tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post1778868582902010888..comments2024-02-22T16:33:15.805-08:00Comments on Celebrating the Life of Ben Sauer: One Month LaterMindy Sauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09961827720597136759noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-78131566419733276722014-06-29T18:06:02.842-07:002014-06-29T18:06:02.842-07:00Continuing prayers for you and your family. Your s...Continuing prayers for you and your family. Your story is a reminder that God is so faithful even under the worst of our pain and circumstances.Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04589774960332638463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-65203086493654129952014-06-23T07:59:50.417-07:002014-06-23T07:59:50.417-07:00Amen and Amen. From another Mom who feels what yo...Amen and Amen. From another Mom who feels what you feel. Wes was 19. He was amazing. Thank you for your writing that helps me heal. I wish we could have tea and talk about our sons that we adored, but that are now in Heaven with our Savior, the incomparable Jesus. One day we will be at the River of Life with them, but not yet…not yet...waytojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14044872282829326678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-16046474057504063772014-06-23T06:01:12.899-07:002014-06-23T06:01:12.899-07:00I think of your family and Ben often. I happened ...I think of your family and Ben often. I happened upon this song and it made me think of your family<br />http://youtu.be/qyUPz6_TciYkara7811https://www.blogger.com/profile/03873759749627793702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-87746055546568933492014-06-19T10:43:23.380-07:002014-06-19T10:43:23.380-07:00God bless you and your family. Thank you for allow...God bless you and your family. Thank you for allowing us to encourage you along this seemingly impossible journey. linda kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15619966787758343548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-54599122540580439312014-06-19T04:13:21.521-07:002014-06-19T04:13:21.521-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683674751076218614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-2478064450696192562014-06-17T14:56:53.102-07:002014-06-17T14:56:53.102-07:00Dear Mindy,
My heart breaks for you and your famil...Dear Mindy,<br />My heart breaks for you and your family. Losing a child is never easy. I can only speak from our experience, We lost our daughter to stillbirth at 41 weeks on May 18, 2012. I can tell you there is never a day that has gone by that we don't think of our daughter Skylar. She would have been 2 and doing so many things now. The hurt is always there, I know you probably have heard so many times time will heal your wounds. Form me I may not cry everyday like I did in the first year. I cried everyday for our baby for 4 months. As the days past I may have not cried everyday but it never took away the love we have for her. I can now look at her pictures and remember her brief life inside me with happiness and not pain. Although there are times when certin things just make me think of her and I break down. We will always miss her but we know God will hold her till we get to Heaven. I can also tell you when we visit the cemetery to visit her earthly body our oldest daughter does not like to go. She said it makes her sad. Yet our 7 year old will kiss her spot all on his own and shows his love that way.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08375667065756503864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-35334286643094648812014-06-16T19:43:11.219-07:002014-06-16T19:43:11.219-07:00Thank you for continuing to blog. As you can see,...Thank you for continuing to blog. As you can see, you are encouraging so many people -- and bringing even more meaning to Ben's life by sharing your experience with the death of his earthly body. It is SO hard. It is supposed to be hard. Death was never part of God's original plan, and He knows how hard it is -- Jesus cried at Lazarus' death even though he knew he was going to resurrect him. There are nights I wake after a dream that a wonderful loved one is still living -- and when I realize that it was a dream, the pain for an instant is just as fresh -- and that is after 27 years. <br /><br />I am writing because you suggested that you find our comments to be an encouragement to you -- just as your blogs encourage others. I hope so -- because that it what I want to do. I want to encourage you and your husband and children and all your extended family -- everyone whose heart is breaking because Ben will not "grow to be a man" on this side of the veil. You will survive -- you are surviving -- and you are doing so many, many things right. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep breathing and, in the really hard minutes, remember that you have an army out here praying for you and holding you close through God's family. <br /><br />With hugs for all of you -- and a frog for Ben's grave,<br /><br />Leslie Hayes (SC Mom)Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10789854289597833854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-75508805648361149622014-06-16T17:35:49.546-07:002014-06-16T17:35:49.546-07:00Dear Mindy,
My name is Marianne, and I am a blog...Dear Mindy, <br /><br />My name is Marianne, and I am a blogger friend of Lynn Minter. I read about your dear boy, Ben some weeks late on her blog, and commented, and today I received an email from her to let me know that Ben is now with Jesus. <br /><br />As a mother, my heart fell with sadness for the physical loss of your sweet child. And in reading your post I am amazed at the beauty and perfection with which you are able to express your feelings. And yet, I also know that words cannot truly express your heart's ache. <br /><br />Your children are beautiful! And little Jack truly is expressing God's words to you. Though Jack is experiencing the pain of physical separation from his dearest brother Ben, he is also, I believe, very acutely aware that Ben is still alive. In fact more alive than ever. He knows that Ben is not really gone, just not here, on the earth. This is what, I believe, he is trying to convey to you. <br /><br />It's strange to realize that children, at Jack's age, are not so long from the presence of God, and they still retain a knowledge of that realm and presence. But being in human form, they are also subjected to human emotions and feelings that at his age especially may be hard to express at times. Hence his acting out. But he is determined to remind you that there is still happiness around you, and I believe he will succeed with that. <br /><br />My dear one, I am so sorry for your loss, and again, words do not express my feelings for what you are going through...which is saying a lot because I usually have so much to say. <br /><br />Speak over your children, and your yet to be born child. Speak protection (Psalm 91), over them, bless them every day. <br /><br />I wish for you God's grace, mercy, and protection on you and your family...now and forever...Amen.<br /><br />with love,<br />Marianne <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-38285571002354991672014-06-16T09:59:28.676-07:002014-06-16T09:59:28.676-07:00Hi Mindy,
I have been following your blog for abo...Hi Mindy,<br /><br />I have been following your blog for about two months now and I just want you to know how much your testimony has affected a stranger’s life in Texas. I am not married, have no children and am just a 20-something trying to find myself as a young woman and adult and navigating through life and trusting Him with each day. I can only hope I’m as half of a Mother, Wife and Christian Woman as you are when my time comes. Your loss and your trust and your bravery is LITERALLY growing the Kingdom and it is good. So, so good. Well done. <br /><br />May His praise be continually on your lips so that you never forget all the ways He has shown Himself faithful.<br /><br />All my love from Texas <3<br />Noelle Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15811721313420264084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-39716888060163505952014-06-16T07:38:49.859-07:002014-06-16T07:38:49.859-07:00Mindy~ I just wanted you to know that you and your...Mindy~ I just wanted you to know that you and your family are constantly in my thoughts. My heart breaks for you! I just recently lost my three and half year old daughter, Lunden, due to an accidental drowning. She passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. It seems that in some ways I am grieving the same as you are grieving. To me each day gets harder and harder because the reality sets in that she is not coming back. However, I know she is in the arms of Jesus now! I have also started a blog called, Healing Mom: Coping with a loss of a child. If you are interested, you can read mine as well, crystalchappell.wordpress.com. I feel we as Christians should lift each other up during difficult times. I hope I can be an encouragement to you just as you have been an ecouragement to me! I will be praying for you. Blessings!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11048733733044804437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-47649712636024387202014-06-16T06:07:28.667-07:002014-06-16T06:07:28.667-07:00Mindy,
Thank you for sharing your family's sto...Mindy,<br />Thank you for sharing your family's story. I am heartbroken for all of you and pray for your family daily. I admire you for leaning on God for strength and choosing not to be bitter. We cannot control our circumstances, but we can choose our reactions to our circumstances. You are truly an inspiration and your precious Benjamin is still ministering to us here on earth.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08005305668108266159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-74874316425784212292014-06-16T05:38:49.366-07:002014-06-16T05:38:49.366-07:00Thank you for the update. I grieve with you, I thi...Thank you for the update. I grieve with you, I think we all do. You have so graciously let us in to your life. Thousands of people cried when you cried, smiled when you smiled and got to their knees, even if they hadn't in a long time. Now we grieve with you, each of us carrying a piece of the pain with you. Through your eloquent words, Ben was brought into our lives, becoming part of our families. <br /> I am praying for you and your family. God bless you all!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386546740725640486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-91542361979572668682014-06-16T01:03:57.203-07:002014-06-16T01:03:57.203-07:00Dawna, I'm so sorry about your daughter. Sendi...Dawna, I'm so sorry about your daughter. Sending hugs to both you and Mindy. And Mindy, Jack was right: people everywhere really do love Ben--even moms like me all the way in Oklahoma. Praying for peace in whatever ways you might benefit from it.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12362263678709037128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-67802740020812779592014-06-15T23:57:13.184-07:002014-06-15T23:57:13.184-07:00I came late to Ben's fight, but since his pass...I came late to Ben's fight, but since his passing I have missed seeing your posts. Yesterday morning at church, a friend who was doing the sermon while our pastor was out of town included a video interview of you as a part of it. I was so excited to see you. At the end there were a lot of teary eyes, as we mourned with you and remembered a year ago Easter when that same man and his wife lost their year-old grandson. After church my daughter asked me if I had heard about Ben from their daughter, whom she said had known you in college. The funny thing is that I hadn't--Ben was so well loved that I heard about him from someone else entirely. But God has knitted all of us together now through Ben. Your family continues to bless us (your oldest son really touched my heart today), and we will continue to pray for you all.Karen Reederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10546177104737751404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-22891067207233461922014-06-15T13:16:57.846-07:002014-06-15T13:16:57.846-07:00Mindy,
I continue to be in awe of your faith, stre...Mindy,<br />I continue to be in awe of your faith, strength and wisdom. I never met any of you, but I agree with Jack...EVERYONE loves Ben...and your entire family for that matter! I am expecting twin grandchildren next month...a boy and a girl....and your story has both terrified me at the "what ifs" and gave me joy thinking of the close bond they will have with one another. I wish you the very best of luck with your own upcoming birth and continue to pray for His healing power and grace to be upon you all.<br />Patti Percoski (Michelle Taylor/McIIroy's aunt)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05866172559036294921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-84895514035192852014-06-15T11:37:30.015-07:002014-06-15T11:37:30.015-07:00:) me 2! :) me 2! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384342313069874245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-64768525952649759352014-06-15T11:33:34.899-07:002014-06-15T11:33:34.899-07:00My daughter will be there with your Ben soon Mindy...My daughter will be there with your Ben soon Mindy and I know she will seek him out, for when she leaves this world she leaves her 3 year old son which kills her deeper than than cancer ever could. She followed and PRAYED deeply for your Ben and she was destroyed beyond imagine for the boy she never knew and his mom. She too suffers from GBM (inoperable) & was just placed on hospice. I look to you and your posts as to see what is next for us...your family is just one step ahead of mine. I don't like where we were when we got the news on Feb 7th. ..i don't like where we have been over the past few months with watch her suffer with the loss of everything she new as normal. She has been paralyzed since Feb, loss of eyesight, steroid disfigurement and now loss of speech and uncontrollable staring seizures. ..and yet I do not like where we are going to be next any better...except for the comfort of knowing she will no longer be suffering. God is huge in my life. He us truly ALL we have. Everything else can leave, be taken or just disappear....except GOD. HE is truly all we have. I don't want to go to the next stage...so bad I don't wanna go, but for some reason unknown to us we have been chosen to go...so go we must. I'm so scared. She is so scared. I'm so sorry you have & had to go through all of this. I'm so sorry for your loss, but Thank you for leading the way for the rest of us to follow. Your words are always what are in my heart. God Bless you and your entire family for eternity! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384342313069874245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-9420624515368456462014-06-15T10:51:55.928-07:002014-06-15T10:51:55.928-07:00A month has gone by but it's still so soon aft...A month has gone by but it's still so soon after saying goodbye. Your hearts are heavy with the loss and we understand your pain. May you be surrounded by love. RIP Ben.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09626652338178060978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-87377380838313464722014-06-15T10:25:03.016-07:002014-06-15T10:25:03.016-07:00Bless you, Mindy, for once again being so raw and ...Bless you, Mindy, for once again being so raw and up front while you walk through grief. Please know that I am praying for you and your family. Keep shining. Keep writing. Your blog touches us all. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03555284782163839618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-4766834207581409322014-06-15T06:33:45.405-07:002014-06-15T06:33:45.405-07:00Mindy...I pray for you and your family daily that ...Mindy...I pray for you and your family daily that God will give you a peace beyond words. Thank you for sharing Ben with the world...and a part of yourself...and your family. And tell Jack that the world loves him, too. Throughout this all, we can't help but think of, and love Jack when we think of, and love Ben. He's been an amazing boy, brother and son through this roller coaster of life he can't get off of. Bless you all. You have our hearts and prayers.Debbie Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05205110597196427130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-3960975209073131342014-06-14T23:07:11.043-07:002014-06-14T23:07:11.043-07:00reading about jack in the cemetery made me smile. ...reading about jack in the cemetery made me smile. when my siblings and i were younger we frequently played boisterous games of hide and seek in our church cemetery while waiting for our dad (the pastor!) to finish up whatever he was doing in his office.some of the older graves were particularly conducive. probably in poor taste.....but oh, such fun......hgracec2https://www.blogger.com/profile/04180126223393970174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-54483489614678459752014-06-14T18:25:12.376-07:002014-06-14T18:25:12.376-07:00Oh, my word. SUCH a great devotional! Yes, we have...Oh, my word. SUCH a great devotional! Yes, we have it and Andy and I read a page every night. It really has helped keep things in perspective. A fantastic, quick read for anyone going through any kind of tragedy (or just daily life!)Mindy Sauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09961827720597136759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-42726157697907132014-06-14T18:22:26.864-07:002014-06-14T18:22:26.864-07:00Phew! Such a relief! ;)Phew! Such a relief! ;)Mindy Sauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09961827720597136759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-17255024419463807072014-06-14T18:22:00.873-07:002014-06-14T18:22:00.873-07:00Thank you, Michele. God's best to you and your...Thank you, Michele. God's best to you and your family as well! <3Mindy Sauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09961827720597136759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-71067307793690028262014-06-14T18:21:07.354-07:002014-06-14T18:21:07.354-07:00Yes. Someday when we get to heaven, all of our que...Yes. Someday when we get to heaven, all of our questions of 'why' will be answered. Though I'm not sure the answers will even matter to us very much then. <3Mindy Sauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09961827720597136759noreply@blogger.com