She didn’t stay long – less than an hour – but like a flower pressed between the pages of a book, that hour will be a dainty, beautiful, bright spot preserved in our hearts and memories forever.
Clara Ann Payne
Infant daughter of Abe and Grace Payne
Weighed 2 pounds and 15 ounces and 15 ½ inches long
Born 7:01 p.m. on August 5, 2010
Died 7:51 p.m. on August 5, 2010
Services on Wednesday at 6:00
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Nelson Road Chapel
36 comments:
Oh, Jane. My whole heart hurts. I am so sorry. I will be praying for comfort for your entire family. What a beautiful name.
I am so very sorry Jane and Payne family. Many prayers of comfort for you all, and most especially for Grace. Grace, I am only a virtual stranger, but I am praying for you as only one mother can pray for another. Praying you will be wrapped in His love and peace.
Your family has been on my mind and heart this whole weekend. Grace and Abe are so blessed to have such wonderful support. It could not be easy.
D&C 50:41-42... Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.
Theses are the times when the only comfort that comes is through the gospel. I love you and I am so excited to meet precious Clara one day.
This was a lovely post. We come back home tonight. What can we do to help? we love you all.
Oh, Jane. I feel as Lucy does, my whole heart just aches for each of you. You are so full of love in this photo, what a strength you are. Each of you are in my prayers. Love you so much, can't wait to give you a hug.
May God bless each of you with strength and comfort. I love you Jane. Let me know if I can do anything for you. My prayers are with you and your family. What a priceless picture. I know you will treasure it.
I am at a loss for the words that convey what my heart and soul are feeling. I am sorry that you, Grace, Abe and the rest of your family will be denied the presence of this little girl here on earth. But I am overjoyed with the promises of our Father in Heaven who will one day give her back. You had a choice daughter of God with you for only an hour to hold and to eternally love. I am sorry my words are not telling you what I am feeling...but I want you to know that I love you and your family. I know our Father will give you comfort, peace and one day Clara Ann will be held in your arms again.
Oh my goodness, I don't know what to say other than I'm so, so glad you guys have the gospel and that sweet Grace is surrounded by the strength of you all.
Much love and prayers for all of the family.
Love,
Susan
such a beautiful post. words cannot alwas express what we are feeling, but those of us peeking in can surely feel the love and strength surrounding your family.
Thinking of you and praying continually for all of your family.
Oh, Jane. I am heartbroken for your family. I hope you all, and especially Abe & Grace are able to feel comfort and peace. What a tender picture. It's obvious how much Clara is loved. You will all be in my prayers.
I have felt this pain and peace many times in my life. The comforter came to me in the temple, in the quiet of my closet and in the deepest part of my heart. What a precious spirit who has come and is now part of your eternal family. There will be a reunion one day...I KNOW this. Sending a hug and love...Sharon
My heart and prayers go out to you and your family. Such a sweet post.
Thinking of you all and praying for Abe and Grace. We are so very sorry for your loss, but so happy that you were given the chance to spend some time with your sweet little grandaughter. Love you all.
Jane, we will add your family to our prayers. My heart aches for Grace especially but also for Abe and you and Calvin and everyone else touched by Clara's short, sweet life.
That picture is lovely and precious. I'm glad you got to hold Clara...
What a beautiful photo!
I was talking to Jessie a couple of days ago about Grace and Clara. She told me that she hoped Clara would take even one breath. That Grace would be able to see her baby with her eyes open. That she would be able to be sealed to her parents. Even after all I witnessed Jessie and Timm go through with Lola, I hadn't realized that having the baby live, even for a short while, would make such a difference.
So even though Clara's death is a horrible thing to have happen, I am feeling grateful that she got to live, and that you all were able to hold her. Love to you all.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I talked with my mom last night and she told me. I can't get your family out of my mind. My sister Lori lost her baby girl at birth four years ago. I can only imagine the pain. I am thinking of you all. I am praying for you all. I am so very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I'm so sorry for your loss. What a heartbreaking moment for all of you when Clara Ann moved from here to eternity. What a joy when you see her again and how comforting to know that you shall be able to be with her forever. Your family will be in our prayers. Elder Wirthlin told us that "The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss....every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude." I pray that today's tears will be returned to you soon in such a way.
Jane, I am so sorry for your loss. My thought and prayers are with you and your family, and especially Grace and Abe. I am lucky to assist and watch these sweet infants be born into life almost everyday and it is an beautiful and amazing thing. But on those days when a sweet infant is taken home to their Heavenly Father it is unbelievably heartbreaking and spiritual thing. I am so happy that Grace could hold Clara for even a brief moment and that Clara could feel her love and the love of her family. May our Heavenly Father bless and comfort you all. Grace and Abe are in my thoughts and in my prayers.
Christi Harris
Your beautiful grand-daughter will always be yours. Grace will always have her baby girl. Abe will hold his child in his arms. This is a sure knowledge.
But still, it aches and it hurts to be separated for this life. I will be praying for you and for Grace, and send you both my love.
That picture is so tender. My thoughts and prayers will be with you all on Wednesday.
Dear Jane,
Mere words can hardly express how sorry I am. I know your pain is overwhelming right now. May "the peace that passeth all understanding" be yours. My prayers are with you.
Didn't click all the buttons apparently. The anonymous comment is mine. Sorry about that.
So glad her life was spent in loving arms!
Hello Mama,
Just wanted you to know that your words captured it perfectly again.
I love you,
Cali
What a lucky little girl to have spent her time in such a loving atmosphere. I'm thinking she'll be holding onto that memory of smells and touch, as well, until the resurrection morning. Then those tiny little arms will hold you tightly once more. I love you.
I agree with Cali. You wrote a perfect post. And that picture speaks a thousand words. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Beautiful post. Our prayers and love are with you and your family.
Jane, your family is in our thoughts and prayers. What a beautiful picture.
It's a beautiful photo - the tenderness in your face speaks 1000 words.
Beautiful words.
Beautiful family.
Beautiful Baby Girl.
Praying for everyone.
Jane, and Grace,
We are so sorry that you have this happen. Through this experience with Austin I have looked at him hooked-up and thought of you, and your positive attitudes and how I need to be grateful for every second I have with him. Thank you for your example, my heart broke when I read this post, I pray that you will have comfort and help from our Savior.
Much love,
Cortney
I'm so sorry to hear this. I will let Casey know. So sorry.
Oh my goodness! I had no idea since I haven't been on the cpt much lately due to farming. My heart goes out to your family! I have followed a blog call Bring the Rain for a couple of years and the author wrote a book called "I Will Carry You...The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy" by Angie Smith. She too had a little girl that only lived a few short hours and she has expressed all her feelings into this book and onto her blog http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/. I encourage Grace to read her book. It is an amazing testimony of Angie's faith as well. Your family is my prayers! HUGS!
What a privilege to read the story of Clara and feel the depth of the sweet testimonies you all shared. How very precious those 51 minutes you spent with her must have been! (We had a little granddaugter who just lived 18 hours and we never did get to see her.) Your story of Clara and her beginnings was beautiful beyond words. Thank you for the privilege of reading them! Our hearts go out to all of you! Thank you for sharing. (I would love to be "porous" if it meant I'd be like you are!)
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