Goodnight! Goodnight! Goodnight!

I first met Brooke and Brandon at the University of Kentucky through CRU. They are such a fun couple and it was always evident in how they lived, talked, and shared life with others. Although we were never the closest of friends and they graduated 2 years before me, it was still fun to be around them!! Plus we share a huge love for the sweet Fitz family :)

I can't even begin to explain their story for fear of saying something wrong or to cause pain (unintentionally). My heart has been aching for them so much over the past several months.... Despite the circumstances, they truly are such a strong couple with a heart for the LORD. 

Because I feel unable to accurately explain their story or even give it any justice, I ask that you pray for them. Pray for healing, pray for comfort, pray for understanding from others around them, pray for peace, pray that they would feel loved. Pray that God would surround them with His love and strength. See- Brooke and Brandon are parents to Briar. Briar is now at home with Jesus. Here are some sweet words from his momma, "Feeling blessed on my birthday as I welcomed my sweet little boy into the world. Briar Allen Whitis was born to be with the Lord at 3:38am......September 13th,2010. Lucky me, we share a special birthday. My heart is filled with love and pain...Love you all, thanks for your sweet words!!"

Brooke has an amazing blog that I have loved reading over the past several months with heartfelt insights, crafts, love, honesty, open emotion, and faith. You can check out her blog....

One of their friends who is also a photographer took their maternity photos and Briar's newborn pictures. She has a very sweet note and picture here. But, an inside look into the story that led them to this point can be read here.

While thinking about Brooke & Brandon this morning, I thought of this song and the comfort it brought to me when my own grandpa passed away before Christmas in 2008. The hymn is from the 1800s and it's not really popular in any way. I can't understand the loss of my own child, but I do know the loss of a close family member. Grandpa Milligan was always telling jokes, rhymes, quotes, verses, war stories, etc. He had such a great memory! I have so many fond memories of summers spent with my grandparents. While at his burial site, a close friend of his spoke about the comfort we have as believers in knowing that we will be together again with our loved ones who have gone ahead of us. How we should think of it as not saying "goodbye" but "goodnight"....He said this without even knowing that the hymn we were about to sing was "The Christian's Goodnight" - one of my grandpa's favorite songs! We then sang the song A capella. It was a beautiful moment to me. 

To listen to the music to the lyrics while reading them:

Sleep on, beloved, sleep, and take thy rest;
Lay down thy head upon the Savior’s breast;
We love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Calm is thy slumber as an infant’s sleep;
But thou shalt wake no more to toil and weep;
Thine is a perfect rest, secure and deep—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Until the shadows from this earth are cast,
Until He gathers in His sheaves at last;
Until the twilight gloom be over past—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Until the Easter glory lights the skies,
Until the dead in Jesus shall arise,
And He shall come, but not in lowly guise—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Until, made beautiful by love divine,
Thou, in the likeness of thy Lord shalt shine,
And He shall bring that golden crown of thine—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Only “Good night,” belovèd—not “farewell!”
A little while, and all His saints shall dwell
In hallowed unison indivisible—
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Until we meet again before His throne,
Clothed in the spotless robe He gives His own,
Until we know even as we are known—
Good night! Good night! Good night!