Well, with 5 minutes left in the Bears game last night and with yet another interception thrown by Grossman, Aaron and I left Buffalo Wild Wings where we were watching the game and went home. I was really tired, and we were both annoyed with the Bears...only to find out this morning that the defense pulled it out and they won. And I missed it!!! :) Oh well...what's football without some frustration I guess...
I've been watching Anne of Green Gables the movie which I have been itching to do ever since reading the books to Payton. I've had to educate Aaron in the process (seen when he referred to Anne's best friend as 'Debbie'). And I'm willing to bet that at least a few of you (and by 'you' I mean the females), with this reference, will also get the itch and go to your local library to check the movie out to watch again as well. It was never planned, but in high school after a sleepover we'd start the movie in the morning and at 4 in the afternoon still be in our pajamas and finishing the movie.
Thanks so much for your cards and prayers and posts and encouragement. It really means so much. It's a blessing to know that others loved your daughter and valued her life as well. I'm not always sure what to post, but I feel closer to you all and to Payton when I do... so I continue :). And now, at the public library again, I need to see if they have Anne of Avonlea in stock :).
23 comments:
Go Bears!
I also went to bed thinking they'd lost, only to wake up in the morning and see that they had won!!
I haven't seen Anne of Green Gables in years, I wanted to buy the DVD and Adam wouldn't let me. Good for Aaron for watching with you!! : )
Jamie : )
I remember the first time we as a family discovered the "Anne of Green Gables" series on PBS. We planned our day around the broadcast and all of us - daddy, me, Ryan and you gathered around the TV on Saturday night with popcorn in hand. For years I watched the entire series every Christmas season while wrapping gifts. Your dad actually did catch the end of the Bears game. Because I'm a USC fan, I was happy to see Matt Leinart do well.
We love you and miss you.
Payton is always with me. Keep posting. It helps you and Aaron. It helps everyone else and connects you to the love that's out there for you.
Your mom
God is good and in these rough days that you will have trust me you will have some. I still do and it is been almost 4yrs since we lost Connor. God is always there to listen and to cry to and he is always giving you a hug. My heart has been aching for you both ever since I left the church last Tuesday. Heather if you ever want to get together just call other wise please know that I am thinking of you all the time. With many hugs.
Tammi Pond
Aaron, I must honestly say that I'm more proud of you for making it through a Bears game than through Anne of Green Gables. Take heart my friend, the Pack may be 1-4 now, but a few weeks from now...12-4.
Joy and I love you guys. Someday when you're in the Twin Cities we'd love to grab coffee with you to let you know how much your steadfast faith has ministered to both of us in ways you'll never now. Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.
-Dave Feldner
See, you guys live in the wrong time zone! I watched every second of the game here in Fort Collins, and all but given up hope that they would win. Alas, as I was finishing up the dishes, they turned it around and made one of the biggest comebacks of the season. DA BEARS!
How ironic, but the local theater here is doing the play "Anne of Green Gables", but I think they are completely sold out of tickets otherwise I would go. It was always a tradition to watch the movies with my mom, grandmother and cousin whenever we could all get together, so the bond that those movies brought to us is something I will never forget. Now, I will always remember the special bond that those books brought to you with your daughter. Now I'm getting a little verklempt!
I'll be in the Twin Cities this weekend, and will think of you as this is as close as we'll get until next time you are in Fort Collins. Love you!
Lyndsey
Thank you for posting. For those of us who don't know you personally, it's so good to know that Father is continuing to sustain you. I love Anne--she's so spicy and genuine. We keep praying for you and loving you!
God bless!
Jennifer
Thanks for keeping us posted on you guys. We all got so used to checking on you that it would be sad to not get posts periodically. Thanks also for letting us walk through the grieving process with you. We've been through a lot together...
love,
alli
Ah Anne, she is a classic. During our first year of marriage I got some nasty flu bug. Jon went to the library and got the movies for me. Even more impressive was that he watched all of them with me. Such an act of love. :)
Heather, I love your blogs. You are showing us how to grieve graciously. Through it we learn how to deal with hard times with honesty and hope.
Love you,
Cheryl Peli
I just thought you might enjoy the fact that Anne of Green Gables was one of about three movies that we had on stint for about the first 5 months. I am pretty sure we watched it over and over again. I have to admit I was thankful when we got a few new movies;)
Heather,
Just wanted to let you know we watched every pain-staking moment of the game last night. Lucas paced back and forth...back and forth the whole time! Then...in the last moment when the Cardinals missed the field goal...I've never seen so much joy and enthusiasm in a long time. Even this morning, he woke up early just to listen to the commentary...Bears fans really do love their team! Anywho...love you and Aaron and hope we can get together soon.
EIR
Josh absolutely loves the fact that you both cheer for the Bears and is convincing me slowly to "give it a try" :) - I grew up in Northern MN - so I'm a fair weather Vikings fan all the way. :) We think of you guys daily and pray for you several times a day - that will not change. :) What a joy to see a student you led to Christ lead another! Nothing about that EVER gets old!!! That's why we do what we do. . . because on the other side of eternity there will be many there we have never met but who are there because someone that we met way back when. . . met their mother's- sister's- boyfriend's -uncle. . . and they were never the same! :) Keep posting! and keep taking the time that you need to grieve and we will all pray that the Lord will allow your heart to engage in ministry when it's "time" to. (Ecc 3). We love you guys! Josh,Tamm & Abby
I am sorry that Payton is no longer pysically with you but now she is overwhelmed in and with the presence of Jesus---what we're all waiting for. WOW!!!
I pray that Christ turns your sadness into happy memories very soon.
Jackie (Rachel Walters' friend)
Hey, Heather...
Now you've made me itching to watch those movies. They've always been among my favorites--books and movies. I think I will throw in Anne of Avonlea right now! My dad will be excited the Bears won--he has been a fan for years and years, so this has been a fun year for him.
Thanks for continuing to post things. It helps us to still be a part of your lives and to pray with you as you grieve Payton's passing. We have still been so grateful that she's nestled near Jesus's heart today.
Please let us know if you need anything--much love to you guys!
Vicki, Dave, & James
I so remember those lazy Saturday's in junior high and high school spent watching those movies and ingesting cold pizza, chips and dip or, if we were lucky, your special carmel corn (or cookie dough). I'm definitely going to have to check them out and watch them again(you've also inspired me to read the Little House on the Prarie series, as I discovered I'm about the only person who never has).
We watched the whole game Monday an couldn't believe it. We were like jumping up and down, which is not something I typically do. :-) Go Bears!
Love you,
Sara
I recently reread the whole Anne series—last year in fact. I am usually reading at least four books at one time. Ones for spiritual application, ones for basic learning and interest, always one with Shawn, one I feel I should read (whether for work or personal growth), and occassionally a classic work of fiction. (Currently it's David Copperfield by Dickens—that one's slow going;).
Sometimes it can take awhile to finish them. But when reading the Anne series I finished all of them in record time. They are hard to put down. My work schedule doesn't really allow that time now so I'm glad I did it last year. Then I borrowed all the movies and watched them at different points. Did you know there is a movie where Gil goes to war and Anne joins the Red Cross? I watched that w/ Shawn and a friend one night while playing Mexican Train game and drank smoothies. Fun times.
One night when I lived by myself I came home from work, and watched all three of the first movies back to back well into the morning hours (the next day was a day off.)
We too visit our local library for Internet use (the libraries here are great–very modern). It makes us more intentional and saves $$. You should check out my empty blog and click on the link above yours (Elsie groupie). You'll be inspired. She's a local girl related to a friend of mine whose scrapbook designs I once drooled. I still drool over them, but now she's uber famous in the scrapbook world and is coming out w/ her own line w/ KI Memories. Be inspired.
We stayed up to watch the whole game, even though Shane had to get up at 6:00 a.m. the next morning. I have to admit, we were rooting for the underdog (AZ). Shane made the comment that you probably named Payton after some famous Bears player (I don't know the name - I'm not a huge football follower. I watch with Shane because I love to be with him). I told him that naming a baby girl after a football player wouldn't be much worse than us naming our little girl after a car (Carrera is a Porshe, and yes that IS where we got her name).
Glad your team won!
I haven't watched Anne of Green Gables for a LONG time. And I haven't read the books in an even longer time! Misty and her mom watch the movies once a year. I should join them. My mom can't sit and watch a whole movie to save her life (ironically she owns the Anne movies).
We think about you every day, and are still praying for you.
-Rachel
We are so thankful that you continue to post, as it has been sweet to hear how the Lord has been meeting you in the midst of this time. I love that you guys were out taking in the Bears game and eating wild wings one day and watching Anne of Green Gables the next! You're a spunky couple! Just another reason why we love you. Know that we continue to think of you often... and that we're here on the good days and the bad. We love you.
love,
Sarah
Hi Kids,
Well I have used this saying from the first time I saw the movie, "I am in the depths of dispair" and still use it today.:) Teara and I could watch that over & over and never get tired of it.
Go Bears!!!!!!!!!!! What a game.
Raining here today. Really icky out.
Glad to see you still writing. Just love to read all the comments you get.
Take care and we love you,
p.b.
Make that "despair",
Don't know why I don't check it BEFORE I send it.:)
p.b.
We missed the Bears game because we don't get ESPN but we were rooting for them. Go Bears!!
"Mom", I'm a USC fan too! Pete Carroll was a classmate of mine and I enjoy seeing him do well! Go Trojans!
As much as we continue to share in your grief, Heather and Aaron, I also sense a real "lightness" to the blogs as we are now able to relate to the simple things like da Bears and Anne of Green Gables and no longer the helplessness of watching Payton go through all that she went through. We rejoice in her healed body and now stand with you to help you on the road to recovery.
We love you!
Inge and Dudley
Heather & Aaron,
We continue to pray for you and love you both. Sorry the comments are fewer - started a new job and have NO time to read your posts. My thoughts and prayers are with you, though.
Love,
Karen & Brian Johnston
Well, you inspired me to dig out the old Anne of Green Gables movies and borrow them out at work to girls who have not seen them. I also have the last movie, "The Continuing Story", but I don't like it as well as the first two sets.
Here is the thing that has been bothering me, did you explain to Payton just how CUTE Gilbert Blythe is? I am afraid she might have missed that from the book unless you explained how you, me and every other girl below the age of 15 had a MAJOR crush on him. =0)
Been thinking of you guys every day and pray for you all the time.
Love and miss you.
Teara
Heather and Aaron,
I am a PICU nurse, and I heard about your story through a mutual friend. Please know how much your reliance on God's grace has taught and blessed me. Your assurance in the Father's love and good will towards you despite unbearable circumstances is one that I will take with me in my life and career. I came upon this poem by an unknown author today and thought of you. Your family is in my prayers.
This Grace
This grace we have been given is enough.
When the mountains set before us
Won't move by faith
Until by faith we start to climb.
It is enough.
When our cry for Heaven's miracles
Rings hollow, like a doorbell Howling through an empty house.
It is enough.
When from the wheelchairs of our weakness
We say yes
To pressing on,
It is enough.
When we have reached the end of our energies,
And face the end of ourselves,
But can't yet see the end of our task,
It is enough
Enough
To know that you have loved us.
Enough.
That we are called before all time.
Enough.
That every fingerprint is valued.
Enough.
That you remember every name.
So we will embrace this grace.
And turn our hearts to face grace.
Loosening the locks
On our personal space,
We'll make each home a place of grace.
We'll drink from your wells
'til we're wasted on grace;
We'll speak out your words
'til our tongues taste of grace.
And we'll live to love your laws
Until our lives are laced with grace.
Down dark and dingy alleys
We will chase grace.
We will hold as something precious every trace of grace.
We will celebrate and consecrate this grace, because this grace we have been given, is enough.
I pray that God will surround you with His grace and presence, that he would bind up the wounds on your hearts and bless you with His peace that surpasses all understanding.
Lisa
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