My Testimony

I had the amazing privilege of sharing my testimony at the Perth Women's Convention on August 9th.  
I would be honoured if you would like to listen to it. Please use the link below.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23841673/PWC2014/Julie%20Douglas%20Testimony.mp3

Happy Birthday!

                                                                                    Dearest Charlotte,

I imagine that you have grown in statue as well as in other ways that come naturally with age.

I imagine you, a four year old girl, full of life and joy, running and playing with your sister and all the other sweet children who call heaven their home.

Today marks four years since you were born to us and four years since you left us for your heavenly home. Four years since I felt your life within me and held you close.

Sometimes fours years feels so long ago. 1461 sunrises and sunsets and all the days in between. On the other hand... my heart feels like it was only yesterday.

Today we celebrate you - our daughter, our fourth born child, a member of our family. We are so thankful for you and the impact that you have had and continue to have on our lives.

We praise God that you live! We praise Him for the love, life, joy and peace that is yours in a paradise that we can not even begin to imagine.

Our hearts will not forget you precious Charlotte. Time will not diminish our love for you.

We will always wish that we had more time with you but we know that eternity is but a breath away and we will see you again soon.

Until then... may you continue to sing and dance in the courts of heaven!

"To God be the glory forever and ever."

With so much love

Mummy

xxxx

Celebrating You - April 14, 2014

Dearest Charlotte,

I imagine that you have grown in statue as well as in other ways that come naturally with age.

I imagine you, a four year old girl, full of life and joy, running and playing with your sister and all the other sweet children who call heaven their home.

Today marks four years since you were born to us and four years since you left us for your heavenly home. Four years since I felt your life within me and held you close.

Sometimes fours years feels so long ago. 1461 sunrises and sunsets and all the days in between. On the other hand... my heart feels like it was only yesterday.

Today we celebrate you - our daughter, our fourth born child, a member of our family. We are so thankful for you and the impact that you have had and continue to have on our lives.

We praise God that you live! We praise Him for the love, life, joy and peace that is yours in a paradise that we can not even begin to imagine.

Our hearts will not forget you precious Charlotte. Time will not diminish our love for you.

We will always wish that we had more time with you but we know that eternity is but a breath away and we will see you again soon.

Until then... may you continue to sing and dance in the courts of heaven!

"To God be the glory forever and ever."

With so much love

Mummy

xxx 

Day 31 - Sunset

 

What a journey! I have been challenged, encouraged, supported and stretched while I have been writing my 31 day 'Capture Your Grief' journal. Thank you to everyone who has read my posts, 'liked' them and left comments, it has been very encouraging. To write is therapy, to have people read what I've written is liberating... a grief shared.

 

I have felt connected, part of a community, united sadly through the loss of our babies. We find strength by standing together, understanding through personal experience and love for each other through tender, broken hearts.

 

All of this is written in honour of the One who gave us life.

I also honour the memory of my precious baby girls Charlotte Rose & Abigail Faith- 

for without them there wouldn't be a story to tell.

 



 

 

The Sunset - Perth Western Australia
31st October, 6.40pm

 

 

Day 30 - Change

One of life's most defining moments - the loss of a child, how can you not be changed?

Many times I have wondered where 'I' have gone??
My loss... has tilted the axis of my heart, allowing me to see the world from a slightly different angle. Those things that were invisible or unclear to me, have now come into focus. People... life... suffering... joy... grief. What can I do? How can I help? This clarity brings responsibility. I want to change because of them. Their lives were impacting.

They have made love richer, relationships important, heaven even more real, appreciation and thankfulness deeper and our love for God stronger.

My babies... I will be forever grateful for the gift of you and the difference you have made.

Oh how I love them...

 

 

 

Day 29 - Healing...

A baby to hold and a balm to my heart...

 

LEAH

 

A letter written to Charlotte - April 2012, shortly after the birth of Leah

 ~A heart torn between blessing and loss~ 

My darling girl, my pen is not dry, my heart has not forgotten and my mind has not finished with your story. 
An earthly glimpse reveals your new little sister - you now have 2 brothers and 3 sisters - one that is by your side throughout all eternity.
You will always be our 4th born child, our second daughter, forever etched into our family regardless of your address.
For the 9 months that your sister grew, I wrestled with carrying life and the loss of you. You, my sweet baby who never cried, I miss not having life with you.
The birth of your sister, a God-given gift brought a wail from my soul - one of thankfulness and sadness, as two worlds collided - life and loss.
I see you in her. Your face, your hands... I call her Charlotte, only to abruptly remember that she is not. My mind is confused as if someone is playing a trick on me.
All my children, a gift from God, meant to be, none replacing the other, each created for God's own purpose and glory. All loved, all wanted, all eternal.
My girl, my heart will always be scarred with the loss of you and filled with love for you.
Forever your Mummy xxx

Day 28 - A Special Place to Remember ~ Charlotte

A special place....

My heart's the place that holds her.

From my heart...
I desired her... I loved her... I prayed for her... I wanted her...

It was my heart that broke with the loss of her.

And it is with all my heart that I will forever love and remember my precious little girl.

Together we remember Charlotte at the place where we feel closest to her - her resting place. 
Peaceful... and full of natural beauty.

And at the beach near by, as the sun sets... we remember...