tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46932359692567302882024-03-05T19:58:59.780-06:00Hope Mommiesto share the Hope of Christ with bereaved mothers and familiesErin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-27583446652841485502012-07-02T18:13:00.000-05:002012-07-02T18:13:00.884-05:00Spilling OverAnother Hope Mom and I were recently discussing how our losses have affected our love for our other children. After her son went to Jesus, someone had comforted her with the words that her heart had expanded to love three children, and with one of them in Heaven, the other two would be experiencing a little extra love that many children don't receive. She reflected to me how accurate that word Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-86877102174980924432012-04-03T09:59:00.002-05:002012-04-03T10:00:17.171-05:00Happy EasterWow, I'm behind on an update for this blog!
It's been a busy spring, and Easter is upon us. For Hope Moms and families who are still deeply grieving, I'm praying that this Easter will mean something more than candy, baskets, and bunnies to you. I'm earnestly praying that the truth of what we celebrate will knock you off your feet, onto your knees, and fill your hurting soul with hope.
I love Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-15842128641837951752011-07-18T12:38:00.000-05:002011-07-18T12:38:12.170-05:00the test"The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts." - Proverbs 17:3
Yesterday I came across this verse, and found much comfort in it. These were my observations:
1. Silver, gold, and other precious metals are of great worth.
2. Because they possess value, they must be made pure and spotless; who would purchase imperfect, muddied gold? The inherent worth Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-38135337684743204602011-07-02T14:09:00.001-05:002011-07-02T14:09:53.938-05:00birthdaysAt the beginning of each month, I update our Hope Babies Calendar for the website so it will accurately reflect how old our children are if you click on their name.Each time I edit one of the birthdays, my heart feels like it sinks a little bit lower with each passing month. I look at the names of the sweet babies that are only 3 months old in Heaven, and my heart breaks for that familyErin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-33584331304973145482011-06-22T17:35:00.000-05:002011-06-22T17:35:49.325-05:00new happeningsHello Friends!
I'm excited about writing and telling you all the thoughts of the day. Since Mother's Day, I've been overwhelmed with summer camp and haven't had as much time to devote to praying/brainstorming for Hope Mommies. But today the Lord has given me a lot of ideas and I'm excited about all of them!
Currently, our amazing Creative Director, Constance, is at work to design our brochures.Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-33431531152380617362011-05-09T10:21:00.000-05:002011-05-09T10:21:00.696-05:00The Gift
The woman is kneeling, offering up her tears and sorrow to God. Her tears flow to the ground, watering the tree of life which yields a single blossom above her, representing growth, beauty, and hope. The sunrise represents God, full of Light, shining on her and shattering the dark of night, bringing forth a new day full of hope.Phung Ngo Martin, Artist
This Mother's Day needed Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-49528127707641043642011-04-11T10:46:00.000-05:002011-04-11T10:46:56.701-05:00Psalm 62:8<!--StartFragment-->
Trust in Him at all times, O peoples; pour out your heart to Him;God is a refuge for us.Psalm 62:8
The word “times” in this verse denotes a “season” or “opportunity”. The psalmist David implores us to trust the Lord at every opportunity, in every season of life. He also makes a very valuable connection between our volitional will and emotions: to truly place your trust in Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-75100777452103827032011-04-09T13:10:00.000-05:002011-04-09T13:10:24.696-05:00calendar daysToday I set up a calendar to help keep track of the birthdays for each Hope Baby. (You can see the calendar here.)
To be very honest, it is just so disheartening to look at that calendar. There are very few days that aren't filled, and that is honestly just because I haven't met many Hope Moms yet, or heard their stories or seen their babies names/dates.
As I was writing in their precious Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-9356052159435351452011-03-31T14:23:00.001-05:002011-03-31T14:23:45.904-05:00WEBSITE!The time has come to officially launch the Hope Mommies website! Constance Ray has been amazing, spending untold hours on designing this. I am so very excited to give you...
www.hopemommies.org
This will now be our launching pad for the ministry. Go check it out, and email if you have any questions! I'm thrilled that this will enable us to better serve Hope Moms around the world.
Because He Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-52157355757324293472011-03-25T09:33:00.000-05:002011-03-25T09:33:44.079-05:00How to helpThank you to those who have financially contributed to Hope Mommies! Because of your generosity, our tax-exemption application is underway! Our next goal is: "Operation M-Day".
That would be Mother's Day, a little over a month away. For Hope Moms around the world, that day is a potential train wreck of emotions. I know that I personally am going to wish I could hide the day away, waiting the Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-28884121043457155452011-03-12T09:55:00.001-06:002011-03-19T22:37:34.000-05:0013.1Hope Mommies will be running in the Dallas Rock and Roll Half Marathon, on Sunday, March 27! You can read more about it here. We're asking for sponsors, willing to financially partner with us as Hope Mommies continues to grow and become financially sustainable and able to support grieving mothers. If you are interested in sponsoring the run, donate here:
Thanks!!Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-80172232667263918212011-03-01T13:32:00.001-06:002011-03-01T13:33:33.395-06:00A Forgotten AttitudeMeekness has been on my mind.
www.dictionary.com defines meekness as "patient, long-suffering, or submissive in disposition or nature; humble" (I'm a fan of the dictionary.)
What does it mean to be patient, long-suffering, and submissive in the face of death? Humble before what we deem is "unfair" and "undeserving"? and WHY should we be meek? I Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-61387836873508148672011-02-15T10:01:00.001-06:002011-02-15T10:01:58.625-06:00AnchoredHave you ever looked up the definition of the word "Hope"? According to www.dictionary.com, it can be a noun, a verb with a direct object, or a verb without an object. "To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence" sums it up best, I think.
"To look forward to..." What am i looking forward to? I look forward to a joy-filled day, when I hold a healthy son or daughter. I look Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-91259013595105105562011-02-11T10:41:00.000-06:002011-02-11T10:41:27.696-06:00Prayer!I'm very excited about the Prayer ministry we just set up! We believe that prayer works, and the Lord hears the cries of His children and answers them:
"When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17-18
and Romans 12:12 commands us, "Rejoice in hope, be patient in Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693235969256730288.post-44175655126743487832011-02-09T15:54:00.001-06:002011-02-09T22:42:01.349-06:00And So It Begins...Who knew that four months ago, Hope Mommies would develop? Obviously not me. But I'm thankful for the opportunity to share the Hope that I have in the midst of my daughter's death.
www.hopemommies.org is under construction, and the 501(c)3 status is in the works! I'll keep you updated on it's growth. My prayer right now is that the Lord will open doors for Hope Mommies and raise up the gifted Erin Cushmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05141128134871578379noreply@blogger.com3