In His Hands

I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands, I still possess.
-Martin Luther

Bishop Riley assured his flock, " Those whom you laid in the grave with many tears are in good keeping: you will yet see them again with joy. Believe it, think it, rest on it. It is all true."

For three things I thank God everey day of my life: thanks that he vouchsafed me knowledge of his work; deep thanks that he has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deep, deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to- a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song.
-Helen Keller

John 14:1-3

Hope for Heaven

Knowing that Rylan is safe and secure in the arms of Jesus in heaven is one of my heart's greatest treasure. It is the hope that is bringing me out of this dark valley and reminding me of the light of eternity. When I think about being with Rylan again, tears of joy fill my eyes and heart. Someday, I was hold my baby tight and once again our heart will beat as one.


I am dying from my grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Misery has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within. But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, "You are my God! My future is in your hands." Psalm 31:10, 14-15

There Will Be a Day

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you've walked out all alone

Troubled soul don't lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that's in store
Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

I can't wait until that day where the very one I've lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I've faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing

Artist Jeremy Camp

Three Months without Her

Here in Heaven

Here I am, Lord
I am free
Here I Come, Lord
Your love and angels now surround me

Here I Pray, Lord
Be with those I have left behind
Here I Hope, Lord
Remind them we will be reunited in your time

Here I Live, Lord
Help them to rejoice for me daily
Here I will stay, Lord
Forever, I will always be their baby

Kristah Slate

Here is a montage I created with our memories of Rylan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgMzN_Q8mRc

Dear Rylan,
You would be three month old today...smiling, cooing, and having fun with your brothers. But, you are in heaven listening to beautiful lullabies and being held by Jesus. So we rejoice for you and cling to the promise that we will see you again someday. We miss you dearly and wish we could hold you just one more time. You are always in our hearts.

Mommy & Daddy

Update: The Slates

Dear Friends and Family,

It has been two months since Rylan passed away. God is slowly healing our hearts and giving us peace and strength each day.

A few weeks ago, Dan and I met with several doctors from the hospital to review the pathology reports. The only information we received about Rylan's death was during labor a fetal vessel ruptured causing Rylan to lose over half her blood volume. This event caused severe fetal distress. She was a healthy, normal baby throughout the pregnancy. We still have more questions and hope to receive answers in the upcoming months.

Please continue to pray for our family, especially during this Christmas season. We recognize that while we're celebrating Christmas here, our baby, Rylan, is celebrating Christmas in heaven with Jesus Christ. We know someday we'll all be together again and these days are temporary if we maintain an eternal outlook.

The most valuable lesson I've learned through Rylan's life and death: God gave me a new appreciation of how much pain He must have had to lose His Son the way He did. It made me realize how much He loves each of us as His children to sacrifice so greatly in order for us to spend eternity with Him. The love I have for Camden, Everett, and Rylan pales in comparison with the love of Christ. What a wonderful time to realize Christ's unconditional love as we celebrate His birth this Christmas.

I love you all.

Kristah

Here is a montage I created with our memories of Rylan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgMzN_Q8mRc

Thankful Hearts

God gives, and God takes away. But, let's be honest. We just want him to give, don't we? And we certainly don't want him to take away the things or the people we love.

We just have to trust God with everything we have. We have to open ourselves and say, God it is all yours to do with as you will!We tend to think the money in our bank accounts and the possessions we have are ours—that we've earned them. That we deserve them. But the truth is, everything we have is a gift. Do you think you "deserve" a certain lifestyle, a handsome and loving husband, or beautiful wife and healthy, easy-to-manage children? A high-paying, fulfilling career? What are you holding on to so tightly that you would blame God if he took it away tomorrow?

Job recognized that everything he had was a gift from God, and he had learned how to hold on to those gifts loosely. Evidently Job, long ago, figured out that his extreme wealth and blessing not only came from God, it was still God's, and he was just a steward.How about you? I know you can barely stand to think about being grateful in the midst of your loss. You probably think I'm crazy to even suggest that you could be grateful as you face the empty chair, the empty bank account, the emptiness.

When you come to the place where you recognize that everything you have and everyone you love is a gift, it becomes possible to enjoy those gifts not with an attitude of greed, but gratitude. You and I, like Job, know that God gives and God takes away. And when he takes away, if we're able to focus on the joy of what was given, if only for a time, we take another step down the pathway toward the heart of God. Appreciating God's gifts, we come to the place where we can simply say, "Thank you." Thank you, Lord, for giving me, my baby, Rylan.

from Holding on to Hope by Nancy Guthrie

Glory Baby

In Memory of our daughter,
Rylan Elizabeth Slate

Glory Baby, You slipped away

As fast as we could say baby, baby

You were growing, what happened Dear,

You disappeared on us baby, baby

Heaven will hold you before we do

Heaven will keep you safe

Until we're home with you

CHORUS

We miss you everyday, miss you in every way

But we know there's a day when we will hold you, we will hold you

And you'll kiss our tears away, when we're home to stay

*We can't wait for the day when we will see you, we will see you

But baby let sweet Jesus hold you, until mom and dad can hold you

*You'll just have heaven before we do

You'll just have heaven before we do

Sweet little baby, it's hard to understand it

Cause we are hurting, we are hurting

But there is healing, and we know we're stronger people

Through the growing, and in knowing

All things work together for our good

And God works his purposes

Just like he said he would, just like he said he would

CHORUSBRIDGE

I can't imagine Heaven's lullabies And what they must sound like

But I will rest in knowing Heaven is your home

And it's all you'll ever know, all you'll ever know

CHORUS

lyrics from Watermark- Glory Baby

http://iLike.com/s/9NNn