Christmas Tree

This past Monday we went with the Simmons, Hydros and Lees to cut down our Christmas tree. There were many memories made from the night...Carson throwing up all over himself and the car on the way there. All of the kids getting filthy as they climbed a huge dirt pile (many deciding to slide on thier bottoms down). Carson running wild through the row of Christmas trees (every photo i have of him is the back of his head as he ran away from me). Jon picking out a great tree (i didn't even help pick it out cause i was busy chasing carson!!) a great meal cooked by amazing emo lee.



It was a wondeful night to be with friends and start building traditions that Carson will be able to look forward to in the years to come. It was also a very challenging night as I was constantly reminded of the fact that our precious little Chase was not there to create memories with us. Jon and I were provoked to think much about Heaven that night and what the celebration on Christmas morning must be like there. As we wake on Christmas morning to our tree, gifts, and family, to celebrate the day that Christ was born, will Chase be able to personally celebrate and eat with Him at his table? as we sing songs reminding us of that day in Bethleham years ago, will Chase listen as those that were there describe the glorious details of Christ's birth?


As we drove home cutting down the tree, questioning what it must be like during this holiday seson in Heaven, i realized that this is yet one more gift that the Lord has given us in the life and death of our son. the Lord enabled us to seieze that drive home to think great thoughts of Him and his home. our hearts were reminded of the true meaning of the holiday season. thank you son for yet another undeserving gift you have given us!

Thanksgiving Trip to NC

We traveled to North Carolina to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with the Foy Family. It was a wonderful time relaxing, shopping, cooking, eating, laughing and playing with family. Thank you Papa, Mimmi and Auntie K for ALL the ways you helped Jon and I with Carson, enabling us to get some rest (Carson's back molars are coming in, so we have had many sleepless nights and fussy hours during the day). During our time there, Dad and Mom were renamed. Dad went from Grampi to Papa (his decision) and Mom went from Mummi to Mimmi...Carson's decision. He kept trying to say Mummi, but Mimmi kept coming out. After a few days, it stuck!!



Every year we take a family photo for the Foy's holiday card. Here is a snap shot that captured the moment...one fussy, teething boy!!!!


One of my best friends from college sent us a tree to plant in memory of Chase. On Friday morning we planted it as a family. It will be a lasting memory that we have of our precious boy for years to come. Chase's tree is in the best hands possible...i know that Papa and Mimmi are going to tenderly care for it with much love, much better than Jon or I could!



Here are a few random pics...my cousin Tanya and I. Papa and his girls. And Carson getting to do one of his all time favorite things...ride the tractor!

Chase Miller Smith

This slideshow is what we created for Chase's memorial service last Saturday. Our prayer is that this points you to Christ and drives you to dream deeply about heaven where our precious son is.

We thank God for Joe Lee and Dave Castro who finally got this slideshow up and running on our blog. Thanks fellas.

Don't Waste Chase's Life # 5

We Will Waste Chase's Life If We Grieve as Those Who Have No Hope.

Deep, intense grief is no respector of persons; man or woman, rich or poor, young or old - there is no difference. All one has to do is live long enough and they will encounter intense grief of some kind.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). James Bruce in his book From Grief to Glory writes, "What lies beyond the cemetery is the valley of weeping. Even before we leave our loved one's grave we have begun that journey into this valley." All of us will find ourselves in this valley at some time in our lives. But what will divide all in this valley will be those who grieve with hope and those who do not.

The Bible says "rejoice always" and "give thanks in all circumstances." How can one rejoice or give thanks amidst unspeakable sorrow? How in the world can joy and hope mix with pain and suffering? In the beautiful wisdom of God grief and hope can coexist with one another and indeed do.

There really is a "peace that surpasses all understanding" and grace to "rejoice always." God has given His children "not a spirit of fear, but of love, discipline and self-control." They mix because we as Christians can believe by grace that God does "cause all things to work out for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." We must believe that God "will never turn away from doing us good, but will rejoice in doing us good with all of His heart and soul." We must believe that "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess 4.16-17)

When tragedy and grief visit our homes we as Christians have an opportunity to shine forth the beauty of Christ and the power of the gospel. For those who are without God and without hope in this world denial, escapism, and busyness are the ways to cope with pain. The pain feels overwhelming and God seems invisible, non-existent, or the enemy who has now taken something good from us. So in an effort to cope or “get through it” distraction is king. People saturate their minds with entertainment, or fill their stomachs with booze and mind numbing medicine. They know of no other alternative and Christians have an awesome opportunity to point to Christ who offers them rest and peace.

Suffering, pain, grief, and hardship are designed to lead us to someone. It is designed to lead us to Christ. Jesus Christ and what He accomplished in dying with our sins on his back make it possible for us to have hope in the midst of unspeakable pain and sorrow. We can have hope because Christ exhausted the wrath of God on our behalf. We can have hope because Christ bore our sins and purchased forgiveness for those that would trust in Him. We can have hope because Christ has provided a perfect righteousness that is ours in Him. We can have hope because Christ has purchased perfect and final healing. We can have hope because Christ and only Christ has conquered death. We can have hope because Christ has defeated Satan. We can have hope because Christ has died so that those who trust in Him would be brought into the presence of God. Jesus Christ is the most awesome reality that has ever and will ever be. He purchased and accomplished all of these things and He did it through massive suffering. So hear the Savior say to us who suffer and grieve “come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” For “you do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with your weaknesses, but one who was tempted yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near to the throne of grace so that we might find help and grace in our time of need.” We can have hope in the midst of pain, but we can have hope because of and only because of Christ and what He has done. All of our pain, suffering, sin and stupidity will all be overruled for Christ’s glory and our good. And it is this knowledge of redemptions far reach that is meant to fill our hearts and minds with hope that cannot be crushed.

Speechless...

Every time Jenni and I talk about what transpired yesterday particularly the way you showered us with your love and care we have been left speechless. As I read each of your notes in our guest book last night I thanked God with eyes full of tears for you have helped us to see how Christ has been exalted during this time. We are grateful to God for your frienship and were overwhelmed by the countless ways all of you demonstrated your love for our family yesterday! Thank you! IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO COMMUNICATE WHAT IS IN OUR HEARTS FOR ALL OF YOU! WE TRUST THAT YOU KNOW THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR EACH OF YOU. THANK YOU!

Many of you commented on the slideshow and made requests to obtain what I said yesterday. I am currently working on getting the slideshow up, but in the meantime here is the manuscript that I spoke from.

Psalm 23.6 says “surely His mercy and goodness shall pursue me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This verse has been the theme and reason for why we chose to name our treasured infant son Chase. For God’s mercy and kindness have chased our son and he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Chase Miller Smith was born on Monday November 6 at 11.56 AM. He was built just like his older brother Carson; he had a thick chest and broad shoulders, his legs looked like little redwood trees, and he had crazy dancing feet just like little buddy. Our family loved to have family dance parties after dinner and Chase would always pull out some rad dance moves in his momma’s belly – he was a precious gift to us and we miss him so much.

The Psalmist says, “Behold, children are a gift from the Lord.” And, “children’s children are the crown of old men.” The Bible passionately proclaims that children are great gifts from God, for “like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.

I have heard it said that few joys match the joy that children bring to a family. Even fewer things rival the deep sorrow of a family that loses a child. At 27 and 28 years old my wife and I have known both. We have been blessed by the life of Carson and have had our hearts pierced by the death of our treasured infant son, Chase.

God gave us four hours with Chase that we treasure beyond words. We saw him smile, and try to talk, he was able to meet his family and so many that have loved him from the moment they were told of his life. We sought to comfort Chase in every way that we could. We kissed him, sang to him, and told him about Jesus over and over again. But his body began to quickly shut down until Monday afternoon when his symptoms became even more alarming, and then he passed away at 3.45PM. A half-hour before he died his momma began singing to him and soon after his dada jumped right in. We sang about the place where the streets shine with the glory of the lamb. Then we sang the gospel song to him over and over again. And then we ended with It Is Well With My Soul. Chase died in his dada’s arms right after we finished the last line of this song.

Jenni and I prayed countless times for God to glorify Himself by miraculously restoring our son’s body or to spare us from watching our son suffer and die while we embraced him – He did neither. Instead he blessed us with a son destined for glory that has left us with more of God and a deeper understanding of Calvary.

Chase, my dear son. Though you lived for only a few short hours the impact that your life has left on us is greater than what many could not even do in ten lifetimes.

We have seen the glory of Christ and treasure His work on our behalf more now than we ever have before. We have seen the depths of the Father’s love for us in ways that have taken our breath away. I have learned more of how to love your momma like Christ loves the church in these past 9 months than I have in all of the four years that we have been married. Though we are walking through the valley of weeping right now it has been so good for us because we have seen and learned wondrous things from God’s Word. We have heard God speak to us and we treasure His Word more than millions of gold and silver pieces. God has humbled us and taught us to boast in our weaknesses for we have seen that it is here that Christ’s glory is most clearly seen. We have encountered selfless acts of love and servant hood that have so clearly revealed the love of the Father. Through your life and death God has built and established friendships we cherish more now than we ever have before. Lastly, we have been driven to dream deeply about heaven.

We know that “of such is the kingdom of heaven” and though we mourn your departure we know that you are far happier with Jesus than you would be with us. We know that we now have a child among the angels – to whom we will soon go.

I have often wondered what awaited you on the shores of glory land. Maybe one of the loving angels that carried you to heaven has been teaching you the glories of Calvary. Maybe you have been given to your great grandfather and mawmaw, or to your aunt Abbie to keep until we can embrace you again. Maybe Jesus has told you of his design for your life and of your parents that love you and miss you so much. Perhaps you have observed your momma and dada grieving your passing and have wanted to comfort us by saying “come to Jesus dada, cry to Jesus momma, fly to Jesus and live.”

Chase, though we will soon lay you to rest we triumph for we are sure that your little infant voice has begun to sing the praises of our Savior. We are certain that now you are in Christ’s house and under His gentle care. Now we feel as never before the greatness of Christ’s sovereign grace and divine blood that has ransomed our treasured son and by whose stripes you are healed.

We love you my son and though you will not return to us we will go to you.

We love you,

Dada, Momma, and Carson.

All Are Welcome

We will be celebrating Chase's life and the legacy he has left us this Saturday November 11th, 10AM at Covenant Life Church. Jenni and I would be honored by your presence and participation.

For directions go to www.covlife.org

Glory Baby

Chase Miller Smith was born on Monday November 6 at 11.56 AM. He was with us until 3.56 PM and then “he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5.24). He died in the arms of his dada just after his momma and dada finished singing “It Is Well With My Soul” to him.

Chase fought heroically for that four-hour period of time, but that battle was not for him to win or lose, for Christ alone holds the keys of life and death. We count the four hours that God gave us with him as some of the most precious 4 hours that we have had while here on this earth. God was good in giving us every moment we had with Chase and He was and is good in taking him. Chase’s life and death has been and will continue to be one of the most life imparting chapters of our entire lives, for we have seen God through the life and death of this glory baby!

Chase, my son – we miss you so much! Though you died in the arms of your dada we know that now you are safe in the arms of your heavenly Father. You will not return to us, but we will go to you my son and your momma and I cannot wait to see you again!

Birthday Party for Chase

This past Monday night our care group threw a birthday party for baby Chase. We are so undeserving to be surrounded by such an amazing group of friends who love us and our little boy so much. We will be eternally grateful to them for thier care and love for us throughout this whole journey. It was a night of fun with the kiddos, good food, cake, fellowship and gifts to open once we got home. Opening the gifts for Chase was a moment Jon nor I will ever forget. We were so effected by the evident love our dear friends have for us and little Chase.





Here is a small portion of one of the cards written to Chase (and a small window into the sincere love our friends share for our little one):
Baby Chase,
Little Buddy. You are so loved. From the time your mom and dad found out that God put you in your mama's womb, we celebrated you! And now - we celebrate you all the more because your life is, has been, and will be a testimony of God's love and grace in your mom and dad's life...Well, we know, like the verse says, that God created you and by His will, you exisit. So we celebrate your existence and life here on earth. We can not wait to meet you and see you again in the best place - Heaven! You get to go there before we do! Blessed boy! We love you Chase. Thank you for visiting us for a little while. You brought us joy, faith, trust, grace, love from God - for God.