Straight from Grandma's arms into the arms of Jesus

Last night we got the phone call we have been dreading.... Hope suddenly took a turn for the worse and passed away early yesterday evening. She had been doing so incredibly well and was even stable enough to be moved into a "regular" room earlier that day. Aaron and Sara had left the hospital to put Jonah down for a nap and Hope's Grandma Mimi and Nana were enjoying some cuddle time with Hope when suddenly her heart stopped and a team of hospital staff rushed in to resuscitate her. Unfortunately their efforts we unsuccessful and our baby Hope went straight from Grandma's arms into the arms of Jesus. Aaron, Sara, and Jonah were able to spend some family time with Hope after she passed as they tried to say good-bye. What a difficult yet beautiful moment that was for them. Prior to last night, Jonah's time and ability to touch and cuddle his baby sister were extremely limited due to her risk of infection but last night he was free to hold and kiss his baby sister as much as his sweet little heart desired. Today they will begin the difficult process of planning for her funeral and making preparations to head home.

Thank you friends for all your love and support through out this process!!! Please continue to pray for us over the next few days as we grief the loss of our beautiful niece yet celebrate the beauty of the cross and it's promise that good-bye is not forever. It's hard not to let our minds wander to what Hope's life might have been. Knowing how AMAZING her parents are, I have no doubt she would have been such a beautiful person inside and out. But we know that the God of Hope works in ALL things for the good of those who love and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).

"Held" lyrics~ Natalie Grant
Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
We're asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live, it's unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held
This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held
If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our savior
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held
This is what it means to be held