A Special Request

Earlier this week, I was emailing with my dear friend, Jinny.  We quite often chat about things outside of our blogs and she mentioned that she was praying for her dear friend, Matt, who at the age of 35 had suffered a stroke.  I prayed with Jinny for his healing.  On Wednesday, Jinny let me know that Matt had passed away.  So, I have a special request for each of you.  


In Jinny's words, here is Matt's story and my heart felt request that if you have a minute, please take time to send Matt's girls:  his wife, Molly and daughter, Harper, a card to the address listed below.  I know it would bless them beyond words.  


Here is Matt's story in Jinny's words:
So, first, I must apologize, to you all, for never having gotten around to updating you on my Call to Pray post back in November of 2009.  Many of you have emailed me personally to ask, and those requests did not go unanswered.  But my heart ached too much, for this precious family, to try to put what was happening into words here on my blog; and their blog, For the Love of Waverly, at the time, became readable by personal request or invitation only.  To make a long story short, Matt and Molly were court mandated to give their daughter, Waverly, to her birth father in January of last year.  For over two years, they were the only family Waverly had known.  It has been a long, difficult journey for them and their other daughter, Harper, and that journey has just gotten much more difficult.

Matt suffered a stroke, on Sunday, while he was running with friends.  Despite exhaustive efforts by his doctors, he went to be with Jesus, early Wednesday morning, at the young age of 35.  That brings me to the reason for this post.  These beautiful ladies have been through so much.

The next season of their lives will prove itself difficult and heart-wrenching.  I would like to ask you all to help me ease that pain by sending them handmade card creations and penned notes of encouragement and love.  Papercrafters have HUGE hearts, which was personally proven to me, just yesterday, as I was sharing this story with my good friend, Lynn.  One of the first things she asked was for Molly's address to send her a card.  This whole endeavor had already been brewing in my heart, but that conversation with Lynn and another that I had with my Mom set the whole thing in motion.  Plus, I know that many of you find solace, just like myself, in your creative spaces.  So, get creating or digging through your stashes, y'all!  Let's bless these girls in a profound way!

I have set up a temporary P.O. Box to receive cards for both Molly and/or Harper.  I would really LOVE to have a big box to share with them at the end of next week but will continue to receive cards for them, as long as you keep them coming,  throughout the next couple of months, at the address below.  I absolutely do not want to leave out any of you talented, international designers.

Molly Nagel 
c/o Jinny Newlin
P.O. Box 2287
Mission, KS 66201

If you would like to make a donation to this family, you may do so by going to their blog link above; and if you would like to know about how this family has coped with this tragedy, you can read more on their CaringBridge site.  Last, but certainly not least, please bring this family to the throne of our Heavenly Father in prayer.  Pray for...

• strength for Molly to remain Harper's rock even while she is deeply hurting.
• a sweet sense of understanding, comfort, and security to overwhelm Harper.
• a peaceful knowing, for Molly, that she is not, and will not be, alone.
• financial burdens to be lifted.
• a bright and happy future, filled with love.
• the other friends and family members that were so blessed to have known and loved Matt.

Thank you in advance for your contributions to this cause and for being the hands and feet of Jesus to this precious, little family!  Please let me know if you have any questions.