13 January, 2010

. . . an abundance of love.

64 comments:

Lara said...

Dear Natalie and Family,

It was an absolute pleasure to be in the presence of your sweet spirits at the funeral. I loved the speakers and the musical numbers. So many tears out of sadness as well as joy as we know that Gavin is now in the loving arms of our Savior. You are still in my prayers and thoughts often.

Love,
Lara Cheney and Family

Launa said...

Lots of prayers for your family!

TLCbull said...

Prayers of peace headed your way. God Bless from Logan, Utah.

merideth said...

wow when i come visit your blog these past couple of days i can actually feel the Saviors love so strong. it is overwhelming in a good way.

peace be with you and your family.

Dolly said...

My two teenage boys never once said "Mom, when are we leaving?" (Trust me, that's rare.) They were happy to be there with your little guys as long as there was a need... BUT I believe the real reason is that the Spirit and the hosts of angels that were present there today, made it a place where there was nothing better to do than to linger in that peaceful sphere.

Naihe Family said...

I wish we could have been there. You have been in our thoughts and prayers all day today.
Love to you and your family

crystal theresa said...

i am so sorry to hear of precious Gavin's departure from this earth - not for him, because as you said, your boy left the hospital "a vision of health," and he is whole and complete and utterly perfect in heaven. i am so sorry for the heartache and terrible missing you must endure as you wait to see your boy again. but God is a faithful and His grace will be there for you, as its been with you during Gavin's time in the hospital. i wish your family peace and comfort that only He can bring. your faith is inspiring. lots of love to you.

michelle said...

Hi, I'm another person who doesn't know you...

I'm so sorry for what little Gavin had to endure and I am inspired by your faith and perspective. I hope the Lord can continue to bless you and your family through all of this.

I recently read this article about Emma Smith and among her many struggles was the loss of her babies. It's a long article but if anything, jump to the end when she has a vision. I was in tears.

Again, may the Lord continue to bless you and your family. Prayers heading your way from San Francisco.

michelle said...

Sorry! Here's the article:

Ensign, August 1992
"My Great-Great-Grandmother, Emma Hale Smith" by Gracia N. Jones

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=4e2694bf3938b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

Laura said...

There was a candle last night in our house lighting for you during the services time....
Love
Laura Italy

lilia said...

You were all inspiring today! Mahalo

Deanna said...

It was a beautiful ceremony, so full of love and light. You and Richie both spoke so well. It was an honor and a privilege to attend; there was grief but there was also peace too, and I think the peace and spirit was stronger. You are forever the perfect parents for each of your boys.

algreig said...

thought of you and your family throughout the day--continuing to pray.

Crave Photography said...

I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family with strength and peace.

Andee

Asli Tur said...

You were in my thoughts and prayers yesterday... It must be the most difficult day of all, but also can see that it will bring you peace.
God bless all your beautiful children, and your family.
I wish there was more I could do than pray from so far away.

All the best,
Asli - Turkey

Anonymous said...

You have been and will continue to be in my thoughts. Many prayers for you and your family. God Bless.

Marsha (Australia)
xx

Shepherd Family ACALPM said...

You and yours are still in my families thoughts and prayers... May the Lord Bless you with his abundant Love!

Snapshotsofhappiness said...

I can't seem to get you and your family off my mind. I pray for you all often and hope you feel God's love around you.

Angie said...

Dear Natalie and Family,

Even though I don't personally know you, I have been in such a state of sadness over your loss. I have sent many "Thinking of @natalienorton" type messages on Twitter which hopes that the extra prayers you may need reach you. I want you to know that many of us were with you yesterday in spirit. In our home, you will continue to be prayed for as we know it doesn't end here. May you find strength and comfort in knwoing you will one day be reunited.

Unknown said...

Oh my heart is breaking. I don't know you but reading your blog lately has poured in a river of gratitude during my tough times. I'm going to go and hold my baby now. Thank you tremendously for sharing your spirit. We will pray for your family. Ofa Atu

Anonymous said...

I pray that you can find comfort in knowing that your son is no longer suffering. I will pray that you will feel God's love, peace and comfort with you in this sorrowful time.

Terry said...

I don't know why our loved ones have been chosen to leave so early, but they have, and they are together. We are all together here on earth also, to help one another, hold one another, keep the cycle going despite some often huge gaps in the road.
You have been blessed with family,friends and insight that many people can only wish for. May it keep your spirit whole and guide you always.

Stephanie Greenwell said...

Ever since I began following and "praying for pee", I've been touched by your loss and your incredible faith. Although we've never met, I feel a connection to you in that I gave birth to my son two days after Gavin. I've cried so many tears for you and your family because I can't imagine to lose any of my children, especially my baby boy who is just the light of our lives, especially my other children. I've prayed for your boys in that they will know that one day they will play with him again. I'm sure the service was beautiful, as your little Gavin was, and I pray that peace comforts you and your family's broken hearts in the days, weeks . Big hugs from the Midwest. God bless.

Anonymous said...

Still thinking of you and your family. Your strength and faith are examples to all of us.

Hugs and love to you from Minnesota.

Ann

Lindsay De McBride said...

I wished so badly that we could have been there yesturday. Natalie you are an incredable person. there is no one like you in all the world. You are full of strength it is amazing. Thank you for being such a good example to me and to all around you. you are in my prayers always.

I know your Gavin's are smiling down on you.
love,lindsay mcbride

Anonymous said...

Your words are beautiful....you have a gift. Your Gavin is smiling down at you. On Earth it seems like an eternity until we see our loved ones in heaven. To them, it is just a moment without us. You have a journey here on Earth. You and Gavin have touched me in a way that words fail me. I am a better person because of it. I will always think of you and your angel Gavin.
Roxanne-Louisiana

Anonymous said...

Natalie, still praying for your sweet family. You are such an amazing spirit. Blessings to you.

Maly and Dan said...

You don't know me but I feel so close since the spirit of God is so strong here. I thought of you and your family and the funeral and even spoke to friends about your faith. My faith is stronger for the All Mighty. Thank you for that! I can never look at new born the same way again. Now I look at them with so much love that God truly does love us! He does. He really does...

Brittney said...

I too do not know you, but your faith and your sweet baby has touched my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I appreciated your testimony, and am so grateful for the sweet comfort of the spirit, praying that it will comfort, guide and carry you through this.

Robbie said...

natalie,
thanks for the abundance of love that you poured out from your heart yesterday. We could all feel it, and it's just amazing that you can share it like that, so powerfully, even when you are healing.
Love you,
robin

Anonymous said...

Thank you for allowing all of us to be a part of this in some way. I still have a broken heart for you and everytime I look at your blog I get choked up because of the circumstances and also the spirit that is felt from reading your words.
Thank you for inspiring all of us. Thank you for letting little Gavin inspire all of us. Thank you for inspiring me to want to be a better mother. Because of all of this I have held my kids longer, been more patient, and have tried harder to be a little better...every day. Thank you for your faith that has helped make my testimony stronger.

Hope that you can still feel all of the prayers in your behalf.
Thought of you all day yesterday.
April

Scott & Tami said...

Nat-I haven't checked your blog in a few weeks and I am so sorry that I haven't been able to add my prayers to baby Gavin.....my heart is wrenched just reading through your past post about what you have been going through. I love you Nat and my prayers are with you and your family as you move forward. You are one of the most Christlike people I know. You are amazing...Heavenly Father is perfecting you....keep your head up, He is with you in all this and I know you know this.

Scott & Tami said...

oh Nat-I LOVE YOU!

Anonymous said...

it's amazing the heartache we as mortals doesn't even compare to what our Savior suffered in Gethsemane. For that I am grateful to know that we are not let alone ever in a way that our Savior was even though it sometimes may feel like it. It is moments like this that bring me back to the frailty of life and what perspectives need to use my energy. I only understand your heartache in a minuscule way as I have placed a child for adoption and lived through the fear of my daughter I have raised for 8 yrs possibly being taken away in a custody battle. The pain is real, every tear you shed, validate it, the peace is real as well. The Gospel of Jesus Christ takes the sting away.

My favorite quote:
"Now, we find many people critical when a righteous person is killed, a young father or mother is taken from a family, or when violent deaths occur. Some become bitter when oft repeated prayers seem unanswered. Some lose faith and turn sour when solemn administrations by holy men seem to be ignored and no restoration seems to come from repeated prayer circles. But if all the sick were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the Gospel, free agency, would be ended.
"If pain and sorrow and total punishment immediately followed the doing of evil, no soul would repeat a misdeed. If joy and peace and rewards were instantaneously given the doer of good, there could be no evil, all would do good and not because of the rightness of doing good. There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency, no Satanic controls.
"Should all prayers be immediately answered according to our selfish desires and our limited understanding, then there would be little or no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or even death; and if these were not, there would also be an absence of joy, success, resurrection, eternal life, and godhood.
President Spencer W. Kimball

Carly.

JAMIE said...

May God continue to bless and strengthen you in the time ahead.

I know that when I lost my daughter, about a week after the funeral, I felt so stagnant, like everyone else's life was moving on, and here I was, not moving forward, in mourning, in my own reality.

You'll get through this, you have so much love and strength coming through to you and your family.

karen said...

Your story has touched my heart. What a sweet baby Gavin is! I can't even imagine what a roller coaster ride you have been on for the last month or more. I have a testimony of the gospel and know that your little Gavin had a special calling to fulfill and he is waiting for your family to be with him again--and you will!!!
Thank you for sharing your most private thoughts. Our prayers are with you.

Karen Jorgensen, St. George, Utah

Nathan & Annette said...

I too am someone you don't know. You are such an amazing person. Because of you my faith has grown stronger, I have held my little boys tighter. I know you will see your little Gavin again. He was to special of a boy to be on this earth. May God give you peace at this time. God Bless you and your family.

Annette (West Jordan, UT)

RenderMeMama said...

Many more prayers for you and your family. My heart has been reaching to you for days to support you. I have held my little men closer than ever in hopes that Gavin can feel it. The pain won't end but I do hope it changes into something that is more helpful for you.

Anonymous said...

The thoughts you and Richie shared at the funeral were so heartfelt and lovely. We felt uplifted even while emotionally drained. It was so nice to share a hug. See you soon and all the best....Patria and Mark

Sarah said...

I was just introduced to your blog this morning and have been entralled while reading it today. My heart aches for you and your family and I have been and will be praying for you. I feel Heavenly Father's sweet & comforting love and I thank you for being such an example of faith. May the Lord bless & comfort you. Hugs from Utah.

ginnyadkinsphoto said...

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful boy. No words can really express what I am trying to say so just know that all the way from the coast of FL you are thought of and prayed for!

Brooke said...

Wish we could have been there too...I have heard how wonderful and touching it was.

I also wanted to share this quote that a friend had on her facebook and made me think of you and another friend (you might know Kara Ford) who's sister just had a baby and she was stillborn. Anyway it won't change anything but it made me feel better for a moment.

"Trust [the Lord], even when in eternal perspective it temporarily hurts very much. Have patience when you are asked to wait when you want immediate action. . . . The path you are to walk through life may be very different from others. You may not always know why He does what He does, but ...you can know that He is per...fectly just and perfectly merciful." -elder Richard G. Scott.

It sounds like you have already put all your trust in the Lord so really this quote might not mean much. But it might too and I would feel bad if I didn't share.

Our love and prayers are still coming your way.

Anonymous said...

You have no clue who I am, but I love your photography and the tips you give.

My heart is broken for your little family. Such a tragedy to lose such a beautiful baby. I am in awe of the testimony you have. I have never seen your baby in life, but I truly feel that I love him. He is beautiful, and he will live again.

I pray that you can feel Gods love and His arms wrapped around you.
Aubrey

Pol said...

I am so sorry to hear about your son. You are in my thoughts and prayers

Brooke said...

Was thinking about you yesterday. I'm so glad you can feel our love. I hope you have happy days to come :)

P said...

Dear Natalie,

I am a stranger, but have been following your blog for a while, because I love your photography.

You have been very strong, and also very welcoming to all of us with your thoughts.

Gavin is a beautiful boy, and he is with God now. Do stay strong, and know that all of us are with you always.

Paul

Alyse said...

Thank you for sharing this with all of us. You are an incredible woman & reading your blog has truly inspired me to be better. I am so incredibly sorry for you loss & am so thankful for your beautiful testimony. You are in my thoughts & prayers.

Sabrina said...

Prayers for your family. Lots of prayers.

Valerie said...

I am sorry for your loss. We have never met, but I want to tell you what an amazing woman you are. You are so strong and inspirational to others, as well as myself. Each time I visit your blog, my tears come. Someday you and your family will be with your precious baby Gavin again. Lots of love and prayers.

Amanda Peterson Photography said...

You are definitely loved! I just came across your blog from another fellow photographers and my heart ached for you and your family.

Wow you have had lots of thoughts and prayers coming your way and from experience 5 1/2 yrs ago (I can't believe it's been that long) losing my first son unexpectedly, the prayers, friends and family, and our Father in Heaven and Savior, are what get us through these things that come our way.

I am comforted seeing that you have a strong belief and faith in God and you seem to understand life's purpose and YOU KNOW that you will be together again because of our wonderful Savior's sacrifice.
Allow him to carry you at this time, allow him to wrap his arms around you, feel his love, it is there! Gavin is also near you, that is his calling now, to be your families guardian angel. Live in a way that you will feel his prescence often. Hold on to those memories you have. Even though his time on earth was brief, he has made a huge impact on many people and will continue to do so.

Peace and comfort to you and yours.

cat said...

I have just read about you and sweet Gavin on Rachael's site. Please know that I will keep you and your family in my prayers here in Africa. I know no words can make you better, nothing can bring him back, but I pray that you continue to find comfort in the love of your family and this great blogging community.

May God's love and light shine on you.

Gibson Gang said...

I thought of you all day. Wish we could have been there to give some hugs.

Sending love from Provo!

G.B. said...

My heart has been so heavy for you Natalie. I have had you in my prayers all week long. I am amazed at how God is using you to minister to those around you in the midst of this storm. Thank you for being a living Testimony for Christ and His LOVE! God bless you and prayers will continue to be sent up!

Brandi Hamerstone said...

I have searched and searched for your blog since I read your last post on January 6th. I forgot the name of the blog, forgot where I found it, didn't have it in the history and it was killing me. Today I spent the morning searching and I found it. My heart broke and tears poured as I read that you lost your little one. While I know the peace that he now has is more than anything we could hope for here on earth, as a mother I know that feeling of loss must have been overwhelming. I am SO amazed at your faith in God through this process. It is so inspiring and while I know it won't take the place of your little loved child, it should hold you together long enough to survive and forge ahead. I've prayed for you and your family through these days and hoped for the best for everyone. Now I hope that your heart recovers from the hurt and that God continues to show you his love and grace through this time. I'm sorry. May all the love and prayers of the people who have found you, comfort you and support you as much as they can. I wish I knew of something I could say or do, but I know that prayer is where I will help and prayer is what I will do.

Owlhaven said...

Hugs and prayers to your family....


Mary

athewa said...

Natalie. We don't know each other. I saw your webpage a few weeks ago and started following you on twitter. I have been aware of your story during the past days and finally decided to write when I saw you were a member of the church as I am.
Thats why I can tell you to be confident that you shall reunite again as a family. I do wish you the best at this hard times and just keep that in mind. You are a very loved woman. I can tell.
Hope you find some peace soon.
Love from mexico.
Carla

Brandi said...

I am going through the same thing you are right now. My son died on January 4th. Please know I am truly heart broken for you! My prayers go out to you and your family. "the Lord Jesus Christ is our parter, helper and advocate. He will make weak things becme strong. He wants us to be happy. He wans us to be suessful, if we do our part he will step in" (ensign Nov 08 pg 28) The Lord will carry you! He has been carrying me for 11 days now.

Jolene said...

Natalie and family,
I was so very sorry to hear about Gavin's struggle and the loss of him. I pray that God continue to bless you with peace and love and that the anticipation of the joy of holding him in heaven becomes a balm for your aching hearts. God bless you all.

Anna said...

I came across an aritcle from the Digital Photography School website today that linked me to your blog. My heart goes out to you and your family; your son was born 9 days after we welcomed our first son into this world. As I read your blog, I felt so sad for you, while my husband and I have been getting our son to stop crying for the past 45 minutes. Now, I feel so grateful just to be reminded how lucky we are to have a healthy little boy with such strong lungs!Thank you for sharing in such a difficult time, and now I will never regret the 1000's of photos that I take of our little man.
Anna - Alberta, Canada

Dria said...

Dear Norton Family,
Many prayers are being said for you all. We have been through very close and scary calls with 1 of our children-- I have no advise on how to handle what has happened to you- Just know there are so very many of us that care.

Erica said...

I don't know you and we have never met, but we are both mothers to precious little boys and I can only imagine just how your heart aches. My prayers are with you and your family tonight.

God Bless,

Anonymous said...

I just want to tell how great it is to see God's love radiating from you in this time. I pray that I too will have the strength and passion to spread God's love in troubled times. You are beautiful mother. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
God Bless.
Jaclyn (Missouri)

Rebecca said...

I have read your blog here and there for weeks and was so amazingly saddened to view it yesterday. I had no idea. I wept. I wept because you have a loss. I wept because I can not imagine your pain. I wept because I can not take this pain away. I wept because you are a good person and I can not explain why things like this happen. I wept because as much as I know that Gavin is smiling, laughing and looking down at you from heaven, nothing can ease this pain but time. You and your family are loved. Loved and thought of fondly. I pray that God take your burden and carry it for you. I am so sorry for your loss. May your Angel Gavin always bring a smile to your face and warm your heart. You are loved.
Sending many, many prayers your way.
Rebecca (Ohio)

Dave Duffin said...

Natalie, I hardly know you but I want you to know that the whole Duffin family has been with you this whole time. We all love you and your family and our prayers have certainly been with you in this difficult time. Being a new mom, I cannot even begin to imagine that I could ever relate but I cannot cry enough to think I could ever handle this. Your strength and testimony are such an inspiration to me. Thank you for you. We love you. The Dave and Sara Duffin fam.