down to the wire....

Gift #3... WONDERFUL Coupons for a Girls night out at the Cheese Cake Factory and a Coupon for a Babysitter for Sam and I to go out.  I am super excited to redeem these coupons from Rach... LOVE YOU GIRL!

My sister Amy had her 7th child in December.  We had a sprinkle for her and we gave her gifts in sevens.  My Uncle Dale & Aunt Marilyn gave my sister a valentines dinner for 7 couples.  We were one of the lucky couple she invited.  For appetizers we had Shrimp, Meatballs, Cheese & Meet tray and fruit tray.  We had Roasted Beef and Turkey, real mashed potatoes, green beens and applesauce.  For dessert we had yummy (my favorite) Ritz Cracker Fluff, cut out cookies and chocolate covered cherries.  I am sure I am forgetting something.  We had so much YUMMY food!

Milan & Amy

The Doug's eating loading up on appetizers. 

Yummy Cookies..

Mr. Sam & I

We had a wonderful evening out together.  We even took our wedding photo albums and shared our wedding & honeymoon stories.  Thank Aunt Marilyn for all the hard work in the kitchen and to Uncle Dale for serving us and all the other work that was involved.   

Day 2

Gift #2 - Very Fun and Colorful square plates and napkins, chick thank you notes & a GC to Olive Garden.  These plates are screaming SUMMER to me!  So I guess if we don't have the warm weather yet... we can still have some FUN colors!!!  - thanks Crystal

The other day I was talking on the phone and I look in my front yard and there was a deer.  I grabbed my camera just in time to get some pictures of the deer down by my neighbors house.  Here are two different pictures of the deer.  Poor thing didn't know how to cross the road.  It didn't know where to go.  

Today...

It is very hard to update my blog.  The more updates I do on our blog... the farther down the post go about Flint... and I am just not ready for that yet.  But we are taking a day at a time... so here is the run down.

I have at least 14 mystery gifts from friends in a Sunshine box ... I do not even know who they are all from... and I am not allowed to peak.  All the gifts are numbered and I get to open ONE gift each day.  Thanks to Anne & Rachel for putting this together... I am so honored to have friends who are trying to make me smile and heal!  I will try to post the mystery gift each day.

This is gift # 1 - Adorable crate with fun valentine towel, cute cards, yummy chocolate and great smelling body wash!  - from Stacy and Maddie!  LOVE IT!!!

We (Sam) have only had to cook ONE meal since we had our baby three weeks ago today!  We are so honored and humbled by all of the love and support that has been given to us in meals.  Some are from meal groups, some from family and some from friends.  We have enjoyed every BITE and really appreciate the hard work and effort put forth in the meals that we have been given.

Oh... and we can't for get all of the mouth watering desserts.  I wish I would have started taking picture of each meal from the beginning! 

Why is all of this blog worthy...  Because we are surrounded by loved ones and we are SO THANKFUL.  Do we need all of this.. NO.  But we are humbled and so so thankful for each deed of love showed to us.  This has been a very challenging time in our lives and we thank God for everyone who is supporting us.  It give us hope and courage to keep on. 

Kora Lily - 22 & 23 months

Kora Lily is growing faster every day.  She loves helping mommy and daddy with every thing.  We also call her a copy cat.... every thing we say... she repeats.

Kora helping mommy wrap Christmas gifts.  She wrapped her baby at least ten times and used most of my tape :o)

 Kora Lily riding Coopers hot wheels. 

 Kora loves to play hide and seek... or at least the hiding part.  She does not like it when daddy hides.  

 She is a little mother.  She loves to change, feed and carry her babies around the house all day.

She is saying to many words to write them all down.  She loves to count to 2 over and over again.  Her latest talent is singing happy birthday.  I guess with having birthday parties all the time... she is getting the hang of the song.  

January Fun....

January has come and gone so quickly.... so here are the Updates in January - Ryder and Cooper's Birthday Party.  We had a potato head party... with a LOADED POTATO Bar and Chili,

everyone brought toppings for Potatoes and gifts for the boys.

 We are thankful that Jill made it safely to Cambodia and back.  She had a great trip and helped support there economy by bringing us all back beautiful scarfs.... that we all LOVE.

While Jill was gone we enjoyed the kids,  Kora, Willow & Scarlett playing memory.  Each kid was a different playing level... but they had fun.

 Willow and Kora in the toy car.  

Blessings...

Last night we heard about Blessings... and to make sure we are counting them.  We also heard that God does provide no matter what situation we are in.... there is always BLESSINGS....

So here we go..

Blessings...

1- GOD - who loves us, even when we fail 

2 -An amazing HUSBAND - my rock, who has helped me every day to cry, heal and see hope.

3 - My wonderful DAUGHTER - who is on the move and helps mommy to get on the move.

4 - OUR FAMILY - who has bent over back to help us get through this time.

5 - FOOD - (Yes I have to add this)  I deal with stress and anxiety by eating.  I am healing through sushi, chocolate, ice-cream and Mountain Dew in a big glass of ice and all the wonderful meals that have been provided.  Some places in the world have NONE of the above on my food list!  So yes... it is a blessing to have food...(plus if you read #6.. you will see that I will be giving up most of these Food's very soon)  

6- HART TO HEART Weight Contest - Hartzler family weight loss program that starts on MONDAY.  This is a blessing because we care as a family for better Health for us all.  (Even though a big money pot is involved)  ... if you want to join... ask how... this challenge is open for all. 

7 - MOVEMENT - I was only stuck in a hospital bed for 48 hours and I about went crazy!  So this is a blessing that I have strength and health to move.  This helps me to PRAY more for those that have long term illnesses and disabilities that are always in a bed.   

So TODAY!  Even though I do not want to think on positive things and even though I want to cry.  I am going to FOCUS on my blessing.... I hope you can do the same... with what ever situation you are in.  It helps me to see light and hope... it helps me to be thankful , because we are blessed with so much..... and GOD always provides!!!!

Here are some pictures of us at the Hospital & Between delivery and funeral.

Amy, Joanna & Jill calling people for the viewing/funeral.

 Crystal, Amy, Me & Joanna right before delivery of baby Flint.  

(yes I am medicated and they were helping to pass time)

 The waiting room... I think my family took it over...

 Judy, Mom Gardner & Sam before baby Flint.

 Me, Jeanette & Rhonda - both 12 hours nurses that were with me the whole time before and after baby Flint.  They were great and did an amazing job.  We couldn't have asked for better care!!!

 One of the many yummy meals between hospital and funeral.

 Willow, Pa-Pa & Kora

 Tickle contest!!!

 Eating!  I know what we do best... but it was very helpful to be with family between the delivery and funeral.

 Kora loving on baby Grady.

Thanks to all who brought us food between the delivery and the funeral.  We were all able to be together as a family.  Thanks to D & J Ingold and A & B Ingold's who opened up there homes for us to eat and be together.  

Flint Ridge Gardner - Post 4

We are slowly coming out of the daze we are in and starting to function.  Sam went back to work on Monday.  I feel like I am walking in circles, trying to get back into some kind of schedule.  We thought that Kora Lily was not eating and sleeping because of everything that has been going on.  But we found two of her molars are coming in.  We are both learning to take one day at a time.  Time seems like it is in slow mode...  The world around was moving and we were standing still.

When Flint was born we had an organization called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep come in and photograph us with Baby Flint.  http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

Andrew Jordan was the photographer that was called to the hospital for us.  He did an amazing job.    http://www.andrewjordanphotography.com/

We now have some amazing photo's of us with Baby Flint that we will cherish forever.  Thank you Andrew! for coming out late on a Thursday night to photograph our son.  We pray that God will bless you for an amazing service that you do for people like us - 

Flint Ridge Gardner - Post 3

We had a short private viewing and service for Flint Ridge on Monday, January 31st.  We are thankful to know that Baby Flint is safe in the arms of Jesus.  But our hearts are sad and we have foot prints left in our hearts from the cutest little boy ever.  We would have loved for everyone to have come and seen our cute little Flint.  But we are thankful we kept it little and short since I just delivered little Flint 3 1/2 days before the funeral.  
Baby Flint Ridge Gardner - at Viewing

Daddy, Mommy, Kora Lily & Flint Ridge at viewing

At Cemetery 

We are so humbled by everyone prayers, cards, comments, emails and support at this very difficult time in our lives.