Another Lonely New Year

A New Year’s note from Grace’s mom

As we begin this new year 2024, our hearts are torn between the excitement of God’s plan for Grace’s trial (to start on November 4th), led by Him, and walking through another year without our dear children, Travis and Grace Emily. 

We know they are His and that we had them on loan for a little while, yet life without them physically here is tough. We lean on Him for strength each day. We are so glad we can look to Him and trust in His promise that we will be reunited with Travis and Grace Emily someday. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  They both knew Jesus was their Savior and we are grateful for that.  

Travis would often look at the New Year from a personal trainer’s perspective, helping many with their goals of losing weight and becoming more fit and trim. Grace loved watching videos he had made for Anytime Fitness.

“Travis stars in ‘Bikini Season’ fitness video”

“Travis doing what he enjoyed”

She was blessed to have her big, handsome brother do a few training sessions with her. She was quite the toughie. She’d often shake the heavy ropes in time to an Elvis song, chosen by Travis just for her, or pull in a weight on the end of a heavy rope while he’d encourage her.

“Grace working out with Travis”

Grace on the other hand looked at the New Year continuing her countdown to her next birthday. 🤣 It was such a joy witnessing her excitement about adding another year to her age, while Scott and I would try not to think about how the years were adding up!  Grace would announce, without hesitation, our age proudly when our birthdays finally arrived. Oh, how we miss that, even though we did not have the same excitement hearing our age be told to others! 😂

As you can only imagine, life takes on a different view and meaning after losing children, especially when SO tragically. Our hearts are forever broken.  God being omniscient knew the outcome. Oh, how His heart must grieve to see His plan for His children be altered by man’s sin. 

How do you make sure New Year’s resolutions last?  Studies show that only 19% of people keep their resolutions and by mid-January most people give up their New Year’s resolutions. Why? Because they are using ‘will power’ not ‘God power’. Grace encouraged others to seek God’s power. She was so connected to Him. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 Grace Emily really knew that!  

We must all look to Him, now more than ever, as the world seems to be spiraling out of control. Satan, ‘the creep’, as Grace called him, clearly knows his days are numbered. I know Grace would be reminding us, “Don’t worry guys, God’s got this!”

This year, I encourage you to take out your photo albums, phones, iPads etc. and look at the pictures and videos you’ve taken over the years and reminisce with your loved ones. I always thought ‘someday’ we would have more time to do that. 

As the main person who captures family moments by taking pictures (lots of them!), I was often given the eyeroll. [Did you know a 128 GB phone holds over 53,000 photos and more? 😉 BTW Scott wanted me to add this little-known fact!] 

How grateful I am to have the many photographed memories to hold close to our heart. I wish now that I too would have taken extra time to sit with Grace to watch videos and look at photos showing what a gift she was to our family, beginning with the day she was born, and to pull out those albums more often when Travis had stopped by. Please don’t miss that opportunity yourselves. Take time out of your busy days to reminisce and tell family stories. 

Most important, make God a priority this year. Reach for Him upon waking, NOT your phone. That is my personal New Year’s resolution and I pray that will be yours. 

Praying for blessings for you and your family in 2024. 

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers! 

❤️Love,

The Schara Family

“Grace on her Simply Fit Board”