The Garden of Hope

Last evening I had the priviledge of attending the dedication ceremony for "The Garden of Hope". It was truly a heart healing experience. The Garden has been 7 years in planning and was begun as a thought when 13 years ago a couple had a still born and 2 miscarriages. It's a small plot of ground that has this amazing bronze statue, gazebo, water fountain and 4 walls where plaques are placed with the names of the precious little souls that we never had the delight of watching them grow.


The statue is an amazing and awesome sight. Jesus is holding a tiny baby, the mother sits beside with Jesus holding her hand. She is clasping a heart necklace and gazing into Jesus' face.

The statue is designed with a place to sit beside the mother and the eyes of Jesus are looking into your own eyes. I'm afraid my pictures simply don't capture that well nor do they begin to provide the heart stirrings that occur.

Our son and his wife had a miscarriage in April of 2008 and it's comforting to know that there is a place where Baby Smucker is remembered.... and missed.

Mike showed Isaac the plaque with Baby Smucker's name that is on the bottom row and Isaac leaned in and gave it a kiss. Some precious moments are missed with the camera but remain implanted on our own memory film.

But we were able to capture a picture of Isaac sitting on his Grandma's lap and looking at Jesus. This picture squeezes my heart - what must it have been like when the little children gathered around Jesus and actually looked into his eyes, felt his hands and heard his voice........ Surely heaven will be grand.

It was a beautiful evening. The weather was perfect.