It's Been A Year (A Version of What I Learned This Week)

I have to admit that I have become slack on the "What I Have Learned This Week" but I have had a lot going on and just have not had the time. This one is going to be a little different anyways. Because this week marks the 1 year anniversary of the most important lesson that I have ever learned in my life this far. So in honor of that fact I want to share with you what that lesson is.

Chances are if you know me personally/talked to me in person/e-mailed me/or even randomly run into me on the street I have told you about the story of Angie Smith and her daughter Audrey. If not, please, go read her story. How can this one woman and her daughter have such an impact on my life you ask, well I will tell you how....

Angie is a mother to 3 little girls, Abby, Ellie, and Kate. Last year she was pregnant with her 4th daughter Audrey. When she was 6 months along Angie and her husband(Todd) found out that they were not going to be able to keep little Audrey. She had a list of medical problem that made her "incompatible with life". The doctors urged Angie to terminate the pregnancy. She and her Husband Todd refused, so she carried the baby knowing that she would lose her the minute that she was born, but still kept the faith that God CAN heal her. She writes of her journey, what she goes through, and her faith through the entire ordeal.

**Monday April 7, 2008 this beautiful little girl was born.

She weighed 3pounds 2oz, and was 15 inches long**

This last Tuesday (4-7-09) was Audrey's Birthday. She was such a joy and blessing to Todd, Angie, Ellie, Abby and Kate. They had all been anticipating the birth of their daughter/sister. Not to mention, hundreds of thousands of people (all around the world) had been praying for this little miracle girl, as well.

Shortly under 2 1/2 hours later, sweet Audrey was also welcomed into the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It truly had me stepping back and looking at my life and relationship with God. Would I be able to do and say these things if this was my baby? In all honesty, probably not. But, Angie could, and she did, and that's when I knew that something needed to change.

This was a person, a daughter of God, who was going through something so heart wrenching, yet was still giving Glory to God. This encouraged me to want even more with my Lord and Savior. Therefore, I continued to read Angie's words. I prayed for her, Todd, Audrey and their other beautiful girls. I shared her story with anyone I could possibly tell, even strangers!

Audrey was a blessing then, is a blessing today, and will continue to be a blessing forever. This one little girl, her story, and her mommy's strength to share it, changed my life, as well as lives all around the world, and still continues to.

So I will leave you tonight with a video of Audrey Caroline Smith. (You will have to mute the blog music, you will have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the screen)

~ I Will Carry You ~

There were photographs I wanted to take

Things I wanted to show you

Sing sweet lullabies, wipe your teary eyes

Who could love you like this?

People say that I am brave but I'm not

Truth is I'm barely hanging on

But there's a greater story

Written long before me

Because He loves you like this

So I will carry you

While your heart beats here

Long beyond the empty cradle

Through the coming years

I will carry you

All my life

And I will praise the One

Who's chosen me

To carry you

Such a short time

Such a long road

All this madness

But I know That the silence

Has brought me to His voice

And He says...

I've shown her photographs of time beginning

Walked her through the parted seas

Angel lullabies, no more teary eyes

Who could love her like this?

I will carry you

While your heart beats here

Long beyond the empty cradle

Through the coming years

I will carry you

All your life

And I will praise the One

Who's chosen Me

To carry you

*All photos, video, and words to "I Will Carry You" are from Bring The Rain. This song was written by Angie, Todd and Christa Wells. It was sung by Amy Perry.*

Happy Birthday Sweet Audrey!