Linnea Grace

Our time was so short with our precious little girl, but the things that we learned through her life were priceless. Her name holds a lot of meaning to us, our sweet Linnea Grace. Linnea Borealis is the national flower of Sweden, so that is part of Nathan's heritage. It is a pretty and delicate flower, just like Linnea was. "Grace" came as we struggled through being young parents and a rocky marriage.

I was 6 months pregnant with Linnea when Nathan started an internship in Westcliffe, Co. As he spent his summer guiding, I trudged around a ranch with an 16 month old energizer bunny that couldn't quite keep her foot steady when the ground sloped all around us. Porta-potties all summer and changing rooms every few days to a week. I recall freezing mornings with frost on the ground, as we ate breakfast outside, and then, 90 degrees by the afternoon. Nathan and I didn't get to spend much time together, so that really made it more difficult on our marriage. With that said, it was by God's grace alone, that we survived that summer as a family, that we walked away loving each other, together to rejoice in our 2nd daughter's birth. So through God's grace, we were privileged to care for one of His, and we are so thankful for every minute of those 13 months of Linnea's life.

Sweet girl, thank you for your beautiful eyes and gentle spirit. God is good.