I just received a card in the mail from Compassion International. There have been 28 separate donations to the Medical Response Fund, in memory of Rachel Amariah Funk!! Thank-you!!! It makes me glad to think about how her life will make a difference for others in this way. I think she would be very happy to know this too:)
Btw, if anyone still wants to donate, I have more cards at home. Just let me know and I will try and get a card to you. It has Rachel's name on it and the designation to the "Medical Response Fund". I'm sure you could just send in a cheque with a note saying where you want it designated and it would work too:)
Thursday, November 17, 2011
New Book
I'm adding another book to the book list! The leaders at the Marriage/Ministry Retreat we were just at gave me a book called "Let me Grieve but not Forever" by Verdell Davis. Her husband died in a plane crash along with three other friends. (James Dobson's friends too. In fact he would have been with them but he needed to bow out of the trip because of other plans) I am half way through and I want to recommend it already! Although our stories are still so different - I can't imagine what it would be like to lose my husband - but there are times when I feel like I can relate so strongly to her experiences of grief. Have you read it?
Dave and I still haven't gone on our date yet. But we have two planned! And we have played Sequence a few times in the evenings - and if I might add, I skunked him two times;) Thank-you again for all your ideas. We're looking forward to doing some of them!
Dave and I still haven't gone on our date yet. But we have two planned! And we have played Sequence a few times in the evenings - and if I might add, I skunked him two times;) Thank-you again for all your ideas. We're looking forward to doing some of them!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Alexander The Brave Brown and His Good Shepherd
This is the song we used for Rachel's slide show (at the memorial services) I posted it because I love the song and also because today I'm thinking about a very special little boy who would have celebrated a fourth birthday today. We love you Alexander and we know your parents miss you so very much! We know too that you are safe with your Good Shepherd and we will see you again one day! Oh what a great day that will be!
November last year
I was able to work a bit on Abigail's scrapbook today. I'm up to last Christmas. And that reminded me about how early we brought out the Christmas stuff last year. I think we wanted so much to enjoy Christmas with Rachel because we hadn't expected to make it that far. And she did have several spells just before Christmas. So glad we could enjoy being a family of five for one Christmas!  |
| Both your legs are stuck in one sleeper leg but you are haaaaapppyy...with all the extra love and attention from a Rotary Flames House volunteer! |
To the Staff at the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic
Just wrote a letter for the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic where we received the devastating news about Rachel's anatomy. (and spent many more hours there in the following months) Not long ago, I found out that another mom (whom I have yet to meet) also received some very difficult news at this same place. I was so glad to hear that she had the same Doctor Simrose that we appreciated so much. It seemed as though she were God sent to us and I still remember some of the things she said to us that day. Here is my letter:
To the Staff at the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic (Foothills),
In January of 2010, we came in for an in-depth ultrasound and heard the devastating news that our baby girl would likely live for only a short time – maybe a few weeks or at most, a few months. We were so thankful for the compassionate response we received from the staff and the support for our decision to continue the pregnancy. Thank-you! I know that in your field of work, you often hear just the first part of the whole story. And I want so much for you to know that we have never regretted that choice. Because our daughter Rachel lived 14 ½ months, surprising us all. She changed us in remarkable ways and it would have been a tragedy if we had never met her.
During my visits to your office and others, I often scoured bulletin boards for pictures of children that might also have lived short lives – because I think that would have given me comfort in knowing that I was not alone. And later, I often thought how glad I would feel to know that our daughter’s picture might encourage some other mother – because the difficult news she might receive today is not the end of the story.
I wrote a blog journaling our life with Rachel and it is open for anyone to read. Thank-you again for breaking the news with us tactfully and with compassion.
Sincerely,
David and Kendra Funk
www.rachelamariah.blogspot.com
To the Staff at the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic (Foothills),
In January of 2010, we came in for an in-depth ultrasound and heard the devastating news that our baby girl would likely live for only a short time – maybe a few weeks or at most, a few months. We were so thankful for the compassionate response we received from the staff and the support for our decision to continue the pregnancy. Thank-you! I know that in your field of work, you often hear just the first part of the whole story. And I want so much for you to know that we have never regretted that choice. Because our daughter Rachel lived 14 ½ months, surprising us all. She changed us in remarkable ways and it would have been a tragedy if we had never met her.
During my visits to your office and others, I often scoured bulletin boards for pictures of children that might also have lived short lives – because I think that would have given me comfort in knowing that I was not alone. And later, I often thought how glad I would feel to know that our daughter’s picture might encourage some other mother – because the difficult news she might receive today is not the end of the story.
I wrote a blog journaling our life with Rachel and it is open for anyone to read. Thank-you again for breaking the news with us tactfully and with compassion.
Sincerely,
David and Kendra Funk
www.rachelamariah.blogspot.com
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Dios te bendiga!
We just had a FABULOUS time with two of Rachel's main respite workers and their families! We haven't been all together since the funeral. Esperanza and her husband are from Columbia and they brought their two kids. Jose and Patricia are from El Salvador and their son Melvin came too. They made Mexican/El Salvador tacos for us and we had some Canadian rhubarb crisp and ice cream for dessert. The kids put on a little show for us, dressed in costumes. And we laughed and laughed. It was so good, so very good.
I feel richly blessed to know these beautiful people. For a long time, I missed our daily ritual of passing Rachel back and forth, asking each other about our days (and nights). We had the shared bond of knowing Rachel but we also shared each other's griefs and struggles. So very often I walked away from these conversations with a feeling of utter amazement.....at their JOY in the midst of grief (!), at how they sensed God pursuing them, and these conversations often inspired me to focus on what really matters. Our story with Rachel may be on a blog but there are so many other stories too.....and what a priviledge it has been to have known their stories. I learned so much from these friends. And I love that God brought these specific people and us together. I feel so full, so thankful tonight...
This is what we often said to each other as we passed Rachel, from our arms to theirs, at the end of the day. Or rather - they said it and I mangled it! I'm not sure how to write it. If you speak Spanish, you can correct me! "Dios te bendiga!" (God bless you!)
and....
Buenas noches! (Good night!)
I feel richly blessed to know these beautiful people. For a long time, I missed our daily ritual of passing Rachel back and forth, asking each other about our days (and nights). We had the shared bond of knowing Rachel but we also shared each other's griefs and struggles. So very often I walked away from these conversations with a feeling of utter amazement.....at their JOY in the midst of grief (!), at how they sensed God pursuing them, and these conversations often inspired me to focus on what really matters. Our story with Rachel may be on a blog but there are so many other stories too.....and what a priviledge it has been to have known their stories. I learned so much from these friends. And I love that God brought these specific people and us together. I feel so full, so thankful tonight...
This is what we often said to each other as we passed Rachel, from our arms to theirs, at the end of the day. Or rather - they said it and I mangled it! I'm not sure how to write it. If you speak Spanish, you can correct me! "Dios te bendiga!" (God bless you!)
and....
Buenas noches! (Good night!)
 |
| Patricia cooking up a storm for us! |
 |
| Esperanza fixing Abigail's bunny - the ear came off. |
Friday, November 11, 2011
Cleaning up...
I went through the cards from the memorial services this morning. Cried a bit, smiled as I read your notes and saw your names. And I know that the cards alone do not represent all the people who have journyed with us. Thank-you. I found some money too! And a cheque! Wow - that was nice. Maybe we will put it toward the costs of the great marriage retreat that was so helpful for us. Thank-you!!! We had opened all the cards shortly after the service. I even read some of the Calgary cards outloud to Dave on our way to Manitoba. But it was such a hard, crazy time and so I stuffed them all into a bag and stuck them on the office desk to read again...some day. I am still planning to keep some of them to read again next year on Rachel's 'Heaven day'.
I've got lots of projects on my mind these days. Ones I have thought of doing for what seems like a looooong time. One of them is moving Abigail into her own room. I'm hunting for a used bed today. I would have so *loved* to make a girl room for both my girls, but I am thankful too that I have the joy of doing something special for my eldest girl! Yesterday at the dinner table, the kids were bugging each other, saying "Boys are better", "Girls are better". And we said how glad we had one boy and one girl because we think they're both the best! Abigail corrected us by saying "no, you have two girls!". True....
I am cleaning up some of the baby stuff we have. I told Abigail yesterday that I was going to give the double stroller away and she said, 'but mom, what if we have another baby?' That made me sad to hear. I would so LOVE to give her another baby brother or sister but I don't think that's in God's plan, at least not biologically. I feel sad sometimes about that, but I am glad too for all the Good that is in our life right now. So many ups and downs to my emotions these days....and I am glad for the better days!
Abigail's new room will be in the office. A bit cramped but she is so excited about me painting and decorating it just for her. This also means that I won't be using the computer after bed time hours for awhile! (until we decide to move the office downstairs) I think this will be helpful for both Dave and myself to be able to focus more on each other in the evenings! Hopefully that lasts and I don't have too many withdrawal symptoms;) I hope to still get some time to write and connect with some of you on the mornings when both my kids are in school.
I have been rambling this morning, not too much to say. Just that it is fun to be able to throw myself into projects like this. And there are other dreams simmering too, like opening our home to international students again...and others I will keep to myself for now. Thank-you God for new dreams and good days.
I've got lots of projects on my mind these days. Ones I have thought of doing for what seems like a looooong time. One of them is moving Abigail into her own room. I'm hunting for a used bed today. I would have so *loved* to make a girl room for both my girls, but I am thankful too that I have the joy of doing something special for my eldest girl! Yesterday at the dinner table, the kids were bugging each other, saying "Boys are better", "Girls are better". And we said how glad we had one boy and one girl because we think they're both the best! Abigail corrected us by saying "no, you have two girls!". True....
I am cleaning up some of the baby stuff we have. I told Abigail yesterday that I was going to give the double stroller away and she said, 'but mom, what if we have another baby?' That made me sad to hear. I would so LOVE to give her another baby brother or sister but I don't think that's in God's plan, at least not biologically. I feel sad sometimes about that, but I am glad too for all the Good that is in our life right now. So many ups and downs to my emotions these days....and I am glad for the better days!
Abigail's new room will be in the office. A bit cramped but she is so excited about me painting and decorating it just for her. This also means that I won't be using the computer after bed time hours for awhile! (until we decide to move the office downstairs) I think this will be helpful for both Dave and myself to be able to focus more on each other in the evenings! Hopefully that lasts and I don't have too many withdrawal symptoms;) I hope to still get some time to write and connect with some of you on the mornings when both my kids are in school.
I have been rambling this morning, not too much to say. Just that it is fun to be able to throw myself into projects like this. And there are other dreams simmering too, like opening our home to international students again...and others I will keep to myself for now. Thank-you God for new dreams and good days.
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