New Year, New Blog

View our new family blog at www.thecraverfamily.blogspot.com. You will be able to access this blog from the new one, however, I will post on the new one from today on.

Love, Shannon (and Nathan)

The Arrival of Mr. Wilson

I'm an Auntie again!! First-Logan, now-Wilson. I'm a very lucky "Auntie!"

Wilson Clifton Bruce was born Dec 28 at 10:37 am.

He is 6 lbs, 4 oz and doing very well.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first to see him this morning. I stopped by the hospital and waited in my office til Heather called to tell me I could come visit. I got to see him take his first bottle, get his footprints done and get his bath. Heather, Eric and Wilson were doing well when I left (although, mom and dad were very tired).

Back Home

Although we did not have a tree this year, Hayden had two. There were so many beautiful flowers and gifts for her this year and some dear friends even left a little Christmas card for her. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, we sure did. We had a very busy couple of days in Winston and Rocky Mount with our families. Our camera needs new batteries, so I can't post any photos of our gifts . . . yet.

Baby Catterfeld is Finally Here

I'm an "Auntie" again. My friend Katie had another little boy on Tuesday.

I can't wait to meet Logan Zachary in a few months!!

Our Hayden Grace

For us, Saturday will be like any other, a day where we remember Hayden's life and spirit. For the past year and more to come, she is our sweet, little angel watching over us. We can truly say without any hesitation that we enjoyed every single moment with her. We were blessed with 15 wonderful months with a daughter that will always be of pure heart and spirit. Thank you to everyone who continues to remember and honor her.

The reading from Hayden's Funeral:

You Are God’s Gift to Me

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above
and comes down from the Father of lights.
There is a wonderful array of gifts in the world …
Clocks and dolls, toasters, pearls, watches and bikes,
goldfish and beautiful bouquets of flowers.
But the best gift I can think of is you.
You, whose heart is tender and kind,
Whose smile I cherish more than the costliest work of art.
You are a gift God sent to me, a happy blessing,
an answered prayer. Of this I have no doubt,
Because nothing but God’s amazing grace could account
for the joy of you in my life.
Only the father of lights could send such a treasure as you.
Where could you come from, but the heart of the One who is Love?
If only the words existed that would express all you mean to me,
But no such words have been invented.
You add joy to my life, and color to my world,
And sometimes just the thought of you makes me so happy I could cry.
Yours is the face I can’t wait to see.
Yours is the laugh I love to hear.
When the world feels cold, thoughts of you make it warmer.
And when a day feels dark, the sight of you makes it brighter.
The one who sent starlight and fireflies sent you as well.
Planets! Butterflies! The moon shining high in the sky! You!
All sent from God and wrapped up in His love.
I happen to think, you were one of God’s best ideas.
You lift me up when I’m feeling down,
And make me laugh when I’m feeling blue;
When I’m with you, I wish I could keep the sun from setting
so the day would never end.
Not a day goes by, not a single one that I don’t give God thanks
For you dear heart, Your sweet face,
The sound of your voice, and your knock on my door.
I thank him for the good gift, the perfect gift, sent from up above,
I thank him for the gift of you!

Sara Strong

Sara is the daughter of one of my best friends-Julie. Sara was born with a heart defect and had heart surgery last month. Please put Sara on your prayer list, bcs she is back on the vent and has an infection. She has been such a strong fighter the last few weeks and was even moved out of the PICU. She has hit a small bump in her recovery this week and needs lots of positive vibes and prayer to contine being a strong fighter.

And the Stockings were Hung . . .

I'm feeling much better this week, so I was able to decorate the mantle. The tree still isn't up,

we may get to it eventually.