Many of you have told me that you are reading our blog but do not have a Google account so you can't comment.... Through Sunday of this week I've allowed all comments from anyone & everyone. I will still moderate them for content but please let us know who's out there. We started the blog for our benefit but now realize the reach it has and we would love to hear from you. Strangers, old friends, new friends, family.....
Thank you for loving us.
jjs
Hello from an old friend from Eastdale! I have enjoyed reading about your journey. Thanks for blogging. I hope that my thoughts and prayers can provide some extra strength for you during this difficult time. ~ Andria Dyess
ReplyDeleteJohnna and Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog and praying for you. You have shown such amazing strength. I'm proud of you! Elizabeth Ann is blessed to have you two as her parents.
Martha Hicks
Hey Johnna,
ReplyDeleteThis is Amy Dabbs. We have a couple of mutual friends - Grace Allen and Rachel Olis. I grew up at Hillwood with Grace and remember meeting you a few times that way. I work with Rachel Olis and she sent me a link to your blog. I also recently visited FBC in Pelham and met your mother. I am praying for you and your family during this difficult time. I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that!
I've been following for a couple of months and just wanted to let you know I'm here-- no doubt one of many stangers praying for you. I changed my prayer for your family today, and I wrote it down to remind myself to be bolder for Elizabeth in the coming weeks. I told God this morning I am dropping my "backup plan" prayer-- the lines I offer just in case he doesn't come through on the "Plan A" prayer. I am praying for a full-on miracle of complete healing. I'm praying for all of us to be amazed. Blessings, strength and love to you.
ReplyDeleteAmber O
(former employee of your dad's)
Hi Johnna~
ReplyDeleteThis is Angel (from your Dad's SS class)- I just wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers this week! I hope you have a great week!
Hi Johnna and Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteI have been faithfully reading your blog! Please know that you and Elizabeth Ann are in my prayers daily. We miss seeing you, but I am glad we caught up with each other at AMEA.
Love you,
Heather Atkins and family
Hi Johnna,
ReplyDeleteThis is Brandi Miller from Red Bay (UNA). Just wanted to let you know you all are in my prayers each night.
Thank you for the strength to share your hearts. I have been keeping up with everything and praying for God to use you, strenghten you and prepare you for His path for your lives. No matter what the out come, you have shown such amazing courage and grace and laughter through the tears. The days ahead will be tough but through His glory and grace, His amazing grace you and your precious family will be blessed. God uses different circumstances to get our attending to let us know He loves us and is there all the way with us, carrying us in our weakest moments. God is still in the miracle working business and I pray speciafically for that, a mighty mircle from God.
ReplyDeleteWe love you and are continuously praying,
Mrs. Sheila
Hey Johnna and Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteWe are here for you if you need anything...Pets fed, plants watered, meals made... and of course prayer. We love you guys so much. I hope you have a wonderful week.
Love, Eddie and Missy
I have been following your blog and am humbled by your strength and faith. "Our God is able to do exceedingly above what we could think or imagine" and I am praying for you and your precious daughter. She is "fearfully and wonderfully made". May God hold all three of you in the palm of his hand and uphold you with the grace you need. She is certainly loved already by many and has touched many lives. Thank you for being so open and sharing your feelings with us...
ReplyDeleteHi, Johnna and Jeremy, Your precious family has been in my thoughts and prayers every day. I sit here in awe of you all. Such towers of strength you have shown all of those around you. May God bless you with many hours of strength and courage over the next weeks. Praying and believing that God is still in the miracle making business. Love you all, Kathy Pratt
ReplyDeleteI've been keeping up with your blog for months - not only for the updates on your precious Elizabeth, but also for the humorous entries (the maternity clothes rant comes to mind). You are in my prayers, and I pray that an awesome miracle will happen in your lives.
ReplyDeleteI am locked out of my blog again so I have to post annon, but you know who I am. : ) Now that you are home I will send that your way along with lots of prayers and Christian love.
ReplyDeleteJessica
Hello , I just happened to come across your blog and have been reading it. You, your husband and your little girl are in my prayers. I know the lord can and will give yall the strength to make it through everything you may face in your future. I will be praying for yall !!! And even though I have never seen yall, your story has touched my heart !!
ReplyDeleteI have been following your posts and have you on my heart and in my prayers. Your walk with the Lord and the courage you display is a testimony to His greatness and love. I pray for strength and good health for you in the days ahead.
ReplyDeleteIn His Strong Name with love,
Deborah
Johnna & Jeremy
ReplyDeleteYou are constantly in my thoughts and my prayers everyday. I love you and give you both a big hug in my mind all the time.
Love,
Aunt Carol
Hi Johnna,
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you and your family- The Hamm's and our family are praying faithfully for you and your family.
Love,
Rachel Olis
Hi Johnna,
ReplyDeletePraying for you guys in Nacogdoches, TX. I've come to love Elizabeth so much over the past months as just an anonymous friend - I can only imagine the depth of your love for her.
Keeping the faith and praying for a miracle.
Donna Campo
(complete stranger to you - found mention of you on a friends' Facebook page (Troy Bennefield) and have followed since.)
Hey Johnna,
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing me to read your blog. You, Jeremy and your families are on my thoughts and prayers EVERYDAY! I love you and pray everyday 1st for a miracle and 2nd for strength! Elizabeth Ann is the luckiest little girl in the world to have you as her mommy!
Love, Wendy
Johnna-
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to let you know that you and your precious family are in my prayers. I don't know if this will help or not, but I read another girl's blog that you may like to read. She had a similar situation with her son... and she always has suggestions for books, bible verses, etc. to help her through the day...
I just wish and pray the best for you and Elizabeth Ann. Your family has always been such a great one (my sister and Jessica were good friends in high school)... I'll keep praying for your miracle...
Rebecca Sweeney Allen
http://sgirl79.blogspot.com/
(the above-mentioned blog)
Hey Johnna & Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I can leave a comment now :) I have been keeping up with you...I love all 3 of you and pray for you daily!
Love you, Danielle Gray
Johnna and Jeremy
ReplyDeleteI look at at you from the choir loft and think of things you have said in your blog. Your stregth and faith are surely an inspiration to many and God is using you to help other people in ways you will probably never realize. I pray for you daily and always look forward to an update from you.
Love
Melissa from St. James
I have been following your blog. I cannot image what you are going through but wanted you to know that you are in my heart and prayers. God will help you get through this whatever that may be. We can only hope and pray for a miracle for baby Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteWe love you three so very much. Mom and Pop
ReplyDeleteJBJ...like many, I have no google account and therefore haven't been able to post.
ReplyDeleteNo words can express how badly I want to be near you during this time. I think about you everyday and am awed by how strong you and Jeremy are.
Much love to all three of you...
Jen
Johnna and Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteToday I am sending my love to you and my prayers to God. May God not only hold you and Elizabeth Ann in the palm of his hand, but may He envelope you with his other hand--covering you with peace and comfort. Know that you are in my prayers as well as those of my Bible study.
Thanks for sharing your strength with us as well as you very poignant entries.
Much love from the Loveliest Village on the Plains,
Charlotte Sutton
Hey Johnna and Jeremy--Carole Trimble here. I know that many of us in your Dad's SS class are reading the blog and praying daily for you guys. We are seeing your struggle largely through his eyes, and he's never seemed more precious to me as he shares even just a little of the emotion he and your Mom are feeling. We are praying your whole family through this difficult time, and I'm glad you have such a great support system of people who love you. Be thankful for your Dad! I know I am. Much Love!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Rachael I am a Christian. Your blog came to me by the way of Briarwood Church. My husband and I had a boy named Isaac. He was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart at 19 weeks gestation. He was born Dec . 13,07. He was our child we loved him dearly. I am so proud of you Johnna and Jeremy at the time I would have loved to talk to someone who had traveled a similar road. We are happy people who might be able to lend an ear.
ReplyDeleteWith all of our love.
Thomas and Rachael
rachaelstover@gmail.com
Hi,
ReplyDeleteIt has been good to see you and Jeremy in the services at Pelham. Your family means so much to us. You are in our prayers today and always.
Love,
Cindy Morris
Dear Johnna,
ReplyDeleteI sent an email to your mom & dad to let them know that we are praying for your entire family during this time. We have you on our Coed 2 prayer list at Calera Baptist Church. Praying that God will grant you strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. I can feel the love that you have for your baby girl, Elizabeth.
Prayers & Hugs,
Vicki Pounders
You ARE and always will be the wonderful parents of a beautiful, handcrafted, one of a kind, miracle of life, a precious daughter. Elizabeth Ann. What a beautiful name. "So what is in a name? Names are a celebration not only of our humanity but also a reminder of our individuality--that we are uniquely made in the image of God. They are wonderful gifts, given second only to the gift of life itself--Lasting testimonies to the beauty of personhood." (The Name Book by Dorothy Astoria) Isa. 43:1b "I have called you by YOUR name: You are mine"
ReplyDeleteElizabeth:
Language/cultural Origin: Hebrew
Inherent Meaning: Oath of God
Spiritual Connotation: Consecrated
Scripture: Romans 6:23
But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ann:
Language/cultural Origin: English
Inherent Meaning: graceful
Spiritual Connotation: Understanding
Scripture: Psalms 111:10
the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever.
Ps: 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts: You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvelous are Your works. And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You. When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth, Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed and in Your book they all were written. The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
I am continuing to stand with you in prayer.
Linda Campbell (Melissa Elsey's mom)
Jeremy and Johnna,
ReplyDeleteYou're in my thoughts daily and I continue to pray for a miracle for Elizabeth Ann. I'm also praying for strength and peace for the two of you in the coming weeks. Thanks for allowing us to be part of your journey through this blog!
Much love,
Jana Beaver
Dear Johnna & Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteI am a friend of Missy's and we are part of an Accountability Group that we formed through our church. Our group is praying for you and Elizabeth Ann. Missy keeps us up to date. We don't know you, but we love you and send warmth, love, and prayer to you. Please know how we hold you in our hearts. Much love, Karen
Johnna,
ReplyDeleteNot a day goes by where I don't lift you and Jeremy and Elizabeth Ann up in prayer. I pray for a miracle first and foremost, for strength for you and for comfort for your entire family as you are getting closer to her arrival. No one could ever know how you're feeling or even begin to understand it. I pray that you find some peace and love in this message and keep up the strength you have shown these last 5 months.
Bassoonists after all are very special people after all.
Heather
Johnna,
ReplyDeleteI am attempting to post a comment of support again. With my "in-adequacies" as a computer expert, it may not "arrive" to you.
You and Jeremy are in the prayers of so many. You mentioned that you started the blog to help the two of you. It has definitely also worked in reciprocity. Your sharing of your love for Elizabeth Ann and your faith and trust in God has inspired hundreds of people, many of whom you have never met.
Continue trusting in Him and know that "With God all things are possible." Have an uplifting day, as you know that so many care and as you feel the strength of their prayers.
Sue Calloway, Demopolis
OUR HEARTFELT PRAYERS GO OUT FOR JOHNNA, JEREMY AND SWEET ELIZABETH ANN. GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, JUST PUT YOUR FAITH IN HIM.
ReplyDeleteHE ALREADY HAS HIS ARMS AROUND YOU. HE HAS A WONDROUS HEALING POWER. LEAN ON HIM.
THE GRAMMERS
No words can take away the uncertainty, nor can any human hands hold you close enough to make the pain go away right now, but God, who created us knows what we need and desire. My prayer, and my earnest desire is that he show you how, and why, this is happening, that He carries you through it, and that He embraces you in His love and in the love of those who love Him. My earnest prayer is for strength, peace, and perserverance.
ReplyDeleteI love you, I love you, I love you!
ReplyDeleteAunt Jess
i just wanted to say that you are the best teacher anyone could ask for and you are a great mom to. My prayers are with you through your rough times but if their is one thing i know is that you and your family will have great times to...you are very strong and your strenth is very admirable Mrs. Stafford :):):)... we miss you at school!!!
ReplyDeleteSicerely M. Austin
Hey Mrs. stafford your are the best teacher ever...and your strength is very admirable also. your are the strongest person i know and the perfect role model for that strengh in which u have so very well shown. We miss you at school....Mckenzie Austin
ReplyDeleteJerry and Johnna-
ReplyDeleteMay you now find some peace after this most tragic event. To us; you are both pillars of strength, faith, character and commitment. We consider you our mentors. Your integrity inspires us and we continue to pray for your healing. With deepest sympathy, your devoted friends - Joe and Rebecca.