Sitting here in our kitchen, I had turned on the computer to write a post to share about our first day without our littlest. Instead, we have spent the last hour reading through tears the incredible messages you have written to us on here and on Facebook...and there are still so many yet to read. We are humbled and grateful to be the parents of a little boy whose life touched so many others. Thank You, Lord.
It is late, and in 5 1/2 hours, we board a plane to Illinois. Please pray for Caleb as we begin the grieving process with him. We are eager to see him and our family. As of now, we are tentatively planning a service for Saturday. We will update again soon. Right now, my bed is calling.
Jude's nurse Susie shared this with me tonight. It's beautiful.
Mandy, Brandon & Caleb, praying this song up for you. Praying His light shines on you, and you all have been a light for Him. love & prayers from colorado.
SHINE
David Crowder Band
(Verse 1) Send me a sign A hint, a whisper Throw me a line 'Cause I am listening
Come break the quiet Breathe your awakening Bring me to life 'Cause I am fading
(Surround me) with the rush of angels' wings
(Chorus 1) Shine Your light so I can see You Pull me up, I need to be near You Hold me, I need to feel love Can You overcome this heart that's overcome?
(Verse 2) You sent a sign A hint, a whisper Human divine Heaven is listening
Death laid love quiet Yet in the night a stirring
(All around) the rush of angels
(Bridge) Oh, the wonder of the greatest love has come
(Chorus 2) Shine Your light so all can see it Lift it up, 'cause the whole world needs it Love has come, what joy to hear it He has overcome He has overcome
We are praying for your family. Jude is probably running around in Heaven right now in his new perfect body. :D What hope that this is not the end but that you will see your son again someday! Thanks for sharing your journey with us all - we won't forget Jude. We love you.
Thank you for sharing Jude with us. My daughter is exactly one month younger and I think of Jude often as I am with her. I will continue praying for your sweet family. It warms my heart that you will be reunited with Caleb...and Jude, too, in God's perfect timing. I love you! Your family and your faith inspire me beyond words!
Mandy, Brandon and Caleb, I don't even know your family personally (I don't think...maybe we've met before at a staff event but I'm bad at remembering things!) but I just went through and read most of your blogs since August and was so touched everything you shared. My heart and prayers go out to you... God created Jude for an incredible purpose. Jude will always be a part of your lives and I believe will impact countless lives through your continued sharing...Blessings, hugs and prayers to you!!
We sang this song for the first time at church this morning, and I thought of you guys.
Never Once by Matt Redman
Standing on this mountaintop Looking just how far we’ve come Knowing that for every step You were with us
Kneeling on this battle ground Seeing just how much You’ve done Knowing every victory Was Your power in us
Scars and struggles on the way But with joy our hearts can say Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone Never once did You leave us on our own You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Kneeling on this battle ground Seeing just how much You’ve done Knowing every victory Was Your power in us
Scars and struggles on the way But with joy our hearts can say Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone Never once did You leave us on our own You are faithful, God, You are faithful You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Scars and struggles on the way But with joy our hearts can say Never once did we ever walk alone Carried by Your constant grace Held within Your perfect peace Never once, no, we never walk alone
Never once did we ever walk alone Never once did You leave us on our own You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Every step we are breathing in Your grace Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise You are faithful, God, You are faithful You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful You are faithful, God, You are faithful
brandon and mandy, we sure love you guys. singing "it is well" this morning at church through tears and asking the Lord to make it "well with your souls". i am honored to have walked through this journey praying for you guys and sweet Jude, and watching supernatural faith displayed in your lives. we are crying and rejoicing with you.
I am so sorry and sad for the loss of Beautiful Jude. You are facing some of the longest and hardest days of your life right now...I know them so well. You have such admirable faith and love to pull you through. I will never forget the moments in the hospital where I heard your sweet voices in singing and prayer over Jude...knowing fully well that he may not always be with you. Now, the greatest miracle of all is that YOU can make it through this with Jesus Christ. It is hard, and your longing for him will always be present, but you have the foundation to pull through. I love you so very much. Let me know when the final funeral plans will be. I am hoping it will be in Las Cruces. It just so happens that we will be in Cruces on Saturday and part of Sunday. If we can't make it to the service, we would like to pop our heads in.
a friend of Julia's and been following your blog daily and praying for little Jude. Thankful he is in no more pain and he is dancing with Jesus now. Will continue to pray for the Lord to comfort y'all. Thank you for sharing your journey with the blog world...your transparency was an encouragement to me.
Brandon & Mandy, I told a friend the other day that getting to be witness to yours' and Jude's journey was having a profound impact on my faith. I am deeply sorry for your heartache; there really are no words, but also very thankful for the gift of time you had with him. These really are small consolations, but thank you for letting us be apart of it by letting us read your story and pray y'all. Always praying for your family and so grateful for you both and baby Jude. Love, Jen Hennessy
Oh Mandy you are always on my heart. You were such a good mommy to Jude. What a blessed little guy to have such awesome parents while he was here on earth. We were blessed to have known him.
Mandy, Brandon & Caleb: I live in Mexico and found your blog through a mutual friend living in the U.S. My son (also named Caleb) turned 4 months old yesterday and as I read that Jude had passed and read more about his life and your journey, I could not stop the tears from falling. I cried for you, for your loss, I cried for little Jude and for all he went through in his short life, I cried with thanks to our Lord for having stopped his suffering and with thanks for he is no longer anchored to this body and is now beside Him, is a perfect body, full of happiness and love. I also cried for a message Brandon wrote saying how our Father suffered all the more to give His ONLY son for us. WOW. I cried so much, and could not fall asleep thinking of you. I prayed so much for you, for you family, for your strength, for your faith and your love. Thank you. For sharing your story, for sharing all the love held within you for each other as a marriage, for your son Caleb, for Jude, and especially for the Lord. All of you are in our prayers.
My sweet sister was one of Jude's nurses at Pres. Hospital and she shared your blog wtih me. Her name is Julie and she was so grateful to have walked this part of your journey with you. I am grateful you had her because she cares so much, love so truly and she is an amazing pediatic nurse. Thank you for sharing your story thru this blog as it is changing lives and showing all of us how very precious life is and how amazing God is. We have sister in heaven, Karen, who also adores children and who will love Jude until you meet again. Blessings to you, each moment of every day.
Thank You, Abba, for the precious gift of Judy - showing us all the impact one sweet life, created by You, can make on the world. Thank you Mandy, Brandon and Caleb, for sharing Jude with us all.
(We've never met, but we are friends with Peter and Alaina, Katie and Ellie Lively)
Thinking of you all...as you go through this time of sorrow....one cannot imagine the pain that you are going through. I wish you great strength and love....
Mandy, Brandon & Caleb, praying this song up for you. Praying His light shines on you, and you all have been a light for Him. love & prayers from colorado.
ReplyDeleteSHINE
David Crowder Band
(Verse 1)
Send me a sign
A hint, a whisper
Throw me a line
'Cause I am listening
Come break the quiet
Breathe your awakening
Bring me to life
'Cause I am fading
(Surround me) with the rush of angels' wings
(Chorus 1)
Shine Your light so I can see You
Pull me up, I need to be near You
Hold me, I need to feel love
Can You overcome this heart that's overcome?
(Verse 2)
You sent a sign
A hint, a whisper
Human divine
Heaven is listening
Death laid love quiet
Yet in the night a stirring
(All around) the rush of angels
(Bridge)
Oh, the wonder of the greatest love has come
(Chorus 2)
Shine Your light so all can see it
Lift it up, 'cause the whole world needs it
Love has come, what joy to hear it
He has overcome
He has overcome
We are praying for your family. Jude is probably running around in Heaven right now in his new perfect body. :D What hope that this is not the end but that you will see your son again someday! Thanks for sharing your journey with us all - we won't forget Jude. We love you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Jude with us. My daughter is exactly one month younger and I think of Jude often as I am with her. I will continue praying for your sweet family. It warms my heart that you will be reunited with Caleb...and Jude, too, in God's perfect timing. I love you! Your family and your faith inspire me beyond words!
ReplyDeleteMandy, Brandon and Caleb, I don't even know your family personally (I don't think...maybe we've met before at a staff event but I'm bad at remembering things!) but I just went through and read most of your blogs since August and was so touched everything you shared. My heart and prayers go out to you... God created Jude for an incredible purpose. Jude will always be a part of your lives and I believe will impact countless lives through your continued sharing...Blessings, hugs and prayers to you!!
ReplyDeleteLove, Jessica
(ICS in Tokyo)
I am inspired and amazed by your strength and faith... sending prayers
ReplyDeleteWe sang this song for the first time at church this morning, and I thought of you guys.
ReplyDeleteNever Once by Matt Redman
Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us
Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
brandon and mandy, we sure love you guys. singing "it is well" this morning at church through tears and asking the Lord to make it "well with your souls". i am honored to have walked through this journey praying for you guys and sweet Jude, and watching supernatural faith displayed in your lives. we are crying and rejoicing with you.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry and sad for the loss of Beautiful Jude. You are facing some of the longest and hardest days of your life right now...I know them so well. You have such admirable faith and love to pull you through. I will never forget the moments in the hospital where I heard your sweet voices in singing and prayer over Jude...knowing fully well that he may not always be with you. Now, the greatest miracle of all is that YOU can make it through this with Jesus Christ. It is hard, and your longing for him will always be present, but you have the foundation to pull through. I love you so very much. Let me know when the final funeral plans will be. I am hoping it will be in Las Cruces. It just so happens that we will be in Cruces on Saturday and part of Sunday. If we can't make it to the service, we would like to pop our heads in.
ReplyDeletea friend of Julia's and been following your blog daily and praying for little Jude. Thankful he is in no more pain and he is dancing with Jesus now. Will continue to pray for the Lord to comfort y'all. Thank you for sharing your journey with the blog world...your transparency was an encouragement to me.
ReplyDeleteBrandon & Mandy, I told a friend the other day that getting to be witness to yours' and Jude's journey was having a profound impact on my faith. I am deeply sorry for your heartache; there really are no words, but also very thankful for the gift of time you had with him. These really are small consolations, but thank you for letting us be apart of it by letting us read your story and pray y'all. Always praying for your family and so grateful for you both and baby Jude. Love, Jen Hennessy
ReplyDeleteOh Mandy you are always on my heart. You were such a good mommy to Jude. What a blessed little guy to have such awesome parents while he was here on earth. We were blessed to have known him.
ReplyDeleteMandy, Brandon & Caleb:
ReplyDeleteI live in Mexico and found your blog through a mutual friend living in the U.S.
My son (also named Caleb) turned 4 months old yesterday and as I read that Jude had passed and read more about his life and your journey, I could not stop the tears from falling. I cried for you, for your loss, I cried for little Jude and for all he went through in his short life, I cried with thanks to our Lord for having stopped his suffering and with thanks for he is no longer anchored to this body and is now beside Him, is a perfect body, full of happiness and love. I also cried for a message Brandon wrote saying how our Father suffered all the more to give His ONLY son for us. WOW. I cried so much, and could not fall asleep thinking of you. I prayed so much for you, for you family, for your strength, for your faith and your love. Thank you. For sharing your story, for sharing all the love held within you for each other as a marriage, for your son Caleb, for Jude, and especially for the Lord. All of you are in our prayers.
My sweet sister was one of Jude's nurses at Pres. Hospital and she shared your blog wtih me. Her name is Julie and she was so grateful to have walked this part of your journey with you. I am grateful you had her because she cares so much, love so truly and she is an amazing pediatic nurse. Thank you for sharing your story thru this blog as it is changing lives and showing all of us how very precious life is and how amazing God is. We have sister in heaven, Karen, who also adores children and who will love Jude until you meet again. Blessings to you, each moment of every day.
ReplyDeleteThank You, Abba, for the precious gift of Judy - showing us all the impact one sweet life, created by You, can make on the world. Thank you Mandy, Brandon and Caleb, for sharing Jude with us all.
ReplyDelete(We've never met, but we are friends with Peter and Alaina, Katie and Ellie Lively)
The Huddles of Roswell NM
Thinking of you all...as you go through this time of sorrow....one cannot imagine the pain that you are going through. I wish you great strength and love....
ReplyDeleteSo so sorry - I typed Judy rather than Jude.
ReplyDelete