It’s hard to believe that six years have gone by since Haven was born. Although Parker gets most of our attention these days, she is still a very special part of our family. Parker is mesmerized by her photos that flash across the computer screen as our screen saver. It probably won’t be long before he’s saying “Haven.”

To celebrate her birthday, we got six pink carnations in memory of six years.

We also read her scrapbook/life story with Parker. He has a lot of favorite books and I’m sure this will soon be one of them!

We’re posting this picture of Haven’s fifth birthday celebration… a year late. With Parker just a few weeks old at the time, I guess we have a decent excuse!

Having just moved in to a new, stove-less house with a newborn baby, we celebrated like any semi-reasonable family would… microwave chocolate brownie cake! It’s a long cry from our pie and ice cream days in the ICU, but I think she would still be honored. 🙂

Four years ago today, a beautiful, strong baby was born to us. We remember how healthy she looked when she was first born and greeted us with a resounding cry. Haven is in our hearts and minds every day. From the bookcase in our living room full of Haven memorabilia to the pictures on our desks at work, the memories and stories are a constant reminder of the joy she brought to our lives.

Thank you for visiting Haven’s site on the anniversary of her passing. It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by without her and that she still fills all our hearts with so much joy. Thank you for helping to keep her memory alive by sharing your memories and stories with us. Haven is still a part of our lives every day… and I’m sure she still crosses your minds from time to time as well 🙂

As we all cherish our memories of Haven on this special day, enjoy this video of one of Haven’s many story times. Enjoy!

Sorry for the delay!  The site should be fully functional now (mostly).  For those of you who have been awaiting new content, we promise a new video will be available for Haven’s birthday.  We will also be adding information to the new links that you see on the bottom left and right sides of the screen.  Stay tuned…  Thanks again for your patience and your vigilance.  It’s nice to know that people are still looking in on Haven now and again.

We can’t believe it’s been two years since we first saw your precious face… and you are still brightening our lives, strengthening our faith, and bringing smiles to our faces.  We love you and miss you!  Mommy and Daddy

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.   1Thes 4:17-18

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A Tribute

To the girl with whom we shared many songs and many stories,
many smiles, and many tears

Who captured the hearts of everyone she met
and of those who loved her from a distance

To a special baby, a beloved daughter,
and a lily whose bloom was short but ever so sweet

Who taught us to be thankful for every precious day
and mostly, for the glory that is to come

Last year on Mother’s Day, I wrote about how much a sweet baby girl, Haven Leigh Johnson, had changed my life. I wrote of how being a mother to this brave, little fighter had taught me what is really important in life. When this precious life ended abruptly just a few weeks later, this mother suffered a great loss. How, some might ask, can you deal with a life cut short? How does a mother handle the loss of a precious child?

“Therefore we are always confident knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord… We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:6&8

The longing I feel for Haven Leigh is not for her alone. Although I long to hold her in my arms, sing her sweet, little songs, and watch her coo and smile, I long ever-stronger to be where she is. Through God’s grace we have a home in heaven; we are heirs with Christ for eternity. While this is beyond my comprehension, my darling daughter knows this eternal hope of glory that we can only dream of. She understands that the affliction we suffer here on this earth is but for a moment and worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17). Her life is a precious reminder that the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Cor 4:18). What greater hope could we ask for?

And what greater gift on Mother’s Day than to know that the little girl who we cherished and protected is now home in the glory of the Father. There is a hole here in our hearts, but let us all remember that our longing is not just for the precious baby, but for our eternal home in heaven in the presence of our Savior.

” For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. 4:16-18

Praise the Lord that we have a hope greater than death, and praise the Lord that Haven Leigh is now safe in the arms of the Father.

Haven Leigh was born at 12:12am a year ago on December 12, 2006. We continue to miss our precious little daughter but are always thankful that she is at peace with her Heavenly Father and look forward to the day when we will be reunited with her again.

Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers throughout this past year. Our lives were forever blessed by the inspiring life of this amazing little girl, and we know that many of you were touched as well. We remember Haven on this special day and are thankful for every second we were able to spend with our baby. We hope this site will continue to be a blessing and a testimonial to others of God’s grace and love that abounds even through seemingly hard times we may face on this earth. His grace truly is sufficient for all of us.