FIVE years...

Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you… before you were born I set you apart.

1 Samuel 1:27-28 paraphrased…  We prayed for this child…So now we give her to the Lord. And we choose to worship HIM.

Joeli Grace Dougherty was born our second child, a daughter, on January 30^th 2008. It was not the way we wanted it to happen. We miss her deeply to this day; she is still a part of our family that we hold very dear. Her 5^th birthday is coming up and we ask you to celebrate her life, short as it was, with us! We are honoring the life she lived by donating FIVE winter necessities to local charities. We ask that you consider joining us in honoring her memory in this beautiful way. We believe one of Joeli’s God-given purposes was to embolden us to share of HIS great love and HIS ETERAL life, a life that goes on after “death”. After all, death is but a shadow, and a shadow is nothing more than a dark area between Light… we believe that although her earthly life has ended, her spirit remains and lives on in the love-filled presence of her Maker. So, would you also consider sharing this peace and joy-filled news of eternal life through Jesus with FIVE people you come in contact with throughout January? Maybe a cashier, maybe a friend, maybe a child… As you do, remember our little Joeli with us and maybe say a prayer for us and for anyone else you know who has been affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death. It happens more frequently than you think and many women do not speak about it for various reasons. I choose to speak about it for several reasons, one of which is the fact that I fully believe her purpose was to embolden my family to share the saving news of the LIFE we have found in Jesus. Joeli did not just die, she also lived and MORE IMPORTANTLY she ALSO LIVES. If I did not full heartedly believe this last statement there would be only empty, dark, bitterly cold tears drenching my bed day and night continually in her absence. However, because of His love, His promises, His strength and hope, WE walk on in faith trusting that we will see her again and we will stand together and praise the One who Made us.

 

Thank you for sharing in celebrating Joeli Grace’s life in this meaningful way with us this January! We have appreciated the support, prayers, and love from so many friends and family as we’ve walked this journey the past five years. Never underestimate the strength and peace found in a simple hug, phone call or act of kindness.

 

My prayer for you this January 30^th is that through Joeli’s life and story you may be blessed and led closer to the heart of your Maker, the One who loves you beyond description and holds in store for you a HOPE of a future restoration and healing!

~Abi

For more of Joeli's story and also to read the stories of those who have walked closest with us during our grief journey please visit www.heavenslullaby.blogspot.com  thank you deeply and whole-heartedly.