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cora’s heaven birthday {2012}

cora’s heaven birthday  ::  february 8, 2012
We have always called this day Cora’s heavenly anniversary. But this year it changed. As I talked with Levi about his sissy and what we were going to do on this day he kept asking, “Cora’s birthday?”. I told him that it isn’t Cora’s birthday, it is the day Cora went to be with Jesus. The day Cora went to heaven. But as we talked throughout the week we finally decided it is kind of like Cora’s birthday. It is actually even better than a birthday. It is Cora’s heaven birthday. Levi looked at me and said, “Cora not sad. Cora sooooo happy.” So true baby boy, so true. When we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be!
Yesterday was a very dreary day around here and we were feeling it both inside and out. Joel thought he was getting over the flu but barely made it out the door to go to work yesterday morning and was throwing up again. Talk about making an already hard day even worse. Poor hubby. We were planning to start off Cora’s heaven birthday by eating donuts together. But instead Joel went back to bed and the boys and I went to eat our donuts and pick up some flowers for Cora. The donuts were yummy and Levi had a fabulous time riding in the car cart at the grocery store. (Really, who invented those things? The car cart is Levi’s dream ride but totally impossible for me to push around the store. I was just thankful to make it through the isles without running into someone or something!) We picked out some pretty pink roses for Cora and went home to check on daddy.
After lunch we drove down the road to the cemetery. Joel was sweet and drug himself out of bed to come with us. Levi and I had made a happy heart banner for Cora earlier in the week. I figured he would forget about it, but every time he saw the one we had hung up in our kitchen he would ask about Cora’s happy hearts. So we found some sticks and tied up a happy heart banner in front of her memorial stone. I think that it is the prettiest spot in the whole cemetery right now. This was Griffin’s first trip to the cemetery with us…he slept through the whole thing. The rest of the day we spent at home hanging out and trying to let Joel recover from the flu. My sweet sister and brother-in-law brought us out dinner last night so we didn’t have to cook. So nice.
We went to bed thankful for the Lord’s compassion and grace that brought us through another year without our Cora. Thankful for the eleven months we were blessed to be Cora’s parents. Thankful for Cora’s life that was short but full of purpose. Thankful for Cora’s little brothers who now fill our arms each day. We prayed that Cora’s life would continue to impact others for Jesus and that we would always be faithful to share her story and the Lord’s faithfulness to our family. And that was Cora’s heaven birthday, February 8, 2012.
Thank you so much for your comments, cards, emails, texts and phone calls yesterday. We know that our sweet girl is not forgotten and we appreciate your prayers more than we could ever express. We felt loved and covered in prayer all day. You all are a huge part of this journey through grief with us. Thank you for walking beside us even on these hard days.We love you all!
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  • My name is Amee - Awwwww, Jess. This post about Cora gave me chill bumps. I’m thinking & praying for y’all at this difficult time. (((hugs))) to y’all.
    Your photo collage is beyond precious!!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Erin - Beautiful day for a beautiful girl. Praying for you. Cora and your boys are so blessed to have you as their Mommy.ReplyCancel

  • Caroline Hester - Praying for you today and always! Your story has touched my heart. If I am ever blessed with a little girl, I might name her Cora!ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - Praying for you and your precious family! God loves you all.ReplyCancel

  • Toni :O) - Still praying for your sweet family…always and forever. I’m glad your two adorable boys can fill your arms and give you hope and joy!ReplyCancel

  • ashley - I still think of Cora often & pray for your family. I think you celebrated her heavenly birthday beautifully.ReplyCancel

  • Erin Tagle - I loveeee that you call it her heaven birthday.ReplyCancel

  • Emily - reading your post made me tear up a bit. what a sweet boy levi is to bring hearts to his sister on her heaven birthday. i love how he said that she is so happy. isn’t it amazing how kids can be so insightful?

    thanks for sharing your story.ReplyCancel

  • Sunshine - You have the most precious heart, I love to come here and read about your sweet family. I am SO very sorry for what you all have been through. Thank you for sharing your journey here, may God continue to lavish you with love and with grace. Sunshine

    PS I hope your hubby feels better soon.ReplyCancel

  • Mum2twopreciousgifts - Dear Jess

    You can say, and mean it, that people all over the world were joined in prayer to send you strength, thoughts and love.

    I feel I am the lucky one to have been able to be inspired, educated, provoked into thought and prayer and reflection, by praying for you all since Cora became ill before going Home to God.

    Thank you Jess for sharing your journey. This comes with a cyber hug that I hope, one day, I may be able to deliver in person over coffee and donuts!

    Michelle from Australia xxxxReplyCancel

  • Amy - Thought of you often yesterday, but especially when we were at Wesley… loving on our sweet new little niece. The last time I was actually in the hospital there is when Sarah and I came to see you guys.

    Love the happy hearts banner. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Beki - TheRustedChain - It may seem strange to you, but that is truly a day I’ll never forget. We got a text from R. Jost with the news… I felt like I’d been kicked in the gut. And I cried uncontrollably for 4 hours. My husband had to take my kids out just so I could be alone to process it.

    Hopefully not much longer until we all get to heaven and have that day of rejoicing!!ReplyCancel

  • Lindsay - I’ve never met you, but have read and followed your story for 3 years now. I pray for your beautiful family regularly. Cora, Levi and Griffin are so blessed to have parents like you. Happy heaven birthday sweet Cora.ReplyCancel

  • May - Dear Jess,

    Thank you for sharing CORA with us,,, She is such a beautiful baby…. Im happy that you called this day Cora’s Heavenly Birthday ,,,How beautiful and befitting such a sweet child. God was GRACIOUS,,, He took Cora away and didn’t let her undergo surgery, after more chemo, after more surgeries. He took her to His Most Wonderful Home, and she is playing with Angels now. God bless you, your husband and your beautiful children. Thank you. Thank you for sharing and empowering us with your strength, perseverance and faith. Gods blessings on all of you.ReplyCancel

  • Kate - Jess, I’m praying for you. I just want to give Levi a big hug for you.. what a precious, precious boy.ReplyCancel

  • The Schilling's from Cimarron - Jess and Joel….
    No words…. just praying for you and loving you from a distance!
    My heart was filled with love for you especially on Coras heaven birthday!
    All our love…..
    The Schilling’sReplyCancel

  • Tara - praying for you and your sweet family this week.ReplyCancel

  • DianeTaylor - What a great way to spend Cora’s heavenly day – I love that Levi said how happy she is. I believe that with all my heart – those who dwell in the house of the Lord rejoice. It is we who still live within the bounds of earth that must face days without our loved ones. Praying for you all today (sorry, I missed the actual day but better late than never).

    The banner is just precious. I know Cora loves it!

    Take care and have a blessed weekend. I hope Joel feels better soon!

    ~dt~ReplyCancel

  • Natalie - Thank you for sharing such a special day! Thinking of and praying for your precious family this week.ReplyCancel

  • Rachel - A beautiful way to celebrate such a special little girl. Praying for you today and always.ReplyCancel

  • Alyssa Hollis - Praying for you guys as I always do. Thank you for sharing your life with everyone. You all are once again amazing. There is not a day that goes by I do not think of you all. Your boys are so sweet I love how levi said ” cora soooo happy!” Instant tears! sweetest thing I have ever heard.ReplyCancel

  • Don, Aimee, Kaitlyn and Kysen - My heart is heavy this week for you! We to celebrate a heaven birthday of my grandpa on February 6th which this year was 15 years in heaven and I miss him as much today as 15 years ago but through the cross of Christ I know we will be reunited as you will be with your sweet daughter! The Footsteps Poem is always what I turn to during the tough days! Prayers to your family!ReplyCancel

  • meg duerksen - i love the way you celebrate her.
    that banner is just the sweetest.
    love you jess.
    what a blessing mr. levi is too….his words are just perfect.
    i wish none of it had happened but so thankful for God’s plan.ReplyCancel

  • Jenni Lynn - I love that you talk to Levi about Cora, about her and heaven and Jesus. Kids can grasp so much at a young age and I love that you don’t hold back from Levi. I love that he knows he has a sister and talks about her. You are a wonderful mother.ReplyCancel

  • Rich and Carolyn Dewey - Have been praying for you all week. Love how you celebrate’s Cora’s life in such sweet and memorable ways! They will burrow deep into your boys’ lives, as well as you and Joel. Blessings to all!ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - I think it’s great that you have shared Cora with Levi from the very beggining of his life! How neat to hear how he responds! He’ll always know of his big sister and what an impact she has on God’s kingdom! God bless you and your family!ReplyCancel

  • Lindsay - Cora’s heaven birthday is a great way to remember her and celebrate her reunion with God in heaven all in the same moment. God’s blessings to you.ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - HugsReplyCancel

  • Townsend Crew - Been following you since Cora was diagnosed and praying with you continually. I comment today because you caused me to reflect on my own family… My parents first child & my older brother died at 9 months (SIDS) before I was born. The 4 of us who arrived after him never had a chance to celebrate his life and know him… as with grief, our parents moved on, remembering him in their own way, I guess. You are giving your children a gift of a lifetime! Continue celebrating Cora with the boys on the choking anniversaries and every day. She will always be important to them, as my brother is to me… 49 years after his death.ReplyCancel

  • TimandCeri - “Levi looked at me and said, “Cora not sad. Cora sooooo happy.” So true baby boy, so true. When we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be!”.

    Oh Jess, that brought tears to my eyes. I have been praying and thinking of you so often. You are an inspiration, and example of the good and faithful servant God wants us to be. Thank you for sharing your story with us.ReplyCancel

  • Candice - This post brought a tear to my eye. Thinking of you and remembering sweet Cora today!ReplyCancel

  • Cassie - Praying and remembering sweet Cora!! Hugs to you all!ReplyCancel

  • Cindy - Oh, Jess – how beautiful! There’s no better name for such a difficult day than a “heaven birthday”! Thanks for giving me the words to share these kinds of anniversaries with my children! You have been so inspiring to me in so many ways, and I thank you for sharing your story. I think of you and your sweet Cora often…we actually share the same birthday. Hugs and prayers to you!ReplyCancel

  • Mikaela - There isn’t a day (really) that I don’t think of you and your little Cora Paige. Her life has been a blessing to me and a reminder to cherish each moment. Thanks for continuing to share your journey. May you continue to find peace and purpose in our Savior! Hugs from WIReplyCancel

  • Vinyl Banner Printing - This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyCancel

  • maticki - lovely little girl.love that fact you started to call it heavenly birthday. I don’t believe in god, so I don’t pray but I do think about your little girl a lot.

    love to you and your familyReplyCancel

  • Princess Martha - Its nice to see photos of you smiling with your boys on such a tough day. I’m sure Cora would be proud of you.I love the heart banner you and Levi made for Cora. Sweet.ReplyCancel

  • Lexie Loo, Lily Boo, and Dylan Too! - Much love to you and your family!ReplyCancel

  • teresa - levi’s words, “cora not sad. cora sooooooo happy” are a blessing. these little ones get it. thanks for sharing your journey and cora’s heavenly birthday.ReplyCancel

  • Angela Webb - I found your blog a few months ago through a friend’s pin on pinterest. Your story is beautiful. A friend of mine, Judy (Myer) Andujar lost her sweet baby son a little over a week ago to SIDS. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to lose a child, but I have been in complete awe of her response to this tragedy; she is still praising the Lord and allowing Him to heal her broken heart and restore her joy. I sent her an email letting her know that my husband and I are praying for her, and attached a link to Cora’s story, reminding her that she wasn’t alone. Ironically, she knows you and your hubby from high school and diligently prayed for you while you were going through such a tough time with the loss of your own sweet baby girl. I thank God for your faith and Judy’s faith; for showing me that even on the hardest of days, the Lord is still sovereign and still loves us. Thank you for sharing your story. May the peace of God continue to keep you sane. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Melanie Mueller - I love that Levi helped make it Cora’s Heaven Birthday!! That is so sweet!
    Looks like you spent the day in a perfect way to celebrate your beautiful Cora! Love your collage! Praying for you and your sweet family!!!

    Btw, I totally feel you on the car carts. Like driving a bus that doesn’t want to turn through the isles. =)ReplyCancel