Excerpts from the Book
 

“Early Wednesday morning I awoke and immediately called to see how Larry was. My brother-in-law, Mark, was caught off guard and had to tell me that Larry passed away in the night. Before he died, however, he was told that he had a beautiful, healthy baby girl...”
-Cristy  
 
“When I asked at the recovery room how she was doing, the doctors reported that she was not doing very well. A few minutes after I returned to the waiting room, I noticed a lot of doctors and nurses running past. A short while later the hospital chaplain came in the room and said Lori had had a cardiac arrest. I was numb with disbelief – how could this be happening when we came in for a simple childbirth?”
-Tom  
 
“I heard of Tom’s tragic loss – his wife Lori died during childbirth… My heart broke as I contemplated his loss and future without Lori. God strongly urged me to attend her funeral reception and find a way to reach out to Tom, but everything in me cried, “No, Lord, I can’t; it’s still too hard for me. How can I help someone else when I’m still grieving? He impressed on my heart that this was something I must do, so Cindy and I went to the reception...”
-Cristy  
 
“Dear Tom,
I am so happy to hear from you… Knowing that you are abiding in the Lord at this difficult time really exposes your love for Him. It seems after I lost Larry I wasn’t so concerned about what others would think of me and I got more bold. Do you ever feel that you have lost everything and have nothing to lose? …I remember being exhausted for the first three or four months. Emotional exhaustion is so much more difficult to recover from than physical exhaustion isn’t it…"
-Cristy  
 
“Hi Cris,
Thanks for your prayers. I guess the reason I asked about the ring is because I’m starting back to work. I haven’t talked to anyone but you about it. I just wondered if everyone would be thinking I am not “letting go” or something. You know, hanging onto memories instead of getting on with my life. I’m not ready to take it off yet, so I’m going to wear it… corresponding has been healing for me, too. It’s a common thread we have, a tragic thread to be sure, but we can grow in Christ and we can grow through each other’s experiences."
-Tom  
 
“Hi Cris,
Hmmm. One would almost believe that you knew exactly what you were talking about... Some people avoided me. A few came by and said “hi.” Others acted like nothing happened. It almost felt like the whole company knew about what happened, even seemed like the cash register lady in the cafeteria knew. To be fair though, it’s got to be hard for others to know how to react...”
-Tom  
 
“I can imagine the trauma of your experience. I believe it was by the Lord’s grace that you were not in the room with Lori at the time, just as I have always believed that for myself. You said once that you wondered if it is easier to have death expected or unexpected. When it is drawn out you have more awful memories to try and get past, but of course, more time to prepare.”
-Cristy  
 
“I just read your testimony this Sunday evening and I must say that it has touched me more than I can express in words. I’m still really trying to digest it for a few days and re-read it again – although it is going to be painful for me. I wish I were there to give you a hug. I’m so sorry – I had no idea of the pain you have endured…”
-Tom  
 
“I wrote my testimony informally… just with the emotion I was feeling. I have to say, it was one of the best things for me to release a lot of emotion and gain a lot of healing. It was a very healing thing. I guess the Lord knew and it was why He has been prompting me for so long. It might sound strange to you, but praying with you the day of Lori’s funeral was very healing for me as well.”
-Cristy  
 
“I long to see the completion of the Great Commission. The Lord has done a work in me I never thought possible and I am excited about my future and where He will lead me… I do get lonely, just like you, but am confident if and when it is His will, He will again provide me a partner. Until then, I really try not to think about that too much.”
-Cristy  
 
”Thanks for being such a great friend. I have not really known the intimate feelings and emotions of many people, even Lori and I did not speak of such things too often. I really feel as though I have been able to look inside your heart with the words you have written to me over these past months. You have helped me to see God’s love for us more clearly, and how our love for others is paramount… thank you so much.”
-Tom  
 
“I looked down at my ring and started to pray. I prayed about Lori, and I thanked the Lord for bringing me through this tragedy. I slipped the ring off my finger and said good-bye to the one I loved. It was not tearful as I had feared, but it was as if the grieving just left peacefully.”
-Tom  
 
“I had fallen in love with this person but didn’t realize I had… We had dinner at a cozy restaurant, and though we had never expressed any feelings for each other, I felt at ease. We talked about supernatural healing that had taken place in our lives, and chatted about our growing up and our families.”
-Tom  
 
“The words he said to me completely blindsided me. They were so beautiful and honoring, they made my heart ache. I absolutely had no clue he felt this way. I could tell he was speaking to me from his heart.”
-Cristy