”I still would have chosen you”

I Still would have chosen you - By Terri Banish

”If before you were born, I could have gone to heaven and saw all the beautiful souls, I still would have chosen you

If God had told me, "This soul would one day need extra care and needs", I still would have chosen you

If He had told me, "This soul may make your heart bleed", I still would have chosen you

If He had told me, "This soul would make you question the depth of your faith", I still would have chosen you

If He had told me, "This soul would make tears flow from your eyes that could fill a river", I still would have chosen you

If He had told me, "This soul may one day make you witness overbearing suffering", I still would have chosen you

If He had told me, "All that you know to be normal would drastically change", I still would have chosen you

Of course, even though I would have chosen you, I know it was God who chose me for you.”

4 months today.

Miss him more everyday.

12 days of Christmas...gifts

 We have been blessed beyond measure by so many praying for our family, acts of service and love by so many friends.  I know the Lord gave us many gifts to help us get through this first Christmas without Samuel.  I wanted to share some things that helped our family and special ways we celebrated through our grief this year.  I am going to be writing several posts about this, so please share!  I hope that others will be inspired to do these things that helped us, for another family that needs it!

 

This year the Christmas season was going to be difficult...and it's not just a day, it's a whole season!  Even though we have His JOY , it was hard to be excited without our boy.  He loved the lights and decorations!  He loved going to The Merry Christmas Tree Farm, his therapists house, to get our Christmas tree each year!  He loved presents and toys!  He loved reading about Jesus' birth and singing Christmas Carols!  He loved it all.

 

 

So, as we had entered into the season and I was trying to get going on everything,

 we were surprised one morning with an exciting treat!

 

This was sitting at the door on December 14th.

Attached was a note:

"On the 1st day of Christmas... A partridge in a pear tree?

 How about peeps and pear bread?"

~imagine our excitement!!

 

Inside the box was homemade bread, pear preserves and peppermint peeps!

YUMMY

 

 

The next morning we dared look outside and there was another box!

the note read: "On the 2nd day of Christmas... 

how about turtle chocolates and 2 packs of Doves?"

**double yummy!!

(This is fun for me, too)

 

The next morning came and we were racing to the door!

"On the 3rd day of Christmas... French Hens??  How about French hair?!"

(shampoo, conditioner and hair supplies)

 

How fun!!!

 

Every day it was exciting to wake up and see what was at the door!

 

"On the 4th day of Christmas...four calling birds...we got it right, or

 did it say four cawing birds?? we tried!"

 bird feeder, bird food and 4 bird crafts

 

By this time everyone is asking me who is doing this?? 

I have no idea, but it is awesome and happy for our family and I am so grateful!

 

 

"On the 5th day of Christmas... 5 golden rings! 

 at $1750.00 per ounce, you didn't expect real gold, did you? Merry Christmas!"

5 ring pops and a bubble ring kit!

 

 



"On the sixth day of Christmas... six geese a-laying??

 Oh no, we thought it said 'six Chick fil A's'!"

so carefully wrapped in the eggs are

$5.oo gift cards to Chick fil A!!!!!

I am loving this :)

 



"On the 7th day...swans a swimming.?

 Definitely not as cool as penguins a dancing!"



inside our box was the movie Happy Feet 2

(the kids have watched it over and over),

 tootsie rolls and penguin body wash!

 

 

"On the 8th day...hmmmmm....how about

 a milk bath, hot cocoa and a latte candle?"

sounds great to me :)

 

this was also at the door on the 8th day

"the swan wishes to thank the penguins for holding down the fort until his arrival.

Strong headwinds caused the delay. Merry Christmas!"

so funny

 

Now on the 9th morning, there was nothing at the door.

We tried not to be disappointed, but I remembered I didn't turn the outside light off all night,

 so I told the kids that it may come, but I was afraid our "secret gifter" was afraid of being seen...

But... later that afternoon at the other door,

it arrived!

"On the 9th day of Christmas... we have to protect our feet if we are going to dance. First things first"

 



Fuzzy warm socks for us all!!

(Our gifter is so clever)

 

"On the 10th day of Christmas...leaping , flying? Batman did both! 

So can angry birds. That's all I got."



An awesome game of Angry Birds!!!

(which we play almost everyday)

 

 

"On the 11th day...bag pipes wouldn't fit. How 'bout icing for piping?"

sugar cookie baking mix and decorating kit!

 

Now of course, Christmas day was here and I thought of this person, who everyday is sneaking to our house, delivering a gift... this is Christmas morning, surely there won't be anything.

Why did I doubt this amazing gifter???!!! 

 

"On the 12th day of Christmas...12 Drummers Drumming,
 edible drumsticks are so much more exciting!
 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!"

 

and there were 2 packs of Super Nugget drumsticks(ice cream cones) in dry ice!

YUMMY!  We all are still enjoying those!

 

And then Tim got excited about the dry ice...so then they made some concoction with it.

 

 

And had a happy morning!

 

Thankful for givers today.

 

We still don't know who did this for our family, but it was truly a treat and blessing to us. I pray that I can bless another family some day, as this person has blessed us!

 

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!

 

2 Corinthians 9:7-8

"Each one must do as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything for every good deed."

 

 

The Samuel Cutliff Research Fund - The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation

I wanted to add a tab on my blog, so that others could know about Samuel's research fund...but it won't let me add this tab?? If anyone knows what I am doing wrong, I would love to know!  Thanks!