March 10, 2007

Breanna and Brooke. They spent the weekend with us. We met them and their Mommy and Daddy at Cracker Barrel. On the way home, Breanna said that she wished somebody would invent a Time Machine someday. I said that she might live to see that. Then she said that if we had a Time Machine, then maybe Hawk could come back. Then she said that he couldn't come back because he was in Heaven. Then she said that we did everything we could for him. Then she started talking about the last time they were together (it was 3 days before he passed away) and they were talking about when Breanna was 6, Hawk was 5 and when Breanna got 7, he would be 6 and on and on. Anyway, Breanna was talking about that and she said that when she got 7, Hawk wouldn't be 6, because he would always be 5. She said that he was in Heaven and couldn't come back, but we could see him someday. We hadn't said anything about him. She just started talking about him. I know she misses him very much. They were very close.

We all miss him very much. Most of the time we are okay, but then we'll look at his picture and start talking about him and it's very hard. We have Skyla this weekend and that's still kind of bittersweet to have her. We enjoy her so much, but there's a bit of sadness because Hawk's not here also.

Skyla and Brooke: Brooke is staying with us until Monday March 5, 2007. She came on Wednesday. Kevin and Tuesday are in Houston, Texas at an Ameriplan convention. Breanna stayed with friends of theirs so that she can go to school. We went and got Skyla on Wednesday so that she and Brooke could play together. I picked her up at Day care. It was the first time I had picked her up there since Hawk passed away. It was very emotional for me. I cried most of the way home. The first two times we picked her up at her house, it was very hard for Mike and I. We have never had Skyla without Hawk. She is so precious. Anyway, when I got at the house with Skyla, Brooke saw her and naturally thought that Hawk should be with her and Brooke asked, "where's Hawk". We told her that he had went to Heaven. We don't know how much she understands, she's only 2 1/2.

Skyla and Brooke--Skyla was coloring, she wouldn't look at me to take her picture.
Skyla and Brooke playing on the swing set. They were so good with each other. They played so good together. We took Skyla back home on Wednesday night and then picked her up again on Thursday at daycare and she spent the night on Thursday night and spent all day Friday with us. She and Brooke had a great time with each other. We watched a lot of Dora the Explorer. We have that DVD memorized by now. They would hold hands and run through the house. If both of them wanted to do the same thing, they would take turns. Once, Brooke got in the rocker and Skyla wanted in it, so they would take turns with one sitting the rocker and the other one rocking her. On Friday, Mike decided to lay down with them so that they would take a nap. Anyway, I heard a lot of giggling coming from the bedroom. I went in there and Mike was almost asleep and the two little girls were laughing and playing. So I got them and took them in the living room with me and Mike took a nap. Skyla stayed until Friday evening and then she went to stay with Jamie for the weekend. I decided that Skyla is the closest child to Hawk. She has the same parents and the same grandparents. So when I kiss her face, it is the closest thing to kissing Hawk. We can love her and Hawk at the same time.

Breanna (6 years old)

She and Hawk were so close. She and Brooke are the only first cousins that Hawk had. He and Breanna are only 1 year apart.

Here are some of the ways that she is dealing with the loss of Hawk: every night she tells God the things that she wants Hawk to know about her day. She tells God to tell Hawk about things she is doing in school, and things she has done at home that day, etc.

The other day, Tuesday bought some helium balloons for Breanna and Brooke for Valentine day, and she noticed that they were gone. Breanna had taken them outside and let them go up to Heaven for Hawk. Every time that Tuesday or Kevin takes Breanna to wal-mart, she buys a balloon to send up to Hawk. She asked them if she will be able to see all of the balloons that she has sent to Hawk when she gets to Heaven.

Some days she tells them that she wonders what Hawk is doing in Heaven on that day.

We all miss him so much. I will never take his pictures down, but some times it's hard to look at them. I look at them and know that we'll never take another picture of him. He will always be 5 years old. I look at his picture and it makes me miss him so much. We cannot grieve 24/7, but sometimes it is almost unbearable.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-14 NIV
"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope-----

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him"

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We will see Hawk again. I know this because God promises it and I believe what He promises. And I am happy for Hawk, because he is experiencing what we can only dream about.

I look at Hawk's picture every night and tell him that I love him and this seems to help a little.

This is the song that was written for Hawk by Ms. Marilyn Willoughby, a teacher at Watertown Elementary School. It was sung by the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students at the benefit given for Hawk in Feb. 2006. It was sung again by the students of watertown elementary at the funeral for Hawk on February 6, 2007. The last 2 lines were added for the funeral.

A SONG FOR HAWK

" Caring and giving to somebody else

Not just caring and thinking all about yourself..

Reaching out to others is important to do.

As we all know this could be me or you.

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We believe in miracles and the healing of God's hand.

We believe in miracles and united we'll stand.

And we'll hope, and believe, and pray every day

That this illness from Hawk, will be taken away.

-----------------------------------------------------

So for Hawk, we sang and we danced and we played

And we want him to know, that we have all prayed

For strength and for guidance for his family

And a miracle is what we want to see.

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We believe in miracles and the healing of God's hand.

We believe in miracles and united we'll stand.

And we'll hope and believe, and pray every day

That this illness from Hawk, will be taken away.

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Yes we'll hope and believe and pray every day.

Now this illness from Hawk has been taken away."

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Wanda and Warren’s memories and pictures of Hawk --

Warren and I want to share some of our memories and pictures of Hawk. He was a special little boy. He loved life so much and was always full of energy. Gwen has said that he was up early every morning and said if the sun was up it was time to get up. Every time we saw him, except when he was sick, he was playing outside, playing inside, playing on the computer or busy doing something. Mike and Gwen were with him at the end. I talked to both of them a couple of times that evening. Mike told me that he thought Hawk must have known he wouldn’t be here long so he tried to cram everything he could in. He loved his family and we all loved him.

Everyone was very excited when Hawk was born. He was Jamie’s first child and Gwen and Mike’s first grandson. He was named James Hawk for his two great-grandfather Smith’s, his PaPa Mike and of course Jamie. The name Hawk came from Daddy’s Cherokee Indian heritage. He was a special boy with a special name. He was a beautiful little boy with big blue eyes and a big smile.

Mother with Hawk when he was a newborn.

Mother, me holding Hawk

Warren and I don’t see the children much since we don’t live close to them so we didn’t see a lot of Hawk but every time we visited family in Tennessee, we saw him and spent time

with him. We probably saw more of him the first two years of his life because Mother was still alive and in a nursing home and we tried to see her as much as possible. I remember one time visiting Mother at the nursing home and Gwen had brought Hawk and Breanna to see Mother. Mother always loved when Gwen brought them to see her. Hawk was just a baby and I took care of him that day. He was a good little baby and so cute and sweet.

Here are some of my earlier pictures of Hawk from my collection :

Me and Hawk





A closeup of Hawk. He was a beautiful little boy. He was a little over 1 year old in this picture.






Gwen and Hawk. Some of these pictures were made at Breanna's 2nd birthday party.



Me and Hawk

Gwen, Breanna, Hawk and Kayla






Breanna, Kayla, Mike and Hawk

Breanna, Mother, Kayla and Hawk

I'm not sure when this was made but it might have been in 2004

I’ll never forget the message on our answering machine from Gwen when Hawk was diagnosed with Pontine Glioma. We had just returned from a trip to Las Vegas and saw messages on the machine. Gwen said that Hawk was very sick and left a phone number to call. I immediately called her and got the bad news. There were lots of tears that day. I got on the internet and researched Pontine Glioma and the news was very bad. Most children didn’t survive past 6 months or a year after being diagnosed but we were praying that Hawk would be the exception and beat all the statistics.

Warren and I started making plans to go to Tennessee and see Hawk. In late December 2005 we flew there and Hawk wasn’t feeling very well at all. He was on steroids and they made him feel really bad. He mostly lay on the couch and watched cartoons or slept. He always wanted one of his blankets on him. He didn’t like anyone but his close family and mostly Mike being close to him or talking to him so we honored that. Every once in a while he would say something to us. We just felt really bad for him. Everyone was sad and shocked at what was happening to him.

These are pictures made in December 2005 when we went to Tennessee:

Chris, Mike, Hawk and Skyla

Gwen holding Hawk

Mike and Hawk

I kept in touch with Gwen several times a week to check on Hawk and we went back to Tennessee in late January 2006 to see him (and everyone else) again. He was feeling much better then than when we had seen him a month before. He was playing and had lots of energy. We went outside with him and Warren swung him on the swing set in the back yard. Then he wanted to ride his battery operated 4-wheeler and would pretend he was going to run over Warren. Warren would stand still like Hawk was going to hit him and then move out of his way. I took pictures and a movie for Gwen. Then Hawk wanted to go back in the house so we took him back inside. Brooke and Skyla were there also. Hawk and Warren played for a long time inside throwing a balloon back and forth to each other. He loved to play. When Mike got home from work Hawk wanted to go outside again and ride some more. Mike pushed Skyla in one of the push toys and Brooke and Hawk rode the 4-wheelers. We were glad to see Hawk feeling so much better.

Some pictures from our January 2006 trip:

Me, Tuesday, Gwen, Hawk and Skyla.

Hawk in his Blues Clues chair with one of his favorite blankets over him

Hawk on his 4-wheeler pretending to run into Warren

Mike with Skyla and Hawk

Hawk, Brooke and Warren. This is when Warren and Hawk were playing with the balloon but you can't see the balloon. :-)

Mike pushing Skyla in her push toy and Hawk riding his 4-wheeler

Warren and Hawk

We didn’t see Hawk again until late October of 2006. I was scheduled for hip replacement surgery in November so we decided to go to West Virginia to visit Warren’s sister Debbi and her family and then go on to Tennessee to visit with Gwen and Mike. We didn’t know when we would be able to travel again after my surgery. So we drove to West Virginia and visited there and then we drove to Tennessee and spent a couple of days there. Hawk and Skyla spent one day while we were there. Hawk was feeling great and was so full of energy. Warren was sitting in the rocking chair and Hawk got cushions and put them on Warren’s legs and put the small couch Gwen bought for the kids at the bottom of Warren’s feet and then Hawk would climb over the arm of the chair and do flips down the pillows and onto the couch. He did that several times. One time the adults were in the kitchen and we looked in the living room and Hawk and Skyla were sitting in the little couch watching tv. It looked so cute to see them sitting there together.

Hawk and Skyla on the couch

Every time I would call Gwen she would say that Hawk was feeling good and looked great. He was eating great and had actually gained some weight. He was always a small little boy for his age. We were beginning to believe that he was beating the tumor since he was doing so well.

We were shocked to hear in late January of this year (2007) that the symptoms of the brain tumor were coming back. Gwen told me that Hawk’s eye had started turning in and then he got double vision. Everyone was hoping that Hawk’s condition would stay at that point but it wasn’t to be and he just kept getting worse; losing use of his leg and his arm. He just kept getting worse and we started talking about going back to Tennessee to see him but we didn’t get to see him alive again. I did talk to him twice on the phone and he told me that he loved me. Usually he wouldn’t talk to me on the phone; like the other kids, but the last two times I called Gwen when he was at her house, he did come to the phone and say “I love you. Bye.” One of the times Gwen had already hung up and he told her to call back and he told Warren he loved him and then told me he loved me. He was a sweet little boy and he is greatly missed by everyone in his family.

Aunt Wanda and Uncle Warren Parker

THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF HAWK'S JOURNEY ON EARTH:

January 18, 2007

Hawk was on Channel 4 today with Make-A-Wish-Foundation. All of this month, channel 4 is featuring some of the children who have been helped by Make-A-Wish-Foundation. We thought he did a great job and was so cute!!! But I guess we are a little prejudiced.The other day when Hawk and Skyla were here spending the night, Hawk and I were in the kitchen playing a game on the computer and Mike and Skyla were in the living room watching cartoons. Anyway, all of a sudden, Skyla came into the kitchen and said to Hawk, "I love you, Bubba." and Hawk said "I love you too." They are so cute. They tell each other and all of us that they love us all the time. Skyla calls Hawk "Bubba". That is Jamie's nickname also.

SEE POST LABELED JANUARY 21, 2007

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24, 2007:

Lindy called and said that Hawk was walking different as if he had an inner ear infection. I thought how can that be. He was walking great on Sunday when he was here.

FRIDAY JANUARY 26, 2007:

We decided to take Hawk on a ride on the Music City Star commuter train. It was Mike and I, Kayla, Mike's mom: Cathy Waddle and her husband Derald and Hawk. We got on the train in Lebanon. Jamie got on in Hermitage. Hawk was excited to see him. We noticed that Hawk was walking different. We had been noticing changes like his eye turning in, but had been hopeful that he would stay well. But after seeing him on Friday, we knew that he was taking a turn for the worse. We had no idea how fast it would be. He loved the train ride. When we got into Nashville, Mike and Kayla walked downtown to get something to eat. Mike asked Hawk if he wanted to go and Mike would carry him, but he wanted to stay with his Daddy. On the ride down there and back, Kayla, Hawk and Jamie sat in the upper row of seats. Jamie and Hawk got off at the Hermitage stop. Jamie and Hawk drove on into Lebanon and picked up Skyla and Hawk and Skyla spent Friday night and Saturday with Jamie. Jamie and Leah took the children to the park on Saturday. They had a good time with their Daddy and Leah.


This picture was taken on Saturday January 27, 2007 at Leah's house. Leah takes such great pictures of them.





SUNDAY JANUARY 28, 2007:

Mike went to church on Sunday. Kayla and I stayed at home. I was thinking that we would go and get Hawk and Skyla after church. Anyway, Mike drove up after church and he had Hawk and Skyla with him. I am surprised that Hawk went to church that day, he was already limping very bad because of his left leg. Anyway, after Sunday class, Hawk hobbled into Mike's class and ran into Mike's arms. He insisted on coming home with Mike, even though his Dad was supposed to pick him up later and bring him over. I was so glad to see them. Kayla was still here. She played with the babies all day. We took her home later in the day. Hawk and Skyla wanted to spend the night. It was a huge difference in the way he was walking from Friday until Sunday. We felt so sorry for him. He could hardly walk. His left foot had turned in and when he would try to walk he would stumble and fall. I held him and told him that I was sorry that this was happening to him, and I told him that it was because of the boo-boo in his head. I wanted him to know that something was causing all of this. Hawk wanted to go downstairs and play in the playroom. Mike had to carry him down the steps. Hawk said, "Pa Pa, I'm walking different." This just broke Mike's heart. I had called everyone and told them that Hawk was getting worse by the day. Our son, Chris and his wife Wanda came over on Sunday night to see Hawk. Hawk crawled up in Chris's lap and said, "I love Uncle Chris, he knows everything. " Chris said that he would never forget this. I told Chris that this was Hawk's gift to him. They were shocked at the difference in Hawk from a week before. It was very sad to watch all these changes in him.

MONDAY JANUARY 29, 2007:

By Monday morning, Hawk realized that he wasn't going to be able to walk right again. He crawled up into Mike's lap and said, "Pa, I don't feel good. I don't walk right. I want to call my Mommy or Daddy." I tried to call Lindy, but she had went into school to put in her request for a leave of absence. Mike and I were crying, it was so hard to see all of this happening to him. I called Jamie and he said that he would be right there. He came and stayed most of the day with Hawk. By Monday morning, Hawk had started drooling really bad and was having a little difficulty with chewing and swallowing his food. He said, "Nannie, I can't open my mouth right. It's the boo-boo in my head." After Jamie left, Michael Drake (a close friend of Jamie) came by and brought the baked chicken from Wal-Mart. Hawk loves that chicken. He and Skyla ate a lot of the chicken. Michael stayed a long time with us and played with Hawk and Skyla. Hawk compensated for not being able to walk and played on the floor pretending to be a puppie with a broken leg or he would play with his cars and trucks and motorcycles. Hawk and Skyla went home on Monday night.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31, 2007:

Hawk came over to our house at around 10:30. Nannie Cathy and Derald called and wanted to come over and bring their maltese puppies (snowball and missy mae) over to play with Hawk. He had a ball with the dogs. He played on the floor with them for a long time. He still felt like playing, but he was just playing on the floor. Later in the day, I picked up Breanna and Brooke and brought them over. They stayed Wednesday and Thursday. Our good friends, Charlie and Frances Parson came over on Wednesday night to see Hawk. They brought coloring books for Hawk, Breanna and Brooke. For some reason Hawk got very frustrated trying to color, he was having double vision by now, so maybe that was the reason. Anyway, I picked him up and held him and he went to sleep on my shoulder. he slept for awhile and when Mike tried to get him to lay him down, he woke up and wanted to stay awake. Charlie and Frances had brought a motorcycle for Hawk to play with. They played with him for a long time with the motorcycle. He had a great time with that. We had made a tent in the living room for the children to play in. Hawk was getting tired, so he crawled into the tent and told us that he wanted to be alone. He fell asleep in the tent. We put Breanna and Brooke to bed, and Mike slept on one couch and I slept on the other one to be close to Hawk. Later in the night Mike got up and tried to put Hawk into bed, but Hawk woke up and wanted Mike to sleep on the floor with him and pretend that they were camping out (we had a fire in the fireplace insert).

SEE POST DATED THURSDAY, FEBRUARY, 1, 2007

An update to the post on Thursday February 1, 2007: Hawk decided that he wanted some chicken mcnuggets, so Breanna and I went to McDonalds to get them and Hawk and Brooke stayed with Mike. Anyway, on the way back I called the house and Hawk wanted to talk to Breanna. She asked him if he wanted to talk to her imaginary friend and she started talking to him. I really couldn't hear everything she was saying, but Mike said that Hawk was getting so tickled at her. Hawk said, "Breanna, you're funny. I love you." Mike said that Hawk was laughing so hard. I guess that's the last time that he laughed like that.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2007

Mike went to his mom's to help them with wallpapering the bathroom. I went over to see how Hawk was doing. I was shocked at the difference in him in just 2 days. He had started having severe headaches on Friday night and difficulty swallowing. Hospice had started him on morphine and another medication for his anxiety. He had become very irritated that morning because he still wanted to play and his body wouldn' t let him. So he was given a medication to calm him and the morphine for the severe headaches. By the time I got over there he was barely whispering. Anyway, I held him and he said in a whisper, "I love you Nannie." This was the last thing he said to me. I told him that I loved him also. I called Mike and told him that he needed to come over. He came over and held Hawk and told him that he loved him "36". Hawk would tell us that he loved us "36". This was a lot because 36 was a big number for him. He whispered to Mike that he loved him "36". This was the last thing he said to Mike. At this point, we thought that he might be able to come over to the house the next day. Mike's Dad and step-mother, Jim and Jane Smith and Mike's brother and sister-in-law, Sammie and Debbie Smith were coming up from Lawrence County to see Hawk and our sons and families were coming over. My sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Warren Parker were planning on flying in on the next weekend from Myrtle Beach, S.C. to see Hawk. I went home on Saturday night and made a huge pot of beef stew and 2 cakes for our company the next day.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2007:

We got up and realized that Hawk would not be able to come to our house. Lindy had called Jamie and he had already gone over to be with Hawk. We waited for our family from Lawrence county to get here. I was having a hard time with this. I called Kevin and family and Chris and Wanda and told them to meet us over at the Mcpeaks, that's where Hawk was. After our family from Lawrence county got here we loaded all of the food that I had prepared and took it over there. When we walked into the bedroom where Hawk was, we knew that this would probably be his last day here. Hawk was lying on the bed with his eyes closed. He was having a really hard time breathing. Jamie was sitting by the bed holding Hawk's hand and crying. This was about 10:30 A.M. The Mcpeaks and Mark and Lindy were there. Our family was: Mike and I, Jamie, Chris, Wanda, PaPa Jim, Nanny Jane, Sammie, Debbie, Kevin, Tuesday, Breanna and Brooke and Skyla. Hawk never regained consciousness. He was on high doses of morphine via morphine pump. Later, Nannie Cathy and Derald and Mike's sister and brother-in-law, Regina and Mike Carr came over. Everyone loved on Hawk and told him how much they loved him and cried. I loved on him all day. I wanted to remember how his little forehead smelled and how it was to kiss his little head. Mike and I and Jamie and our relatives stayed in the room most of the time and loved on him and told him how much we loved him. We could not get enough of being with him. Anyway, later in the afternoon, everyone had left except Mike, Jamie, and I and Mike and Regina, Mcpeaks, Mark, Lindy and Skyla. Anyway late in the evening, Jamie decided to leave--he had to turn in some papers in order to get paid the next day. He intended to come back early the next morning. At this point, we had no idea that he wouldn't live through the night. Mark left, in order to sleep and go to work the next day. Mike and Regina Carr were still there. My sister had called several times to check on Hawk. Judy Roberts (Tuesday's mother in Florida) had called. Around 9:00 P.M, a lady from Hospice came in. Hawk was on morphine and the nurse from Hospice assured us that he was not aware of what was going with him. He was really struggling for breath. She told us that he would not live through the night. I called Jamie, but couldn't get him. He had not slept in three days and Lindy had given him a sleeping pill before he left in order to get some rest. Lindy put Skyla to bed. Mike and I decided that we would not leave. We would sit up in the room with Hawk. Mike got in the bed with Hawk and lay beside him. I sat on the foot of the bed. Ken sat in a chair beside the bed. Barbara and Lindy were exhaused and had layed down. Around 11:20, Mike noticed that Hawk's breathing had changed for the worse. Mike was holding him and talking to him and I was at the foot of the bed when he took his last breath. I had told him a few minutes before that it was alright for him to go to see Jesus. Mike and I had read that when people have a Near Death Experience, they hover over their body for a few minutes. Anyway, Mike said that maybe Hawk's little soul was watching , so Mike looked up at the ceiling and said, " Bye Hawk, we love you baby." I ran in the bedroom and told Lindy that Hawk was leaving. She ran in there, but he was gone by the time she got in there. I called Jamie and told him. Lindy held Hawk and told him bye. She was overwhelmed, so she went back and lay down. We had to wait for Hospice to come out and pronounce him. The lady came from Hospice and pronounced him and took all of the medicines and destroyed them and left. Then Ken called Partlow Funeral Home. Jackie and Jason Partlow came out. They were so nice. When they started to put Hawk on the stretcher, Jackie said that he wasn't going to cover him with the cold sheet (even though Hawk wouldn't know it), but he said that he was going to cover him with his warm blanket and that's what he did. Mike and I stayed with Ken until they took Hawk out of the house. We were told to meet the next day at 1:00 to make arrangements.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 5, 2007:

Jamie, Leah, Lindy, Mark, Mcpeaks, Mike and I met with Jason Partlow to make final arrangements. Larry Locke came by to be with all of us. Lindy and Jamie chose a beautiful wooden casket for Hawk. They chose the pall bearers to be Hawk's uncles: Kevin and Chris Smith, Lance McPeak and Jamie decided to help carry his son to his final resting place. I thought this was so sweet. He carried him through life and he carried him to his final resting place.


SEE POST DATED MONDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2007.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2007

Mike's brother and sister-in-law (Sammie and Debbie Smith) from Lawrence County arrived at our house early in the morning. Our good friends, Charlie and Frances Parson, had brought a huge platter of ham and potatoe salad and rolls and baked beans for everyone. My sister and brother-in-law from Myrtle Beach, S.C (Wanda and Warren Parker) had flown in the night before. They arrived at the house. Then Chris and Wanda and Jamie and Leah and Mike's neice Melanie and Mike's dad and step-mother, Jim and Jane Smith all arrived. We all went to the church at 2:15 for the family viewing before the public arrived at 3:00. Mike's mom, Cathy and her husband Derald Waddle were there and Kevin and Tuesday and Breanna and Brooke were there.
There were a lot of pictures of Hawk displayed in the foyer. Jamie and Leah and Lindy and Mark went in first to be with Hawk before the rest of us went in. Jamie played "Your are my sunshine " to Hawk on Jamie's great-grandfather Kelly Price's harmonica. Jamie would play that to Hawk a lot while he was growing up. Hawk would play the harmonica also.




Here is a picture of Hawk when he was about 3 yrs old playing the harmonica.


Anyway, Jamie played the harmonica to Hawk and then placed it in the casket with Hawk.

Then all of the rest of the family went in to view Hawk. His little body looked wonderful. He looked so good. Partlow did a wonderful job fixing him up. It was a very emotional moment to see him lying there. He looked like he was asleep. At 3:00 the public started to come in. The church sanctuary holds around 1,000 people. There was a constant line of people from 3:00 til 7:00 P. M. Hundreds and hundreds of people came to see Hawk. One of the men from UPS came in his UPS truck. It was a tractor-trailor with doubles parked in the church parking lot. One of our friends from UPS said that no wonder we were so crazy about Hawk because he was so beautiful and he was. At 7:00 pm we sat down for the funeral. Larry Locke had a wonderful message about Hawk and our memories about him. He read our letter we had written about Hawk--see Post dated Tuesday, February 6.
The children from Hawk's school sang a special song that was written for Hawk. It was very nice.
The church was almost full of people paying their last respects for Hawk.
After the service, everyone left except family. We had one more chance to be with Hawk before they closed the casket.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2007.

All of our family who attended the funeral and several friends and relatives attended the graveside service for Hawk. Uncle Chris, Uncle Kevin, Uncle Lance and Hawk's Dad, Jamie carried his casket to the grave. I think that was the hardest part--seeing his little casket sitting there ready to be buried. Larry Locke said some special things from memories we had shared with him about Hawk and read a scripture and said a prayer. Then they lowered Hawks casket into the ground. The men started shoveling dirt into the grave. Jamie went over and shoveled some of the dirt into his son's grave. Hawk's cousin Breanna ( she and Hawk loved each other so much) got as close as she could to his grave and watched everything. Breanna had brought 20 balloons to let rise into the sky. Each one said--We love you Hawk. As all of the children let the balloons go, Aunt Tuesday led them in a song of "Jesus loves me" and "This little light of mine". Tuesday gave a balloon to Lindy to give to Skyla. I had read a book to Hawk and Breanna titled "Someday Heaven". In the book, it described how when Jesus rose to Heaven it was like a balloon rising into the sky. When I read the book to Hawk, he wanted to see a balloon rise up into heaven, so I bought him a helium balloon and let him release it one day and watch it rise up, so I thought it was very special for Breanna to bring the balloons to rise up into Heaven in honor of Hawk.
After the graveside service, all of us returned to the church for a wonderful meal prepared for us. This is a wonderful ministry provided by our church. We were served a wonderful meal and dessert. Thank you so much to Vickie Working, Carolyn Lane and Chris Bradford for serving our family.

We prayed for a miracle for Hawk and we believe that we got a miracle for him. For a child that had brain cancer, Hawk was given a year of incredible energy, and a year of making wonderful memories with all of us. The last two weeks of his life, his little body was experiencing changes, but he kept a wonderful attitude through all of that. He actually had only two bad days. One on Saturday and on Sunday. And on Sunday, the last of his life here, I don't believe he was aware of what his little body was going through.

We love you Hawk. We can't wait to see you again and then it will be for eternity. We will never have to leave you again. Praise The Lord!!!

HAWK'S OBITUARY: I scanned the actual obituary, but it was too little to read. So I have copied it word for word.

James Hawk Smith
Graveside services for Master
Smith will be 11 a.m. on
Wedsneday, Feb. 7, in the
Bethany Cemetery with Dr.
Larry Locke officiating.
Visitation will be Tuesday, Feb.
6, from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. in the
College Hills Church of Christ. A
Celebration of Life for Master
Smith will be held after the visitation
in the College Hills Church of Christ at 7 p.m.
Master Smith 5,
of Lebanon died
Sunday, Feb. 4,
2007, at his home.
He was a kinder-
garten student at
the Watertown
Elementery School and he attended College Hills
Church of Christ.
Survivors include: father,
Jamie (Leah Holt) Smith of
Hermitage; mother, Lindy (Mark)
Taylor of Lebanon; sister, Skyla
Sno Smith of Lebanon; paternal
grandparents, Mike and Gwen
Smith of Lebanon; maternal
grandparents, Ken and Barbara
McPeak of Lebanon; paternal
great-grandparents, Jim(Jane)
Smith, of Loretto, and Cathy and
Derald Waddle, of Lebanon;
uncles, Lance (Julie) McPeak, of
North Carolina, Kevin(Tuesday)
Smith and Chris(Wanda) Smith,
both of Carthage; cousins,
Breanna and Brooke Smith of
Carthage and Kayla Conner, of
Thompson Station.
Active pallbearers will be
family.
In lieu of flowers the family
request contributions may be
made in memory of Hawk to the
College Hills Church of Christ
Children's Ministry. Alive Hospice
or "Make-A-Wish"

James Hawk Smith

August 31, 2001-February 4, 2007

A LETTER TO HAWK. WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH:

---------------------------------

To our precious little Hawk. We will never forget you, Hawk. We thank the Lord for giving you to us for 5 short years. That was such a huge blessing--if we are never blessed again--that one blessing will be enough for the rest of our lives.

---------------------------

You taught us the true meaning of unconditional Love. You are a beautiful, special little boy. You taught us how to show enthusiasm and excitement for even the smallest things in life.

----------------------

Jesus tells us that unless we become as little children, then we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I know that Heaven must be a wonderful place if it is made up of little children such as you.

-----------------

I know that all last week, there was excitement and happiness in Heaven as everyone was making preparations for you to come there. There was pain and sorrow here, but there was so much excitement in Heaven. They were ready and waiting with great anticipation for your return Home. I know that when you got there on Sunday night, that you knew exactly where you were, because that was you original home.

------------------

-Thank you so much Hawk for choosing our family to come to 5 years ago. God Bless you-our precious little boy. Now you can run free, and ride you bike and 4-wheeler and play ball and do all the things than you want to do.

----------------

We will never forget you. Your sweet precious smile and your beautiful little voice will be with us until the day we die. We have so many wonderful memories. Our goal now is to live in such a way as to come and see you some day in Heaven. You told us that some day your Daddy would come to see you in Heaven. And I know that if you have your way, we all will because you loved all of us so much.

-----------------

Godspeed precious little Hawk. Heaven is a better place today because you are there. We cannot wait to see you again someday.

With all of our Love,

Pa Pa Mike and Nannie Gwen

------------------

JESUS SAID, "LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME, AND DO NOT HINDER THEM, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BELONGS TO SUCH AS THESE."

MATTHEW 19:14

MONDAY FEBRUARY, 5, 2007


Hawk is in Heaven Today.

Hawk passed away last night at 11.30 P.M. Mike and I were with him when he left to go to Heaven and we stayed with him until the funeral director took him out of the house. This hurts so bad. How do we get through the coming days. I know we'll get through with the Lord's help.

The arrangements are as follows: Visitation tomorrow, Tuesday February 6, 2007 from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Celebration of Life service at 7:00 PM at College Hills Church of Christ, 1401 Leeville Pike, Lebanon, Tn.---Burial at Bethany Cemetery, Lebanon Tn on Wednesday 11:00 AM

I read these words, but it's like it's not Hawk I'm talking about. It's nots right to be talking about Hawk's funeral and Hawk's burial. It is just not right. But I know that the Lord knows more about everything than I do and I'll lean on him, but I don't say it'll be easy to accept it.

Thanks to everyone for all of the prayers. They helped and are still helping our family more than you know.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2007

Hawk, Breanna, and Brooke playing with the Moon Sand that Channel 4 gave him when he was on the other day. We put an old table cloth down in the sun room and they played in there with it.

Hawk can't smile anymore, but is still trying to.

He and Breanna and Brooke spent Wednesday and Wednesday night with us. They went home late this afternoon.



Hawk and Brooke in the Jeep. He tried to ride the 4-wheeler, but he couldn't keep his left foot in place, Mike put him in the Jeep and he did fine.

Just 2 weeks ago, he was riding his 4-wheeler and running and playing. We were told from the beginning that this tumor would be very rapid once it started growing again.

How do we get through this. To watch daily what this tumor is doing to Hawk. It is almost more than we can take. To see this beautiful little boy taken away from us. But we know that we have to do it and so does Hawk. But whatever happens, we will be there every step of the way with him. He is so precious. We love him so much. But as much as we love him, I know that God loves him more.

Breanna on the 4-wheeler.












Here they are in their hide-out we made for them in the living room. Later in the evening, Hawk was getting tired and not feeling very well, so he crawled into the hide-out (we put blankets all around so that it was private) Anyway, Hawk crawled into the hide-out and told us that he wanted to be alone. He lay there and went to sleep. We put Breanna and Brooke to bed and decided to let Hawk sleep where he was. I got on one couch in the living room and Mike got on the other one. We had a fire in the fireplace insert and some time in the early morning, Hawk woke up and wanted Mike to get in the floor with him and pretend that they were camping out and had a campfire. So Mike slept on the floor with Hawk in front of the fire.




Hawk and Breanna. She was so good to him. Here he was sitting in the computer chair while I was fixing them some lunch. Breanna went and got a blanket for him and got her a chair and sat beside him. She told him that anything he wanted she would get it for him. She went and got some trucks for him to play with. Then she told him that she would pray for him and she did.

At lunch, they held hands and he said the prayer.

Tomorrow Hawk gets to ride in the pacer car at the Nashville Super Speedway. Hawk gets to ride around the speedway with one of the drivers. We are going and take movies and pictures.

We would give everything we have to stop all of this from happening to Hawk, but we can't do that. We just have to pray for the strength for Hawk and all of us to get through it.

PSALM 23 NIV

1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever

AMEN

My thoughts: Last night I thought, what do I pray for now about Hawk. For 13 months I've prayed for Hawk to be healed. Now I am praying for God to give Hawk whatever he needs to get through this. And for strength for all of us to be able bear it all. But I know that Hawk is healed. If we don't see it now, then Hawk will see it in Heaven. He will beat the cancer. It may take his little body, but his little soul will soar to Heaven and he will be free of it. God is good.

Hawk tells us that he is walking different because of the boo-boo in his head. I wonder if everyone in Heaven are getting excited and making preparations for Hawk to come Home.

Before he came to our family, we were excited and made a lot preparations for his arrival. We were so excited about having a little grandson. Jamie said that he had always wanted a son.
Hawk was born premature on August 31, 2001. We were told that his lungs might not be mature and that he might have to be rushed to vanderbilt hospital. But he was fine when he got here. He came into the world with a lot energy, a lot of love for everyone, a lot of enthusiam and curiosity.

He loves to laugh. He gets so tickled about the smallest things. Mike's grandmother (Ma Price)used to say that she would get more tickled at watching Mike laugh about something that she would about what was really going on. And that is the way we are about Hawk. We get more tickled about watching him laugh about something than we do about what it is he laughing about.
He is a beautiful little boy with a unique name--Hawk. He is so loving. He tells all of us everyday how much he loves us. When we go over to get him or when he is brought over here, he will come running and be so excited about seeing us even if its only been a day or two since we have seen him. He loves to come and spend the night with us. And we love to have him and all of the grandchildren. He is just a precious little boy.

He doesn't understand everything that is happening with him now, except he knows that it is being caused because of the boo-boo in his head. But he is compensating. He plays in the floor instead of running and playing. He would always get up by 6:00 or 6:30 and when he got up, he was ready to go. He would get up ready to do everything he could that day. In about 1 hour, he would have already played on the computer, played outside on the batter operated 4-wheeler or jeep, played a video game on tv, etc. He wanted to do as much as he could everyday. With everything we have over here for him and the grandchildren, he would want to do as much as he could for that day. Hawk used to want Mike to put him in the swing and push him and while he was swinging he would want Mike to play horse shoes and Hawk would watch Mike throw horse shoes while he would swing and watch him.

Anyway, Hawk is getting a little worse everyday. His right eye is turned in and this is causing double vision. He is wearing a patch on his eye to help with this. He has paralysis in his left side. This has affected his left leg and left arm. He is still trying to walk a little bit, but has a lot of difficulty with this. He is having headaches everyday, but we give him ibuprofen and this helps. He is wearing pull-ups now and is drooling sometimes, sometimes this is better than other times. But he is still playing and has a very good appetite. He still has quite a bit of energy. He gets a little tired, but will sit in our lap and take a short nap and then he is ready to go again. But he does get frustrated sometimes and then he wants us to hold him and then we hold him and love on him and tell him how much we love him and tell him that we are sorry that all of this is happening to him and we cry and just keep on loving on him.

Just two weeks ago, Hawk was running and playing. But we knew from the very first (Dec. 15, 2005) that if this tumor started growing again that it would be a rapid thing. Hawk has had a year of doing wonderful and we are thankful.

God is good. He did not cause this to happen to Hawk, but he will be there for Hawk and for us and because of Jesus overcoming death on the cross, then Hawk will have the victory over the cancer. Hallelujah!!

Hawk has taken a turn for the worse. In just a week's time he has gone from walking and playing to hardly being able to walk. I still believe that we received a miracle because of Hawk doing so well for so long, but ultimately it is God's will to be done. Hawk will be healed of the tumor, either in this life or the next. So therefore if he is not healed in this life like we would want him to be, that does not mean that there is anyone in his life who does not believe enough, God did not send the tumor, but he has promised that he will be with us in all trials of life. The tumor is what is causing all of this to happen to Hawk.

Paul prayed for a thorn to be removed from his flesh, but God did not answer that prayer like Paul wanted him to. He said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

I know that God loves Hawk. He loves all of us. He loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for each of us. And I know that He only wants the best for Hawk. But we see with human eyes and we do not know the big picture. God may have other plans for Hawk beyond what we can see. Hawk tells us all the time that he wants to go see Jesus. He says that he will miss us, but he wants to go and see Jesus.

We do not like any of this. It is hard for us to watch what this tumor is doing to him. He doesn't understand why he can't walk good all of a sudden. Jamie came in today and Hawk told him that he can't walk right. But he is still playing and having fun. He was on the floor pretending to be a puppy with a broke leg.

His right eye is turning in and he is having double vision. I went to Wal-mart and bought some eye patches for him. This seems to help.

Hawk belongs to God. He was Gods before he was Jamie's and Lindy's son and our grandson.
God wants only the best for Hawk, but what God wants may not be what we want. God made the world and all of us. Every breathe we take comes from him. He is the almighty God. His will not mine be done.

He blessed us with Hawk for five years. I pray that we will seek Him in all of this and that our prayer be that his will be done.

"Our Father who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy Kingdom come
Thy Will be done on earth
as it is in Heaven,
Give us this day our daily bread
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever
Amen"

MATTHEW: 6:9-13

His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. May we look to Him and keep our faith and hope in Him.

January 21, 2007

These were made on Saturday 20, 2007.
Hawk and Brooke with the kitty.
Skyla and Papa in the background.

Hawk and Brooke spent the night on Friday night. Brooke had asked to spend the night and then Hawk wanted to spend the night. Breanna didn't want to spend the night and we thought it would be a little too much to have both of the 2 yrs olds (Brooke and Skyla) on the same night, so Skyla didn't stay all night, but she came over the next day and spent the day with Hawk and Brooke. Jamie was here also. Hawk picked a flower and gave it to Jamie and told him to give it to Jamie's girlfriend, Leah Holt.

We have 5 baby goats.
Hawk trying to catch two of the baby goats. He was able to sneek up on them and pet them. Brooke also got to pet them.

Skyla and Hawk with the baby goats.













Brooke trying to catch the baby goats.

Hawk stayed with us until late Sunday. Brooke and Skyla went home on Saturday night.

Hawk is doing so good. It has been 13 months since he was diagnosed with the tumor. There is definitely something positive going with him, because he is doing so good. He is on organic foods. Mike and I have started buying mostly organic foods also. Mainly, we try to keep organic foods for Hawk. Jamie is planning on taking Hawk for another MRI soon to see exactly what's going on. But whatever's going on, I know that he is a miracle. God has heard our prayers and healed Hawk.

Hawk has already come through a lot. When he was diagnosed in December, 2005, he was very sick by the time we got him to the doctor. He had 6 weeks (5 days a week) of radiation and was on steroids during this time. He gained a lot of weight because of the steroids and was very sick during that time. He finished the radiation at the end of January 2006 and he has done so good ever since. But I believe it is because of lots and lots of prayer being sent up daily for Hawk, being on the organic food plan, taking the herbal supplements and drinks and most of all the prayers being sent up daily for him. We serve a loving and awesome God. God is awesome and powerful. He is way more powerful than the tumor that Hawk had.

"Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is."

Here is one of my favorite songs: This if for Hawk and all the grandchildren.

His Eye is on the Sparrow:

Why should I feel discouraged
And why should the shadows come
And why should my heart feel so lonely
And long for heaven and home

When Jesus is my portion
My constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me.

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

Matthew 10:30-31 NIV
"And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. "

I know the Lord is watching over Hawk and all children. Hawk talks about Jesus a lot. He says that he misses Jesus and wants to go to Heaven and see him someday. Such is the kingdom of Heaven--to have the faith of little children.
Breanna went to her eye doctor the other day and she asked him if he prayed, and he said "yes". She told him that she wanted to go to a doctor that prayed.
I and so thrilled that our grandchildren are being raised up in Christian homes. There is no greater thing to pray for than that.

Many thanks to everyone who is praying for Hawk and his family. May God bless you all. Miracles happen everyday.

January 18, 2007

Hawk was on Channel 4 today with Make-A-Wish-Foundation. All of this month, channel 4 is featuring some of the children who have been helped by Make-A-Wish-Foundation. We thought he did a great job and was so cute!!! But I guess we are a little prejudiced.

The other day when Hawk and Skyla were here spending the night, Hawk and I were in the kitchen playing a game on the computer and Mike and Skyla were in the living room watching cartoons. Anyway, all of a sudden, Skyla came into the kitchen and said to Hawk, "I love you, Bubba." and Hawk said "I love you too." They are so cute. They tell each other and all of us that they love us all the time. Skyla calls Hawk "Bubba". That is Jamie's nickname also.

Wednesday night, January 18, 2007

Update on our family. Hawk is doing so good. He will be on channel 4 on Thursday 18th at 12:00 noon with Make-A-Wish-Foundation.
This Christmas was a wonderful Christmas compared to last year. Last year Hawk was taking radiation treatments and was on steroids and he was feeling so bad that he didn't enjoy the day at all. This year, he was feeling so good and had so much energy. Every year Mike plays Santa. This is the highlight of Christmas day, because of how much fun it is for the children. He is disguised very well with the white beard and white hair and Santa suit.
Anyway, the children were so excited to see Santa. Brooke sat in his lap the whole time he was talking to Breanna and Hawk. Skyla was a little afraid of him, so she sat on the couch the whole time. He brought a bike for Hawk and Breanna and they were so excited. Breanna and Hawk talked to him for a long time and then when Santa got ready to leave, Hawk hugged him and told him that he would really like to see Rudolph. Santa told Hawk that Rudolph was very shy, so he couldn't see him this time.
2006 was a very hard year for our family, but thanks to our faith and God's love and mercy, we have come through it with more faith and a lot of thankfulness. Hawk was diagnosed with the tumor 13 months ago. At the time that he was first diagnosed, we were very afraid about what 2006 might bring, but thanks to God and lots of prayer, we have celebrated 2007 with Hawk doing so good. He is a little miracle. Praise the Lord!!!
Mike was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006, but thank the good Lord, he was able to have surgery on April 21 and the cancer had not spread and the doctors were able to get all of the cancer. This was a big shock to us also, because Mike has always been so healthy and it was a shock to find out that he had cancer, but thank God he survived that is doing great now.
We are very thankful for all of the prayers for our family and for coming through 2006 with more faith and a closer walk with the Lord. All we can do is take life one day at a time and trust in the Lord. And we are so thankful for all of the blessings. OUR CUP RUNNETH OVER!!!

Jamie, Hawk, and Skyla in front of the Christmas tree.

Hawk is doing so good. !

From the very beginning, I prayed that The Lord would give us a miracle and let Hawk stay here with us, and I believe that He granted that prayer. Millions of prayers from all over the world and right here in Lebanon have gone up for Hawk. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John 14:13-14

When we were celebrating Thanksgiving at Regina and Mike Carr's house(Mike's sister and brother-in-law), all of us took turns saying what we were thankful for. All of us had a lot to be thankful for, and everyone included being thankful for Hawk's miracle. When it was time for Hawk to say what he was thankful for, he said that he was thankful for Jesus healing the boo-boo in his head.

Hawk wants a hummer, a bulldozier, and a backhoe for Christmas. We already have 4 battery operated riding vehicles here for them, so we got him and Breanna a bicycle. He wants a Hummer that he can ride, so maybe Santa will bring him one at his house.

Breanna says that she doesn't want any toys, she wants to give her presents to children who won't get anything for Christmas. She is a very thoughtful little girl. Anyway, Tuesday asked her if that meant that she didn't want her grandparents to get her anything and she no that they could get her something.

Brooke and Skyla are talking more and more. Both of them like to talk on the phone to us. Skyla will count to 10, but she won't say 7. She leaves it out and she won't say it, even if we try to get her to. Mike and I kept Brooke today. She had us playing baby dolls with her. She had two dolls, and she said that one was the baby and one was the sister. And then she said that her "sissy"(Breanna) was in school.

They are all so sweet and precious. Children bring so much joy to our lives.

This picture was taken today at a duck pond close to Jamie's girlfriend, Leah's house.

Hawk is feeling so good and gaining weight and has lots of energy.

I believe that he has received a miracle. That he is healed.

Lindy may get an appt. for a MRI just to confirm this.

Thanks to everyone who is praying for Hawk and his family. May you all be blessed.

HEBREWS 13: 5-6 NIV

because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you. "

So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"

Little Shaylee McDonald went to Heaven on Thursday, November 23, 2006. Mike, Tuesday, and I went to her funeral in Crossville, Tn. Please continue to pray for her family. They will need prayers for strength and comfort.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4 NIV
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles,

so that we can comfort those in any trouble

with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

This is a picture taken of Hawk and me when I went to his school for Grandparents Day. I had breakfast with him in his room.


WE had Hawk and Skyla on Sunday afternoon. We decided to take them to see Mike's mother, Cathy Waddle and her husband, Derald Waddle. I took this picture with me, and when we got in the car, I showed it to Hawk. He said "I love this picture." And then he said, " I love my school." He held this picture all the time we were in the car. He layed it in the seat when we got out at Nanny Cathy's. Then when we got back in the car, Hawk picked it up and held it the rest of the time he was in the car. Anyway, I gave it to him.

He said that he wished that I would come to his school and eat breakfast with him again. I told him that I couldn't come and eat breakfast, but that I would come and eat lunch sometime. He said that he wanted me to eat lunch with him everyday. Mike and I are planning on going to eat with him while Mike is on vacation, which will be the week of Thanksgiving. And I plan to eat with him some by myself.

To Hawk:

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Psalm91: 14-16


One of my favorite scriptures
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills--
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip--
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you--
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm--
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Jeremiah 29:11

" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "

God is good. I know that He holds Hawk in the palm of His hand. I know that He has good plans for him, both now and forevermore.

May God bless all of you who are praying for Hawk. Please pray for all of these children who suffer from this disease:
Matthew McGowanwww.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewmcgowan
Chase Sammutchasesammut.blogspot.com
J.J. Lipskihttp://www.jjsmiracle.com/
Leslie Schmidtwww.caringbridge.org/visit/leslieschmidt
Naomi Reisler (her soul continues her journey toward perfect love 7/6/06)www.caringbridge.org/visit/naomir
Alicia Martinhttp://www.aliciahopefund.com/
Kate Hrischukwww.caringbridge.org/visit/katehrischuk
Kortney Gillette (spread her wings and flew to heaven 4/27/06)www.caringbridge.org/visit/kgillette
James Neubauerwww.caringbridge.org/in/james
Maria McNamarahttp://www.prayersformaria.com/
Kayla Luciuswww.caringbridge.org/visit/kaylalucius
Cooper Bell (accepted his invitation to join our father in Heaven 9/13/06)www.caringbridge.org/visit/cooperbell
Trevor Palmerkinbuzz.org/trevor/journal.html
Aidan Zaugghttp://www.whynotaidan.com/
Dylan DiLaurohttp://www.saveourdylan.net/
Katya Polishchuk(she passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by herfamily members 11/1/06)www.uoregon.edu/~vaintrob/katya
Grant Truhlerwww.caringbridge.org/visit/grant
Ariana Samarashttp://www.arianasamaras.com/
Devan Williamshttp://www.aprayerfordevan.com/

Gus Lilleyhttp://www.guslilley.com/
Hannah Hatlen(surrounded by family, she fought right to the end 10/31/06) beachgroveliving.spaces.live.com
Leo Dubinsky (surrounded by family, Leo's pain, misery and suffering ended 10/23/06) leodubinsky.blogspot.com
Makenzie Tankhttp://www.carepages.com/makenzietank/ (registration required)

This is an e-mail I got from nice lady. I thought it was nice and wanted to share it:

Hi Gwen,

I just read your blog for the first time and my heart goes out to Hawk and your whole family. Your blog is such a wonderful testimony too. In spite of heartaches, you all are remaining faithful to our Lord, while also witnessing to thousands (maybe millions) of people. Sometimes I wonder if this is why God allows such sadness in our lives. He is using you and precious little Hawk for His glory. Yes, I will be praying for Hawk (and the little girl you mentioned) daily. And I will also pray that you and your family will continue to be blessed with a strong faith and belief in miracles.

When I was a child (about 10) my mother developed a lump in her breast which needed to be removed right away. My mother wanted to travel by plane to her hometown of Lewisburg, TN, because she knew the doctors there. However, the morning she was to leave, the airport was closed because of 2 feet of snow (Asheville, N.C.) Although my parents were real upset with this delay, we all knelt down by the sofa and prayed for healing. The very next day, the lump in Mom’s breast was gone. She immediately saw her doctor so he could examine it further. He was floored! He said, “I don’t know what you’re doing, but I would suggest you keep on doing it.” That was when my mother took the opportunity to tell her doctor about the Lord and what all He had done for her.

Just one more personal story—33 years ago I gave birth to identical twin girls. They had seizures, kidney problems, liver problems, etc. The Lord blessed us with these girls for 10 months, and we loved every minute we had with them. But after God called them Home, we heard from hundreds of strangers who we had never met. They told us how much they had been touched by these babies.

So you never know just how many hearts are being touched. Sorry I got a little carried away with my email—but Hawk has certainly touched me. God is certainly ALIVE and He still performs miracles in 2006! That’s what I will be praying for and I will pass your blog address on to friends who are believers.

By the way, I will bookmark your blog so I can check back frequently.

Thanks for ‘listening’,

Mary Huckaby
Charleston, S.C.