A Story that never ends...

October 22, 1976 – two people were joined together in love and set out to start a family

1979 brought a baby girl

1982 another baby girl

1984 yet another baby girl

Three girls…what joy…what fun…what a family. No one ask why tommy doesn’t have any hair, because they know. We are known as the ARMSTRONG GIRLS. We fight like cats and dogs, but mess with one of us and the other will stop it real quick. A family of 5…stronger than most…TOGETHER FOREVER.

We all grew..went through heart aches…joys…and sorrow…but we were always a family. TOGETHER as one.

Years pass and we find our loves…joined together to start our new extended family. God brought 3 men into the family, Eric, Patrick, & Jason.

2003 came and first grand child…a boy..Mason..what are we going to do with a boy?
2004 another boy…Jacob…ok…I think we got this figured out now…boys are dirty and like to run…a lot

2006…we had another boy, Carson, added to the brew, but God decided He would keep him…first sorrow we would face, one we hoped to be our last…but we pushed through TOGETHER

2007…brought yet 2 more boys to the Armstrong grandkids count…Sam & William…so now we are at 4 boys…OH BOY!! We are now use to boots, tractors, every sport ball possible…we are use to the BOYS..but secretly hoping for the girl one day

2011 came…we were expecting 2 additions…Lori found out another boy…what joy in boys…Leslie found out …we heard for the first time IT’s A GIRL!!! No way…finally…we get our girl.

We have spoiled her with dresses, bows, and love. I have secretly been planning for the times she will call me when she is mad at her mom when she is older. Or the many times I hoped to play with her hair..and take pictures of her.

She would be Brooklyn and he would be Gunner. Our twins…our new bundles of JOY. I just recently took a picture of them together and thought…how close they are going to be when they are older. Will he protect her at school…will she hang on his coat tails and be proud they are like twins?

Either way…having them as our last little ones….they are true bliss. We all decided our family was complete.

Then are world was halted…our hearts broken…a whole no one can fill….Brooklyn is at peace in heaven. She is not with us. We must face that everyday…but we will together…just as the 2 became one almost 35 years ago…our new expanded family is 1 unit…TOGETHER…no matter what.

Now we are not perfect, no doubt…but we love eachother and stick together no matter what. My sister’s pain and Jason’s pain is unbearable for them…but I promise to help them carry this burden…get them through…one day at a time.

Brooklyn…your papa shared something with me today and said that the only thing that has given him any slight sense of peace is that HE KNOWS that while you were with us…you only experienced LOVE! No drama, no hate, no disagreements, no pain and nothing else that comes with this world. He KNOWS that you will continue to ONLY know LOVE forever.

I had someone share with me today that YOU also changed their life. They realize that they need to spend more quality time with their kids…YOU changed their life. Does this take the pain away? No. But does that put another rainbow in the sky from you…yes! How beautiful!

We miss you terribly! Love to you baby girl!

A sharp knife of a short life..

Last night I went to bed knowing that my favorite time had come...SUNDAY. Sunday is the day I go to church...go to my mom and dad's...spend the day..playing and most recently...enjoying my two favorite things...Gunner and Brooklyn. Holding them...rocking them...taking their pictures... This Sunday would be the same...or so I thought... Then came the sharp knife...

Phone rang...mom screaming...Julie, pray...Julie, please pray...I am coming mom is all I could get out. I am running...fell to my knees in the driveway..moonlight hitting my face....pleading with God...PLEASE DON"T DO THIS...Please GOD!! Get myself together...get in the car...drive....drive..will I ever get there...what will be there when I get there? What am I going to say? I am sure she is fine...just a bad cold..she will be fine.

I get there..no one is there yet...I find my way to the ambulance bay...then I hear it...that sound...it sounds so different when it is someone you know in it. I fell to my knees...looked up to the dark sky...pleaded again, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS GOD! Then it came again....the sharp knife...

Her short life had been lived...God needed her more than we did. for a moment...I am angry...I am so disappointed...then it came...God's love. He told me through many of you, I am here...I hear you...I have her in my arms Julie...She is safe...be still...and KNOW...I am God. Your pain is my pain, God said...Let me comfort you, let me hold you. God is holding us together...through our pain...through our unanswered questions. HE IS and forever will by our ROCK. my refrugee...my saving grace, my everything.

NOW I must be the shining light for my sister. I will..God has asked me too, honestly...HE has asked us all to be the shining light in times of darkness. And there are many times the darkness comes...who are you being a shining light for? Are you creating the darkness? blowing the candles out others have burned? Have we done what God has called us to do. TO LOVE!!! To love at all times and to love EVERYONE. God is Love. He is not angry...HE is not faultfinding....He is not HATE...God is LOVE.



My sweet baby girl...our only baby girl...Brooklyn...I was there when you came into the world and there when God decided to call you home...I miss you terribly...I know Heaven is a beautiful place..I know Grandaddy is so proud and showing you off right now. I bet my friend Jen has even found you and kissed you too. We are sad...we are heartbroken...but God is taking care of us. I love you...forever your juju....