Project for Kids - reposted here from Caringbridge

Hi Friends,

I realized recently that I have not posted this here...and wanted to.  So here it goes (Please note that we have a working deadline of April 1 for submissions):

Dear Friends,

 I had been thinking of this as I sat in the hospital and received so many moving and deeply encouraging testimonies about the way that the Lord worked in and through Brandi in your lives.  I want my children to know her in those ways, too.  So I had been thinking about it, and then caught wind that among some of Brandi's friends/disciples at Brown University there was a movement afoot for a similar project - so we are going to join forces for this, spearheaded by Jennifer Sparling (who is known by many as Georgia)  I have attached a letter from her below, but the gist of it is:  We want to put together a print book for Eli and Katie bearing witness to what kind of woman their mommy was, how others saw Jesus in her, and how God used her in their lives - the things they remember about her, loved about her, enjoyed with her.  Will you consider contributing?  If you sent us something during December and early January (Brandi and I shared the gmail account, so it has all gone across my desk, so to speak) would you consider resending it?  Thanks friends.

Matt

Here is the letter:

Hello all,

One of the things that most saddens me about Brandi's passing is that her kids, Eli and Katie, won't get to grow up knowing their amazing Christ-centered mother. There are so many stories, memories and tidbits that we know from our time with Brandi that might help fill out their idea of her one day when they're old enough to understand more. Matt, of course, will talk about her often, but there are a lot of things that could only come from us so...

I am reminded of The Four Loves where C.S. Lewis says, in the passing of a friend, that we all lose something that that person uniquely brought out in us and vice versa - those are blessings. Wouldn't it be so cool to share our experiences of Brandi's life with her kids, to share with them aspects of her character that we experienced in our friendships with her that so blessed us and memories that would help them better understand her?

So, I'm proposing to put together a compilation of just that for the kids, a book for each of them (same book, two copies), where we can share memories they might not otherwise hear. I'm sure as we have thought and prayed for the Coburns, many memories have surfaced in the past several weeks. - the first time you met Brandi, a time you laughed with her, an experience abroad, a time she challenged you, prayed with you, things she loved doing, something descriptive - the way she laughed or was always trying out new recipes for American food while in East Asia, any memory big or small that stands out to you.

Feel free to be creative (as long as it's not too complicated to layout.) - a letter, a story, a poem, a prayer (Word documents are preferable or clear scans)

This would be something Matt could give the kids when they're older and he feels they're ready, but best to make it now and do it up right. So please send your memories (put in a title too for good measure), along with a sentence or two for context so the kids know who you are, and send photo(s) to go with it (highest resolution you can.)  I pray this would be a testament the Lord would use to encourage Eli and Katie.

Once I get it all together and ready to print, I will probably beseech some of you for help with printing costs as I want this to be a beautiful, thoughtful gift and keepsake.

Please forward this to other friends of Brandi's.   And no pressure to submit anything.

[Deadline] April 1

[Email]   jennifer.sparling@gmail.com
[Upload to google docs]
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bx7_ePrJVIVFRjQ5YkRZbVdnQVE&usp=drive_web

Hugs to all,

[Jennifer] Georgia