Emily Signing "I Love You" to Ava.
We are sitting by Ava's bedside with some incredibly heavy hearts. Ava has a serious case of pneumonia. It also looks, based on her labs that a mitochondrial disease is rearing an ugly and unwanted situation.
We are angry and heart broken.
We have some very tough decisions to make for Ava and for the rest of our family.
Please pray for discernment and peace as walk this haunting walk through the valley once again.
Dear Amy and Allan,
ReplyDelete"Lord, your love reaches to the heavens, your loyalty to the skies." (Psalm 36:5)
As God our Father and Savior carries you through this haunting walk, please let His love for you and the love from your friends and family immerse you in the peace of knowing that you are not alone. I hold a very deep place in my heart for all of you.
Love,
Merrie Lee
My heart hurts for you. I think of you all the time and continually bring you before the throne of grace. I don't even know what to pray; I trust the Spirit will translate my dumb groanings into something that makes sense before the Father. I cannot imagine having to go through this twice. There isn't even anything I can say. May you know the Father's peace in a supernatural way. From Becky (Beinlich) Sodergren
ReplyDeleteLord Jesus,
ReplyDeletePlease comfort this family. May your presence & love for them surrond them in a way they have never known before. If it be you will Lord, heal Ava from her current health struggle and this disease. Allow this family to have her & enjoy her for many years to come.
In His name
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
ReplyDeleteRakhi
Becky - your comments are so deeply honest and heartfelt. I, too, feel helpless in finding the words to say to God for Ava and her family. Last evening, I spent hours simply closing my eyes, bowing my head and sitting in absolute silence. God knows what is in our hearts. There are no dumb groanings. What is in your heart makes absolute sense. God Bless You, Becky, for sharing what so many of us struggle with. I feel so grateful that Amy and her family are blessed with your love and friendship.
ReplyDeletePraying, praying, praying...
ReplyDeleteJill
You are in my heart and in my prayers. With much love, Brenda Wilson
ReplyDeleteTake care dear Benton Family! The Lord your God is with you. Let His hands lift you to the throne of grace and uphold you during this trying time. Praying for you.
ReplyDeleteLove in Christ,
a friend
Amy and family,
ReplyDeleteWe go to church with your parents at Chestnut Level Presb. and my husband Erik went to GCC with you! Please know our hearts go out to you at this trying time! Please take comfort that God's will.....will prevail. We may not understand now but someday we will become enlightened. I know, easy enough said but hard to fathom! Please know you have so so many people praying for you and baby Ava. May God bless your time together!!!
In Christ,
Beth Welchans(for the entire Welchans' family)
Lord Jesus. As a mother myself I can only begin to understand what Allan and Amy are going through, but Lord I know as a loving father watching your children struggle Lord, that you understand fully...completely. Lord please place your arms around the Benton's dear Lord. Guide them, comfort them.. Amen
ReplyDeleteAs with the past days and weeks, my heart is heavy for you and Allen.
ReplyDeleteHurtful, draining, turmoil filled days and nights, Sadness, anger, disbelief, all part of this incredibly long journey to where?
Knowing the answers may never come, knowing you can only do so much, knowing God has somehow, someway called you to this moment I hardly know how to pray.
My thoughts are on surrender and how immensly hard that is and how Hope comes in the morning.
My humanness wants to rant and rail against the Holy One who has brought you to this place. And ask the why and how and what else do you want from them God questions and yet, I do know what He wants and it is in this I find comfort.
His whole desire is to have you find Him in this, to grow closer and ever more dependant on Him to walk this path with you.
He knows how blindingly impossible it is for you. He even knows you/we/me do not want to hear what He has to say at times. Yet, Consider His words:
HE IS (that's first) our Refuge against the storms of life, our ever present HELP in trouble, we need not Fear even when the whole earth is falling apart around us.
There is a place of calm, and quiet, it is where God is. The Holy Place where God lives.
and here's the kicker, He is with Ava, He will not leave her, He will hold her, He will help her in His Holy way. He will lift His voice and all else will fall away.
His petition to us, is this: He is the Almighty One, HE IS WITH US, He is our Fortress. He asks us to come and see HIS works. and before we get a chance to rant again? He says this:
Be still and know that I AM GOD. I will be exalted, I will be with you and I will be your strength.
(Kim's paraphrase of Psalm 46)
Such strong and pretty words but hard ones to swallow. Dear Lord we need you now as we have before. We lift sweet sweet Ava up to you. Our desire is to keep her here with us. We pray for life. We pray for comfort for her and her family. We pray for wisdom only you can give. We pray as these hard decisions are made, that they would be from you. Protect each of them in the shelter of your arms through this time. You alone know the furture. Help us to live in this moment relient on you. Give Allen and Amy the (your) strength they need to keep going. Protect their girls. Hear our prayers tho they be little more then pleading with you. Thank you for understanding us in our sorrow and hurt. In your Holy Name, so be it.
There are no words, but we are praying for you, and Ava and the girls, as well as the rest of the family. Matt & Debbie Sanchez
ReplyDeleteI am praying that God's tender mercy will envelop your family. As a father and grandfather, this story just makes my heart ache.
ReplyDeleteWe are so so sorry dear friends. Our hearts are aching and breaking over this, and we will be pleading with our Lord on your behalf.
ReplyDeleteLaura, for the O'Connell's
Amy, I heard about your heartwrenching struggle through Amy Thompson Flloyd on FB. I went to GCC at the same time as you and knew Amy, I don't recollect whether we knew each other....but my heart is breaking for you....please know that this fellow Grover is praying for and thinking about you and your precious family....and that your 4th ladybug is in the Father's hands and he will not let her go.........he is with all of you and you have a mighty cloud of witnesses around you....I wish your family peace and health..... Sara Solida GCC
ReplyDeleteI just wanted you to know that I am also praying for your family. My heart aches for you but I am also praising God that you do not have to bear this alone and that He is with you and will be walking along side you, holding your hand.
ReplyDeletePsalm 40:1-3
Cyndi Nattress
My heart is breaking for you and your family, but our All Mighty God knows all things. I have been praying... I have never walked in your exact shoes, but I have been down that lonely and dark hall carrying a burden so heavy that you don't think you can go on. God is with you and Ava. Even in our darkest hours He will bring you forth into His light and love to fulfill His Purpose. May God give you the strengh and peace you need at this moment... In prayer, Debbie Brewster-Marshall
ReplyDeleteDear Amy, Allan and all of your family,
ReplyDeleteI sent you the link to this song about a week ago. Here are the lyrics. I hope you will find comfort in these words. Oh the depths of how much my children and I are holding you up to God's light.
Love,
Merrie Lee
Be Not Afraid
You shall cross the barren desert
But you shall not die of thirst
You shall wander far in safety
Though you do not know the way.
You shall speak your words in foreign lands
And all will understand
You shall see the face of God and live.
Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come follow Me
And I shall give you rest.
If you pass through raging waters
In the sea, you shall not drown
If you walk amidst the burning flames
You shall not be harmed.
If you stand before the pow'r of hell
And death is at your side
Know that I am with you, through it all.
Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come follow Me
And I shall give you rest.
Blessed are your poor
For the Kingdom shall be theirs
Blest are you that weep and mourn
for one day you shall laugh.
And if wicked men insult and hate you
All because of Me
Blessed, blessed are you!
Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come follow Me
and I shall give you rest...
Dear Amy and Allen, We are a family of seven girls my wife just delivered Cecilie yesterday. We know how precious they are as the lord took our son samuel before his birth 8 yers ago. we are praying for you Allen amy and children.
ReplyDeleteIf I take the the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me, Psalm 139-9
Praying for you and your family. May you feel the Lords strength and guiding hand as you face difficult choices ahead. Lifting you in prayer.
ReplyDeleteCatherine Priem
I have prayed for your family many times over the last couple of days after receiving word of your blog. I am a stranger to you, but know that I will continue to pray. I cannot imagine what you are feeling. I will pray for strength for everyone and a miracle for Ava. They do happen!!!
ReplyDeleteJessica D