Great New Song

I heard this song a few weeks ago and had to have you all listen to it.  There are so many moments that I question why we and so many others have to go through such hard times in our lives.  Why would a loving God allow these things to happen to His people.  As hard as it is to listen to the words of this song, there is comfort in the words.  I have to hold on to the fact that because of what we had to go through our relationship with God is so much stronger than it was.  I hope you like it and it too gives you hope and comfort.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0&feature=related

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Well one year ago today at 12:27pm, my beautiful daughters were born.  I can't believe its been a year - seems like just yesterday.  I wasn't sure what emotions I would go through today but for the most part it has been a good day. How could it not be - I have a miracle sitting in front of me.
Thank you to everyone who sent "birthday wishes" and "thinking of you" wishes.  You have no idea how much those meant to us.  It is comforting to know that people haven't forgotten about our girls.  That is a fear of mine that because Rebecca was so young and only a handful of people got to meet her in person, that she will be forgotten.  But I know that that is not the case - she touched so many lives while she was here.
 
Brandon was scheduled to work today but he was able to get off for about 7 hours to spend the day with us.  After the girls got out of school, we went out to the cemetery and had a birthday party.  Unfortunately, because the ground has been so wet they were not able to get the foundation set for the stone.  So after the cemetery we went to place that did our stone.  It has been done for a few weeks and they put it outside for us to see and get pictures of.  It is beautiful!  I wanted to share some pictures from today....

I put a hat next to Joanna in memory of Rebecca.  This picture is priceless.

We decided a tradition of ours will be to let a balloon go on her birthday with a note letting the person who finds the balloon know how old Rebecca would have been.  It was overwhelming to see the pink balloon going up in the air as I haven't seen that since her funeral.

Brandon and I went up to Cincinnati this weekend to attend Lindsay's (Joanna' primary nurse) wedding.  When she scheduled it on the girls birthday weekend I knew God had her do that for a reason.  You see Cincinnati is my second home.  I love going there because it houses my best and worst memories.  I feel a closeness up there that I can't describe.  God knew my husband wouldn't just take me up there for a weekend on the girls birthday weekend, but he knew that is where I needed to be.  We got to see so many people up there who will forever be a part of our lives.  

To the NICU staff who took care of our precious girls:  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  You will forever be a part of our lives.  Don't ever think that what you do is forgotten.  There is not a day that goes by that you ALL are not thought about.  I love each and every one of you.  

Happy Birthday Girls!  Mommy loves you!  

Spring Break 2011

Brandon and I decided to take a vacation to Branson, MO this year for spring break.  I was a little worried about not having things to do with the kids but boy was I wrong!  

We left Evansville around 4pm on Friday and drove straight through.  I was driving and about 30 min before we got to Branson my gas light came on.  Keep in mind, it's about 10:30pm and there is nothing ahead of us but miles and hills of highway.  With my car saying 0 miles until empty, I took an exit that said to have a gas station .5 mile up the road.  This was not true...We got back on the highway and spotted a closed gas station ahead.  By this point I am stressed to the max.  I can just see Brandon having to walk a dark hilly highway to find gas, while I sat in a cold van on the side of the highway with 4 kids who were sleeping now but would most likely not be once the car was stopped for an extended time period.  Brandon wanted me to drive up to the closed gas station but since I knew it was closed I was not wanting to waste anymore gas than needed.  I stopped the car and got out so he could drive-my nerves were shot by this time.  He pulled up to the station and without any lights on at the gas station he was able to get an entire gas tank full of gas.  I never knew you could pull up to a closed gas station and get gas.  It had to be a God thing!!

We had a 2 day pass at Silver Dollar City.  First day were were in sweatshirts and freezing and the second day we were in shorts and flip flops!  What a difference a day makes!!  We went to a few more shows - we had a great time.  Brandon was a little stressed but I think he had fun.  

We came back hone yesterday - home sweet home.  It is definatly a challenge to take 4 kids on vacation but I love knowing that I am making memories for them as my parents did for me. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2011

March of Dimes - April 30, 2011

Our family is very excited to be a part of March for Babies this year and hope you will join our team - The Barnard Twins!  We are going to have team shirts made up for anyone who joins our team!!

The money we raise for this walk will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. It will also be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.  Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. We're walking because we want to do something about this.  We don't want anyone to have to go through what we went through.

Please join our team. You can do so on our Web page (http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1527694).  If you can't walk with us, please consider helping our team reach our goal by making a donation. You can do that online as well.