Kelsey's Sevice Was Amazing

Monday and Tuesday were very hectic trying to plan and do everything for Kelsey's service but Andy and I had so many wonderful people helping that the results were amazing. Andy and I felt like God definitely had a hand in the service because it couldn't have been any more perfect. I thought my husband's speech was the best speech he's ever done and I was so proud of him. Everything from the music, the minister, the programs, the flowers to the church itself was just so wonderful. Andy and I were so grateful our young married adult minister, Chris Kouba, did Kelsey's service. He has been with us praying for and encouraging us during this whole journey with Kelsey. Chris is a dynamic speaker and such a caring minister, he and his family have come to mean a lot to our family over the last six months.

Our GATEway class has also been amazing over the last six weeks. Several people have asked us what is this GATEway group we keep talking about (some were wondering if they were another church or something). GATEway is our Sunday school class at Prestonwood and the GATE stands for 'gifts and talents exercised'. And let me tell you, they are very gifted and talented and love to use their gifts for the glory of God. The wonderful programs were made by one of my best friends in the GATEway class, Sheila, who happens to be a graphic/web designer. Two of the singers were also from our GATEway class. My sweet, sweet friend Angie sang and played 'Jesus Loves Me' so beautifully. And, Joel did an outstanding job of singing and playing 'Amazing Grace'. And after the service, our little GATEway class made and served my family and close friends dinner at the church. They have been a blessing to Andy and I for so long. The unending prayers, notes and emails of encouragement, sweet gifts for Kelsey and lots and lots of dinners have been an incredible blessing during this time of our lives. Going to church is great but if you are not involved with a Sunday school class or a christian group of some kind you are missing out on a huge blessing God has for you.

It was also so wonderful to see so many friends at Kelsey's service. Andy and I are blessed with several "subset" of friends, as our friend Shiela said. Andy's hemophilia community is and were amazing during this time, too. Cassie, whose son has a bleeding disorder similar to Andy's and Andy has known for years, wrote the sweet poem "Tiniest Missionary". She also crocheted the cute little shoes Kelsey was wearing (she's very talented). Several of them also brought us food, and Shana wins the award for the bring us the most dinners over the last six month (thanks so much Shana).

Another group we were blessed by is our neighborhood MOM's group. We got to meet so many of our neighbors as they brought us food. We felt so blessed to have such wonderful neighbors. Thanks Molly for doing an incredible job organizing everyone, you're the best!!! Thanks for watching Keeton so much, too. I think Travis and Keeton think every Friday they should play together.

Our newest group of friends is the from the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas. Although we never really faced many of the differences families go through with a child with Down Syndrome we still felt apart of this family, too. We plan to continue to be apart of this community for many years to come. Thanks for all the donations made to them on Kelsey's behalf. They are letting us know as you donate : )

As my sister leaves in the morning, all our wonderful family will be gone and we are going to miss having them here. God blessed Andy and I both with wonderful families that know and love the Lord and we are both grateful for being raised in godly homes. We plan to continue that legacy with our family.

I'm not sure how the next couple of days and weeks are going to be for Andy and I. We both miss our sweet little Kelsey so much!!! We have been so busy this week that we haven't really had a lot of down time to let all of this really sink in. Please continue to pray as we continue with the mourning process, I guess that's what you would call it. I know God will be with us guiding us through this process just as He has always been there for us and we will get though this, too. It's just going to take awhile for the hurt not to be so deep and the loss so great. Luckily, we have so many new friends to help us, too.

Wish I had time for more but I really need to get to bed so I can get up for church in the morning.

Keep praying (and checking the blog) for the Up Family...

Patti