Walking With You ~ Saying Goodbye To Faith

Walking With You was created by Kelly at The Beauty of Sufficient Grace to help support those who have lost a child. Together we share our stories, helpful information, scriptures, encouraging words, prayer requests, and more.

I am a little late getting this installment of Walking With You out due to being out of town. I am visiting with family and attended my nephew’s wedding.

When I was released from the Hospital after having Faith, I was told I could take my time on making arrangements for her body. At first I didn’t want to read the information I was given for the options I had to choose from. It took several days before I would even look at them. I knew I wanted to have a Service but it just seemed so very hard to get it together. We also needed to decide where we wanted to bury her.

Faith was delivered on October 28, 2008, and we held her service on November 13, 2008, which was her actual due date. I had originally chosen the 14th, but due to schedule conflicts with both of my two oldest son’s work and school schedules, we went ahead with the 13th.

We had her Service at our church. As we drove to the church I thought I was going to be OK. As I walked in the door I broke into tears. I had to retreat to the ladies room to have a few minutes alone.

We went a bit early to make sure everything was set up. A dear friend helped put together a table with several mementos that belonged to Faith. We also had a large oil canvas of Faith that was given to us as a gift. We put that up near the front so everyone could see what she looked like. We were not able to have her body there because we were having her buried in Virginia.

Many friends from church were at the Service and we appreciate their support so much. We sang 3 songs, Jesus Loves Me, Amazing Grace- My Chains are Gone, and It Is Well.

My daughter Rebekah read a poem written by my sister after Faith passed away. You can see that HERE. My daughter Victoria read a letter that she wrote to Faith that was so very touching.

Mike had put together slide show of Faith that we showed at the service. It is set to the song I Will Carry You, which Angie Smith wrote with her husband Todd after the loss of their daughter Audrey. Todd is a member of the group Selah and they recently released a CD with this Song on It.

Angie gave me permission to use this song for this purpose before it was released. It is quite beautiful and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Thanks Angie a whole bunch, this song means so much to me and I am sure to many, many more. You can view the slide show HERE. You can also see a slideshow there of pictures that were taken at the Memorial Service.

It was a wonderful day as we honored Faith. We cried a bit and laughed a little too. It is hard to say goodbye to your baby daughter. She was with us for almost 9 months in my womb. She became a part of us. We loved her so much already and were looking so forward to meeting her. Now we have to look forward to Heaven to meet her.

We then had to travel to Virginia to have her buried. I didn’t really feel great about burying her in Kentucky. We have only lived here about 4 ½ years and it is just not home to me. We have moved on several occasions and I knew that if we moved again, it might be really difficult to get back to visit .

Mike thought it might be better to have her buried locally so that we could visit anytime that we wanted to. That sounded like a good plan, but it just didn’t sit right for me for the long term.

We found out that we could have her buried at the foot of my Father’s grave, so we decided to do that. I was born and raised in Virginia, and that just seems more like home.

On November 22, 2008 we had a graveside Service with friends and relatives from Virginia. A sweet pastor from my sister’s church conducted the Service for us. It was a sweet time. It was a very blustery day. We had to bundle up to try to keep warm. Just the year before on Thanksgiving it was in the 70’s. Everyone was wearing short sleeves. What a difference a year can make!

Near the end of the Service we released Pink Balloons. Here are a few pictures as they were going Higher and Higher!










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If you have experienced losing a child you know the great difficulty that can bring. It has truly been the hardest thing I have had to deal with, and we have had some pretty difficult things along the way. God never promises us that this Life is going to be easy . He does promise to walk with us along the way. I truly encourage you to cling to him in the time of difficulties and learn to Praise Him along the way. He is there and he really does care! He has shown that Love to us and We Praise Him for all that He has done for us! God Is Good!

I recommend as some of the other ladies have mentioned to do what you want to do. This is going to be your memory in the making. There really is no right or wrong way. I was touched by Holly's story how she held her baby through the visitation and during her Service. I did not have that opportunity, but it would have been something I would have been open to. If you are not comfortable with that , then that is OK too. Do what is right for YOU!

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My Prayer Request is that since I am visiting relatives in Virginia, I will have a chance to visit Faith's Grave for the first time since November. Her Stone was put up last week and I hope to visit it in the next day or two. We have had a whirlwind of activity since we have been here due to my Nephew getting married. I am in need of the comfort once again as I know that it will be an emotional time. I will try to share pictures soon!

Also please pray for my niece and extended family. Her husband's sister was in a terrible car wreck on Friday morning and was critically injured. This evening ( Saturday) they were removing her from life support. This is such a tragic time for them, so please pray that God will be close to them at this time and bring great comfort.