#givingtuesday

Today is #givingtuesday. A way to give back this holiday season. The Forrest Spence Fund's goal is to raise $3,000 today so we can award a $3,000 financial grant to a family in need this Christmas. Stauf USA (www.staufusa.com) is planning to match donations up to a total of $1000 if you give today. Visit www.forrestspencefund.org to donate online today. 

Celebrating Forrest's birthday

Last Wednesday was a nice day of celebrating our brother.  It was my one day where all 3 kids are in school all day so that gave me from 8:30-2:30 to have "me time".  I had a quick appointment at 9:00 and then spent time in Target, getting coffee with my best friend, getting a mani and pedi, purchasing the flowers and balloons and then picking the kids up from school.  After school we headed to the gravesite to take the flowers and release the balloons.  The kids were really excited about this and it being our new tradition.  This is new territory of trying to figure out the best way to include the kids in Forrest's anniversaries.  They want to celebrate him and not be sad so I am trying to do that with them.  I had many moments that day and week that I just broke down but I love that my boys helped me remember to "celebrate" our brother and his precious life instead of only grieve that he is gone.

The video of them releasing the balloons. I love seeing Maggie's excitement and if you watch towards the beginning that Maggie won't let hers go so Miller comes over and gently lets it go for her. Afterwards we spent some time playing on "Forrest's tree" and running around a little. We then headed to Muddy's for some cupcakes and singing. A video of us singing Happy Birthday to Forrest.
After Muddy's we headed to church for church dinner and our Grace Group.  After church and putting the kids to bed we headed to Houston's for drinks, appetizer and a dessert.  Two of the couples in our Grace Group even called and paid for our meal.  It was a nice way to celebrate his life.

Happy 7th birthday Forrest

September 10, 2014...7 years from the day I first met my firstborn.  Some days it feels like yesterday and some days it feels so long ago.  September 1st always hits me like a ton of bricks...the race is over...school is back in session...routines have started...and it hits me that his birthday is coming quickly.  To say I am heartbroken every September is an understatement.  Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE birthdays and make a pretty big deal out of them...David would probably say I make too big of a deal out of them but I just can't help it.  I love to celebrate the day someone was born and it breaks my heart in two that I can't celebrate with Forrest.  We are still going to celebrate him by getting some balloons to release and take flowers to his gravesite but it just isn't the same.  My mind understands that he is in a far better place than we are but my heart is torn in two that I am seperated from him.

I heard a quote yesterday that spoke volumes to me.
"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world. -C.S. Lewis

I am thankful for a God that shouts in my pains because I need him everyday but especially today.

The Song "Multiplied" by Need to Breathe has been playing on repeat lately in our home and the words are a comfort to me as I grieve for my son.  The words are below along with a video of the song.  I have surrended to His design and want His Halleluiahs to be multiplied.  His love is like radiant diamonds and has found us again and again.

Multiplied
by Need to Breathe

Your love is like radiant diamonds
Bursting inside us we cannot contain
Your love will surely come find us
Like blazing wild fires singing Your name

God of mercy sweet love of mine
I have surrendered to Your design
May this offering stretch across the skies
And these Halleluiahs be multiplied

Happy 7th birthday my precious son...tell Jesus to hold you tight today since your mommy can't.  I am so proud of you son...so very proud of you!

Balloon for Forrest

The boys brought home a balloon from the 5k with the Fund logo on it.  All on their own they decided they wanted to release the balloon to Heaven for Forrest to receive it.  They waited until David and I made it home from finishing up the 5k to release it.

     


They both have the sweetest hearts about their brother.  That next Monday as I was driving the boys to school Austin said this to me in the car:

Austin: I stayed up later last night and the night of the race because I was thinking about Forrest.

Me: What were you thinking about with Forrest?

Austin: I was thinking how it would be fun if he was still here.  I would have liked having an older brother.  I miss him.

It warmed my heart while also breaking my heart.  He gets it...truly gets it.

7th Annual Forrest Spence 5k

My life has been consumed by the race so as I am come out of the race fog and back into reality. I wanted to just shout from the rooftops what a success the race was this year!  We had close to 1250 participants and raised over $85,000 with more money still coming in!  The morning ran so smoothly and besides being HOT it was perfect!  Truly a great morning.

Forrest's blanket

The other day I walked into Maggie's room to change her diaper and she immediately layed down on Forrest's blanket.  My mom had been here earlier in the day watching the kids so I guess she had put the blanket down on the floor because usually it is on the ottoman.  I had to grab my phone and take a picture of her laying on her brothers blanket.

I yelled at Austin to grab my phone for me before I missed the chance to get her on the blanket and then of course the boys wanted in on the action. They layed down on the blanket as well. I love this picture I got of my 3 babies laying on their brothers blanket. The next few pictures are real life though...not everything comes out picture perfect like we make it out to be.
It makes me smile to see these pictures but it also makes my heart hurt terribly that he isn't here taking pictures with his siblings.

It's that time of year...

Time to sign up for the best 5k in town!  If you live in the Memphis area than make plans to attend on August 23rd at Overton Park.  If you can't make it than you can register as a ghost runner and receive a great shirt in the mail (if you live outside of Shelby County) or pick it up at Fleet Feet in Memphis.

Click here to learn more and sign up.

Five for Friday

Five for Friday (except I did nine) all about the Forrest Spence Fund

1. Lunch/Dinner Out for the Fund this Monday, March 24th at Chiwawa!  Great food for a great cause!  Make sure you mention the FSF so we receive the credit.


2.  We give out Angel Dear lovies to new families admitted at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital because of Forrest's deep love for his 2 precious lovies.  Angel Dear is so gracious in donating these lovies to us.  This is the most recent box that arrived on my doorstep.

Look at all these lovies ready for someone to love them!

I wash all of them so when the parents receive them they are ready to be given directly to the child without the family having to wash them and make sure they are clean.

This little guy LOVES his Angel Dear lovie the Forrest Spence Fund gave him.


3.  We moved into an office on Wednesday...yes, that's right...a real office.  We are so pumped that we officially have an office!  I couldn't wait to put up my picture of my precious angel who inspired this and so much more.  Great things are going to happen in this place.

4.  A mommy sent this picture to me thanking me for the crib we purchased for them and giving me an update on their precious baby.  The baby is doing great health wise and obviously enjoying the crib!

5. Over 150 meal vouchers were given out to families at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital for the month of February. The meal vouchers help families pay for a warm meal from the Le Bonheur cafeteria. Sometimes our meal voucher provides the only complete meal they will eat all day. This is a quote from one of the staff members at Le Bonheur.  "Yes, the vouchers are such a blessing-just gave some to a family from out of state with a serious situation. They were so touched!" 


6.  Every month we serve a warm, free meal to families that are admitted at Le Bonheur Chidren's Hospital.  When we are serving at Le Bonheur we serve 200-225 people and when we serve at the FedExFamilyHouse we typically serve around 50.  This is a time for us to also love on them and find out if they have any other needs that the FSF may be able to meet.


7. We provide all the bags that are given out at the FedExFamilyHouse when a new family checks in to the House. We see our bags being used to transport families items back and forth from the house to the hospital all the time. We have provided close to 2000 bags to the FedExFamilyHouse.

8. This little guy needed a special vest to prevent him from pulling out his pic line and keep him from getting an infection. We ordered this special vest and had it shipped directly to his home.

9.  Every month we focus on a new Unit/Area of the hospital and show the staff in that Unit/Area our appreciation by giving them a goody bag. The bags are usually based on a theme (holidays, sunshine, winter, etc.) and filled with little goodies to brighten their day. Just a little way for the FSF to show our appreciation to the staff and how hard they work.
The Forrest Spence Fund is making a difference in the Midsouth.  If you are looking for a place to give and see your giving truly bless lives than consider giving to the Forrest Spence Fund.  Your donations really do make a difference in the lives of others.

Click here to donate.

Happy Friday friends!