ISABELLA'S LITTLE LACE DRESS

When Isabella was born the nurses had a little lace dress ready for her. We had forgotten to bring her things in all the confusion and distress-that's understandable, don't you think? You can read about some of that in a previous post @

http://cwainscott.blogspot.com/2014/10/isabella-in-gods-hands.html

How I've wished that I had remembered to take the coral colored sweater with matching bonnet I had crocheted for her. 

But back to the lace dress. I'm sure Travis and Erin paid no attention to it as she was being dressed for them. But someone had paid attention and cared enough about grief stricken families to take the time to make the little lace dress. 

It is my understanding that some of these are made from wedding gowns and Isabella's probably was. The lace seems to me to have some vintage, a classic lace that is lined. It is a very simple design with another lace sewed onto the hem. There are covered buttons on the front and lace ties on the back. For something so simple, it is so cherished.

I would love to meet and thank whoever took the time and love to make Isabella's dress. I didn't know anything about it for a couple of weeks until  Mike, our funeral director, told me Isabella had been wearing it, "What did I want him to do with it?" He could dispose of it if I wanted. No, I picked it up that day. It has been put into a keepsake box with other things. It is the only thing Erin and Travis have that touched her. 

When they were making her arrangements, they both brought handkerchiefs. Erin's was a little white patch of fabric that I think she said had been her grandmother's, Travis had one of his Pappaw's to be placed with her and I brought the crocheted sweater and bonnet that was made especially for her.

Travis and Erin are glad they allowed a photographer to come in and take photos at the suggestion of the chaplain. Here is the photo of her little hand that when I looked closely realized that she is wearing the dress.  

How wonderful for someone to make these precious outfits. It means so much. 

And let me say something about the nurses who were with Erin, Isabella and Travis. They have to be so special to do all they did. 

Our grief journey was made a little easier because of these very special people.

God bless all of you

Carolyn Wainscott

31 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA-DAY 5-OCTOBER 11, 2014

As promised in the little Pray 31 booklet, it can only take about 5 minutes out of our day to complete a round of  prayer for each state in the U.S. and I can't wait to see the results of 1000's in unified prayer for our nation. 

Jesus said

 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matt 18:20 

No, we are not all together physically but we are together in one mind-and not just two or three but 1000's. 

Today let's pray for:

~the leaders, churches and Christians of Connecticut and Delaware.

~for those who serve as police officers, prosecutors, defenders, judges and Justices of the U,S. Supreme Court, that they would be vigilant in service and wise in judgment

"The battle of prayer is against two things---wandering thoughts and lack of intimacy with God's character as revealed in His Word. Neither can be cured at once, but both can be cured by discipline."

-Oswald Chambers

Yesterday at Bible study we also prayed for the young man from Indiana who is a prisoner of Isis. Isis has threatened to behead him as they have others. Please also pray for him.

God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

31 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA-DAY 4

OCTOBER 10, 2014

today let's be praying for:

-the leaders, churches and Christians in California & Colorado 

[can you believe that with all the spontaneous fires in California right now there are people who are deliberately setting more-how evil]

-the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin and draw people to faith in Christ. 

 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

John 16:7-8 

May God bless you and keep you today

Carolyn Wainscott

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Getting this done early-on Friday mornings I go to Bible study and want to be sure to pass along today's prayer concerns

also-

I  have on my computer "Bible Explorer 4" that I enjoy a great deal. It is a free download and allows quick search, I know there are a lot of others also but I have used it for years, have tried others, purchased several but like this one best. Just wanted to pass that along-have to finish getting ready for Bible study now-have a great day 

PRAY 31-DAY 3-31 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Psalms 56:3-4 

October 9, 2014-day 3. 

There is nothing but bad news-fires destroying 100's of acres in California, airline workers striking because they aren't being protected in this Ebola scare, the first Ebola victim in the US died yesterday, everyone around him is in jeopardy, more threats of beheadings by Isis. 

Worrying about all these worldly things won't do a bit of good, putting them in God's hands will.

TODAY LET'S

-Pray for the leaders, churches and Christians of Arizona and Arkansas

-Pray for all our Representatives and Senators who serve in the U.S. Congress, that they will govern with God-honoring discernment and preserve the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

We need statesmen who serve the people who elected them instead of politicians who serve themselves.

26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:26-28 

God bless each and everyone of you today and may you be in His keeping. I've already placed All Mine in His hands this morning. How could I even get through the day worrying about them in this day and time. 

Carolyn Wainscott

FLASHBACK-DAD

Yesterday after dropping granddaughter, Janna, off at work, I stopped by Aldis for a couple of things. It was a nasty, rainy day. While inside there came a downpour so I waited til it was over so I could run between the raindrops.

After the rain let up, I got my stuff into the car and as I backed out noticed an older gentleman having trouble getting the basket attached to his walker. I stopped, rolled down the window to ask if he could use any help but he was oblivious to anything around him and got it fixed before I could get out to help. He was using oxygen and had set the tank down on the ground til he could get done. The tank was put into the basket when it was fixed and all that effort barely left him enough strength to pull the back door of the car down. Breathing problems are bad enough but bad weather makes them so much worse.  

Seeing him struggle took me back to watching our father with his oxygen for the last 6 years of his life after his lung cancer surgery. The cancer was removed but there is no cure for emphysema.  Lung cancer is terrible but I think emphysema is worse and Dad had both. His tank was strapped to one of those little luggage carriers on wheels that went everywhere he went. He thought fanning him with a magazine helped him get more air, would even get agitated when he thought we weren't fanning him fast enough. He didn't realize his whole body was screaming for the air that wasn't getting out of those diseased lungs.

Just thinking about all this smothers me. Why am I going over this then? -seeing that man yesterday in the parking lot. The site has been with me since. 

My dad smoked a good part of his life and I despise smoking. Oh, he stopped years before but not soon enough and I'm sure there were more factors that contributed to his lung disease in the places he worked.

Even as I write this, there is news rolling across the tv screen about a woman who has died from a fire in her apartment that was caused by smoking while she was on oxygen. She was 75 years old, only one year older than me and Dad was only 72. 

And again-why am I bringing all this up-I HATE, HATE smoking and have been on a stop smoking campaign for a long time. My children smoke, my grandchildren smoke, though they saw what suffering it caused Dad. 

 He was in the hospital the last several weeks of his life. All the kids and grandkids came to visit him the night after he had been resuscitated and each of us got to see him and talk with him. He had something to say to each. A few days later, he was gone. 

The ointment from "The Alabaster Box" is not as I intended when this was begun but this is how it came out. I'm pretty sure it is what Dad would have me tell you, what he did tell us all-that flashback yesterday just hit me at a bad time on a nasty, rainy day when an old man had barely enough energy to pick up his oxygen tank off the ground to place it in the basket of his walker and close his car door. 

God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

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I just took this of old set of photos of  Dad and Grandfather that we never knew

Here he is a few years before he died. He was always a snapper dresser.

Mom and Dad before they were married. She is only 16 here, he was 20. He was her heartthrob-you can see why. Snazzy dresser even then.

PRAY 31-A Month Of Prayer For America

Posts keep coming up on Facebook to "like & share" for prayer for America and of course I share but that is soon forgotten even knowing this land of ours is in deep, deep jeopardy from all sides, including the inside-especially from the inside but I get caught up in everyday life and my intent gets shunted aside. 

At our weekly Bible study last week, however, we were given the US PRAYER ATLAS which is a 31 day nationwide journey of prayer that I am beginning to participate in and to share here. I am determined to keep my resolve this time. Just think how things can change if we all ban together in prayer-WOW-it is too awesome to think about. 

In this 31 days we will be praying for:

Our President & Vice-President

Our Congressional Leaders

Our Justice System

Our Armed Forces

Spiritual Renewal

Candidates for Public Office

Leaders in the State

Churches in the State

Chirstians in the State

This can take only 5 minutes per day and using a journal is suggested. I am used to keeping a journal but have gotten away from it for a time but have been wanting to get back to that so here is my opportunity. 

Since I am on day 2, am sharing days 1 & 2 today so I don't confuse myself, I get that way so easily, you know. 

Please join me.  Our God can do anything if we just turn Him loose on it.  This nation of ours can turn around. There is nothing but bad news in all the media. How can we be anything but depressed if we sit twiddling our thumbs, talking about the mess and doing nothing?

DAY 1

-Pray for a great outpouring of God's Spirit on America 

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions

Joel 2:28 

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Acts 2:17 

-Pray for the President and Vice-President that their hearts would be guided by God, that their decisions would be wise and that their leadership would be principled. 

"Prayer penetrates doors we will never enter. Prayer breaks hearts that have been hardened by the most ruthless pursuit of position. Prayer bridges the gap between the modest den of the meek and the highest places of government, where laws are made and bills are signed and officials wrestle against impossible odds."--Beth Moore

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DAY 2

-Pray for the leaders, churches and Christians of ALABAMA and ALASKA.

-Pray that christian leaders across America would seek God's heart for vision, wisdom and direction.   

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jeremiah 33:3

"Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God; not only by unbelief, but by thinking that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things 'above all that we ask or think.' "--Andrew Murray

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Take this 31 day journey with me-let's pray for our nation and each other.

God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

ISABELLA-IN GOD'S HANDS

 Monday morning, August 4, I was getting things done, laundry, dishes, straightening the house in preparation for the next day. I wanted a free and clear day, not have anything to  do. We were going to have a baby-great, granddaughter, Isabella, was scheduled to come into this world.   

Then the phone calls started coming in. Grandson, Travis, Isabella's daddy, called-Erin, Isabella's little momma, doesn't feel right, is going to doctor. 

Another call-they can't find the heartbeat

And another-yes, they did find a heartbeat

And another-he is going to the doctor's office, the heartbeat is gone

And then-"Mammaw, we lost her".  

Talk about your world being tossed upside down. I have been through some bad times, bad weeks, bad months, bad years but this is the ultimate of bad. Erin was being sent straight to the hospital. My son, Jeff, had to drive me there because by this time I was unable and for the next two days the hospital was our home. I still don't know why a C-section couldn't have been done and get this all over with but instead that beautiful young couple went through a day and a half of knowing this child was not going to make it as the rest of us had to stand by and watch and try to ease their grief a little. Great, grandmothers, grandmothers, grandfather, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, friends-some from a distance came as soon as they could. The chaplain said the outpouring from the family was good, that a lot of times there is no support. The whole staff was great to all of us, respecting each and everyone who was there. 

I put out calls for prayer just to get us all through this, especially Erin and Travis. They were so sweet together and so very gracious even in these circumstances. They made it easier for the rest of us, at least for me in the way they handled everything. 

Then, Tuesday evening, the time was near for Isabella to be born. Erin and Travis had decided that they wanted to be alone during the birth so we gathered round them for one last prayer with them, maybe to petition God one more time to let us keep this precious baby and to please keep Erin safe and don't let anything happen to her. Then we were all shooed out by the nurses so they could do their job. 

I made another round of phone calls for prayer that this would soon be over, that Erin would do well and be ok and the wait set in. It was about 7:30 p.m. It had been a long 2 days. 

As were the next couple of hours. No one came out to let us know anything for a long time but I guess Trav and Erin wanted to block the world out as long as possible, to have as many precious moments as they could with Isabella before they had to share her with us. 

When we went in, Erin was holding Isabella and they both were so beautiful. Travis told us how well Erin had done. What a trooper she had been. Isabella was all swaddled in blankets and a hat, they didn't want her unwrapped except for that pretty little face. I wish I had thought to have taken the crocheted outfit I had made for her to the hospital so it could have been put on her. 

Each of us got to hold Isabella-her two great, grandmothers, her two grandmothers, her grandfather, her  aunts, her uncles, her great aunts and I don't remember who else but we were all given the opportunity to say goodbye.   

Then it was time to leave, to let them try and rest, to let them be alone in one of the worst times they will ever have, to try and find peace when things make no sense at all. 

I was getting ready to go back to the hospital the next day but Travis called and said they had checked out and wanted to get home. They could have stayed another day but that wasn't going to happen. "Do you need anything?", "No, Mamaw, we're ok". "Do you need me to bring anything to eat?", "No, Mamaw, we have plenty of food in the house, we'd don't need anything right now". 

Arrangements had been made for Isabella to be picked up and now her funeral arrangements needed to be made. Travis was adamant that Isabella was to be placed with his beloved Pappaw who had passed 2 years before. They only wanted a simple graveside service and that was the way it was. 

The funeral director said he hadn't seen so many people at a newborn's service before. Did I expect that many? No, I didn't know what to expect but it was so appreciated that so many did come to give their support.

Jeff read the poem I had written for Isabella, he said it was the most important thing he had ever read.

ISABELLA LYNN TACKETT

OUR HOPE

This life God gave has so much worth, 

for Isabella was not to be bound upon this earth.

The angels bore her quickly back to whence she'd come,

back to be with Jesus in His safe and loving arms.

Back with others like her to be kept on Jesus' knee,

 cause Jesus can take so much better care than even we.

Back to be sung to sleep by angels, play peek-a-boo with God,

catch fly balls hit by Jesus, play tag on holy sod,

fly kites so high they touch the stars, do everything you'd want her to.

For those of us whose child is there, Jesus keeps them for me and you.

We don't know what life here for her would be,

but we do know that God does give life abundantly.

And how much more abundant than to be with Him from the start

and not have to trudge through life's hurts and broken heart.

How selfish 'twould be on our part to keep her bound here

than loose her to the freedom of Heaven to save ourselves a tear.

For, in time, you will be greeted with "Momma, Daddy, I'm so glad you're finally home!

Come over here and see what Jesus and I have done!"

Then this child you've missed so much will take you by the hand

and the time will fade away as she shows you that heavenly land.

You'll see all her grand works of art that were saved for you to see

and won't have missed a thing because you'll have all eternity.

So when we're told earth's bad news with which we'll have to cope

we need to keep in mind that heaven is our hope.

© Carolyn Wainscott-2014

After the service, Travis and Erin went home and shut the door to the nursery they had ready for Isabella. The bed was made with new sheets, afghans and the attached changing table. There were new curtains, custom wall lettering plus many shower gifts. It is still shut. Decorative boxes are ready for special things made just for Isabella that they want to keep. The rest will be packed up when they can or if they want someone else to come in and do it but so far they are handling everything together as well as they can. 

Why was this written today? It has been on my mind for a time but couldn't bring myself to get to it but this morning I woke up with Isabella on my mind and now is the time, I guess. 

No, we don't know what happened. Everything was fine on the last check up on Wednesday. There was life til that Monday morning but when Erin woke up she said things were just not right. They had been shopping the day before getting last minute things. Erin had been having pain in her back the whole week before. Isabella weighed 8 lbs. 9 ozs. and was 21" long. She was at least 1 1/2 lbs. larger than expected to be. 

It has been two months now, it seems like centuries ago but it also seems as though it was just yesterday. That doesn't make much sense, does it? Isabella is the latest saga of heartache in this family. 

God bless this young couple of my heart. I know that He has a special mission for them.

In God's love,

Carolyn Wainscott