God is Our Comforter!

On Sunday, Rachael and I had the privelege of participating in NMC's "ONE" Service. We had the opportunity to briefly share the story of how we have experienced God as "Our COMFORTER" over the course of the past year. It was a powerful moment to hear the stories of how NMC people had experienced God in very different yet equally powerful ways. Here's the snapshot that we shared:

Last summer, I (Rachael) was 7 months pregnant with our 2nd daughter. On July 22, 2009, Aleigha Grace Thompson was still-born at Goshen General Hospital. Just as God gave Noah a rainbow, He has given us the butterfly as a promise and reminder that one day we will be reunited with our daughter in heaven. God Is "Our Comforter!"

Thinking About Father's Day - Part Four

Wow, what a powerful picture of forgiveness, life transformation and a father's love! I had heard recently that there is a spiritual awakening taking place in America's prisons. I guess this is proof of that.

If you're a dad in need of a 2nd chance, may you be encouraged as you watch this...

Thinking About Father's Day - Part Three

What do I hope Haley learns from me as her daddy? I think GCC Student Ministries Pastor, DC Curry, answered that question pretty well when he recently shared a blog post titled, 11 things I want Jada to know. These are 11 things he wants his new born daughter, Jada, to know as she grows up. I think this is a great list!

If Haley learns these 11 things from me, I will have been a great dad...

1. Mommy and Daddy love you

2. Jesus loves you more than I ever could…and I love you A LOT! …a WHOLE LOT!

3. We want God’s best for your life.

4. The sky is the limit, you can be whatever you wants to be.

5. Love is humble.

6. I will protect you from EVERY BOY who comes near you, hahaha just messin…but seriously I’ll fight em, haha.

7. We will love you with no strings attached.

8. You must believe in Jesus for yourself, I can’t do that for you.

9. The power of God that lives in you is the same power that defeated death, hell, and the grave.

10. You are absolutely beautiful!

11.God has a purpose for you life!

Thinking About Father's Day - Part Two

Marc McCartney, son of legendary Colorado football coach Bill McCartney and founder of "Promise Keepers", shares about the impact of his father on his own life. I can only wish that when my daughter is Marc's age, that she can say the same thing about me!

The longer I live the more I realize that to truly know what type of person a father is, you need not look any further than his own children. It's easy to fool most people, but you can't fool your own children.

Thinking About Father's Day - Part One

Last year, I did a tribute post to my dad right before Father's Day, sharing all the ways that he has impacted my life. I thought I'd kick off this three part series on Father's Day by reposting that original post here and wishing my dad a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

With Father's Day being Sunday, I've been thinking lately about all the positive ways my dad has impacted my life and how those things continue to have an influence in my life yet today.

By very nature, I tend to be wired as a "half empty" type of person rather than a "half full" one. Because of this, I probably see the negative characteristics in people quicker than I do the positive ones. And thus, I'm probably quicker to verbalize ways I think someone can improve or change for the better, faster than I am to compliment them for the things I already appreciate about them.

Recently, the Lord has convicted me of doing this with my dad. My dad's a great guy who has a big heart and he deserves the admiration of this son and to know at least a few of the ways that he has impacted my life and continues to do so today.

THE FOLLOWING IS A FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE TO MY DAD

BECAUSE OF MY DAD....

1. Because of my dad...we had great family vacations growing up and, as a result, I make family vacations a priority for my family today. We always had great family vacations growing up. My favorite ones were when we went camping. I loved to help pack the camper. Our favorite place to camp was Potato Creek State Park. My dad went to great lengths to plan great trips whether it was hitching up the trailer and going camping or packing in our full-size conversion van to head to the Rocky Mountains.

2. Because of my dad...I enjoy learning about history. I'm pretty sure I got my love for learning about history from my dad. Growing up, my dad always enjoyed watching movies about history and taking us to historical spots when on vacation. Thus, I don't think it's a coincidence that I chose History as my primary focus area when majoring in Secondary Education in college. Today, I especially enjoy watching movies about history and real life events and have a number of historical places that I'd like to visit before I die.

3. Because of my dad...we had amazing family Christmas' growing up. There's no doubt that Christmas was and is my dad's favorite holiday. More than anything else, my dad loved and still loves to give presents to his children (and now to his grandchildren). Hmmm, sounds like somebody else I know! "So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:11)

4. Because of my dad...I'm a die-hard Notre Dame football fan. Anyone who knows me very well, knows that I love sports and none more than football. One Christmas when I was probably about seven, my brother and I both got football uniforms for Christmas, complete with helmets and pads. Of course, being 3 years older than my brother, it was never a match. (I'm not sure what my parents were thinking but sure I enjoyed it). While I love the game of football, nothing compares to Notre Dame football. I remember my dad taking me to my first Notre Dame football game when I was 8 or 9. We went to the Navy game. Notre Dame won on a day that was cold and rainy. More recently, my dad and I both had the chance to be Notre Dame Stadium Ushers together for a few years. Like the saying goes, "There's football and then there's Notre Dame Football." Thanks dad for making sure I understood this at an early age!

5. Because of my dad...I was able to go to college. I didn't realize it at the time, but my parents had saved and invested money for years to help pay for me and my brother to go to college. I realize now just how much of my college tuition they actually paid. There's no doubt that this involved plenty of sacrifice on my parents part and a lot of personal sacrifice on my dad's part.

6. ...I've learned the importance of being a good steward of the things God has given me. This is one that definitely comes from my dad. I have a very strong sense of responsibility to be a wise investor and manager of the things I have. While growing up it was annoying, I now appreciate and value the way that my dad taught my brother and I to take care of the things that we had been given. More than I could have ever understood, my dad knew from experience just how much work went into being able to buy the things we had. I think the Lord has always blessed my parents for being good financial stewards.

And finally, I've saved the one for last that I think epitomizes my dad the best...

7. Because of my dad...I greatly admire factory workers and thank God every day that I get to do something I love for a living. Growing up, I watched (well not really, I was still sleeping) my dad get up at 5 a.m. every morning to go to a job that he hated. My dad has worked the same factory job his entire adult life. The environment is poor, at best, and the work is physically exhausting. I remember as a kid my dad living for the first two weeks of July, when the factory shutdown. I remember asking him one time just a few years back why he continued doing a job he hated. He said he did it for his family and so my brother and I could have experiences and opportunities that he and my mom never had growing up (i.e. attend camps, go on vacations, have nice stuff, go to college, etc.). To think that my dad did this for me is very humbling!

Thanks dad for modeling and teaching me such valuable life lessons! I love you! Happy Father's Day!

Today is Our 8th Anniversary!

Wow! How lucky am I?

Heading Here for the Next Week!

I was hoping to get a few more posts in this week before leaving for vacation but the busyness of the week took over. It's funny how much work it takes just to be ready to leave for a week of vacation!

I'll get back to regular posting after this week away which will include: No computer and no cell phone. Should be heavenly! So long for now...

Haley sporting a monopoly of sunglasses!

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Where Is God?

Some people ask, “Where Is God?” when tragedy strikes. In my experience the past two weeks, that’s honestly a question I never thought of asking. Does that surprise you? It does me.

Sure, Rachael and I have asked "Why God?" and wondered what greater purpose God has in taking our daughter "home" so unexpectedly soon but one thing we've not had a problem knowing is where God is in the midst of our grief. And there's no doubt in my mind why that's so.

I can honestly say that I felt God’s presence and sensed His love more last week than I have in a long time. A lot of our tears were the result of being moved so much by the overwhelming presence of our Heavenly Father in the midst of our pain. But more than anything else, it was the simple ways that fellow followers of Christ became the hands and feet of Jesus to us in our darkest hour that allowed us to say we've sensed God more now than we do most of the time. Whether it has been bringing us a meal, writing a card, sending flowers, simply leaving a word of encouragement, or just being present we have been truly humbled.

While there might be a lot of questions we ask when tragedy strikes and Rachael and I will probably continue to ask them too, I've come to believe that asking "Where Is God?" will not be one of them for those who are plugged into a healthy Body of Christ. What a testimony about the power of the Body of Christ when it’s operating the way God intended it to!

Our Memorial to Aleigha (in Pictures)

The following are pictures from a quasi-memorial that we have set-up in what would have been Aleigha's bedroom. We had just begun getting things all set in her room last weekend. The last picture is an actual imprint of Aleigha's feet that one of the nurses at Goshen General Hospital made for us while we were in the hospital last Wednesday.

The blankets, socks and stocking caps that are on her bed were all things that touched Aleigha while in the hospital and were things that the hospital gave to us. The blanket that is draped over the crib with Aleigha's name on it was made by my brother-in-law's finances mom, Debbie Akers.

COOL STORY

This morning, Rachael took Haley to the petting zoo at Linton's. They had a blast! When they were leaving, Rachael said there was a beautiful butterfly that followed them out as they left. It just happens that Haley bought a little blanket to put in Aleigha's casket that had a butterfly on it. We had told Haley when we bought it that whenever we see a butterfly we can let it be a reminder that Aleigha is with us & that she is thinking about us. How awesome it was that God allowed them to be reminded of this today by allowing them to see something as simple yet as a butterfly!

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A Way You Can Help Us Bring Significance To Aleigha's Life

Many of you have asked us to let you know if there is anything you can do to help us. My first response will always be to pray for us. Never underestimate the power of prayer!

Secondly, in lieu of flowers & plants, we are asking people to give donations to the AGC Baby Center in memory of Aleigha Grace Thompson. This would be a great way for you to help us bring significance to Aleigha's life and death!

The AGC Baby Center is located in Kenya, Africa and is a ministry partner of Nappanee Missionary Church. The Baby Center takes in orphaned and AIDS-HIV infected babies who are malnourished and will mostly likely die unless they are taken in by a ministry like the Baby Center. Thus, by giving to the Baby Center you are helping save the lives of innocent children in Africa!

If you would make a donation to the AGC Baby Center in memory of Aleigha Grace Thompson, you can send donations to Nappanee Missionary Church.

Ways to Be Praying

For Rachael: If you pray for one person/one thing, please pray for Rachael. The physical and emotional toll that a woman experiences who goes through having to deliver a still born baby is nothing short of profound. Pray for physical and emotional healing for Rachael and that this healing will occur as she goes through the grieving process in a very healthy way. Pray that her heart would be protected against the lies and schemes of Satan. Pray that the Lord would bring the right people with the right words into her life and across her path at the exact right time that she needs it.

For Haley: Pray that Haley would be able to understand, as best she can as a 2 1/2 year old, what is happening and that, in her own way, she would be able to mourn with us. Pray that Rachael and I would have wisdom in knowing how best to include her in our own mourning. Pray against Haley being confused.

For Aleigha: Pray that Aleigha's story (her life and death) will not have been in vain but that we would see how the Lord is using it to bring significance to her life and death. Pray that the Lord would give us opportunities in the future to help others who go through a similar experience. Pray that the Lord would use this event in our lives to bring lost people to Jesus. Lord, use Aleigha's life and death to bring fame to your name!

For Me: Pray that I would have wisdom to know how to best support and comfort Rachael during this time while at the same time grieving well myself. Pray that Rachael and I would be patient with each other and be understanding of one another as, at times, we grieve differently.

For Tomorrow: We are holding a private graveside service tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. with some close friends and family to say good-bye to our beloved Aleigha. Pray for...
(1) A rain-free service.
(2) That we would have the courage to be OK in letting Aleigha "go" once and for all into our heavenly Father's loving arms.
(3) That Rachael and I would have the strength and grace to make it through this very difficult day.

For the Long Haul: The toughest part of this whole experience will probably begin Saturday afternoon and/or Sunday when we realize we have no more steps to take in the immediate mourning process but rather must begin to figure out how to begin "moving on" without actually moving on in the sense of forgetting about Aleigha and what we have been through. I have a feeling that, even more than right now, the time that we will most need prayer will be in the coming days, weeks and months when everyone but us begins to forget about our experience and our daughter.

Final Thought: I heard someone say that those who grieve the deepest are the ones who end up being the most healthy in the end. The grieving process in losing a child (from what we've been told to be prepared for) is a long and difficult one. Thus, the greatest gift you could give us (Rachael, Haley and I) is to commit to regularly praying for us for the long haul. For that, we would be eternally grateful!

UPDATE: We arrived home from the hospital last night at 10:00 p.m. after spending 15 hours in the hospital. God was so good to us as he sent angels to minister to us throughout the day in the human form of nurses, mid-wives and doctors. Again, we can't say enough good about the child-birthing center staff at Goshen General Hospital. They were awesome! It was so hard to have someone else (from the funeral home) leave the hospital last night with our beautiful baby girl and for us to leave without her. Today, Rachael & I spent time doing things we never imagined having to do: making funeral arrangements for one of our children & picking out cemetery plots. It was hard in part because it is one step closer to saying our final earthly goodbyes to Aleigha. While our hearts ache beyond what words can describe, God has made himself so real to us in these days. We feel humbled by all those who
have said they are praying for us and by all the acts of kindness we have received. We feel blessed!

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Late yesterday afternoon Rachael and I went to the doctor after Rachael had some mild concerns that she wasn't sure she had felt the baby move recently. While going into appointment we weren't real concerned (we were going more out of precaution), our worst fears would soon be realized. After an ultrasound was performed, we were told that for unknown reasons our baby daughter (Aleigha Grace) had died in the womb. Obviously, we were & are devastated. Unfortunately, the hardest part is yet to come. Rachael will have to still go through labor. Tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. she is scheduled to be induced. Obviously, we would greatly value your prayers for today, tomorrow and the days to come. The promise the Lord has given me to hold onto during this difficult time for us is that "we do not mourn like those who have no hope." Praise the Lord!

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Pics from Our Time @ the Lake on Sunday

Playing at Grandma and Grandpa Thompson's

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Haley's World

Haley and G-Pa, one her absolute favorite people in the whole world!

Haley and one of her friends, Katylynn Prenkert.

Haley loves stickers. She's known to put them anywhere and everywhere.

Haley's first date (and her only date until she turns 30) with her uncle Ben.

Haley at the park with Mom. She's going to be a thrill seeker!

Father's Day Tribute...Because of My Dad

With Father's Day being Sunday, I've been thinking lately about all the positive ways my dad has impacted my life and how those things continue to have an influence in my life yet today.

By very nature, I tend to be wired as a "half empty" type of person rather than a "half full" one. Because of this, I probably see the negative characteristics in people quicker than I do the positive ones. And thus, I'm probably quicker to verbalize ways I think someone can improve or change for the better, faster than I am to compliment them for the things I already appreciate about them.

Recently, the Lord has convicted me of doing this with my dad. My dad's a great guy who has a big heart and he deserves the admiration of this son and to know at least a few of the ways that he has impacted my life and continues to do so today.

THE FOLLOWING IS A FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE TO MY DAD

BECAUSE OF MY DAD....

1. Because of my dad...we had great family vacations growing up and, as a result, I make family vacations a priority for my family today. We always had great family vacations growing up. My favorite ones were when we went camping. I loved to help pack the camper. Our favorite place to camp was Potato Creek State Park. My dad went to great lengths to plan great trips whether it was hitching up the trailer and going camping or packing in our full-size conversion van to head to the Rocky Mountains.

2. Because of my dad...I enjoy learning about history. I'm pretty sure I got my love for learning about history from my dad. Growing up, my dad always enjoyed watching movies about history and taking us to historical spots when on vacation. Thus, I don't think it's a coincidence that I chose History as my primary focus area when majoring in Secondary Education in college. Today, I especially enjoy watching movies about history and real life events and have a number of historical places that I'd like to visit before I die.

3. Because of my dad...we had amazing family Christmas' growing up. There's no doubt that Christmas was and is my dad's favorite holiday. More than anything else, my dad loved and still loves to give presents to his children (and now to his grandchildren). Hmmm, sounds like somebody else I know! "So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:11)

4. Because of my dad...I'm a die-hard Notre Dame football fan. Anyone who knows me very well, knows that I love sports and none more than football. One Christmas when I was probably about seven, my brother and I both got football uniforms for Christmas, complete with helmets and pads. Of course, being 3 years older than my brother, it was never a match. (I'm not sure what my parents were thinking but sure I enjoyed it). While I love the game of football, nothing compares to Notre Dame football. I remember my dad taking me to my first Notre Dame football game when I was 8 or 9. We went to the Navy game. Notre Dame won on a day that was cold and rainy. More recently, my dad and I both had the chance to be Notre Dame Stadium Ushers together for a few years. Like the saying goes, "There's football and then there's Notre Dame Football." Thanks dad for making sure I understood this at an early age!

5. Because of my dad...I was able to go to college. I didn't realize it at the time, but my parents had saved and invested money for years to help pay for me and my brother to go to college. I realize now just how much of my college tuition they actually paid. There's no doubt that this involved plenty of sacrifice on my parents part and a lot of personal sacrifice on my dad's part.

6. ...I've learned the importance of being a good steward of the things God has given me. This is one that definitely comes from my dad. I have a very strong sense of responsibility to be a wise investor and manager of the things I have. While growing up it was annoying, I now appreciate and value the way that my dad taught my brother and I to take care of the things that we had been given. More than I could have ever understood, my dad knew from experience just how much work went into being able to buy the things we had. I think the Lord has always blessed my parents for being good financial stewards.

And finally, I've saved the one for last that I think epitomizes my dad the best...

7. Because of my dad...I greatly admire factory workers and thank God every day that I get to do something I love for a living. Growing up, I watched (well not really, I was still sleeping) my dad get up at 5 a.m. every morning to go to a job that he hated. My dad has worked the same factory job his entire adult life. The environment is poor, at best, and the work is physically exhausting. I remember as a kid my dad living for the first two weeks of July, when the factory shutdown. I remember asking him one time just a few years back why he continued doing a job he hated. He said he did it for his family and so my brother and I could have experiences and opportunities that he and my mom never had growing up (i.e. attend camps, go on vacations, have nice stuff, go to college, etc.). To think that my dad did this for me is very humbling!

Thanks dad for modeling and teaching me such valuable life lessons! I love you! Happy Father's Day!

Swigging at the Park

Last Thursday, Haley and I hung out at the park for awhile. Most of it was spent on the swing...