NICU Day 99 ~ (March 15th)

Throughout these past few months, many people have let us know they are praying for us or thinking about us in different ways.  People have reached out with notes of encouragement, meals, blankets, outfits, gift cards, and more.  Each and every word or act of kindness is a blessing to our hearts; and more than anything, the fact that people love us and care enough to pray for our family means more to our hearts than we could ever express in words.  However, there are a few instances which have brought a particular kind of smile to our faces (a type of smile for which I do not have a word to describe, but which I am sure you will understand...).  It is the words and actions of children through this process.  Around the world (literally), children who know us and children who have never met us are thinking about Noelle and praying for her, as only children can do.  There are so many things we love about this--the messages we receive from parents letting us know that their child asked them about Noelle that day, or the child who walks up to us at church and asks "Noelle's Mommy and Daddy" how Noelle is doing.  So many have reached out in different ways, and we are ever grateful for the love and concern from Noelle's "peers."  Even the 4 year old daughter of one of our nurses has taken a great interest in Noelle and likes to get special things for her.  This Noah's ark bank was her latest find, and it has been turned into a tricycle fund for Noelle.

~Noah's Ark Bank~

~In Scale at the Computer Station~

 A couple of days ago, we received a sweet letter from a family we have never met and included were three more letters from their oldest children.  Of their own accord, they each wrote a note to us and let us know that they were praying for our baby and included a special gift and a drawing (my favorite!).  We hung the drawings on Noelle's bulletin board in her room today and so appreciate the evidences of love that are filling her personal space in NIC 2.

~Sweet Drawings from Children...~

~...Hanging on Noelle's Bulletin Board~

 I am still catching up on thank you notes; but please know that if you are praying for us or have shown us an act of kindness in any form, we are grateful from the bottom of our hearts and only wish we could truly express our thankfulness adequately.  We thank God for every remembrance of you.  The picture below pretty well comprises Noelle's day of rest (I think she was tuckered out from all of her socializing yesterday!). 

~Tiny, Tired Girl~

We so appreciate your continued love and prayers for all three of us.  God is using you in a mighty way to accomplish His will in our lives, and we could not be more grateful.  Thank you.