Today is my sweet boy's six month birthday. Tonight, when I have more time to think and write, I want to share more with you.
But, for now, I want to tell you about an exciting giveaway I'm doing in honor of Chase.
As you all know, one of the lessons our family has been lovingly taught over the last six months, is what it means to be blessed by others.
Not just by a few words or a hug here and there.
But, richly, thoughtfully, over-the-top blessed...in ways I would have never thought of, often by people I've never met, and through acts of love that I never expected.
The gifts I have received from others have helped us on this road in ways I can't really describe. Each gift has shown us such sweet love and has honored Chase in such creative ways. (I don't mean to keep talking about this....it's just that the sweetness just keeps coming! And, I know the gift ideas have helped some of you honor others in your life too. So, I continue to share...)
Just this week, I got two beautiful necklaces with special pictures of Chase's sweet feet from a friend of my mother's. Kimberly, even though we've never met, you have blessed my life by your love and generosity...not to mention your beautiful and creative talent!
I wore one of your necklaces today, in honor of my sweet boy, and I got so many comments on it! Thank you so much. (professional photo by Kendyll. :)
And, after bible study this morning, my friend Nicole handed me this little package. And, when I saw this:
I just started crying and crying. And, even hours later, I'm still crying. :) It is absolutely perfect. And, Nicole, I wish you could have seen the girls' faces when they saw it. They couldn't stop staring at it, just like I did.
It feels so good to see Chase in a picture with the girls. It's the exact thing that's been missing around our house, and I can't wait to find the perfect place. I've always wished I had just one picture of the four of them together, and that has been a hard part of the girls not getting to see him or hold him.
So, this feels like a sweet representation of what that would have looked like. And, I'm blown away, yet again, by a friend who knows what I need, even when I don't.
Now, on that note of blessing others....let me finally get to the point!!
It's giveaway time!! WOO HOO!
Today, I am happy to announce the "Blessing Others" giveaway. Erin, at The Vintage Pearl, has so graciously given a $50 gift certificate to be given away in Chase's honor, so that one of YOU have the opportunity to bless someone else!!
I know that so many of you have seen The Vintage Pearl's jewelry, and agree with me that it is just amazing. I can't tell you how much I love it. (I actually now have a gift certificate of my own {thanks, Erin!}, and have been trying for months to pick out the perfect necklace for ALL my children. Someday, I hope to make a decision. :)
I know you could all find a perfect necklace for yourselves as well. And, really, if you win, it's totally your right to do that! But, I'm asking that if you DO know someone you could bless, that you consider doing that. You never know what it might mean to someone else.
So, enter this fabulous drawing by leaving a comment! Feel free to share how you might use this giveaway if you are the lucky winner, whether it be for you or for someone you want to bless.
My handy assistant, Mark, will draw a lucky winner on Thursday night, at 10:00 pm.
Thank you all for blessing ME, and my family. I'm so excited to share this necklace with someone out there who needs a blessing. :)
28 comments:
Sweet - I'm the first to comment!! Not that that gives me any pull in winning, but hey! There are so many people I could give this necklace to, but one in particular is my sister-in-law. She is new to our family in the last 3 1/2 years and has been a blessing. Last year, my brother and sister-in-law's first and only son was diagnosed with Autism. Because of her, he has improved dramatically, but still has a long way to go. She works so hard with him everyday and is fighting to recover him with all she has. She is his hero and angel. I thought of her first, so that's probably who it would go to, but there are others as well...too many to blog about in this comment section. I love that you are doing this - God bless you in your work to honor Chase and HIM!!
Chelsea,
Your story and amazing strength has touched me in so many ways. My husband and I attended Prestoncrest for 4 years while he was attending Baylor College of Dentistry and didn't know you personally, but knew of your sweet family. God is truly being glorified through Chases little life. We have a friend who recently lost her 15 month old daughter due to heart issues. She has 2 older daughters (5 & 3) and I would absolutely love to have a personalized necklace made for her in honor of Gracie. Many prayers have been said for your sweet family and you will continue to be in prayers during this week of honor for Chase.
well, those gifts made me cry, too! beautiful!
i would love to bless someone else w/ something from the vintage pearl. i'm not sure who it would be yet, but it makes me smile just thinking about it!
I love the picture...just perfect! I have a sister in law that has tried for two years to get pregnant and just found out (through IVF) that she is with twins! She knows these two will be her only babies because of the emotional roller coaster it has all been. I would love to get her a necklace with their names on it once they decide. Thanks for the opportunity!
I would give the necklace away to precious friend, Kayci, who recently lost her sister-in-law.
I LOVE the picture of your 4 sweeties!!
I love that picture, it is so beautiful! As far as who I might do something special for I can't say right at this moment but, I have a ton of amazing people around me who are certainly deserving!
What a great idea! I would love to give this to my friend, Sheryl, who just had a baby boy with an unexpected eye condition affecting his vision in one eye. He'll hopefully be fine after surgery, but what a scary thing to find out right after giving birth! I think she needs a blessing.
I'm thinking of you & praying for you this week with Chase's 6-month birthday. I regret that I didn't get to hug you this morning, but please know that you're on my heart!
gorgeous. i'd love to give one to my sister on mother's day as she lost her baby in october. i think it would be a blessing to her!
Chelsea, as always, you very eloquently word what I know has to be a lot of overwhelming emotions. I'm not exactly sure who I would bless with the gift certificate...one of my best friends just had another baby...so I might get her something to represent the new addition to her family.
Chelsea thank you again for another encouraging week of blogs!!! I love to check in on you and your precious family! I have a new friend I met in November.. she and her husband and boys live in Raton, NM and have gotten our sermons on tape for a couple of years now...long story short they run a hunting ranch and have always had guns and hunting as part of their lives... sadly this last May, Misty's middle son Case accidentally shot their 9 yr old son Jedreck...it was such a devistating accident for so many reasons... it was something only a mother who has lost a child can begin to imagine...she grieves for the son she lost and the one who cannot forgive himself.... they came to our church in November to spend the day with us and I was so hoping to be an encouragement to her.. and once again I was amazed by the courage and faith of this woman.. alot like yourself!! We were instantly friends and continue to talk regualarly!! We get to spend a week with them in June and Cody (my husband) will preach at a "camp meeting" there all week... I would love to bless her with one of these special necklaces with all of her boys names on it and share the generous way it has come to her!! So put my name in the hat sister!! She will sooo cherish it!! Thanks for being such a wonderful inspiration! Psalm 121:5,8 Jen Cochran
Chelsea, I LOVE THE picture of the girls and CHASE! My heart jumped when I saw it. I think it is absolutely perfect. Absolutely. Perfect. Praying for you.
I'm with Paige, the picture of all 4 of your precious kiddo's took my breath away when I saw it. Adorable!!!
I do want to enter the giveaway to bless my sweet, sweet childhood friend who recently gave birth to 24 week 5 day twins in Houston. She also has a 2 1/2 year old son, Brady. Both of her babies have brain bleeds and Karsyn (her little girl) was diagnosed with the worst type there is. This is not good at all, and only time will tell just how severe the damage is. After years of infertility, their lives changed forever 3 weeks ago when these babies were born, and even more so on day 10 of their little lives when they received the news of the brain bleeds. I would LOVE to be able to send her a little 'happy' to help her through juggling a husband who coaches, 2 1/2 year old little boy and two micro-premiees who will no longer even be in the same NICU as one requires even greater care than what her women's hospital in Houston can provide.
Keep smiling Chelsea - you are AMAZING!!!
O. My. Word. That painting of your children is ABSOLUTELY amazing!! It moved me in such a powerful way!!! Thanks for sharing.
I am LOVING Chase's posts. Thank you for sharing your precious one w/ us!!
Beautiful posts all week. Nicole's gift is so perfect. What a thoughtful friend and friends you have
Hi, Chelsea-
I wish I didn't only comment on the Chase postings because I love seeing what a good mommy you are to the girls, too. (And that you do it all while getting the girls in coordinating outfits!) But the way you talk about Chase is so beautiful and love the way you have incorporated all this into your family's life. You have touched a lot of lives through all this, including mine. Hope you're doing well. Thinking about you this week-
Julie (Stringer) Ouchley
There's a lady mentor here in Memphis who is a single mother of 6. About a year before I started mentoring her she delivered a stillborn baby. As I was asking her about the delivery day, I asked who she was able to lean on during that event in her life and she said nobody. My heart just sank. After walking through some of this with you and knowing what a presence your friends have been I couldn't imagine having to deliver your child alone. She literally was alone in the hospital room and days that followed her baby's death. Ugh.
So, I'd love if Rosalind could receive this gift to show her that somebody cares about her. I'd love it to include her baby's name.
That print is perfect! Where did she have that made?
I love those necklaces!!
Chelsea! This is a great idea! I have a dear friend who has just adopted her son from a very loving and selfless birth-mom. My friend had one of these necklaces made for this young lady inscribed with the meaning of the baby's name...The Lord Remembers. Too precious!
Thanks for continuing to use your "story" as a blessing...and a challenge...to others. I love you.
chelsea,
though we don't know each other, i just love reading about your sweet family. i, too, live in the dfw area. my husband and i have a sweet, little two year old daughter, emory. when she was just 3 months old, my dear friend and former college roommate unexpectedly sent her precious little boy to heaven at 36 weeks. i was just heartbroken and shocked, too. it was probably the first time i've had to be a "big girl" even though i was in my late 20's. i tried so many ways and words to "make it better" for her desperately not wanting her to hurt so deeply--anything to take away an ounce of pain. i knew, though, we all did, really, that jesus was the only one who could heal their broken hearts, it's nearly two years later, and they have a 4 month old little boy. i have seen both her and her husband grow closer to Him. it really is beautiful. i suppose that i come here (to your blog) to learn how to be a better friend to her, to learn how to help her as she continues to grieve him. ...selfishly, i love seeing your sweet girls, too, as i absolutely adore being a "girl mom". :) if chosen, i would love to bless her with a necklace with each of her children's names. thank you SO much for sharing all that you do. jill
that print of your family is perfectly perfect. your story continues to touch and reach out to countless. thank you for sharing your heart!
i would give this to a friend who is struggling with growing their family but continues to be so joyful for those of us having babies through it all.
first i want to thank you for sharing your story with us. your words continue to touch my life. i would give this necklace to my daughter, who works at Children's Medical Center on the Hematology/Oncology floor. It's not an easy job and I'm so proud of her and thankful that she is able to help others with such a loving, caring heart.
What a wonderful give-away! My second daughter, Erin, went to be with Jesus on the day before her 17th birthday. It's been a few years now, but I love to tell others that I have two daughters, not just one. I have enjoyed your "story" and have prayed for you and your family.
That is why I love Nicole!!! What a perfect gift for you guys...love you!
I, too, LOVE Nicole's thoughtful gift. You could easily write a whole post about friends like you did about family. You have some pretty good ones :)
What a wonderful idea. I would love to surprise someone with this.
Tears are rolling down my cheeks. The picture by Nicole...wow! I see God through you every time I read your blog. I know he is working through Chase but I hope you realize how much he is doing through you. This entry reminds me of the power of Love! God loves us and we should always love others. A very special friend lost her aunt recently..I would love to bless her life.
It is so beautiful, everything! And I LOVE the painting. How precious, it even brought me to tears! I know it is so important to see all our chidren together...
Ive been reading your blog for a while but just now commenting. I'd like to bless a sweet Mom who lost her son after a year battle in the NICU. On top of that, her husband committed suicide and she can't have any more children. What a great giveaway!
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