As you all know, I have been dealing with a lot of stress lately. I want to share a little story and some pics with you. Do you remember when I told you about my cousin Mary? She is now 8 weeks post stroke, and home from the hospital. My sister is visiting from alabama, and we decided to go for a visit with Mary. She was so excited to see us. Now, although she has very muttled speech, and has a hard time getting things out, she did, talk well. Very well!!~ We all got to chatting about things, and asked her if she remembered the babies I brought to see her in the hospital, and she said no. SO...... I got on my nursery page, and started explaining about them, and how I cam about making them. Then it HIT her!!~ She saw one, and I saw the connection immediatley. All she wanted to do, is look at this baby.....and nothing else. she was completely fixated on her. I was totally bewildered, when she said....Tah Tah...My baby???? ok, now here comes the hard part. LOL The baby she died and went to heaven for was the baby that Night owl nursery reborned for me as a swap baby...... uuuuuuuuuuuugh!!~ I LOVE HER!!~ I didnt say anything, because I needed to think on it, and after talking to my sister, and thinking about nothing else for the rest of the night, and praying for Gods divine guidence in this, I woke this morning with a plan!!~ I got up, and dressed her, gave her some snuggles, and some kisses, got together a beautiful layette for her. I got in my car, and drove to plainwell, MI.I knocked on the door, and I was so glad they were home. I had mary open her box of baby goodies......but kept the baby covered, she kept motioning to me to hand her over LOL. Once she finished looking at everything, I finally asked her, if she was ready for her new baby, and I got a great big YES!!~ I put this little girl in her new mommies arms, and the look on her face was all I needed....to know I did the right thing. How could I say no, to someone who has loved me so much during my growing up years? How ? All I had to do is spend some time with Mary and her new baby, Alysyn Rae Winkler, to know that she has been meant for Mary this whole time. God has had a plan for this baby all the while, and I didnt know until the moment I saw Mary in tears, saying my baby, my baby, LOL, and telling everyone to shhhhhhh....bah bah seepin LOL. I will miss this little one, but I am at peace to know, she is in really good hands. Mary's hubby Charlie, was in tears as were we all, seeing Mary..... try to communicate to her, God works in amazing ways :) I hope you all enjoyed my story, and seeing Mary with her precious little girl. I know this was a great match...made in heaven, and by the hands of night owl nursery, and I was the middle man...lol so to speak. This little one is going to be such wonderful therapy for her.

Oh Tina how wonderful!!! You can see how much Mary loves that baby! My prayers are with you all for a full recovery for Mary!!! You did a very beautiful thing for her!! Bless you!!!
Barb

Yeah, ok Tina ... you just ruined a perfectly good snit fit I was in the middle of having!! It's not every day someone can work up enough frustration to have a really meaningful snit, yanno! And your story just pricked a hole the size of a telephone pole in the middle of my fit.



God does indeed work in mysterious ways!

Truly amazing pictures and so are you for being so generous. Thanks for sharing.

Truly a beautiful story hon and I'm very sure night owl will see this the same way loving a baby that much would mean the world to me and I'm sure she will see it this same way ....amazing story hon .... thank you so much for sharing it with us.... Sherrie

Just amaizing

Sweet story thanks for sharing.
Dianne

Wow, that is an awesome story and so good of you to sacrifice your swap baby for her. We can all see by the pictures how much she is truly in love with this baby! Maybe you can do another personal swap with Night Owl for a new one for you to keep?

I have tears in my eyes too - that was such a beautiful thing you did

What a wonderful story and you are a very wonderful and loving person to be so selfless and give that baby to Mary You did an awesome thing and the pictures of Mary and her baby say it all!!!

Well we will just have to have more swaps, won't we? LOL
Beautiful pictures! Beautiful story!
My goal is to be aware of the many opportunities there are to HEAR what God is saying. You did, Mary sure did! I think we have way too many MISSED opportunities that we never ar aware of.
Congratulations too to Night Owl Nursery for a gorgeous baby! I bet she didn't know she was making it for Mary when she had to make certain decisions....good listening!
Tina...is there still that huge state school facility in Plainwell? It was a vocational school for the handicapped and they had such interesting vocations that they taught there like watch and clock repair!
It looks like Mary is doing amazingly well.....and is VERY happy with her new baby!
hugs
Joy
ps..whoever pieced that quilt in the background REALLY matched the points beautifully!

Beautiful story - and it's nice knowing you did the right thing, isn't it?

I am so glad for SharonR... So glad I came at the right time to diffuse your situation. Thank you all for your kind words....I coulndt imagine where I would be now, without all of you for support. Someone just told me on facebook, that I was really sweet. LOL......The only answer I could come up with, is that what I do is not for me, but what I can DO for OTHERS. I love seeing the help these reborns are, and the difference they make in peoples lives. I get to see miracles every day!!~ God has made me for a reason, and for years I always wondered what that reason was. I think he is finally showing me the way!!~ This little baby, spoke to Mary, and I could plainly see that, and through Alysyn, God will continue to work miracles in Marys life. As far as the quilt.....Mary made that, a very long time ago. It was her wedding gift to her Husband when they got married :) Thank you ladies for always being here to enjoy my excitement and joy

Dear, dear Tina,

You have made my day, my month, my year! I am so humbled and blessed to have been even a small part of your Mary's miracle and her ever amazing recovery. I have tears running down my cheeks and chill bumps on my skin. Our God is such an awesome God!!!! I have been reading your updates and posts on Mary and I even went back to read your original post and my small note of support (which even now gives me chills.) You see I remember that very first post and how I had prayed for you and for Mary. Here it is:

29th November 2011, 9:40 pm

I have prayed for you Tina and for Mary. I have prayed that God would put his hands on Mary and heal her. And I have prayed that God will put his hands on your hands and guide you while you create the little angel Maya. With God all things are possible! I hope you will post pictures of baby Maya when she is reborn. You are so strong and a true hero to all those you care for. Hugs!

How were we to even know that not only would the baby that you made for Mary help her to recover, but that a baby I had already made for you would help her as well? You are such a wonderful and giving lady, Tina! I can see that you have had such a difficult time in your life just from the little that I have read here on the forum. Surely your riches will be great in the kingdom of heaven. You are truly one of God's angels here on Earth.

Hugs!

Shannon