We were so blessed to get to meet Miles, and it absolutely breaks my heart that he only lived 34 days on this earth. We love him. We miss him. Oh, I can't even imagine how much his mama and daddy love and miss him, ache for his sweet presence.
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The Stohlmann family has been a part of our little family literally since the day it began. Jason (Miles' uncle) was my college business class partner who happened to live with Sam, and it was working on a project with him at his house that introduced me to my now husband. Jason was the best man at our wedding and is one of our best friends still today. Through years of living together, Sam and Jason became close with each other's families, and we got the opportunity to know Tommy and Jodi. We've spent weekends together at the lake, visited them while they lived in Arizona and Florida, and have loved having them live in Roanoke since the summer of last year. It's been amazing to know them the last ten years, and their entire family is precious to us.
Though their sweet son, nephew, and grandchild was only here a short time, he touch so many people. In his honor and memory, Jodi's coworkers donated a dogwood tree to be planted in Roanoke, just down the street from his home. The city planted sweet Miles' tree this past Saturday, during an educational planting demonstration. I'm thankful that our family could be there. Harper picked out some sunflowers from the pumpkin patch to bring to Miss Jodi. Oh, how I know they would much rather have their son here, but it is precious for there to be somewhere special to remember him and to honor his precious life, to have his own little piece of earth. Can you stop and say a prayer for Tommy and Jodi right now? That He would continue to give them peace and that He would ease the burden of grief? That He would know them in their suffering, collect their tears in His bottle, trade their mourning for new joy? I am confident there is a God because of the two mothers I know walking this life without their children. They are able to wake every day, to breathe because of Him. I pray that they feel Him close, and that they know there are others who weep with them. And who will one day rejoice with them as well.
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| Gathering Worms |
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| Miles' little buddies |
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| Miles' Dogwood Tree |
"To all who mourn, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness,
they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory."
Isaiah 61:3
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