balloons.

Sunday afternoon, friends and family gathered at our church to honor the life of Noah Watchman Dean. We celebrated the hope we have in Christ and prayed for orphans worldwide. We released red balloons with prayers attached in Noah's memory. It was absolutely beautiful. 


We are so moved by the amount of support and love we have been shown. Thank you, thank you, thank you. For those who were unable to attend, here is some of the letter I read during the service:


Dear Noah, 

This has been the hardest week of my life. Losing you has caused indescribable grief in my heart. You never met me, but I have loved you from the moment I could call you mine. I still do. 


I remember the first night your pictures arrived. I was overwhelmed, humbled, and sure I wanted to be your father. I wasn't sure how I could care for your special needs, but I was certain I wanted to, and determined in my heart to do everything I possibly could, to love you well in this world -- just like my other sons. 

Facing the reality of your death has been heartbreaking. It still is. I miss you. I miss the memories we would have made, and in a better world, we should have made. In a perfect world, you would never have been abandoned. Forsaking you at birth would never happen. We do not live in a perfect world, but we are loved by a perfect Father who gave his son that those who believe, have LIFE in him. 


You are a precious, priceless person to me and I would have given everything I have to bring you home. Yet, this was not our Father's will. Instead, you would pass from this life to eternity... 


Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling (Psalm 68:5). We trust you are in the Father's arms. Whole. Healed. Happy. Forever. 

Your life was not in vain.
Many people will see Jesus because of you.
They will hear about what you already know as reality.
They will believe in faith, what you now see as forever with God.

There are millions of precious people in the world, just like you. 
147 millions orphans worldwide. 
This is not right. 
Not acceptable.


The pain of losing you put us on our knees, put tears in our eyes, and opened our hands and hearts all the more to the God we know, trust, and love.


After praying about this and trying to reconcile losing you, your mom and I believe the best way to honor your life... to continue placing honor and worth on your life... is to welcome another child in your memory and in the name of Jesus. 


So we are doing that...* 


If there are trampolines in heaven, be prepared.You have three brothers that will tackle and hug you as soon as they see you. They love to wrestle. I do too.


Love, 
Dad


* We have started the paperwork on a special little girl. More on her story when the time is appropriate and things are final. Anna Grace will have a sister! We can't wait to meet them both!!!!!!!!!