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I have been away from my blog , as many of you know already, due to the birth of our first grandbaby. The past few days following her birth have truly been some of the most trying days I have ever had. In my life. Period.
Having said that, the past few days have been some of the most joyful days of my life!
The arrival of Harper brought such a love in my heart....I haven't the words to describe how I feel about her. I knew I would love her before she was even born.......but I never knew the depth of the love I would feel for a little soul that I have yet to look in her eyes!
Now I truly understand the great love of Jesus for his children....unmeasurable and without merit...we just belong to Him and He loves us!
I love Harper's little face and hands. She has the sweetest little mouth. (I can't wait to plant a big kiss on her some day soon!) I love her little weak lungs and beg God hourly to please heal them.
I have been on such a rollercoaster ride of emotions but just wanted you who read our blogs and continue to leave daily comments that we are so totally blown away by you.......everyone of you!
God has sent real live angels to minister to us and they have done Him proud! We only ask people to please keep praying for our Harper. We need her in our family!
Kelly and I are a "stickler" for Thank You notes. But I am telling all of you there is not a "Thank You Note" good enough for each of you who has prayed, visited, brought gifts and thought of us. We are humbled beyond belief! We are trying to share God's love with others while we are waiting on God to heal our baby. All of you who have shared encouragement with us have just been awesome!
Please continue to pray for Harper and all the other babies in the NICU at St. Francis and other hospitals. We love you all! We will try to update as we learn anything new!
11 hours ago
69 comments:
Judy...your family has been on my mind and heart since I heard the news. I'm praying for sweet Harper and trusting God to heal her lungs.
Much love,
Mer
We're thinking of you too Grandma and praying along with you for little Harper to be healed. Your granddaughter has captivated thousands of people you know, I think she has quite a future ahead of her! And to think, she hasn't even dazzled us with her little eyes yet!! We are so thankful for the way God is blessing your family through these difficult days, He is shining brightly through all of you! We just love you guys and will continue to pray....give that sweet Harper and her beautiful Mom a kiss for all of us!
Hang in there!!! We are praying without ceasing!! Our God is up to something AMAZING and I can't wait to see what sweet little Harper's story and song will be!!
Love and Prayers from Fayetteville,
Jen
I've had you on my heart every single day, Judy. I know what Harper means to you all. As a momma, it has to be the hardest thing to see your baby and your grandbaby go through this time. I have you in my prayer ALL day long... and I'm SO thankful for how far God has brought Harper.
I've told Steve, and I know you know, if there's ANYTHING I can do to help y'all on this end - I'M ON IT!!
I love you both so much and I want to thank you so much for the example of Christ you are to me!
Oh, I'm so glad to hear from you! I know you have been preoccupied with a sweet little girl and I want you to know that I am constantly lifting her up to our Heavenly Father. I'm believing Him for her complete healing and asking Him to hold all of you in his loving arms during this time. Love you all!
Judy,
I've been praying for you all and thinking of you so much. We will continue to pray and lift you to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith!!! I just love that He is all we need!!
Will continue to pray,
Dawn
Thank you so much for the update. Harper and her entire family are always in my thoughts and will continue to pray for all of you. God bless you and your family.
I'm keeping Harper and the entire family in my prayers.
I know the love you are talking about as my Grandmother had that love for me and it was... well, it was perfect, that is the only word for it.
Oh sweet grandmother,
I just wish I could come love on y'all and pray with you. Please know that you have captured our hearts and I'm praying hourly for that baby girl. She is all over my church's prayer list. I can't tell you the number of people who asked about her Sunday. I emailed them all the link and we are steady on our knees.
Praying strength for you as you take care of your daughter. What a fabulous and beautiful example you are of Christ's love flowing out when time is just flat out hard.
So much love,
Fran
TN
I'm so glad to hear from Harper's nonny! I have prayed so much for your family. I can't even begin to tell you how this situation with Harper has changed my prayer life. I know that great things are going to continue to come from the story of this sweet little girl! Thank you for sharing you family and your heart with us tonight, Judy.
This is a beautiful post! I am praying for you too! Ya'll are such a witness and testimony. God has big things for this little girl. I love her.
Along with everything else that has been said, I just wanted you to know that there are quite a few in Prattville, Alabama that are also remembering your family in our daily talks with God~
Your family is precious and I will continue to pray for Harper! I am believing that you all will hold that precious baby girl soon!!
With God ALL things are possible!!
Also, I have been praying for the other babies since you all mentioned them. May God heal each baby and comfort and strengthen each family that is with you!
Blessings,
Patty
I just wanted to let you know that I am praying for your family and that sweet little grandbaby of yours. I came across Kelly's blog Friday night and feel like that the timing was not coincidental. I will continue to pray.
You don't know me but I have been following yours and Kelly's blog for a while. I have been so touched by your family and please know that I have been praying for your sweet little Harper. She is a beautiful baby! She's only four days old and God has already done an amazing work through her. Please know that you have a friend in California who won't stop praying for you all and my continued prayer for you is to have that peace that surpasses all understanding and that comes from God who loves you so much and has a mighty, mighty plan for baby Harper.
There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of & pray for Harper and the rest of her precious family. God is using your precious family in a mighty way. He is showing some of us who are 'ye of little faith' a true lesson in the power of prayer and faith. May God continue to heal Harper and bring her home soon.
Still praying for you and your family in Alabama..
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
I have been praying like crazy for you all. We love you :) :)
Praying for precious Harper, daily...several times a day. My heart has been so heavy, since reading Kelly's blog on Friday. I can't go very long, without thinking about you guys and stopping to pray.
Praising Him for what He's doing there in the St. Francis NICU!! :)
((HUGS))
Judy....I know this sounds stupid. But I just perked up when I saw that you had updated. Girl, I have been praying along with everyone else for that sweet baby Harper. It's so weird not to even know you guys.....yet experience the pain and suffering you guys were going through Friday night. I'm telling you it's all I've talked about and thought about all week. My hero and I both shed many tears each time you updated over the weekend.
We are continually praying for Harper's recovery and for the day that Scott and Kelly get to take her home. And for the day that you and Steve can hold her in your arms and sing "Jesus Loves You".
I just wanted you to know that I love you and that I will continue to pray for all of you....especially Harper.
By the way.....she is a beauty. I think she looks just like Kelly.
Baby Harper is in our thoughts and in our prayers. We are so blessed to be able to see God at work through her.
Prayers from Paris TX
She is absolutely beautiful. I can't stop clicking on her pictures--she's just precious. I look forward to meeting her soon. Until then, we're praying continually and thinking of you guys all day every day. Every time I've left the house since Friday, I've either called or sent someone a text while I was out to see if there had been any new updates on Harper. I rush home and check the computer...and my heart rejoices in every little step of progress she makes. I long for the day when you all can take turns holding her and kissing her and squeezing her. We love you all so much!
It has been an honor for me to pray daily for your family and for sweet Harper. It has strengthened my faith and made me want to know Him better. I pray every day for the day that you all get to hold her and snuggle her. She's so precious! It's just amazing what this little girl has done for so many people already, in 4 short days.
God bless,
Kristin from TX
i have been praying and will continue to do so. i love your sweet family even though i've never met you. we are brothers and sisters in christ.
i'm so glad you are all there for each other. what a difference family makes!
Continuing to pray for Harper!!!
Stacie in Los Angeles
We are praying for Harper, for Kelly and Scott, and for Granddad and Nonny too!!!
We are praying for wisdom for the doctors.
And we will remain vigilant in prayer UNTIL HARPER IS HOME WITH HER MOMMA!!!
We are still praying and I think of Kelly and Harper all the time. I don't know her and have just started reading her blog since I started blogging about 6 months ago. Me and my mom were talking about how beautiful Kelly is and how we love chunky babies. I know just from reading your words how proud you are. hang in there and we are praying for them and you all the time here in TX. Blessings to your family and may God's love and mercies rain on your family!
I know that you have been busy taking care of your daughter and granddaughter, so please don't apolgize for not posting. I feel blessed to be able to pray for your precious family and to share in your pain, as well as your joy!! Harper is so beautiful and such a gift from God to all of you. God is holding her close and is healing her in HIS time. We just have to be patient and trust in HIM, but it is so hard. The "blogging world" loves all of you so much and it amazes me how much this has affected me and I don't even know you all personally. I am so thrilled each day when I get updates on Harper. Thank you for sharing your sweet family with all of us. I can't wait to see Harper's pretty eyes and her sweet smile. Harper reminds me so much of her beautiful Mom. Kelly just glows with the light of Jesus. Remember, out of these hard times will come many blessings and much joy!! I also continue to pray for the other babies in the NICU. Love & blessings from NC!
I am a NICU grandma too - to one singleton and a set of triplets. I can totally relate to your feelings of awe and wonder and love. I have been drawn into your story and pray for each of you. The NICU is such a roller coaster, but it is also such a precious time of getting to know that little life that the Lord has woven. It has been almost three years since our 31w old boys were born. Much smaller than your Harper!
I will continue to pray. Rest. Enjoy. Be blessed.
Martin and I have been praying nonstop for all of you. Your family is so loved by many people in the blog world and we are all praying.
I am so impressed with Kelly pushing out a baby that size!
And what a Scrummy baby she is. Those cheeks need some good kisses!
God is so in control and He loves her so much, I really believe that He has GREAT plans for her life. How exciting to know that His WILL will be done and He WILL be glorified in it all.
Much Love
Vashti
I had chill bumps the whole time I read this post! Your words are spoken (written) so beautifully! I am praying so hard for that sweet baby girl and for your whole family! God is GOOD all the time! :)
Hey! I sent you this through e-mail but wanted to send it here as well. Wanted to thank you so much for stopping by my blog page. It has been my greatest honor and I have been humbled in ways you do not know, to be able to pray for Kelly, Scott, and sweet Harper. I have grown so fond of Kelly and hold her dear to my heart, and although we've never met we have corresponded through e-mail quite a bit and I instantly took a liking to her precious spirit and her huge faith. She's a true gem and my life has been forever changed because of her blog.
Great, I'm so glad she received the card in the mail and thanks for delievering it. I tried calling her yesterday (was able to get her number from her good friend Hillary with Kelly's permission), and it rang but no answer and then it went to a message saying message box was full, understandably so. I was going to try her again today.
I think the whole blog world has fallen in love with this wonderful family and miracle child. We love you all and we will continue praying until everyone is home where they belong :) We love you tremedously!!!
With love,
Lauren
Judy,
You have definitely been blessed with the most precious little granddaughter in the world. Just hope you know that we are praying so much for Harper...for all of you! Her story has touched so many lives. Isn't God's love and mercy amazing??? I trust that He will heal Harper's lungs and all will be well.
Hang-in-there! Sending our love and prayers...
Judy,
I just know that someday soon you'll be holding, kissing and playing with Harper! It is just amazing to see the outpouring of love from God's people as your family goes through this trial.
It takes tremendous faith to stay strong in the face of adversity,and I am so grateful that Kelly & Scott have such a wonderful support system to fall back on.
Love,
Dea Shatterly
(P.S. My boys prayed for Harper to get to be held by Momma & Daddy soon.)
I really appreciate all of the updates. It gives us ways to pray for Hareper and your family.
I've been praying many times a day for all of you.
Isn't God great to give us prayer as a tool to support, love, and help those in need?
God's peace over all of you as your faith grows even stronger through this trial.
Kelly in Michigan
Aunt Judy,
Congratulations to you on becoming a grandma! We are constantly praying and thinking about you all. Harper is a gorgeous little girl!
Love you-
Shell
Hi Ms. Judy! (sorry it's a southern thing) I have been reading Kelly's blog for a while now and just adore her. I have been praying for your family and expect God to work miracles with little Harper. She is so beautiful. hugs from Baytown, TX
Good to see your post! I'm been encouraged by all the comments and support you all have witnessed first hand. It's the body of Christ being exactly what it should be and it's real. That is cool to see. We continue to pray for Harper and for you all. Love, Laura Mudd
Nonny, have been leaving messages on Grandad's blog. Great to hear from you too-worried about you too. Harper is the luckiest little baby in the world to have all of you around her. We continue to pray here, esp. Kaylee and Caleb. Love and Prayers. XOXO
I think new moms should be banned from writing notes for a good 6 mths...who wants to write a note with no sleep, pain, and the most dependent thing on earth next to you...but, I'm with you - I love a good thank you note.
I will be in Tulsa next weekend, and plan to head straight to you all. Plan on lunch on Saturday via Kate!
Hello Judy, I'm so thankful that Harper is doing so much better. I'm sure everyone is tired but know that you all are being prayed for & I pray you feel the love & prayers as you all go about your day. If I can do anything at all please let me know, Love & hugs to you, Kelly, Scott, Steve & that wonderful baby girl Harper, Karen Barnes= Jessica M's mommy.
I'm praying for your precious family. Can you send me an address where I can send something to Kelly? Thanks so much! You can email me at mrsgwag@hotmail.com.
Blessings,
Gayla
Judy,
You have been in my thoughts and prayers continuously. As a grandmother myself, I know just how excited you are over that beautiful little granddaughter. My first grandbaby was also in NICU and I know what difficult days those are.
I agree that Harper does have the sweetest little mouth! She is absolutely gorgeous!
I am rejoicing with you on the miracles that God is working every day in Harper and I know that He has special plans for this very special little girl! I have been following closely on Kelly's, Steves, and Chris and Carrie's blogs and can hardly wait to read the new updates as they come in.
Harper is one very blessed little girl and I know that she has the most amazing Nonny ever!
Love you and praying for you, sweet friend,
Emilie
Praying! Julie (Iowa)
Our prayers go out for Harper, mommy, daddy and all family and friends. I pray that next year at this time we see a picture of her dressed to the nines, lots of bows in her hair and lots of lace as she sits in Sunday school. cj
You have been in my prayers! It is SO good to hear an update from you. I only know of Kelly and Scott through the blog but I think they are such a sweet couple and that Harper is BUAUTIFUL:) I will continue to pray for you all!
Hi. I came over from Kelly's Blog. We continue to pray for little Harper and your family. I just know God is going to heal her. The faith of your family is amazing. I love this post.
Thank you Miss Judy for your update. I do the roll...looking for some new and wonderful news. Harper has become family in our house. We discuss and pray for her on a daily basis. My Husband even has her on his heart. He is my prayer partner and knows my heart is so heavy for this precious baby and Mommy and Daddy. You too! Last sunday in church my mind just kept drifting on Harper and Gods word. She is going through this for a reason... God will make all things good.... I just know it... I believe it...Thank you~
So glad to see your post. I can't imagine how difficult it has been for all of you in so many ways. Not holding her has to be almost torture! She is absolutely beautiful! I see both Kelly and Scott in her. We're praying for all.
Love You All!
continually praying for you all. harper is so blessed to have such an amazing grandma!
Judy, so good to hear this update from you! I cannot imagine all that your precious family has been through in the past several days. I know that you are surrounded by those you know and love, and those of us who have never had the chance to meet you are lifting you up in prayer. God is working and we give Him all the glory for the healing that He has done and will continue to do!
Love and prayers from NC, Faith
It is an honor to pray for your entire family. What a blessing to read about how prayer is being answered and Harper is healing. God is good! Your family is an inspiration and I will continue to lift you up in prayer.
- Chris
Judy, I just love your family and love Harper already. I pray constantly for all of you. I just know God is going to heal her. I just know it. We will keep praying until she is home. Love to you and the rest of your sweet, precious family. By the way, she IS the most beautiful baby I have EVER seen!
We are praying for Miss Harper everyday. Our hearts and prayers go out to you and Steve and Kelly and Scott and Harper!!!
Your entire family has been on my heart and mind since Harper was born. We will keep praying for all of you!
Congratulations,Grandma, on your beautiful new granddaughter. I read Kelly's blog and I know the struggles that are going on now, but soon baby Harper will be home and all of this will be just a memory. She is the most beautiful baby girl!!!
Surround that baby & your family in prayers still daily!!! its funny because people in my church - in greenville, Indiana are all talking about how "Baby Harper' is doing... so many people praying!!! It's truly amazing to be seeing how God's family works!
I have been following Kelly's blog since last Saturday when I started praying for her. I am almost through reading all of her old posts and it is so fun! I must say that you are an inspiration to me! She speaks so highly of you. One thing that she said was that you were a very selfless mother. Today I took care of my kids and thought of you and the testimony that you have been in Kelly's life. I pray that one day my children will say the same of me. I am still praying for little Harper, Kelly, Scott and all of you precious grandparents who are going through so much also!
January 23rd...
Sis. Judy,(Nonny)
1st. Let me sing.....
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns From heaven above
With wisdom, power and love
our God is an awesome God.
It is so wonderful to be able to watch the hand of God at work not only in Baby Harper but in hearts around the world. You talk about REVIVAL !!!!
The pictures of you and Grand Baby Harper are just precious!!! And yes....you now know what I've been trying to tell ya(you can see it on your face)...."You just can't find the right words that describe how you feel about being a Nonny!!!" Yet, when you hold her in your arms for the first time....oh...you will NEVER be the same.
We're still praying for Baby Harpers healing, Kelly's healing, for Scott and the load that he now has. And for the Grandparents. You guys will never know just how special you all 7 are.
2nd.....
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!
May God richly bless you and Pastor this day.
Love and Prayers,
Your "Sister" in Christ
Nonny, just got caught up on all the blogs. You look beautiful with that baby girjl--both of you are in trouble. We all continue to pray--love you all. XOXO.
Happy 38th Anniversary!!!!
Saw the cute blanket you got on Kelly's blog. That was so thoughtful of Kelly's friend. We continue to pray for you all and praise God for slow and steady progress!! Harper and Nathan weighted the same at birth. Tell Kelly good job! Love, Laura Mudd
Happy 38th wedding anniversary, Judy and Steve! May God bless you with many more years of happiness together.
Continuing to pray for you and your sweet family!
Well- we love Harper's little face as well. She is just a doll. God created her perfectly in His image and hand delivered her to your family because He knew she was a perfect fit! I can't wait until you get to bring her home to Arkansas!
Just want you guys to know that you are in our prayers in Kentucky! I learned about Harper from my friend Jennifers blog and have found my way here to Grandma's blog. Since I am a mamaw myself (4 grandchildren) I wanted to leave my comment here, I know Kelly has so many comments to read! I am also a dog lover, and live alone with my sweet girl Daphne. My husband died 5 years ago and my son Tony died almost 14 years ago at the age of 20. Praise God, they were both born again believers and I know I will be with them again someday! Life is sometimes hard but God is ALWAYS good! I am writing this as anonymous because I can never remember my password but I am your sister in Christ, Sheila Johnson in Berea, Kentucky graphics@richmondregister.com
We have been praying non-stop for you all....and amazed at how God is healing sweet Harper!
We are still praying and lifting you guys up! What a blessing you have been to all of us as well. I love teh pictures of you with your sweet grandaughter and am rejoicing that her eyes were wide open this afternoon! Praise be to God!
I clicked on your blog through Kelly's tonight and just thought I'd drop a note to say that I am continuing to stand in prayer for your family and for Harper's complete healing. She is so blessed to have you all in her family... people that love her and care about her so much! I am a mother of two boys (12months apart) and I know that if it were my child in that situation, having people leave encouraging words would mean the world to me! Praise be to Our God who sits on the throne, and who loves Harper more than we ever could imagine. He's got her in His hands.
Blessings!
I have been leaving comments on your husband's blog and Kelly's....I just found your blog this morning.
Your family is just precious. It has been such an honor to pray for Harper and such a blessing to see her improvement. What a special treat to see her eyes open this morning.
Love & prayers to you all!
Valerie (Oklahoma)
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