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Name Picked – Message to Spread

Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:47 pm by with Leave a Comment

Marsha and I have been praying and searching for a new name to share our message to the world. One where we can spread a message of hope and joy through pain and suffering. One that can look back on the lives of John Carter Rinard and Claire Rinard and extend a hand of hope to all the suffering children and parents in this world.

Tonight, I think we have found just the right name. It is Sparrow’s Heart. The site was just set up a few minutes ago and is basic, but will be developed rapidly, so please bookmark this site, and share it with others as we aim to be a shoulder for others.

Please keep in mind that this page in its current form not the final form and it will be regularly changing and being updated. We only put some placeholders that mean a lot to us to remind us all of how precious life is.

Blog, Encouragement, families

With Hope

Posted on April 19, 2011 at 11:25 am by with Leave a Comment

This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you’ve gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but …

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
‘Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
‘Cause we believe with hope
(There’s a place by God’s grace)
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again
We’ll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God’s plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father’s smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
‘Cause now you’re home
And now you’re free, and …

We have this hope as an anchor
‘Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true, so …

So we can cry with hope
And say goodbye with hope

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope

Words by Steven Curtis Chapman
“With Hope”

Encouragement, families, Featured

Happy 1st Birthday Johnny

Posted on April 11, 2011 at 10:37 am by with Leave a Comment

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday Dear Johnny
Happy Birthday to You.

A year gone by, with every month counted until we’ve reached One Year. The years of many firsts, just not in the way we planned. I suppose the anticipation of the first year mark will be like no other. This whole year has felt like no other.

Read the rest on Momma’s Birthday Post Happy Birthday, My Beautiful Son.

Happy Birthday my son, we miss you.

families, Featured

John Carter Rinard – Happy 1st Birthday

Posted on April 10, 2011 at 5:23 pm by with 3 Comments

I am blessed beyond anything I could have imagined, a I have 2 beautiful daughters, 2 beautiful sons, and 2 more daughters on the way. My youngest son was born one year ago tomorrow (Sunday April 11, 2010), and passed away when we was 8 days old.

This past year has been one that no one should ever go through. It is not something I can explain, or expect anyone to understand.

Each week on Johnny’s due date – birthday, I sang Happy Birthday to Johnny while he was in his momma’s tummy. His mommy would help me out when the tune wasn’t going so well. The older kids joined in, when they were around. The day he was born, with all of us around, we sang Happy Birthday Johnny. Being just a few hours old, we all could tell that he finally recognized something in this strange new place. He looked around, and even let out a squelch of emotion when the song was over. We have a video of this precious memory to each of us.

Little Johnny, your brother and sisters are as proud as can be. Your mommy, daddy, and siblings prayed to have you for a decade. You are an answer to our prayers, and you are so loved from before we even knew you.

Little Johnny, we miss you. Our heart aches for you, but we push forward, excited about the day we will be reunited with you. For now, we try to comfort ourselves knowing that you are in Heaven, hopefully playing baseball with your Uncle Phil, and hanging out with your Grandpa John (among others). We would give anything to have you back in our arms, and sitting in your high chair so we can sing Happy Birthday on your 1st birthday.

I assume you would be walking by now and beginning to talk. Your brother and sisters had so much to show you, and your mommy and daddy wanted to watch you grow.

I am not sure how to push forward everyday, but we do. Sometimes not so successfully, and other days I feel like we are making it, one step at a time. Sometimes a step backwards (mostly for your daddy), and then your mommy pulls me back into shape.

I am sitting here looking at your picture. You are a handsome boy, and tomorrow we will sing you Happy Birthday with tears in our eyes.


We miss you, Johnny.

families, Featured, misc, Video

Be Thankful in Adversity

Posted on November 24, 2010 at 12:16 pm by with Leave a Comment

“It is in adversity that you will find blessing if you choose to be thankful.”

This year has been one of learning for me. I had never been hit with death so close. I never expected to lose a child. I had wrongly assumed that life would follow a natural course and I would outlive my kids.

This year with the passing of my 8 day old son I am reminded that life is precious. You are never guaranteed any more than this moment. At any time the candle can be blown out.

I am challenged this year to appreciate what we have been given. Never take for granted what you have been given.

This year I have learned to choose to be thankful. I am thankful for my beautiful son, John Carter Rinard. His time was short with me, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. He is and always will be a part of me that is invaluable. For this I am thankful. I was blessed by his short life. I remember him kicking me while he was in his mommy’s tummy. The time I took his mommy, brother, and sisters to an ultrasound and he rolled over and the kids were amazed at his beauty perfect body.

I am thankful for the moments this year.

It is in adversity that you will find blessing if you choose to be thankful.
-JAR

Blog, Encouragement, families, Featured, Jake Rinard, misc