Nathaniel.

Our friends who became our friends after they lost their son last July are gearing up for his first heavenly birthday. Nathaniel James was born around 32 weeks July 2, 2012. He had trisonomy-18 which is a genetic disorder that didn't allow him to live beyond a few hours. We grieve with his parents heavily and have tried to help them walk this road the past year. We are grateful for Maelee and Nathaniel because that means we got to be friends... it seems some of my dearest friends are people I wish I never had to know.

His parents, Jeremy and Sidni, have been inspired to do something sweet in honor of him for his birthday. They are asking folks to do something in Nathaniel's memory, to give of themselves in some way, and then tell them about it on his birthday this year. I think this is fabulous for many reasons, one of which is it will help them get through that super tough milestone day with joy.

If you are interested in making cookies for someone, volunteering, buying someone a meal, donating to a cause, making an effort to do good, etc, etc, and you want to do it in honor of one sweet little boy who lives in heaven... then this is your chance! You can write me a message and I can post it to Sidni on Nathaniel's birthday. You have exactly one month to do/give/be your gift.

Nathaniel's parents.

And here is Sidni last week with Eli at the lake. Eli completely adores her (he even took his first steps to her). She cuddles him and gives him whatever he wants (like cookies with insane amounts of frosting), so it makes sense, but I often think it's cause he just knows she needs little boy lovin' since her boy is in heaven.

-Heather 

Here's Sidni's explanation on Nathaniel's gift day:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” James 1:17


It has almost been a year since Nathaniel was born. Although he was only with us for a short time, Nathaniel was an incredible gift from the Lord, and we hope to celebrate him on his first birthday. We miss him every day but rejoice that we will see him again. His short life forever changed and blessed us, and it is in that spirit that we want to honor his memory. We want to honor him, and the Lord, by asking you to do/be a gift in his memory. This gift can be any type: your time, your energy, your talents, etc. Please do something that will, like Nathaniel’s life, leave an impact for eternity. Spend some time volunteering, send a care package to a missionary, write an encouraging note to your parents, prepare dinner for an elderly neighbor….anything the Lord leads you to do! Please know it doesn’t have to be an extravagant gesture. We just ask that while you give, you honor our little boy by thanking God for him. We are posting this early to give you all plenty of time to think of and give your gift before his birthday! On the second of July, please reply to this note and share how you gave. It will be such comfort to Jeremy and I to see that others are not only missing Nathaniel with us, but also honoring the Lord as they remember him.