no more sudoku

by Matt MooneyMarch 30, 2009

Last night around 10pm, Matt, Hazel & I pulled into our driveway from a very long weekend & a very long week. We had the absolute HONOR & JOY of spending the weekend with the amazing folks at Spring Creek Church in Milwaukee, WI. We shared about Eliot & about what our lives of missing him are like now. We were blessed beyond words by the folks there…we pray & hope they saw more of God’s face through what He’s done in us.

It’s been a while since I’ve flown anywhere. In the past, I have equated airports & airplanes with a good book, some quiet down time, great people watching & if I’m lucky, an empty sudoku puzzle in the airline’s magazine. I learned very quickly that traveling with Hazel means no more sudoku.:)

Hazel is now 5 1/2 months & we flew with her for the first time. In the hotel, we swam with her for the first time. Through everything, she did great. She was exhausted pretty much the whole time, but did wonderful. We are proud parents. Here are a few pics of our weekend adventures!

As you can tell by the last picture, we come home a bit tired. But life goes on & we actually move from our house today. This is the house where Eliot lived. It has been very emotional for me (Ginny). Part of me wants to stay in this house forever because it was the last place I held him & within these walls the Spirit of God moved & loved & worked in inexplicable ways. I keep having to remind myself that I get to bring each memory of Eliot with me. If you are the praying type…pray for our hearts during this move.

65 Comments

  1. Heather on March 30, 2009 at 7:54 am

    So glad that your trip went well, and that you had fun.

    We will be praying for you. I can’t imagine how hard it is to leave.

    God Bless you
    Heather



  2. ViolinMama on March 30, 2009 at 8:21 am

    We will be praying….we can’t imagine…I pray the move goes smoothly emotionally and physically.

    Love all the pictures and I know you helped God bless others. How wonderful!! Your family is radiant! Stay proud and excited – every day is fresh and new!



  3. Laurie in Ca. on March 30, 2009 at 8:28 am

    I will be praying for your hearts during this move. And you are right, all of the memories of Eliot go with you wherever you go because he is in your hearts forever. Love the pictures and Hazel is getting so big. Hope your move is smooth.

    Love and Hugs, Laurie



  4. Jen on March 30, 2009 at 8:29 am

    I will pray…your Hazel is a sweet as can be! Traveling with infants is a totally different world isnt it! Thank you for sharing…



  5. Chelsea Pang on March 30, 2009 at 8:34 am

    Praying for you to make a new home and for peace as you experience the ‘loss’ of your old home with all the memories of Eliot. You little Hazel is such a doll. Blessings abound!



  6. Julie on March 30, 2009 at 8:38 am

    So glad you had a good trip. Loved the pictures…especially the last one! So precious!

    Praying for you as you leave your house today…the place where Eliot was with you. Like you said – you know every memory will go with you forever – but it’s still hard. My story is a little different, but I can relate. After we lost the twins at 5 months pregnant in January of 2004, moving was the farthest thing from my mind. My husband is a school teacher and thought his summer would be filled with taking care of two little babies. After we lost them, he knew he had to get out of that house. So, we made the decision to move on. It wasn’t what I wanted at the time, but I knew for his broken heart we needed to make the move. Even though I had not had the babies home with me, that was where we planned to bring them home, where we had started their nursery, where the memories of being pregnant with them were, and coming home without them, and those first weeks/months of grief and healing took place.

    My heart is reaching out to you today…and praying.



  7. Beth G. on March 30, 2009 at 9:37 am

    I know that has to be so hard leaving your home. But like you said, your sweet memories will never go away no matter where you live and you are going to create wonderful new memories in your new home! Praying for yall during this transition!



  8. Chris, Kristin, and Emily on March 30, 2009 at 9:50 am

    i can’t even imagine to think how hard it is to leave the house where eliot came home too. i pray that the move will go as smoothly as possible both emotionally and physically. i know eliot follows and is with you where ever you go…



  9. etrhodes on March 30, 2009 at 10:37 am

    I know that when you move you feel like you are leaving all of your memories behind as well. Though your mind says that you are taking them all with you. Sometimes it feels like it takes forever for the heart to catch up with the mind. I continually feel like I am playing catch up at any rate! Praying that God provides joy in your move and that He helps you to feel “at home” right away.



  10. Beck on March 30, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    Oh! Praying for you guys today, Gin. I know it will be achingly hard to close the door to your sweet house with all the memories & history.



  11. kaw on March 30, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    I honestly can’t imagine how you feel, but I can pray and will! I really don’t know what to say other than that.

    Kim Watkins



  12. Christinelp on March 30, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    God’s blessings during the move!
    Thank you so much for making the journey to Spring Creek. I felt so blessed to hear your story first hand. My daughter was in the nursery with Hazel. She is precious. Thanks again for sharing your journey! I was very moved.

    Christine Hight
    Brookfield, WI



  13. Terra on March 30, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    Your trip to WI was such a blessing to so many. It’s obvious God is using Eliot’s story to encourage hurting hearts and to draw people to Him. Thank you for being obedient to what God has called to you! Your transparency in sharing your grief was so refreshing. Thank you for your honesty and humility – God is doing great things through you! I felt honored to have a brief moment to meet you, and could have talked for hours if we’d had the time! However, I thank you so much, Ginny, for taking the time to talk to my new friend and neighbor (Sara-Rae) and minister to her hurting heart. It was an opportunity I prayed specifically for and God allowed it. She was so touched by your words… as were we all!

    We will most certainly be praying for your hearts as you transition to a new home! May you feel God’s hand upon you as you move your belongings and memories to your new home… with the stump!

    Thank you for coming and sharing your lives, your hearts, your grief and your son with all of us!

    Terra Root
    Brookfield, WI



  14. thelyttlesinpa on March 31, 2009 at 6:02 am

    Ginny and Matt,

    I’ve been praying for you, and especially as you move. I just went through the same thing 2 months ago. God’s grace is sufficient!



  15. Anonymous on March 31, 2009 at 8:35 am

    I am praying for you and I know it is very hard to leave the house where Eliot lived.

    Remember, it is not the nails, wood, and paint that hold your memories of Eliot and God’s tender mercies…it is your mind, your heart, and your soul, and those will always go with you.



  16. The Davidson Den on March 31, 2009 at 10:04 am

    I can’t remember if I’ve ever commented on your site or not, but I wanted to let you know that I’ve been keeping up with you guys since November. I even blogged about you!
    http://davidsonden.blogspot.com/2008/10/sin-of-selfishness.html
    My friend Jenny (Dean) Lay told me about you. I believe you guys are friends with one of her sisters. Anyway, I appreciate your heartfelt honesty here. And I will say a prayer for your comfort as you leave your first “family” home. Lori



  17. Monique on March 31, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    we will be praying for you…we love you both!



  18. Jen in Al on April 1, 2009 at 5:35 am

    Such a blessing seeing pictures of your sweet family! Hazel is just too precious! Praying for you as you move… blessings, jen in al



  19. Chrissy on April 2, 2009 at 3:16 am

    Praying for your move. Hazel is absolutely adorable. I love her hair! And that bathing suit too!!!



  20. MiniMe Mom on April 2, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    That last picture is so sweet. Her little lips are so cute.



  21. Laura on April 4, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    There really are no words to even express the joy and heartache your hearts must endure. I pray for GOD’s peace and may be comfort you as only he can.

    In Christ,
    Laura( from FL)



  22. Elle2702 on April 8, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    I don’t know. We are moving soon as well. We are leaving our first home, the one we agaonized over buying. The one where I tested and retested over pregnancies. The same house where I lost a pregnancy, and where I came home to sulk and cry on the couch when I had been released from the hospital with the second loss. Where I finally brough home two very small but healthy children. Where everything happened. We recently drywalled our downstairs and we wrote a note and enclosed a family picture. Hopefully for the next owners and to serve as a time capsule, to show we were here and it was good. We have cried our eyes out. We are moving for a good reason, we are moving to a better school district to help my autistic son. Good luck, cry and realize, it meant something and it was good.



  23. Randi on April 13, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    Praying. Think of you guys, Hazel and of course Eliot all time.
    Love,
    Randi



  24. anuradha on April 15, 2009 at 9:31 am

    Play sudoku online Click Here



  25. Nate St. Pierre on April 21, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Hey guys, thank you so much for coming to Milwaukee to share your time and your story with us. It meant so much to me, and I really appreciate it.

    I’m starting a new site with a focus on people making a positive impact in the lives of others, and yours was the first story I featured after the intro.

    You’ll find your article here:
    http://www.itstartswith.us/blog/

    I included links to your blog and Twitter accounts at the bottom of my article, which I thought would be okay since you have them prominently listed on your sites. If you would like them removed for privacy reasons, however, I’d be more than happy to do so.

    Thanks again,

    Nate



  26. Yvonne on April 22, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Hazel is so cute! She just has that look, the look like she’s huggable. Adorable.



Last night around 10pm, Matt, Hazel & I pulled into our driveway from a very long weekend & a very long week. We had the absolute HONOR & JOY of spending the weekend with the amazing folks at Spring Creek Church in Milwaukee, WI. We shared about Eliot & about what our lives of missing him are like now. We were blessed beyond words by the folks there…we pray & hope they saw more of God’s face through what He’s done in us.

It’s been a while since I’ve flown anywhere. In the past, I have equated airports & airplanes with a good book, some quiet down time, great people watching & if I’m lucky, an empty sudoku puzzle in the airline’s magazine. I learned very quickly that traveling with Hazel means no more sudoku.:)

Hazel is now 5 1/2 months & we flew with her for the first time. In the hotel, we swam with her for the first time. Through everything, she did great. She was exhausted pretty much the whole time, but did wonderful. We are proud parents. Here are a few pics of our weekend adventures!

As you can tell by the last picture, we come home a bit tired. But life goes on & we actually move from our house today. This is the house where Eliot lived. It has been very emotional for me (Ginny). Part of me wants to stay in this house forever because it was the last place I held him & within these walls the Spirit of God moved & loved & worked in inexplicable ways. I keep having to remind myself that I get to bring each memory of Eliot with me. If you are the praying type…pray for our hearts during this move.

65 Comments

  1. Heather on March 30, 2009 at 7:54 am

    So glad that your trip went well, and that you had fun.

    We will be praying for you. I can’t imagine how hard it is to leave.

    God Bless you
    Heather



  2. ViolinMama on March 30, 2009 at 8:21 am

    We will be praying….we can’t imagine…I pray the move goes smoothly emotionally and physically.

    Love all the pictures and I know you helped God bless others. How wonderful!! Your family is radiant! Stay proud and excited – every day is fresh and new!



  3. Laurie in Ca. on March 30, 2009 at 8:28 am

    I will be praying for your hearts during this move. And you are right, all of the memories of Eliot go with you wherever you go because he is in your hearts forever. Love the pictures and Hazel is getting so big. Hope your move is smooth.

    Love and Hugs, Laurie



  4. Jen on March 30, 2009 at 8:29 am

    I will pray…your Hazel is a sweet as can be! Traveling with infants is a totally different world isnt it! Thank you for sharing…



  5. Chelsea Pang on March 30, 2009 at 8:34 am

    Praying for you to make a new home and for peace as you experience the ‘loss’ of your old home with all the memories of Eliot. You little Hazel is such a doll. Blessings abound!



  6. Julie on March 30, 2009 at 8:38 am

    So glad you had a good trip. Loved the pictures…especially the last one! So precious!

    Praying for you as you leave your house today…the place where Eliot was with you. Like you said – you know every memory will go with you forever – but it’s still hard. My story is a little different, but I can relate. After we lost the twins at 5 months pregnant in January of 2004, moving was the farthest thing from my mind. My husband is a school teacher and thought his summer would be filled with taking care of two little babies. After we lost them, he knew he had to get out of that house. So, we made the decision to move on. It wasn’t what I wanted at the time, but I knew for his broken heart we needed to make the move. Even though I had not had the babies home with me, that was where we planned to bring them home, where we had started their nursery, where the memories of being pregnant with them were, and coming home without them, and those first weeks/months of grief and healing took place.

    My heart is reaching out to you today…and praying.



  7. Beth G. on March 30, 2009 at 9:37 am

    I know that has to be so hard leaving your home. But like you said, your sweet memories will never go away no matter where you live and you are going to create wonderful new memories in your new home! Praying for yall during this transition!



  8. Chris, Kristin, and Emily on March 30, 2009 at 9:50 am

    i can’t even imagine to think how hard it is to leave the house where eliot came home too. i pray that the move will go as smoothly as possible both emotionally and physically. i know eliot follows and is with you where ever you go…



  9. etrhodes on March 30, 2009 at 10:37 am

    I know that when you move you feel like you are leaving all of your memories behind as well. Though your mind says that you are taking them all with you. Sometimes it feels like it takes forever for the heart to catch up with the mind. I continually feel like I am playing catch up at any rate! Praying that God provides joy in your move and that He helps you to feel “at home” right away.



  10. Beck on March 30, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    Oh! Praying for you guys today, Gin. I know it will be achingly hard to close the door to your sweet house with all the memories & history.



  11. kaw on March 30, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    I honestly can’t imagine how you feel, but I can pray and will! I really don’t know what to say other than that.

    Kim Watkins



  12. Christinelp on March 30, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    God’s blessings during the move!
    Thank you so much for making the journey to Spring Creek. I felt so blessed to hear your story first hand. My daughter was in the nursery with Hazel. She is precious. Thanks again for sharing your journey! I was very moved.

    Christine Hight
    Brookfield, WI



  13. Terra on March 30, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    Your trip to WI was such a blessing to so many. It’s obvious God is using Eliot’s story to encourage hurting hearts and to draw people to Him. Thank you for being obedient to what God has called to you! Your transparency in sharing your grief was so refreshing. Thank you for your honesty and humility – God is doing great things through you! I felt honored to have a brief moment to meet you, and could have talked for hours if we’d had the time! However, I thank you so much, Ginny, for taking the time to talk to my new friend and neighbor (Sara-Rae) and minister to her hurting heart. It was an opportunity I prayed specifically for and God allowed it. She was so touched by your words… as were we all!

    We will most certainly be praying for your hearts as you transition to a new home! May you feel God’s hand upon you as you move your belongings and memories to your new home… with the stump!

    Thank you for coming and sharing your lives, your hearts, your grief and your son with all of us!

    Terra Root
    Brookfield, WI



  14. thelyttlesinpa on March 31, 2009 at 6:02 am

    Ginny and Matt,

    I’ve been praying for you, and especially as you move. I just went through the same thing 2 months ago. God’s grace is sufficient!



  15. Anonymous on March 31, 2009 at 8:35 am

    I am praying for you and I know it is very hard to leave the house where Eliot lived.

    Remember, it is not the nails, wood, and paint that hold your memories of Eliot and God’s tender mercies…it is your mind, your heart, and your soul, and those will always go with you.



  16. The Davidson Den on March 31, 2009 at 10:04 am

    I can’t remember if I’ve ever commented on your site or not, but I wanted to let you know that I’ve been keeping up with you guys since November. I even blogged about you!
    http://davidsonden.blogspot.com/2008/10/sin-of-selfishness.html
    My friend Jenny (Dean) Lay told me about you. I believe you guys are friends with one of her sisters. Anyway, I appreciate your heartfelt honesty here. And I will say a prayer for your comfort as you leave your first “family” home. Lori



  17. Monique on March 31, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    we will be praying for you…we love you both!



  18. Jen in Al on April 1, 2009 at 5:35 am

    Such a blessing seeing pictures of your sweet family! Hazel is just too precious! Praying for you as you move… blessings, jen in al



  19. Chrissy on April 2, 2009 at 3:16 am

    Praying for your move. Hazel is absolutely adorable. I love her hair! And that bathing suit too!!!



  20. MiniMe Mom on April 2, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    That last picture is so sweet. Her little lips are so cute.



  21. Laura on April 4, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    There really are no words to even express the joy and heartache your hearts must endure. I pray for GOD’s peace and may be comfort you as only he can.

    In Christ,
    Laura( from FL)



  22. Elle2702 on April 8, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    I don’t know. We are moving soon as well. We are leaving our first home, the one we agaonized over buying. The one where I tested and retested over pregnancies. The same house where I lost a pregnancy, and where I came home to sulk and cry on the couch when I had been released from the hospital with the second loss. Where I finally brough home two very small but healthy children. Where everything happened. We recently drywalled our downstairs and we wrote a note and enclosed a family picture. Hopefully for the next owners and to serve as a time capsule, to show we were here and it was good. We have cried our eyes out. We are moving for a good reason, we are moving to a better school district to help my autistic son. Good luck, cry and realize, it meant something and it was good.



  23. Randi on April 13, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    Praying. Think of you guys, Hazel and of course Eliot all time.
    Love,
    Randi



  24. anuradha on April 15, 2009 at 9:31 am

    Play sudoku online Click Here



  25. Nate St. Pierre on April 21, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Hey guys, thank you so much for coming to Milwaukee to share your time and your story with us. It meant so much to me, and I really appreciate it.

    I’m starting a new site with a focus on people making a positive impact in the lives of others, and yours was the first story I featured after the intro.

    You’ll find your article here:
    http://www.itstartswith.us/blog/

    I included links to your blog and Twitter accounts at the bottom of my article, which I thought would be okay since you have them prominently listed on your sites. If you would like them removed for privacy reasons, however, I’d be more than happy to do so.

    Thanks again,

    Nate



  26. Yvonne on April 22, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Hazel is so cute! She just has that look, the look like she’s huggable. Adorable.