A Family Celebration

And Get-away!

About two weeks ago, the children and I were talking about how Jeremiah's due date was coming.  Abbi said, "It sure would be nice to have another baby in our home.  I wish you were still pregnant with Jeremiah."  (Aww, me too!)  Hudson then said, "Mom, could we have a birthday party for Jeremiah?"  Absolutely! What a great idea.  Another way to celebrate his life. 

Here is what we did...

We packed our jammies, our pillows and a sleeping bag.  We piled into the car and drove 1.5 miles up the road to Big Canyon.  You heard right!  We were "guests" at Big Canyon Ranch.  No tasks to get done, no projects to start or finish, no cleaning.  Just some plain good old fashioned family fun.  And a Birthday celebration for Jeremiah!

  We started the evening with doing the Team Challenge Course at Big Canyon.

Ants on a Log

Disc Jockeys

 

Thanks Tess for helping set up. 

 

Swing to the discs without touching the ground.

 

 

 

Accomplished!!  Whoop Whoop!

 

Through the Spider Web

(no touching the rope)

 

Over the Wall

 

Stay Balanced - Get everyone on!

Sidenote: Just as I got on and we were all balanced, Tess(1 yo) came running over and jumped on the end. Tipped us all!

 

Dinner in the Yurt

(I know most of you don't know what a Yurt is. That will be in a post to follow. For now, you get a little peek of what it looks like inside.)

Fun Board Games and Cards in front of the fire in the Lodge

AND...

A birthday song and brownies for Jeremiah!

We had a great evening celebrating Jeremiah's life!  Thanks again for all the phone calls, emails, and comments.  What a great support you all have been. 

We love you, Jeremiah.  You are a big part of our lives and will never be forgotten!

Another sweet surprise!  Remember that Fall Give Away that I won?  Well, it arrived on his birthday.  And it sits beautifully on our table.

My sweet sister emailed me this letter on his birthday.  It says it all!

Dearest Jeremiah,

I am thinking about you today.  Today may have been the day we would have met you...had the Lord not had a BETTER plan.

Today may have been the day you would have met your mommy and daddy...had the Lord not had a BETTER plan.

Today may have been the day all eight of your beautiful siblings would have giggled and stood in line to hold you...had the Lord not had a BETTER plan.

Today may have been the day your Aunt Debbie would have cried and rejoiced for gaining a nephew...had the Lord not had a BETTER plan. 

So instead... today your Aunt Debbie cries and rejoices because God did have a BETTER plan.

God had a plan to take you for Himself before we knew you.

God had a plan to glorify Himself through your parents Faith and testimony of His goodness as they released you to Him.

God had a plan to grow the Faith of your siblings as they said good-bye to their baby brother.

God had a plan of many more things we may never fully understand... but we trust are for our good and His glory!

I miss you sweet nephew and I love you dearly...

With love,

Aunt Debbie