornament yet because I have still yet to find the perfect one. I know exactly what I want to get you and I won't settle for anything less. Lots of love. Hope your season went well.; December 27, 2008 at 8:49 PM

Wyatt

Wyatt had a little cold the weekend before he passed away. We took him into the Dr's thinking he might have RSV at the worst. The Dr. admitted him to the hospital and they took a chest x-ray. That's when we found out he had an enlarged heart caused by a virus. There was no indication before this that he had any problems. He was healthy and happy. He needed to be life flighted to Primary Children's Hospital. When they put the breathing tube in, Wyatt went into cardiac arrest. The CPR caused brain damage. He never woke up after that. They were able to stabalize him enough to make it to primary childrens. We had to take him off life support 3 days later. He left this earth peacefully in the arms of his parents. We know we will have our little boy again someday. What a glorious day that will be!

"Parents who have surrendered the sweetest and smallest flowers from the family's garden need to remember our Heavenly Father. He has promised a special reward to those who now suffer in silence, who spend long days and longer nights through their trying times of bereavement. Our Creator has promised glory. He said, "For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but nigh at hand." (D&C 58:4) That promised glory includes the blessing of reunion with each child who has left the family circle to help surviving members of the family to draw nearer to God. Those children still live and are a heritage to the Lord."
Russell M. Nelson

President John Taylor once said: "that the best explanation he could offer why so many little children among the Saints were called away, notwithstanding the great faith and power of the priesthood exercised to keep them here, was that they were bright and noble spirits who held important positions in the kingdom of God in the spirit world, from which they could not long be spared., They were given brief furloughs, long enough to come to earth, take upon themselves bodies of flesh and bone that they might be prepared for a resurrection to a kingdom of glory; and after a short experience in mortality were called back to resume important labors in a higher sphere."

Joseph F. Smith said:
"Joseph Smith taught the doctrine that the infant child that was laid away in death would come up in the resurrection as a child; and pointing to the mother of a lifeless child, he said to her: ' You will have the joy, the pleasure, and satisfaction of nurturing this child, after its resurrection, until it reaches the full stature of its spirit.' There is restitution, there is growth, there is development, after the resurrection from death. I love this truth. It speaks volume of happiness, of joy and gratitude to my soul. Thank the Lord he has revealed these principles to us."

Michelle's list(Angel James' mom)

When Someone you Love is Bereaved

I know a lot of people just "don't know what to say/do" so they don't do anything. Not doing anything is the wrong answer. Hopefully this list can help you help the ones you love in their journey of Grief.

1. First and foremost TALK about the loved one who's passed. Even if it uncomfortable at first, it will become easier.

2. If you didn't know the person at all or very well, ask to hear about them and learn of them through stories.

3. Don't ever put a time line on someone's grief.

4. Saying things like, "They are in a better place." Really isn't comforting. It makes the bereaved feel like the place they had with them wasn't good.

5. If you don't know what to say, just say, "I'm So sorry you have to go through this."

6. If the person needs to analyze the circumstances surrounding the death, let them just talk and rehash anything as many times as they need to.

7. Don't assume they are ever "better." It never gets better and will be a part of them for the rest of their lives.

8. Don't underestimate how frazzled, abscent minded & spacey grief can make you.

9. Pamper them if you have means. Retail Therapy worked great for me! So did pedicures and getting my hair done, I felt awful on the inside, at least I could try to feel good about me on the outside.

10. Love notes. Emails. Thinking of You cards. Thinking of the bereaved person cards.

11. Do not, I stress Do not get offended if your loved one doesn't answer his/her phone or return your calls. Don't assume that they don't appreciate your effort. It's just that someone bereaved doesn't want to put on a "happy voice." and burden everyone with their grief.

12. Most bereaved people will not offer information on how they are doing unless they truly feel like you want to know.

13. Validate.Validate.Validate. Please whatever you do, don't compare your loved ones loss to someone elses' "harder loss". Every loss is hard. Comparing makes the person feel like they shouldn't struggle because it could be worse.

14. The comment "but aren't you grateful you know you see them again" isn't comforting. It is not a fix all. It is comforting, but it doesn't take the pain out of not having them now.

15. Just make sure they know you love them. Be a shoulder to cry on.

Why?

Joseph Smith said:
"I have meditated upon the subject, and asked the question, why is it that infants, innocent children, are taken away from us, especially those that seem to be the most intelligent and interesting. the strongest reasons that present themselves to my mind are these.....The Lord takes many away, even in infancy that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again....The only difference between the old and the young dying is, one lives longer in heaven and eternal light and glory then the other, and is freed a little sooner from this miserable, wicked world. Not withstanding all this glory we for a moment lose sight of it, and mourn the loss, but we do not mourn as those without hope."

Orson F. Whitney said:
"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God...and it is through sorrow and suffering , toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we came here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and mother in heaven. "

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Gratitude

7 comments:

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