Hope Box Delivery

2.11.14

    At the retreat, one of the girls had asked if I would mind dropping off a box to a friend of a friend here in Dallas that had requested a box be sent to her. I told her I didn't mind at all since it would save the organization the cost of the box.
    I ended up taking two extra boxes: one for a girl that Mallie had also taken pictures for, and one extra just so I had it when Mallie let me know of another Hope Mom. On Tuesday, I had time on my way home from work to take the box by Jerra's house.
    I was nervous. I didn't know what to expect. I mean, I wasn't that far outside of my own loss, and I knew from the get-go that I didn't have the energy to be this mom's person. You know, that person who you call when you're feeling down or look to when you need a pick-me-up. As I sat in the car outside her house, I prayed over the box that it would be something helpful for her, and that she would know that the women who made this box for her loved her and prayed for her as they made the box.
    I knocked on the door softly and Jerra opened the door. She is petite (like everyone is to me) with red hair and freckles on her face.
    "Hi," she whispered as the tears just started rolling down her cheeks.
    "Hi sweetie," I replied as I offered her a hug.
     We stood there and hugged for a good 5 minutes as she cried. She hugged me and just sobbed into my shoulder. She had lost her son, Ian, maybe about 5 weeks prior, and everything was still so fresh. She hadn't been as far along as we were with Kaitlyn, but that pain is still insufferable.
     "Its so different to hug someone who knows what this feels like," she said as she finally pulled away. "I'm sorry for bawling on you."
      "Don't even worry about it, sometimes that is the only thing you can do," I reassured her. We sat on her couch and talked for about 30 minutes as she opened the box and went through the top layer of contents. I shared with her Kaitlyn's story, and I listened to Ian's. We talked about Mallie and how amazing she is. Then, I decided it was time for me to go.
 
      Later that week, Jerra posted on the Hope Mommies website:

Gina (mom who made the box at the retreat), I received a beautiful

hope box made by you from Amy the other day. I can't think you both enough.

 I can tell that so much love was poured into it as well as time, energy and money for all those

supplies/resources. I've been going through it and my husband and I started the hope devotional

tonight together. I know it will give us a renewed spirit. I love everything inside, but my favorite is the red leather Bible. I thought it was going to be another journal at first when I went to pick it up and was thinking, "Oh hubby might like this one". Then I realized it was a Bible and I can't e ven explain what a sign that was to me. Red is Ian's color. He's a January baby so the garnet is his birthstone and red roses are what our pastor brought to the hospital and we took a picture with a red rose in Ian's hands. I instantly began weeping (total ugly cry) and clutched it close to me. I believe it was a sign that Ian is with God and that he is ok. Danny and I have agreed to have Ian's name embossed on the Bible. Anyway, I just thank you both so much and this whole organization. What you do and what you stand for is a beautiful thing and I hope I can become involved and help others the way y'all have me. God bless!

      I was blown away. I thought the box would just be a little comfort to a fellow Hope mom, but God used it (and me!) in such a powerful and outspoken way. I loved it, and I felt like I wanted to repeat that over and over and over again...