May 23, 2014

Today's Mail

On May 13, 2013 Austin mailed an envelope.
It contained documentation for a scholarship he was applying for.
He won the scholarship.  However, he never received it.
The Lord called him Home to Heaven six days prior to it being awarded.

Everything happened so suddenly in those days.

It was all such a blur.  We could barely keep up.

We were told that Austin's application would be brought to his

memorial service along with his graduation cap and school certificate.
It was a kind gesture of loving care on the part of our school.
It's a lovely community for which we are very grateful.

The cap and certificate made it.

Unfortunately, the envelope went missing.


It took nearly a year for that precious package to resurface.

When it was discovered, it was mailed to us.  It arrived this morning.
Austin's envelope was the only item in today's mail.

It came enclosed in a plain brown envelope addressed with unfamiliar writing. 

But, when I opened it up, the original envelope was tucked inside. 
Our Austin's printing was on it.  Seeing that took my breath away.


When I discovered what I was holding, the tears flowed.  Abundantly.

Here was a piece of our boy from the days just prior to his passing into eternity.
I held in my hands a little part of his last days on earth.  Part of him.
We had no idea how special those days were.  How special they would become.

And, we are once again reminded of what is important.

What really matters.  Where he is, and where we are going.
How precious it is to cling to those truths.  Truly precious.

It's the only way forward ~ without a doubt.

Absolutely the only way.

Many Blessings,
Camille

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy that you were able to have a little reminder of that precious son of yours. ;) Precious truths....so true!!! Praying for you friend! I often think of you as we near the 1st birthday of our Joshua that you are drawing near to the one year mark of your precious, precious son leaving this world for a much better place. I am sure your heart is that much more anxious for heaven knowing that he awaits you there. I find that I can't leave a comment saying exactly what I want to say they just never seem quite right but I hope that you know WE PRAY for you and your family often! I find sometimes when my baby wakes up in the night for a late night nurse it is a good time to pray. My house is quiet and my mind wanders. So glad when precious friends are brought to mind.

Bevy @ Treasured Up and Pondered said...

Oh my goodness... this made me tear up. I can completely understand this...this feeling.

love to you, this night!

Rest in our Saviour's love and care for you - because, HE does!!

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

My heart would miss a beat and tears would fall for sure. What special memories of what might have been. It's amazing how postal systems work, when things end up. Aw, hugs to you sweet friend. God loves you so.

Pam said...

Oh wow, this gets me so choked up; I can imagine how you must be feeling such a mixture of emotions.
What a bitter sweet journey Camille… keeping you in my prayers.
Blessings,
Pam

Schwarzen Family Missions/To Sow a Seed said...

I can't imagine the joy and the heartbreak of that moment. ((Hugs))

Camille said...

Dear Nikki ~ Your words are precious. Your prayers are such a blessing. Thank you for saying just the right things. Hugs! :)

Dear Bevy ~ How precious it is to belong to our wonderful Saviour! I am so glad you are part of His family, too. Hugs to you. :)

Dear Becky ~ Thank you for your kind words from one mama to another...I appreciate you. We are so thankful that this envelope made its way back to us. Hugs my friend. :)

Dear Pam ~ I so appreciate your prayers my friend. Thank you for your sweet encouragement. Hugs to you. :)

Dear Heather ~ That's the perfect way to describe it...joy and heartbreak. Yes, it's quite the mixture of emotions. Thank you for the hugs...hugs to you, too. :)

Many Blessings,
Camille

Oregon-Mama said...

Sweet Camille,

I don't know if you read the Femina blog (it's written by women associated with a large reformed church in Moscow, Idaho), but they posted this quote by Spurgeon tonight and it brought tears to my eyes. And when I read this post from you about your son passing into eternity, it brought tears to my eyes again:

"“I’m standing on the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She’s an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other. And then I hear someone at my side saying, ‘There, she’s gone.’

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says, ‘There, she’s gone,’ there are other eyes watching her coming, and there are other voices ready to take up the glad shout, ‘Here she comes!’

And that is dying.”

Unknown said...

Oh my precious friend! I've been away from here for too long. My heart is breaking for you. Wish I could grab you, hold you, pray with you, have coffee with you. Some day... maybe God will grant that wish! Until then please know that I am praying for you.

Heavenly Father thank you for this gift of Austin's handwriting. The return of an envelope and its contents to Camille and her family. You know us so well. You know how special something like this is. And that amazes me! Lord, thank you for caring for us so intimately. Thank you for pouring out your love and compassion over this family. Thank you for giving them strength when they felt they could not go another day. Thank you for the peace that pours forth from you into their very souls. God you are good! Thank you for the testimony you have placed in Camille's heart for this spot, this time, on her blog. It is powerful! We love you!

Amen.

(Love you so much!)

Camille said...

Dear Oregon-Mama ~ I had not read this quote from Spurgeon until you shared it here...thank you! SO beautiful!! Doesn't he just have a way with words? I appreciate your sweet friendship here in this place. Hugs to you. :)

Dear Jenny ~ You must not feel badly about the time between visits...it is completely understood!! You are such a sweet encouragement to my heart. Thank you for praying such a beautiful prayer for us here and for remembering us quietly in the midst of life there. Love you! :)

With Love,
Camille

Sandy said...

Dear Camille,
Tears filled my eyes when I read your post. Indeed, how precious the moments. Remember you all in my prayers.
In Christ's Love,
Sandy

Dianna said...

Oh Camille, my sweet friend. I shed tears as I read, but they weren't tears of sadness, but rather tears of gratefulness that God gave you one more precious thing that you could hold from Austin...a part of him. What a tender time...a bit more healing of the heart and spirit. Many hugs and love to you, Camille dear.

1HappyWife said...

Emotions overwhelm and words fail! The Lord is so good, you can tell by your writing that He is holding you up. You have been on my heart so much lately as the 1st comes closer. Your entire blog is a testimony to God's love and grace in your life. It is a blessing to read, even if I come away from the computer with tears flowing. Hugs and prayers to you, dear Camille!
~Joleena

Camille said...

Dear Sandy ~ Thank you SO much for praying! So thankful for you. Hugs, my friend. :)

Dear Dianna ~ Yes, the healing continues and God is good. So very, very good! Hugs to you! :)

Dear Joleena ~ Aww...you bless my heart! Yes, the Lord sustains...He truly is so precious. Thank you for your kind words and for your prayers. Hugs! :)

With love,
Camille

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Oh, how preciously painful that must have been to receive that in the mail. When I read your posts about Austin, it really helps me put things in perspective with this season of my life of raising a challenging son. It helps me to be grateful and love him all the more. This is a season, and I know I will miss it when it is gone. Thanks for the reminder, friend!

Camille said...

Dear Jackie ~ Yes, indeed...these seasons do give way to others. Enjoy these days...they are precious. Hugs to you! With Love, Camille

Cinnamon said...

Sweet Mama~ My heart stopped for a moment when you opened your mail. I was taken back to my own brothers death. Shortly after, my mother sent me a package, a framed message (not really from my brother, but from my Mom, as if my brother would have offered these words of comfort to us) and when I opened it up and read it I burst into tears. He was really gone :-(

I am so glad you have Austin's writing, a piece of himself, left for you to cherish and remember.

{hugs} ~Cinnamon

Camille said...

Dear Cinnamon ~ What a precious thing for your Mom to do! How lovely to read your words...from one who knows. Hugs to you across the miles my sweet friend. Love, Camille