Good morning to everyone!
I was laying in bed this morning and realized that I so needed to post this morning to tell each of you how amazing yesterday was. Tony & I got up bruised and battered dreading the thought of making funeral arrangements. Through only the Grace of God I can tell you that last night we both slept peacefully. We had been so conflicted on where to place our Anna's remains since we are originally from VA and my Tony is in the line of work that will transfer us with promotion or assignment change. The thought of leaving Anna behind was unbearable. Without going through too many specifics God gave us the perfect place of rest for Anna's sweet remains and to all us adoptive parents who know their story, it is just down from Maria Chapman. "The Garden of Angels" is it's name and oh, what angels it contains. Tony & I are now dealing with a different struggle......we are searching our hearts & souls and begging God to help us find the words to let everyone know how amazing our baby Anna was & still is. We feel so strongly that Anna's work here on earth is not done because she has left us to carry it on. God's amazing Glory is something so many of us know as we know ourselves but there are many that wake up each morning without that divine recognition. We want the loss of our Anna to ring the most important truth there is: GOD IS LOVE! UNCONDITIONAL LOVE! LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES OR TIME! So we again thank you for each of your prayers & blessings on our family. We ask you keep the next day in prayer that Tony & I can show to all that are watching that this is not something "God did to us" but something "God blessed us with" and continues to "do in us." To express the urgency of this need is impossible.......we are just as desperate to continue Anna's work as we were to see her life with us continue 4 days ago. Please know we love you all, even the one's we do not know......see, Amazing Love of Christ does that. Our Grace I know has been a concern for all of you & for us and she is a true reflection of her God given name. Grace is doing beautifully, yes, she hurts right along with us but for a almost 5 year old she is doing it with the strength. Love, Kisses & Hugs from Jo, Tony & Grace
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44 comments:
Jo, Tony and Grace,
We have and are continuing to lift you up to the Lord in prayer! We will pray that God uses Anna's legacy to bring more children to their forever families and more people to Him.
May God comfort, sustain and surround you with His peace!
Sending hugs from southern IL right now......you are amazing and our God is so amazing to give you what you need to post this. I can't even imagine your pain....and yet you are blessing ME by your post! Prayers are coming your way....praying and praying hard. God is using you already.....
Liesl Wingert (a China adoption family that you don't know!!!)
Praying for your family today.
Sending up prayers for your little Grace and her mom and Dad to sustain you and comfort you thru this unbelievably tragic time. Your precious Anna knew the love of her family and was surrounded by that love at the time of her crossing. May you find peace in the knowledge that she is now surrounded by the infinite love of Christ. big hugs from Az, Deb Sorensen
I know that the Lord will use your story as a testimony of His goodness and existence. I want to share your faith with others here in England who are believers but struggling with God's ways which to them seem unfair and to those who do not know Christ. Your strength and peace can only come from Him and you are living proof of His powerful work in and through you. We will continue to pray for you especially for tomorrow and I know that Anna will be in all our hearts forever...........even though we never knew her!
God Bless You,
Naomi
I am so sorry for your loss. Anna sounds like an amazing kid. Praying for your peace and strength during the days ahead!
Praying for you in Kansas.
The Cryers
(AWAA SN family)
I thank God for his comfort to you in your time of need and sorrow. I think that it's a perfect place for her remains also. You don't know me, but we have followed your story and prayed for your family. Our DD came home from China in July of last year. *hugs*
Jo, Tony, and Grace,
We have all been fervently praying for you this entire week. I was praying last night that the Lord would give you peace that can only come from Him. Praise Him that you were able to get some much needed rest. We love you and will continue to lift you up in prayer.
Sending, love, hugs, and prayer,
Christine, Guy, and family
We have been praying for you and send our love.
Michele Allen
AWAA Waiting Child Family
You don't know me but I have been praying for your family and Anna all week. Your strength is amazing...I can only pray that Our Lord and Saviour would provide me with the same. I will not forget your Anna's story and will remember you all in my prayers and when I hold my own precious daughter, also adopted from China. God's grace be with you. Sheryl Griffin, Los Angeles
May God Bless you and keep you at this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Much Love
Diann T and
Cathy E
Anthony, Joanna & Grace,
Our prayers and thoughts have been with you all week! Your relatives and friends here in VA send you our love and you have been getting our prayers all week. The pictures of Anna showed her to be a beautiful happy little girl. Remember.....she is in God's arms, in a much better place and will never feel pain again! It's sometimes hard to not question God's decisions, but only he knows best. Please take care of yourselves.
Love & Prayers,
Pat (Anthony's Aunt in VA) & Family
I am a stranger sending my love, my prayers, and knowing God's strength will help you carry on Anna's work.
I'm so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful child and such a sweet testimony of God's goodness from you.
I will be praying for your family.
Kim
Dear Jo, Tony and Grace,
My cousin is Stefanie Bishop, she e-mailed us from the start, asking us to pray for sweet Anna and my heart is breaking for you as you face this very difficult day.
I pray that you can feel the nearness of God as you walk through this valley...your faith is a testimony to His greatness!
Many Blessings,
Sharla Miller
Praying that you know God's peace and are shown His Glory as Anna is now in His presence.
Blessings,
Marye Gary Iris Anna and Joel McKenney
We are praying for you still. I am thankful that you are feeling the God's comfort and peace during this very difficult time. You are truly an inspiration!!
In Him,
Carla Lewter
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Hugs,
Erin and Family
Our prayers are with your family as we already know beyond a shadow of a doubt where your sweet Anna is now. May the Lord give you peace until you see her again! We will be watching your blog to see if there is some way that you decide to carry on His wonderful work inspired by this angel. We would love to be a part of that!!
Anna was a beautiful child who was truly blessed to have you as her family. May God continue to provide you peace and strength through the coming days ahead. Your faith is such an inspiration to all who know you.
Trosts from Illinois
(Julie & Bernie Fiorelli's friends)
Dear Family,
I picture your sweet Anna in the arms of Jesus. He is holding her, and swinging her, and kissing her. And she is perfect.
Thank you for sharing her with us. Rest in our Father's arms during this heart-breaking. He is strong and will carry you.
Our Father's comfort to you,
Cinamon Kopicki
Hi Jo,
I was on another AW family's website when I saw the link to this website. My heart sank when I figured out that I was reading about the Gooden family. I just wanted to let you know that I will be thinking about you and praying for you during this time. May God truly be glorified even through this most difficult trial.
In Christ,
Amy Pearson
Gooden Family,
Our prayers are with you at this time. Let the Angles carry Anna to haven.
Peace and Love,
The Sullivan-Konyn Family
Tony, Jo and Grace
What a beautiful service. We cried, laughed and were truly blessed beyond measure. Thank you so much for sharing your hearts and your Anna. You are so strong in God's Grace. You have begun the story that Anna wrote you into. When all is quiet, you will rest in Christ's Love.
We are always here for you. Jenna is always available for a play date and you will hear from us.
Be God's,
Bob, Robin and Jenna Crissey
Hi Sweet Friends!
What a gift from God Anna was and will continue to be to so many! Thank you Tony and Jo for being obedent to God with your love for your girls and giving them a family forever! Our prayers are with you and we want to walk with you as you walk through your loss of Anna. I can hear her counting to Jesus and saying, "I, I, Love, Love, U, U! She is an angel and we are blessed to remember her love and kisses for ALL!
We love you,
Scott, Heather, Zachary, Whitney, Zoe and Zion Redington
Jo & Tony,
I was so blessed by your sweet words to Anna today. Oh, how I wish I could have known her! You angelic description her was obvious in the videos and photos even to a stranger's eye. Yes, she is a beautiful reflection of God's love......how irrisistable! Your did a beautiful job today honoring your daughter and your Lord. Weeping and rejoicing with you....and your will remain in my prayers.
Love,
Shannon Seibert
Continued prayers sent up for you and your entire family. What a wonderful testimony you are to God's faithfulness. I know you are hurting and nothing any of us says will ease that..just know you are being lifted up to the Father.
You do not know me but I herad of your blog from Ladybugs and Dragonflies. I also have a little one from China (3 years old). I am touched by your love,stength and faith during this time of grief. I will be praying for you and your family.
I am so sorry for your loss. I am praying for you and your family during this time of grief.
We are an AWAA family also, and have been praying for your family this last week. What an amazing testimony you are in this difficult time. We continue to pray for God's arms to wrap around you, and for incredible peace, that only comes from Him.
I am so sorry for your loss. I am praying for you and your family.
I am you sister in Christ and cover you in prayer right now as well. May you have peace. How beautiful yuour precious girl is and I am sure she is sitting in Jesus's lap right now.
You do not know me but I heard of your loss. I just wanted to let you know your family was in my thoughts and prayers.
I have not been through losing a child but God has, so He knows your pain. Cry to him and I know He will comfort you. The interesting thing is that He gave His son willingly for us.
Your daughter was precious!!Just precious!!May you enjoy those precious memories.
The Mother of Caeleigh
3 yr from China
I found about about your sweet Anna through Ladybugs and Dragonflies. I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my daughter 3 years ago. She was adopted as well. I truly understand what you are saying in this post about wanting her work to be continued. I believe that it will. God has put that desire in you and HE has a plan for you.
I'm very glad that you have peace about her resting place. You are in my prayers.
~Lynn
we are so very sorry for your terrible loss. Nothing worse than losing a child. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
The Malingers
I am so sorry for your loss. Your family's faith is an inspiration to us all. So is Anna. You will all be in our prayers. Kathie Hikade (waiting for LOA to adopt SN China)
Sending our prayers to Heavenly Father for comfort during this difficult time. We can not imagine how hard what you are going through is. "Suffer the little achildren to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Mark 10;14 Much love
The Mathews Family
I know our Lord is giving you all strength, and I know you have many family and friends holding you up and helping as much as possible. Anna was a beautiful gift - one that you will always cherish. Peace be with you and yours...just know that we too are thinking about you all.
Pamela & David Kimmell
Lake Whippoorwill, Warrenton, VA
I am truly sorry for your loss. I know that Anna is dancing with angels now, her heart finally whole and beating perfectly forever. What a blessing she was and is to you and you to her. I am so happy that she has a forever family to love her. God bless you all.
Donna
mom to Lena and Macey
Your family is in my prayers! My heart is breaking for you and the loss of your sweet Anna. Our little heart baby came home from China in March . . . I rejoice in the knowledge that Anna has a forever family and you will see her again . . . . If there is anything we can do please let us know.
Big hugs,
ellie
your dignity in despair is an inspiration. I pray for Anna's little soul and your hearts to find peace.
Jo,
Don't know if you are checking the blog right now.....I've been praying for you and thinking about you so much. If its right for you I'd love to see you at CBS...but I realize that might not be the right choice right now. Just know you are missed and being praying for there.
We sang a song in church last Sunday that made me think of you. It was called "This is my father's World". I could imagine Anna singing it to you to remind you that your God is right beside you in the "rustling grass" and and in all His creation. I especially noticed the last verse acknowledging the "wrongness" that we live through in this world but the promise of one day being reunited with our Father and those we love.
I hope this isn't too long on the blog....feel free to remove if it is...I didn't have your email. Here are the lyrics to the song......
Shannon Seibert
This Is My Father's World
Verse 1
This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears,
All nature sings,
And round me rings,
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought,
Of rocks and trees,
Of skies and seas,
His hand the wonders wrought.
Verse 2
This is my Father's world,
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light,
The lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass,
I hear Him pass.
He speaks to me everywhere.
Verse 3
This is my Father's world,
O let me ne'er forget,
That though the wrong,
Seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died,
Shall be satisfied,
And earth and heav'n be one
Just stumbled onto your blog...I'm so sorry for your loss. May Anna continue to live on through you and bring glory to God. Her life had so much weight in this world, as her life and story have touched me & countless others, as well as your testimony to our Savior in the midst of darkness. Praying peace for you today!
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