Birth Announcement

This was the email we sent out on May 13, 2007



Dear Family and Friends,

As a family, we wanted to allow family and friends to
share in both our joys and our sorrows. As a husband and
father, I felt that I could not adequately represent all of
our feelings -- so Laura and Sophia will speak for themselves. This morning at the breakfast table we gave thanks for a beautiful Mother's Day with a beautiful new daughter/sister. We are so glad to have Samantha in our home and enjoy loving her and caring for her needs. As a father I appreciate a new opportunity to teach the children about unconditional love. I also feel this to be a God-given opportunity for the kids (and parents) to experience more deeply the blessing and miracle of life.


Samantha Jane was born on May 9th at 10:30 p.m, weighing 5 lbs 10 oz. She was born with several concerns, so after extensive testing in the hospital we found that Samantha was given to us with a disorder known as Trisomy 18. In layman’s terms, Samantha was made in such a
way that her heart and other other major functions will not develop properly. Children with this condition may live for days or weeks, but usually will not live till their 1st birthday.
She's precious, we can tell you that. And although it is a very difficult time for us, we can rejoice knowing still that she is "fearfully and wonderfully made". As Christians we all know that children are given to us for a time -- and that the amount of time is uncertain. God has given us a time
with Samantha that is very short, but we pray, and ask you to pray with us, that we can give her the most love we have to offer. Pray for us that we will have the strength to get through this with His richest grace and
that our other children will benefit through this opportunity.

The hymn Laura and I sang at our wedding ceremony
contained the following:

'When through firey trials thy pathway shall lie
My Grace all sufficient shall be thy supply
the flame shall not hurt thee I only design
thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.'

I can testify that though the trials have been firey, blessings have abounded beyond measure. Compared to the previous three births, Laura’s labor was very long. During the 48 hours following Samantha's birth, Laura had to travel to the special care ward on a different floor in the hospital for every feeding. From my point of view it is supernatual that
her body would be strong enough to make the trip every 2 hours so soon after giving birth.



We also are so thankful for our pediatrician and dear friend who prayed with us, cried with us, and has helped us in so many ways. God takes care of His own, there is no doubt about that.

Having shared our news, we kindly ask that you please refrain from calling or visiting for a time. We are very weary and feel we need time as a family right now to prepare for the days ahead.

Thank you for loving us


































to all my family and friends from Sophia,
samantha is a precious thing
the hair and skin is softer then
anything!
her eyes are brown and pretty
i want to hold her
want to sleep with her
and fix her hair
read to her
but she is going to die soon
as a baby
her hart has a holl that the
docter can not fix
she will never walk or talk
only in heven with the lord
our jesus
love sophia
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When the morning falls on the highest hill

I will sing His Name, I will praise Him still

When dark trials come and my heart is filled

with the weight of doubt I will praise Him still

For the Lord our God He is strong to save

from the arms of death, from the deepest grave

And He gave us life in His perfect will

and by His good grace I will praise Him still.