Wars are not won in an instant, but one battle, one move at a time. When my daughter was receiving treatment I found myself laying all requests at his feet and praising God for every victory. Each moment that composed each day held a different need. Healing, a fever, a desire to eat, a quick admission, a quiet clinic neighbor… By literally pouring out my heart to God, I was giving Him control, and allowing him to fight for me.
Read MoreMay is such a beautiful month. The birds are chirping, the flowers blooming, trees are sprouting, and little creatures are coming out to warm themselves in the sun. God’s beauty is on full display around us, and I am thankful for the reminder of his goodness.
Read Morewish that today was just the third day of February, but for Jordan and I it is much more. Today marks 20 months and 17 days since Claire departed from us. Today we have lived the same amount of time with her as we have without her. Tomorrow, I will have spent more seconds, minutes, hours, and days of my life grieving Claire than I did holding her. My mind struggles to comprehend the fact that I spend a much greater portion of my life remembering her than I did creating memories with her.
Read MoreLast year was not easy, and I do not believe I fully got a handle on it. Therefore, I am not sure that I am ready for 2016 or if I ever would be. To be honest, control is something I struggle with. I know it belongs solely to God, but I try to hang on to it.
Read MoreHow could something as small, light, and unnoticeable as a drinking straw become overwhelming; breaking your last ounce of strength? I never fully understood this saying until recently. Grief seems to occupy so much of my heart and my mind that at times I find myself greatly affected by the small things in life.
Read MoreThe following post was written by Amanda Slocum. A dear friend and director of our new Drew's Cruiser Program. Her post mirrors the same grief of loss, joy in Christ, and new love for her child. We are blessed by and thankful for her.
Read MoreCurrently we are studying the book of Nehemiah at church, and I find myself relating to this piece of scripture at this point in my life. The book begins reflecting upon the state of despair that Jerusalem is in; the people had been exiled, the city walls torn down, gates burned, and the Jerusalem was completely vulnerable to all that surrounded it.
Read MoreSunday would have been Claire’s 3rd Birthday, but how do you celebrate someone’s birthday when they are not here? Birthdays are filled with joy, but honestly that is not the emotion I find myself filled with. We could get together with family, share stories of Claire, and reminisce about her lively spirit; but I am just not ready for that. I miss her so much that it is hard to remember her without a sharp pain in my soul. So what do we do?
Read MoreThe following blog is written by a dear friend of mine, Amanda Slocum, who is now partnering with the Claire Parker Foundation!
Read MoreMany people are still unsure about exactly what our foundation does. I am writing this blog in attempts to answer that question. We strive to be there for our families from the first day of diagnosis to the end of their treatment. Most people only know about our boxes, but that is only the very beginning.
Read MoreMy Derek is four months old. For the first part of his life he was the most calm and content baby who loved to sleep. Then all of a sudden everything changed. He is now a ball of energy wanting to go, do, grown, achieve, and never stop. Unfortunately, the only thing that hasn’t changed is his need for large amounts of rest. Therefore, naps have turned into a battle. I can imagine his thoughts as he struggles to give in.
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