Glory Revealed...

I can’t really put into words what I’m feeling in this moment. Life seems to move so quickly, but looking back makes every step look so far away. I just got done re-reading the blog posts that Brit and I compiled when we lost Glory and I’m just weeping. I didn’t realize that it was going to hit me like it did. For months now, we’ve talked about the healing we’ve experienced since finding out we were pregnant again with Mazlin Thomas (yes…we’re having a boy!), however today in these moments the fact that life is but a breath has hit home once again.

There’s this reality to life that seems to catch us off guard sometimes. “... In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) It’s the reality that it’s not a matter of “if” but rather a matter of “when” in regards to heartache, pain and trials in our lives. We all know they’ll come.

I used to experience a lot of fear in my life. I’d worry and get anxious that something awful was going to happen circumstantially or to someone I love. I’d drive myself crazy thinking of all the possible scenarios and it stole my life and my joy. I haven’t reached a point of complete freedom yet, however I have been able to move to a place where I spend more time focusing on the promises of God rather than the irrational fears that have no bearing or weight in the things I have little to no control over. I owe a lot of that to how God used Glory in my life.

I will never forget the images of watching Brittany’s body “deliver” Glory. I’ll never forget scooping Glory’s partially formed body from the toilet with a kitchen ladle, and I’ll never forget embracing my wife as we both cried over the child that we never got to hold alive. It’s raw and it’s real, and the experience has marked me, but it’s also opened my eyes to the truth that it’s not about me and it’s not about what I want, but it’s about God and what He wants to do.

God didn’t make Glory die, but He did turn what the enemy wanted to use to hurt and harm us, into good. It’s a place in my journey toward knowing Jesus and becoming more like Him where I was forced to press into God…to be honest with Him about my heart, my hopes, my dreams and my struggles and in turn He revealed to me more of who He wants me to be. He asked me to trust Him, even when life seems tragic and unfair.

God’s Word is full of promises like Romans 8:28 that says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” And Jeremiah 29:11 that says “¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” And John 10:10, “¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  The question is, do we take what God say’s to heart, believe it and experience His power and life changing presence amidst our pain? Or do we continue to live our lives under an umbrella of whoa enslaved to the troubles we were told we would have? Will you continue to let the enemy steal your life? Or will you draw your sword, fight the battle and gain the victory that Jesus so badly wants to you to experience?

Weiner Roast!

 

Our porch

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It's true...We're expecting again!

Yes! It's absolutely true...the morning or January 17, Brit and I found out we were pregnant for the third time. We couldn't be happier and are so blessed with God's faithfulness and timing. It was of course our hearts desire and a complete answer to our prayers.

Baby Easton # 3 will be due around September 24 and we are anxiously awaiting our 20 week ultra sound to see if we can find out if it's going to be a boy or a girl.

We're currently in our 15th week. Thank you all for sharing in our joy and celebrating this new life with us!

9 weeks

9 weeks

Baby at 12 weeks 3 days

Christmas Eve, Bathtime, Ze & Rockets!

We haven't been on our blog in way too long! So here are some recent photos for you all to see.  The fun red rockets are from Uncle Dom and Auntie Laura...all the way from England ;)

Great message from Francis Chan

Our house

I love waking up on a winter morning to the trees covered in white!  Even though it sometimes seems so long, this is one of those special things I LOVE about winter.  And this is what our house looked like this morning...oh pretty trees...

And for your viewing pleasure, here is what our house looked like last fall.  The frosty maple above is not only beautiful in the winter...



Our baby has grown up!

Last Tuesday morning I was working on my computer in our dining room while Honor was playing with his toys.  I heard something in the next room and went to check it out.  I suspected that our kitty, Sophie, was up to some trouble...and I was right. Soph had somehow landed herself on the top of our entertainment center!  Our Christmas tree is stationed adjacent to the entertainment center, so I guessed that she climbed the tree to get to the top of her destination.  Yes, climbed it.  Goodness.

Anyway, I thought it was a funny sight worthy of a picture...and I figured that Troy would find it humerous as well.  So, I got my camera ready to capture the moment so I could email it to Troy at work, and in the mean time, Honor took it upon himself to finish my work for me!  This is how I found him once I returned to the dining room:

Can you tell that he's been watching Mommy?!!  I laughed so hard when I saw that he had grabbed the mouse and was plunking on the keyboard with his other hand.  I didn't stage this, I promise...this is just a perfect image of our technology-loving little Honor! 

We Love The Snow!

2010 Christmas Card

Glory's cross

Thank you, everyone, for all of your support through this last week-or-so.  Thank you for ALL of your prayers...we are so grateful!  The Lord has been amazingly faithful to us...and it's crazy that we even have to say that!  He is ALWAYS faithful, but we've felt his peace and reassurance so tangibly through all of this.  Thank you, Lord.

to God be the...Glory

We spent Friday and Saturday at my parents farm to celebrate an early Thanksgiving, and while we were there we took another step towards healing after the loss of our baby.  This morning we buried Glory.

This is a scripture that we've clung to over the last week:

PSALM 139:13-16

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there were none of them.

And here is a poem that was written by my mom, Grandma Kathy, for her grand-baby:

BETWEEN THE EVERGREENS

There is a resting place

Between the evergreens

A place to contemplate

"What does life really mean?"

"Is it measured by long days on earth?"

"Is it only the time beginning with our birth?"

As I stand here among these fragrant trees

God's answer comes so quickly

It brings me to my knees

"Life begins and ends with me

Before you take a breath

Believe that it does not end

I am not bound by death."

11-05-2010

For Glory

A few years ago my mom heard about a group of people who did something really neat...they had songs for all of their children.  Now, I need to ask my mom about more of the details of these people, but what I vividly remember her telling us was that each person had their own song.  That song was heard all through their life, and the last time the song was ever heard was the day that person passed away.

So, my mom began to ask God for songs for her children.  And the Lord gave her songs!  They are really powerful and meaningful to all of us (including Troy), and the Lord gave her a song for our unborn baby shortly after we found out we were expecting. 

Here's Glory's song:

PRECIOUS CREATION

My precious creation

Lover of nations

Forgiven & free

Set apart just for Me

My precious creation

The start of a New Day

The sun's up and out to play

The start of a new smile

Breathe deep for just awhile

Take it all in

Take a deep breath

Give it a go

Take that first step

My precious creation

I love you child

My heart's going wild

You've got my heartbeat

So please let me repeat:

My precious creation...

We sang this song the day that we lost Glory.  It is still a really raw memory for me because that was when reality sank it that this was the first and last time Glory's song would be heard.

Now, I don't know if I really want to stick to the tradition...I think I want to hear my baby's song again.  But nevertheless, that moment of listening to my baby's song was REAL.

We love you Glory, and we can't wait to hold you and sing a new song...together.  



A prayer

I found this Franciscan benediction on a blog I frequent. Wanted to share it with you…it was too good to just read and not share!

 

“May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them
And turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen”

 

Glory Baby...

The last week has been a roller coaster of emotions. One we will always look at as a time that has marked us, strengthened and challenged us. We’ve grown in the last days in ways we never expected and our hearts are full of hope and peace as we wait on and trust in the One who gives and takes away.

Here is a message from Brit from this past Friday to update you on what’s been happening:

-  A Message from Brit, October 29, 2010
Troy and I found out in the middle of September that we were expecting another little baby. We were so excited and rejoicing in the dream of another addition to our family. Today we would have been 11 weeks along and were anticipating the arrival of our baby at the end of May.
Through a number of events over the course of the last week, we learned that our baby had passed away at approximately the 6 week mark. Yesterday we spent the afternoon at the clinic and ER and learned what it feels like to experience a miscarriage. We are grieving...we are so sad...but we are rejoicing that our second baby is with the Lord in heaven, and comforted that we know we will meet him/her someday.
If you would, please remember us in your prayers as we continue to process through what happened this week. Physically, I'm amazed at how good I feel today...it's the emotional side of things that both Troy and I are still figuring out. But the Lord is good. We're choosing His strength...and it's a good thing.
We love you all and are so thankful for all of your love and support.
Love,
Brit (Troy and Honor)

Today is a new day and with every new day comes new beginnings! We are excited to inform you that we have chosen to name our little one Glory after the song “Glory Baby” by Watermark. Our sister-in-law Jenna shared this with us the day after we lost Glory and it’s a song that speaks of love and hope. It brings comfort to know that Glory is with Jesus and Heaven is all that Glory will ever know. I’ve included the lyrics below for you to read.

It’s been incredible to feel God’s love through all of your support and love. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. God has added to our story a journey full of promises and rich in truth that we have only begun to explore and learn from. Our hope is that the story of Glory will not only bless you, but speak hope into your life as well.

We love you Glory and we can’t wait to hold you…

All our love,
Mom & Dad (Brit & Troy)

“Glory Baby” by Watermark
Glory baby you slipped away as fast as we could say baby…baby..
You were growing, what happened dear?
You disappeared on us baby…baby..
Heaven will hold you before we do
Heaven will keep you safe until we’re home with you…
Until we’re home with you…

Miss you everyday
Miss you in every way
But we know there’s a
day when we will hold you
We will hold you
You’ll kiss our tears away
When we’re home to stay
Can’t wait for the day when we will see you
We will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you
‘till mom and dad can hold you…
You’ll just have heaven before we do
You’ll just have heaven before we do

Sweet little babies, it’s hard to
understand it ‘cause we’re hurting
We are hurting
But there is healing
And we know we’re stronger people through the growing
And in knowing-
That all things work together for our good
And God works His purposes just like He said He would…
Just like He said He would…

BRIDGE:
I can’t imagine heaven’s lullabies
and what they must sound like
But I will rest in knowing, heaven is your home
And it’s all you’ll ever know…all you’ll ever know…

An afternoon at the pumpkin patch!

 Sunday, October 3, Brit, Honor and I joined our friends Todd, Markay and Brynn Larson for a pumpkin patch adventure. It was an absolute blast! From the Hayride to the pumpkin picking to the tunnel maze, we're convinced now we've started a new Easton family tradition! Enjoy the pictures!

These videos make me smile...

A few nights ago, we were getting Honor ready to take a bath and pulled out Brit's phone to take some pictures of him. Every time the flash was about to go off, Honor would blink his eyes. He eventually started doing it even if we weren't taking a picture of him...needless to say, it was hilarious and so adorable. Here are the videos we took...

Honor can dance!

Honor's Armor!

Honor eats his first cupcake!

We love this boy like crazy!

Honor's 1st Birthday!

Honor's first birthday was a blast! 31 of his closest family and friends joined us to celebrate Honor's GOLDEN Year! Enjoy the photos!

Summer Fun!

Summer's here in Minnesota go fast, so Brit, Honor and I have become pros at making the most of them! The last few weekends of August we spent being intentional with some of our great friends (Mike & Ashley), spent some time at Nana's pool and the lake! Below are some pictures from these "summer fun" activities!

The Zollingers came home!

Since 8th grade Travis, Rikson and I have been very close and even at times affectionately go by "The three amigos". I know...it's kind of cheesy and cliche, but we think it's cool : ) . We've had the privileged of walking through many of life's milestones together and it's been so awesome to see how God has shaped all of our lives.

When we were growing up, we used to talk about what it would be like to get married and MAKE our wives be friends. We even talked about what it would be like if our kids were friends and how cool it would be if we all had boys.

Now, 13 years later, we're all married, our wives are friends (and we didn't have to make them be), and we all have boys. In fact Rikson and his wife Laura just had their 2nd son Logan Ely Zollinger. They came to Fargo this past August and we were able to spend some time with them. Below you will find photos of our time together. My favorite is the one of Honor (my son), Jaxson (Rikson's son) and Zeya (Travis's son).