Carter Brennan Hackleman

One Month & Thinking of Carter

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:54:30 -0500

As American’s we get so busy and often do not take the time to reflect on what God is trying to show us or what God has led us through. As I write this I remember being at the hospital holding my son and praising the Lord for His life. There have been a few days that I have woken up lived my day and gone to bed without once thinking of my son. I also know that at times the same has been true for thinking about my Savior. The scriptures tell us that our God always has us (you and me) and all of His creation in His thoughts He knows when a sparrow falls. I need to act like He is my Savior ALL of the time. Our Pastor last week and today was speaking on being focused on Christ. When I wake and lie down I need to have Him on my mind I need to learn how to Serve Him better. What a challenge, our lives need to be examples of the Gold standard. (Click the Currey Creek Page to listen to our Pastors Sermons.)

Time passes by too quickly and I often let the circumstances of my life get in the way of where my focus needs to be, and my focus needs to be on Christ.

This last week I was on a jobsite and the guys were digging a huge ditch. I was standing at the edge of the ditch talking with the contractor about the project and I felt a small had grab mine and hold it tight as I saw my friend’s son pier down into the deep hole. Holding my hand for security and safety. My heart leaped into my throat, How I wished and hoped that would someday be my son. And yet it was almost like my son saying to me I love you, I am with you, do not be sad for I am with our Father.

God is so Good.

It has taken me thirty-three minutes to write this, the same length of time our son was living on this earth. ALL Praise be to our GOD. How mighty He is.

Please continue to pray for Sarah and I as we struggle, remember, rejoice and reflect on our lives and the passing of our son.

We Love you Carter.

In Christ and with His Love,
Tom and Sarah Hackleman

A Baby’s Beautiful Life by E. Randall

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:40:43 -0500

The beauty of a baby’s life,
Begins before his birth.
From the moment of conception,
His life has matchless worth.

From deep within his mother’s womb,
This child can move around,
Stretching his legs, sucking his thumb,
In ways that can astound.

This unborn child can feel and know
His mother’s love and care.
Over time, he can recognize
His father’s voice, in prayer.

The bond between parent and child
Grows stronger every day.
While awaiting his arrival,
They often pause to pray.

How delicate and how precious,
This tiny little one,
Curled up inside his mother’s womb
Their long awaited son.

Yet sometimes, for unknown reasons
God calls a baby home.
His brief life on earth is ended
And his life work is done.

Now safe in Heaven with Jesus
Held in Christ’s loving arms,
He is sheltered from all danger,
Free from the world’s alarms.

The strong grief his family feels
As they all say goodbye
Reveals the impact his life made
Briefly before he died.

One day they will see him again
But right now, there is pain.
Yet through the tears, they smile and say
Lord, blessed be your name!

Dedicated to Tom and Sarah in loving memory of Baby Carter

Threads of Love - Boerne Chapter

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:06:00 -0500

Jeremiah 1:5

We want to thank the Bond family and the Boerne Chapter of Threads of Love for all of the support they sent our way. They provided the perfect casket for our Baby Carter as well as a listening ear for Sarah and me.
The Bond family went thru a similar circumstance with their son Johnathon 5 years ago today and were there for us when we needed a shoulder to lean on.
We Thank them for taking the time to tell us about their son and how the Lord helped them thru that hard time in their life.
Please lift up the Bond Family today as they remember the birth, life and home going of their son Johnathon.
May God Bless you Bond Family.

With Love,
Parents of Carter Brennan

One Week Is Soo Short - And Takes So Long To Get Thru YET Thirty-Three Minutes Is Even Shorter - And Has Impacted The Rest of Our Lives

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:27:42 -0500

Today we put the seventh mark on the calendar.

With each print his foot made it left a lasting impression on our hearts and our lives, may the Lord lead us with His foot prints.

If you ask me what happened yesterday or even a month ago I would shrug my shoulders and say “I don’t remember, I have slept since then.” But if you ask me what happened July 10th at 9:02 and 9:35 p.m. I would get a big smile on my face and say “that is when I met my son and held him for the first time, let me tell you about him ...”

Many people around the world have told us how much the life of Carter and our struggle with his condition has had an impact on their lives. My simple prayer is “May the Lord be exalted and all the glory be given to Him”. We merely walked where He led, sometimes not knowing why, or even knowing how hard yet knowing that He would not only provide us strength but would also provide for our needs (emotional, physical, spiritual and financial).

PRAISE THE LORD!

Instead of long nights staying up rocking a newborn back to sleep, or nursing him we are having long nights reminiscing the time we did have with our sweet son. We often cry and think about how it would be if it were the former rather than the latter. But the truth rings clear “God’s Will be done” that was our prayer.

Our emotions vary so much throughout the day as we mourn our loss, as we rejoice in his healing, as we think about our Lords plan, and as we bask in the Grace and sovereignty of our Heavenly Father.

Please continue to pray for Sarah and me while these anniversaries come and go.

Sarah’s body is healing very well, what a blessing and huge answer to prayer. She is getting around much better now.

Today Jordan held a shirt up to Mama’s tummy and said “this is for Carter to wear” and we asked her again to tell us where Carter was and she replied “in heaven with Jesus”. When we show Jordan his footprint and ask her what they are she replies “baby Carter’s feets”. She is a bright light and a constant joy in our lives.

Sarah’s family left on Sunday and My family left on Wednesday it is really quite around the house now. This is a mixed blessing we miss them all but needed the quite time to reflect. Sarah’s mom is going to stay for another week, what a blessing.

Many of you have covered us with your prayers, or provided meals, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a helping hand, and the giving of time. We are humbled by these gifts. Our God is so good. Blessed be the Name of our Lord.

Keep the Faith, walk your path, focus on Christ and he will not Leave you nor forsake you.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Deuteronomy 31:6-8

In Christ,
Tom and Sarah

We have always heard the song “Jesus Loves Me” but rarely all the verses. What a blessing they are to us at this time.

Jesus Loves Me
Anna B. Warner 1860

Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong.
Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! This I know, As He loved so long ago, Taking children on His knee, Saying, “Let them come to Me.”
Refrain
Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give Light and love to all who live.
Refrain
Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.
Refrain
Jesus loves me! He will stay Close beside me all the way; Thou hast bled and died for me, I will henceforth live for Thee.
Refrain
This stanza from the original is commonly omitted in hymnals:
Jesus loves me! Loves me still, Though I’m very weak and ill, That I might from sin be free Bled and died upon the tree.

Website errors - Server Transition

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:23:30 -0500

Ironically when Sarah started to go into labor Mac (Apple) decided to start it’s server upgrades from .Mac to MobileMe and this limited my ability to update this site as well as prohibited all the viewers from leaving comments. As of midnight last night this has all been fixed, thank you for your patience.
Please re-enjoy all the pages and leave comments where you like.

Tom

Fill a Need

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:30:35 -0500

There has been an outpouring of offers to help and inquires in how to help. A dear friend from Church Kathleen Gately (830-995-5136) has offered to help coordinate those needs and has set up a Care Calendar at www.carecalendar.org. (Calendar ID 5753 Security Code 8391).

Please contact Kathleen at kathleen.gately@gatelylaw.com or 830-995-5136 if you have any questions.

Love,
Tom and Sarah

www.carecalendar.org

Memorial Service for Carter Brennan Hackleman 7/12/08

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:30:41 -0500

Click the Play button to listen to the Service at Currey Creek Baptist Church.

May God Bless You as you Listen.

Love, Tom and Sarah

Memorial Service - Carter

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:52:25 -0500

Sarah and I put this video slideshow together to share with everybody.

Love,
Tom and Sarah