Hope is everywhere. Sometimes you just have to look.
I've spent five months telling myself exactly that. Well, today I found it.
I've been told repeatedly if David and I were to need anything, we should just simply ask.
Today I am asking. Today I want you to find a sign of hope in your daily life.
Then please tell us about it. You may have to search a little as well. Hope is there though. I promise you.
Today I found hope in the eyes of children at play. Today I found hope in knowing a calm sense of peace and relief from worry far outweighs any sense of grief.
Hope is also my daughter.
Hope Angela entered this world on October 15, 2009 at 2:49pm. Who knew hope would arrive with the darkest hair you'd ever see.
Instead of watching for hope, Hope is now watching over us. She may have entered this world an Angel, but she will never truly leave it.
Ang,
ReplyDeleteYou and David are two of the strongest people that I have never actually met! I find my hope in the two of you: faced with what you have been through, you both kept your faith and kept your heads high, hoping and praying for the best. You are truly an inspiration to women everywhere.
God bless both of you!
<3 An anonymous Nestie <3
Dear Dairygirl,
ReplyDeleteMy HOPE is that someother young mother who is going through or has gone through what you and your husband are experiencing will find you and will be blessed by your witness, faith, and strenght. By many comments that I have read you have touched so many. There are people that do not have a faith in God to rely on. I am so happy that you do. I am sure you know that with out Him this would have been a much different situation. So I hope those in need will see this through you. Stay health and God Bless you all.
My hope is that God gives us things to hold on to...little miracles even in times of grief. How beautiful that Hope Angela's birth was perfectly planned so that every year, on her birthday, the entire nation will celebrate and remember her during National Day of Remembrance! Praying for peace for your family.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and your family and sending many prayers. Hope is a beautiful name.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing baby born to amazing parents. How lucky we all are to know of your journey and your faith in God. A miracle of love in a little Angel who is indeed giving HOPE to all! Her sweet name is a perfect fit. Blessings:)
ReplyDeletePraying for you that God will sustain you. He truly lets us go through the fire without being burned and through the water and not drown.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and sending you prayers.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your husband. Hope is blessed to have you as parents and will continue to bless your life from Heaven.
ReplyDeleteContinue to find comfort in truth and love. May your lives be blessed deeply as you continue your journey.
I saw HOPE in the beautiful sunset!
ReplyDeleteand in your love for each other and your daughter.
"Hope encourages the heart to move forward throught the trials of today; It shines a light of assurance into the darkest places of uncertainty; It places secure stepping stones upon every river that needs to be crossed."
roy lessin
You are both in my thought and prayers, I will continue to look for HOPE every day.
roy lessin
You, your husband and your baby have been in my thoughts daily as I've followed your story and HOPED for the best outcome. I love the name you chose for her...so fitting, especially coming from you. I HOPE for you, for her, for your family, that you area all able to find peace. And as someone above mentioned, I HOPE another family going through something similar will find guidance and hope through your journey.
ReplyDeleteYour story gives me HOPE about my sister. She's carrying a baby with Trisomy 9 mosaicism and has chosen to continue with the pregnancy. Despite all of her fears and the fears of our family, we've recognized that this baby regardless of any imperfection will be a blessing in our lives. Your baby has done the same for me. Thank you for sharing your story and I'll forever think about your precious HOPE.
ReplyDeleteI found hope looking at the stars tonight. The biggest and brightest one let me know your Hope is there, watching you and all of us, and that she is not alone. Love you and thinking of you lots. All my faith and prayers.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is you have been inspirational in your journey. Hope for me is that there are others in this world with your sense of being, with your outlook on life. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing Hope has been to all of us following your journey. I will continue to pray for the three of you.
ReplyDeleteI see hope in your story. It gives me the push to appreciate everything we have and strive to be as wonderful a parent as you and your husband already are. And your Hope has reminded me never to take anything for granted and to be thankful everyday for my own family.
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog and story for months and I truly wish you the very best and send all of my admiration at your strength and dedication throughout this journey.
I have held out for you and your family and hoped for a miracle, as I too am hoping for one. I am 38 weeks pregnant and my husband is fighting esophageal cancer, which was discovered when I was 27 weeks pregnant. We are keeping positive and weighing all of our options, as you and your husband did with Hope, and we are fighting aggressivly, as my husband has two little boys he hopes to see grow up.
ReplyDeleteI admire your strength and have drawn strength from you.
I wish you all the best and in Hopes memory I will continue to have hope and strength for my family.
A year before I became pregnant, a woman I didn't even know walked up to me and said, "The Lord wants you to know you will be a good mother." I didn't even want children. And now, I have hope that even though my pregnancy was unplanned, God will help me to be a good and strong mother.
ReplyDeleteI also have hope that God is good. I hope this because your faith encourages me to keep believing, even when I don't think I can believe anymore. Thank you.
I find hope in your story and in your strength. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Know that you have many people who find you to be an inspiration and an incredibly strong woman, wife, and mother.
ReplyDeleteI find hope each morning when my husband and I wake up holding hands. I find hope in our partnership- our lives take many unexpected twists and turns and we have no way to guarantee what we may face, even in the coming day- but there's hope knowing we will be there for each other.
ReplyDeleteI have kept you and David and baby Hope in my prayers since I first stumbled across your blog, and I will continue to lift you up to the Lord. All blessings and comfort to you.
To the woman whose husband has esophageal cancer:
ReplyDeleteMy father was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer in September 2007. Today he is happy, healthy, back to work, and back to normal.
I hope that you can find hope in knowing that even when it looks bad, miracles abound!
At church we have a moment of silence for those in need of prayer. As our pastor said your name (I asked him to call you Dairygirl :) ) the most beautiful bells started ringing from another church nearby. It was the happiest and prettiest song. That to me is a sign of Hope that you will never forget your journey, but move forward even stronger because of it.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
I found hope in my cousin who just completed a half-marathon, despite on-going knee problems. She ran as a tribute to her mom, who died of myeloma (a blood cancer). She raised 115% of her goal. Just as she has given hope to those who suffer from blood cancers, your story gives hope to those who may face a similar situation. Your strength and courage are to be admired and I thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteDairygirl, I have been following your story from the bump and wanted to let you know your family and your little baby have been in my thoughts and prayers for months now. You are such a strong woman and Hope was lucky to have you as her momma. Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us.
ReplyDelete"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life (Prov. 13:12)"
ReplyDeleteThere is hope in the smallest of things not just the grandest of gestures.
Angie - what a beautiful post. And it is just like you to ask us for our own sign of hope....
ReplyDelete- Hope lies in a sunrise after days and days of rain and cold and wind
- Hope lives in a freshly painted bathroom of creamy yellow
- Hope follows me in my sweet dog's eyes, every morning when he cuddles with me in bed
- Hope came to me when a wave of vertigo hit me and my husband was there to catch me
“To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”
Today I felt hope when my son giggled when I walked into his room, despite his feeling crummy from a cold.
ReplyDeleteI also felt hope from your blog! Thank you and God Bless.
I find hope in loving people like you. If everyone in this world had as much love and faith as the two of you, we would all truly be living in heaven. You both are amazing, and you have so many people out there who truly love and care about you, despite never having met you. That also gives me hope - that strangers can love and care about eachother as though they were dear old friends. Sending you and your family, and of course little Hope, all of the love in the world, as well as prayers that we will continue in your name. Although I'm sure nothing feels like much right now, you have a huge support group right here, and we are all here for you when you need us.
ReplyDeleteI have Hope that no matter my day to day struggles, there is someone out there who is dealing with far worse and is coming out stronger for it. I have Hope that no matter how much I think I need in life, God is giving me exactly what I should have at this very moment. Thank you for sharing your story with us. It's been very special to read it.
ReplyDeleteI just found your post on D&R. I'm so sorry for your loss. You truly h~Justave been amazingly strong. ((hugs))
ReplyDelete~JustAhopin
I find hope in the fact that even when I think the tasks in front of me are too much for me to handle, God somehow grants me the strength to perservere and conquer them.
ReplyDeleteYour journey has moved and inspired me. I am praying for you and your husband although I am confident that you have all the prayers you need with your little angel looking down on you. God bless you all.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I find hope in your strength.
ReplyDeleteHope is the thing with feathers
ReplyDeleteThat perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
Emily Dickinson
Ang, you and David continue to be an inspiration. Your boundless strength and faith are truly amazing, and you chose the perfect name for your daughter, the Angel who brings us all Hope.
ReplyDeleteI found hope in another place tonight, too: a light, warm breeze. It was like a gentle, reassuring whisper from God.
I found hope in my husband's kiss this morning. I found hope in a cool fall morning. I found hope in the smile of a student. I found hope in you today. You and your husband continue to be an inspiration for your courage. Thank you. We will continue praying for you.
ReplyDeleteThough we don't know each other, I've never found as much inspiration and HOPE for this world as I've found through reading your blog and learning about you and David's journey. You have incredible faith, and you have given me inspiration to always find the good in people, or events. May your beautiful Hope rest peacefully in God's arms.
ReplyDeleteI find hope in your blog. I see the unwaivering faith you and your husband have, and it restores my hope and faith in the Lord. I find hope in the fact that you've found hope, even in the midst of suffering. My prayers are constantly with your family.
ReplyDeleteI'm a mental health therapist. Tonight I found hope in the eyes of a woman who was at one point my most hopeless client. Tonight I heard hope in her voice as she spoke about her plans for the future, instead of plans to end her future.
ReplyDeleteYou, your husband, and you're little Hope are in my thoughts and prayers...
Hee hee, I HOPE I get some decent sleep tonight as I'm so tired I spelled YOU'RE instead of YOUR little Hope! :-)
ReplyDeleteI find Hope when I look into my 1 year old son's face and his eyes light up because he sees me. He gives me Hope that the past can be forgiven and put behind you and that the present and future will be filled with delights and surprises you never knew the world could offer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story with all of us, you have allowed your life to touch and humble us all.
Hope is the belief that every day that God gives us we will wake up remembering and cherishing our past and use it as the fuel to do good in the world. I've always said that I am who I am not despite what has happened to me but because of it. As many have said, YOU have given all of us Hope. So many prayers and blessings to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning when I get up I walk past a mirror in our hallway. I stop and show Ben his reflection. Today when I stopped I saw Hope in my eyes. Hope that I will be a good mom. Hope that I can teach him to be a good boy, a man. Hope that I can make this world a better place for him and anyone else whose path I may cross.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being so open about your journey. Hope is and will always be beautiful.
Wow, you are stronger than anyone I have ever met. Your blog and your strength has given me Hope in knowing that whats meant to be will be. There is apparently a much greater power steering the way for us in life's journey and your strength has helped me to see that. I am not sure of your profession but you should honestly consider a career in writing. Your way with words touches the heart like none I have read before. God bless and best of luck in the future.... must be nice to know you have a permanent guardian angel now :) Thanks for being so real.
ReplyDeleteI found hope in your story - that someone can find strength to survive such a difficult trial. It helped me put my own concerns into perspective and know that life is hard but happiness is a choice, and I am very blessed.
ReplyDeleteI also found hope in the simple realization that there are things in life I do really enjoy, even if they're not what I get paid to do. I have been struggling for a long time to find my purpose in life, and while it may not change the world I am able to bring hope to others and that's a wonderful gift.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your own little Hope.
http://www.nancyguthrie.com/books/
ReplyDeleteplease just go to this site and check it out, plus her book..."Holding on to Hope"
God Bless
Angie, Thank you so much for sharing your story with everyone. Many prayers and blessings to you and your husband as your little angel guides you in healing.
ReplyDeleteI know I find hope in your story and in your strength and as many have said, YOU have given all of us Hope.
My thoughts will continue to be with you.
I found hope in today: The Feast of All Saints. I thought of your little Hope and how she has become a great and powerful Hope for all of us.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss of your precious baby girl Hope. I followed your journey on the bump and words cannot express the bravery and courage you and your husband have shown throughout the months. I find Hope in my daughter, everyday is a blessing with her as we were told she wouldn't survive being a preemie with a congential heart defect. Blessings and peace to you and your husband.
ReplyDeletehere are people that do not have a faith in God to rely on. I am so happy that you do. I am sure you know that with out Him this would have been a much different situation. Web hosting india
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you have heard them yet but this song reminds me of your story...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBBTwyzLVkc
just want you to know that i am thinking of you thought the holidays. i imagine that you had dreamed of doing all of the christmas-firsts. your family is still in my heart.
ReplyDeletei wrote a few weeks ago that i was thinking of you during the holidays. and now the second half of the holidays is meandering closer and i am still thinking of you.
ReplyDeletei find hope in my thesis file that is growing ever larger.... :D
I find Hope in this New Year, all fresh and waiting expectantly to be a year worthy of praise. May God anoint your lives with the oil of gladness.
ReplyDeleteI know many of you will be as happy as I am to hear Ang has a new blog she started this year. Click on her profile for the link.
ReplyDeletei dont know if you check these posts still, but i still think of you (and i have never met you!), especially as october turns chilly. i pray that life is leading you well and that you are stronger for what you have gone through.
ReplyDeleteDear Angela,
ReplyDeleteI want you to know that I still find hope everywhere, as you asked your readers to do five years ago. We have never met, but I think of you, especially in October, and pray that you and your husband are well and blessed with comfort and happiness. I know Hope is always with you.
God bless you.