Please forgive me for not responding to your considerate comments, kind expressions, and wonderful messages. I have read each one with great appreciation and sincere humility.The past month has been a bittersweet experience. My brother’s death knocked the wind right out of me. Because of that I’ve chosen to focus more intently on my family and their needs. I love and admire every one of you. Thank you for your friendship.
In lieu of our situation I said to my wife, “Go out and by our rocking chairs. I don’t want to wait to grow old with you. I would love to sit with you on the porch today!”
Lynnette brought home two beautiful chairs. The only problem is that we need a third chair for Eden. My sweet little girl is jealous and wants her own chair. She cracks me up. And so, tomorrow we’ll start looking for a third chair. The store evidently sold us the last two black rocking chairs. I'm sure we can find a pink one for our little diva.
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteA friend of ours sent over your blog to me the other day and I have had tears in my eyes ever since. While reading through some of your posts i've been smiling, crying, encouraged and inspired.
I would like to first say I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother, but I rejoice with you and your family that you will see him again soon. You have done an amazing job honoring your brothers life while sharing your strong faith.
Your story is so touching...your family is so beautiful and you are extremely talented. Your music is so touching. I pray for God to provide you with a new beautiful chance of life with a new heart. Although it is difficult, we can receive much peace in knowing that God is in complete control. I pray that peace for you and your family. I will continue to follow your blog and pray for you all!
Four years ago my husband and I were blessed with our beautiful twins Luke and Gracie. Both were born with CHD. January 9, 2007 our precious little girl went home to be with Jesus. Although we ache for her daily and yearn to hold her, we are comforted by our faith. The Lord has once again blessed us with another baby to be born on August 23, this year....she too had a CHD. We started a foundation
http://hopeful-hearts.org/ after the passing of our daughter and it has been our healing medicine in keeping our daughters memory alive. After the shocking news of our new little precious daughter...we will have to update our website...our journey continues.
I love how you stated how it is a bitter-sweet life. We have had our hearts full of sorrow we could of never imagined, but at the same time have witnessed love we would of never known.
Sorry this is so long..I just wanted to thank you for sharing all you have and cannot wait to purchase your CD.
Many prayers to you and your family.
Love, The Chez Family
Terra, Adam, Luke, Angel Gracie and our baby girl to be :)
I think a pink rocking chair would go perfect between those two chairs. I was hoping to go to the IHH picnic to meet everyone, but Jax had just had surgery and was having a hard recovery, so we stayed home.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Cracker Barrel for rocking chairs. They have some for the little ones... just can't remember if they are black(or pink :) or not... Good Luck and enjoy your porch with your family. I'm from the south and HAVE to have the front porch/rocking chair thing happening...
ReplyDeletePaul, We pray for you often and i know many of us do not expect any response for you ever. I love the chairs. Is that not everyones dream? I read your post to my husband and cried. Such a sweet thing to do for your wife. I am sure you will find the little pink chair you are looking for. Kids are wonderful at keeping us grounded and keep us from focusing on our pain.
ReplyDeleteHere is a verse that I held fast to while in the hospital with Nevaeh.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
Heart Hugs!
Lori
Ahhh! what a wonderful idea. Nothing better or more peaceful than
ReplyDeleterocking in the front porch and talking and singing. Even better than a "pink rocking chair" , is Eden in your lap, held close in daddy's arms.
Much love to you and your precious family. You can relax this week as prayers are in our hands. One week of no worries for you!!!!
Paul you don't have to apologize for not replying. We don't write here for you to reply. We want you to give 100% to staying healthy and coping with the challenges that you have. I am sure that there is a pink rocking chair in the future. Relax and enjoy every minute in those chairs. We will enjoy watching your fight through this blog. May you continue to be blessed!
ReplyDeleteWow. I love the idea with the chairs. I'm not sure who said this, but I'm certain you've heard it...."Don't put off till tomorrow, what you can do today".
ReplyDeleteDito to what Michelle said. Take care of you and your family, don't worry about us. If someone really wants to hear back from you, they can listen to your music! :) ♥
Love that philosophy of Live for Today because none of us knows what tomorrow may bring. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Good for you, Paul!
ReplyDeleteThat is just way to cute!!!
ReplyDeleteHow perfect are those chairs!
ReplyDeleteWe should all learn a little something from this post. Living in the now is what we ALL should be doing whether we are dealing with a life threatening situation or not. Would you agree?
There's a song by Tim McGraw called Live Like You are Dying. Amazing & Beautiful!
I pray for you and your family every moment I get a chance. And..... my 13 year old daughter jumped on her piano yesterday and started playing one of your songs. How amazing is that? {it even brought a little tear to my eye - one of those tears you get during a sweet moment} I hope you are smiling now.
God Bless,
Christina & Family
No apologies for sharing your time with those close to you. Just make sure someone updates the blog when you are blessed with a new heart. Enjoy your summer and the rocking chairs..memories of loved ones new and old are what sustain us.
ReplyDeletePaul, Cracker Barrel has the cutest pink rocking chairs just like the black ones you bought. Soooo cute.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love your rocking chairs!!!
ReplyDeleteYou just need a little lemonade. I hope that things are well with you and your little family. We are still praying for you. Take care of yourself. Hope to see you soon. We have cardiology next thursday, let me know if you will be around!
How cute! You are such an inspiration, Paul! I'm so glad you keep us updated on a blog. I love the chairs! And Eden definitely needs her own chair!! So cute!
ReplyDeleteYou share so much with the world, it feels nice to see you take time out to rock and relax and spend quality family time. Disconnect the phones EXCEPT the heart beeper of course, aturn on some Eden music and let her entertain you with her special songs, and remember we are all praying for you and are so grateful for the love you share with us.
ReplyDeleteAs grandparents of OWEN (waiting for his transplant)sometimes we forget to live in between those appointments and have more FUN every single minute as if everything were normal. The symbolism of your chairs touched my heart and changed my mind's direction today. Bless you, your wife and little Eden. OWEN's GRANDMA VICKI
Thank you for sharing your beautiful talent. I feel the spirit so much when listening to it. I'm reminded of a loving Father in Heaven who wants so much for us to be happy. Thank You!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the rocking chairs. They look great on the porch. Enjoy rocking in them while you're waiting for your heart. With all the people praying for you, it should be coming soon. :)
ReplyDeleteAs much as we would love to be able to each have a personal response from you we know it is just not possible. Just being able to read your blog brings so much inspiration and hope to us.
ReplyDeleteI work at Michael's and if you have the time and patience, we carry unfinished rocking chairs. And the paint. You could get the exact color you're looking for.
What a wonderful idea to do it NOW...wishing you many peaceful "rocking" moments with your ladies!
ReplyDeleteLove it! You've inspired me to go and buy my own...
ReplyDeleteYour situation or not...great advice and just what I needed to hear!
ReplyDeletePaul, I love coming and reading your blog, you inspire me, touch my spirit thru this cyberspace world of ours and truly make a difference in my life. I am so sorry for the loss of your brother and know beyond any doubt that you will see one another again and be together. You are an amazing man with an amazing talent and family! I LOVE the youtube clips that are on here, so very touching. You and your family are in my prayers. Thank you for being so open and sharing so much of yourself with us, I truly am moved by your example..more than I can express.
ReplyDeleteI hope today and everyday is a rocking chair day!
ReplyDeleteN-o-n-e of us has any idea when we will depart this earthly world. What a blessing for you to bring into focus to live each moment. I so enjoy listening to your songs on Gracie's blog--amazing. Thank you for sharing your journey of life with us. We pray for you, that through someone's sorrow and passing, as your family has so sadly just experienced, that you may be blessed with a heart--that healing may come for all.
Now get out there and rock--enjoy!
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ReplyDeleteAmen to all that has been said. We all feel the same for you and your family.
ReplyDeletePrayers Always
Sweet Paul,
ReplyDeleteI was moved to tears tonight as I read your comments. My sweet family and I just returned home from a vacation away from reality. We had no access to a computer in the ten days that we were gone. It was a beautiful thing to witness, as I have mentioned before, that each of my three sweet children rememebered you in each of their prayers, even away from home in a completely different country. They were anxious to check your website as soon as we got home to read your updates and see if a heart had come. Your name is mentioned in our home many times throughout the day and it is accompanied by the sweet melodies that your gifted hands have written and shared. My oldest son, Tyler, sits and works on your song 'Live to Love' each day and it fills our home with beautiful peace. Their prayers and your music have given us many opportunities to share your story and how you have touched and changed our lives. Thank you Paul for helping me teach my children, perhaps, some of the most important lessons of life.
Your rocking chairs are beautiful and your words are priceless. It was just a few short months ago that my sweet husband and three children surprised me with my very own rocking chair..... now sitting next to my husbands on the back porch. We just got married a year ago and I became the step mom of his three children, together, the four of them have become my life. That rocking chair symbolizes life here at our home. I am a recent cancer survivor and it is in this chair that I sit and reflect on my life, where I am, who I am and I watch my children run in the back yard, I listen to them laugh, I hold the hand of the man I cant wait to spend the rest of my life with. I believe with all my heart that our sweet Heavenly Parents have a set or rocking chairs where they watch us and they smile and they cry and they pray. Tonight, in my prayers, I will pray that those rocking chairs will hold many many more years of memories for you Paul. For you, your wife and for your little Diva. When I sit in my rocking chair and watch the sun rise in the morning, I will think of you and your family. Our hearts are with you and all the love this little family holds, we send your way. Thank you Paul for being another one of those miracles God has let me live to witness. You have truly touched my heart. We Love You!
The Riggs Family
Brannick, Juli, Tyler, Parker and Saskya
www.ourstory.com/julibugs13
Paul, I was at JoAnn's craft store and saw that they had unfinished children's rocking chairs. I thought of you and Eden, needing a pink rocking chair for your porch. I looked it up online and so here's the link. (in case you don't have a JoAnn's Craft Store in your area)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3005&PRODID=xprd769431
There is a 40% off coupon code: TTE212A
In case you haven't found a rocking chair yet. :)