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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Angela
Wilsey |
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Email
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Angie1821@aol.com
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Home Page
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City
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West
Chester |
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State
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PA
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Country
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USA
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Comments
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Tom and
Jennifer---As I read your latest updated post, I can't help but be
amazed. You have experienced something (God's love) in ways that many of
us have not. I wish I could say that I have your utmost faith and
reassurance--but I don't. Perhaps with time I will see as the both of
you do. Until that time comes for me, I'm continually uplifted in your
story and in your faith. You give me hope, and that is by far an amazing
gift. I hope one day that I will be able to repay your family for what
you have given me. I pray daily for your family, and for Big Ben. There
truly are not any words to console or comfort you for such an enormous
loss, but my heart and love are with your family, and always with Ben.
Thank you for all that you given us, and for sharing Ben's story.
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Comments
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Dearest
Bowens, I miss Ben to. I can just imagine what he's doing right now in
Heaven. No pain and no cancer. I can see him smiling as he sees all
those thats gone before him and as he watches over as you CARRY
ON............You're wonderful Tom, Jen, and Eli. I pray for you
everyday. May your hearts be comforted and love surround you. God bless
you and keep you always. Sending all my love to a very special family!
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Sara
Hogsett |
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Email
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Home Page
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City
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Athens
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State
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Ohio
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Country
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United
States |
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Comments
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I feel
really bad about what happened to ben but he's still in my heart!!!!
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Comments
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Tom,
Jennifer and Eli, It is quite evident to me that God is carrying you
right now. I think I have shared before that hearing about the deaths of
innocent children made me question the existence of God. However,
watching your story unfold has made a true believer out of me. Your
family has taught me that in the worst of times, God never abandons you.
Ben has taught me what the grace of God is all about. You and Jennifer
have shown me what faith is all about. My prayers are espeically for Eli
at this time. I hope God holds him very, very tight and that Ben is
shining down on him in his dreams.
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Nicole
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Email
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ens@allenandallen.com |
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Home Page
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City
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Mechanicsville |
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State
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VA
(formally of Charleston, WV) |
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Country
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U.S.A.
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Comments
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"And He
walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own." That
is something that crosses my mind with I think of you guys. Jesus is
with you and that is so evident right now. I have no words to ease your
pain, but I do pray for your daily. As a young Christian mother of 2
little boys, your Faith has been a huge influence on my life. For that,
I thank you and Big Ben. Carry on..2 small words but with a huge
meaning. Thank you for continuing to post and for sharing this journey
with everyone. Sending love and prayers from Virginia. Give Eli a big
hug for me.
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Tara
Whittaker |
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Email
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twhittaker@wmt.com
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Home Page
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City
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Arlington
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State
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TN
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Country
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Comments
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Dear
Bowen Family, I still find myself checking the website 1st thing in the
morning and several times throughout the day. I read all the beautiful
articles about Ben that were linked on the website and sat and thought
about how beautiful your family really is to me. Although I am sad and
miss Ben, I am at peace because I know he is in a beautiful place
smiling down on all of us. Last night while sitting with my 11 month old
daughter, I decided to tell her a story about a little boy named Ben.
Even though she cannot really understand the story I am telling, I have
decided I am going to continue to tell her the story about Ben so she
can learn the same things I learned from Ben as she grows older. His
story will live forever in my heart and hopefully my daughter will be
able to share that story will her family and so on. I can't thank you
all enough for taking the time to share this beautiful story will all of
us. God Bless You!!!
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Comments
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How good
God is! Our prayers are being answered---for you to have peace and calm
is such a blessing even though the temporary separation from Ben is so
excruciating. We pray that God will continue to fill your days with
words of wisdom and comfort either from His word or from those who love
Him. God does indeed still speak to us in many different ways. As
always, loving you and praying just as often.
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Carrie
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Email
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Home Page
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City
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Edgewood
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State
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Ky
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Country
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Comments
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Dear
Bowen Family, Thank you. Thank you for your amazing words your powerful
faith and for sharing Bens Story with us. I have been following his
story for about a year now and your words have been such an inspiration
to me and my family. I actually stumbled accross his website while I was
reading Sweet Louie's and I'm glad I did. I am so very sorry for your
loss and will continue to pray for your family and your courageous
strength. God Bless you.
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Sherry &
Mark Hardeman |
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Email
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sherry@mshardeman.com |
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Home Page
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www.justinhardeman.com |
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City
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San
Francisco |
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State
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CA
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Country
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USA
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Comments
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We will
never forget Ben, his family, and his story. God bless you all. Peace &
love.
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Comments
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God Bless
you guys! So many people are still thinking of you and thinking of Ben
often and its because of the positive difference Ben's story has made in
the way people think and ultimately live. I used some lessons that I
have learned from God through you to teach my Sunday School class at
First United Methodist Church in Bluefield, VA this past Sunday and my
focus was on the difference between believing in God and believing God.
Its always more meaningful to people and they can internalize and learn
more when there is a tangible and real example. Ben's life, as well as
that of your reaction and the courage and love shown by Eli, are all
tangible and real for everyone. Thank you! Believing, Greg
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Lara
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Email
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Home Page
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City
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Huntington |
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State
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WV
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Country
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Comments
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With love
and prayers and an absolute awe of your faith. My prayer for Ben has now
turned to his peace in Heaven. My prayer for you has turned to your
peace until you all see Ben in Heaven. My prayer for myself is to live
even a shadow of your faith in God. Thank you for helping me understand
how to live my faith. I only hope that when I have to take up my cross,
I will do you and Ben proud.
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Comments
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Ben will
never be forgotten. My heart lays heavy for you, As a mother myslef I
just can't imangine what you must be feeling. Please know that little
Ben is smiling down on you while he is in God's loving arms. God Bless &
Many hugs, Amy
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Jennifer
Clayton |
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Email
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wvjenn@setel.com
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Home Page
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City
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Prichard
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State
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WV
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Country
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Comments
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The Bowen
Family, I have followed your story and read daily as much as I was able
to. My niece,Mckenzie, passed away January of 2004 from a Pontine
Glioma. I always wanted to check in, sometimes it was just too hard to
read your words and remember all that Mckenzie and my brother and his
family went through. Even after everything, I can't and won't claim to
understand what you must be feeling, she was only my niece, but my
brother and sisterinlaw, along with their 14 year old daughter Kayla,
know all too well the days that you are living now. Ben was an amazing
gift, Mckenzie was an amazing gift, just like all the children in the
world living with these horrible diseases. My dad is a wonderful Godly
man, who pastors the FreeWill Baptist Church in Prichard. After Mckenzie
was first diagnosed in January 03, he had a hard time, wondering why it
was Mckenzie and not any of us. One Sunday morning, he shared his
realization with our church. Mckenzie handled her illness with such a
brave and positive spirit. I think she knew the
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Jennifer
Clayton |
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Email
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Home Page
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City
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Prichard
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State
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WV
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Country
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Comments
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Continued..... I think she knew the entire time she was sick what would
happen ahead. It was Mckenzie and Ben, no one else could have made the
stories as special or uplifting as our two angels did. I had written
before saying that my husband and I were expecting a second child, who
was to be Benjamin if a boy, and Mckenzie if a girl. Well, we have since
found out we are expecting another boy, who will proudly be named
Benjamin Mckenzie, in tribute to both of our angels. The thoughts and
prayers of the family of Mckenzie Sha' Brewer are with your family
always.
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Sarah
Hastings |
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Email
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Home Page
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City
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Lexington
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State
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KY
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Country
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Comments
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Tom and
Jennifer, thank you for your most recent update. It was very real and
very comforting to me. It is so great to still be reading updates on the
continuation of Ben's story, something that has definitely taken on a
life of its own. I am praying for your hearts and for continued peace
and clarity.
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Cindy
Frei |
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Email
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cbfrei22@aol.com
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Home Page
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City
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hawthorne
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State
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NJ
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Country
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usa
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Comments
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I just
wanted to let you all know how sorry I am for your loss. I lost my 2
year old so Matthew to ATRT also. It's been almost 2 years. God Bless
You.
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Mary Jean
Aluise |
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Email
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MissMaryNey@aol.com
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Home Page
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City
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Ocean
Springs |
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State
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Mississippi |
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Country
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USA
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Comments
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Hey guys,
just want to let you know i am thinking of y'all. Carrie told me about
the funeral and the baloons at the cemetary. When Theresa died Carrie
let go of her yellow baloon and sent it "up to Heaven" for Theresa. So
many times I was comforted by those little things that Carrie would say
and do; "out of the mouths of babes". I love the inspirational things
that you and Tom write so the rest of us "feel" better. I cannot begin
to tell you how much peace you have given to me over the last year as I
read your struggles identifying with the pain and joy. I found that the
time I spent on "our journey" was the best of times and the worst of
times. I wouldn't trade one second because to do so would mean that I
would have never known Theresa and whatever good I am I owe to her. She
taught me by her dying, how to live. You know exactly what I mean. The
butterfly came to mean so much to me. It is the ressurection and life
transformed and beautified. Every time I see a butterly I am reminded of
the beauty of life and how precious
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Comments
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God is
awesome, and so is your faith in him. May you be blessed. God is holding
you all in his arms. Love in Christ, -Shelley
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Jane
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Email
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brattonj@nku.edu
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Home Page
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City
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Crescent
Springs |
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State
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KY
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Country
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41017
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Comments
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((((((Bowens)))))) I just wanted to express my deep condolences and also
let you know I understand the peace you're feeling...I've experienced it
with the recent death of my mother. As her caregiver, I watched her
struggle and battle the last 18 months of her life. I also witnessed
more courage than I'd ever seen. Once she died, my God-fearing mother
left me such a gift of joy...I was alone, it seemed, in feeling this;
however, it made sense, too, because I was alone in caring for her. I,
too, "get it." Peace and Love~
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Elaine
Miller |
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Email
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Home Page
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City
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Fayetteville |
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State
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GA
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Country
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Comments
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Tom &
Jennifer - What an awesome privilege to have been chosen by God to be
Ben and Eli's parents! Ben's story has reached so many and has brought
us all into a closer walk with our heavenly Father. I know his legacy
will continue for eternity. May God continue to strenghen and comfort
you as you celebrate Ben's life. Your continued faith and dependency in
God throughout Ben's journey has been such an inspiration to those
dealing with life's hurts. You have encouraged us to celebrate life
every day, to cherish the time we have with our loved ones, and to reach
out to others every day in ways that will make a difference for
eternity. Your family will continue to be in our prayers. Elaine, Randy,
Travis, Jarrod, Jessica & Brandi
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Mimi
Balek |
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Email
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mdbalek@sbcglobal.net |
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Home Page
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City
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Miamisburg |
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State
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OH
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Country
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USA
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Comments
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Dear Tom,
Jennifer, and Eli, I am sorry for your loss, but more I am encouraged by
what you have. When first reading your story, I wondered how I might be
able to help. After pondering your words, I came to believe that you
have God's strength already. Anything from me pales in comparison. In
fact, I feel drawn to the strength and love your family exudes. Thank
you, thank you, thank you for sharing God's love and strength. I'd like
my two boys to feel and recognize God's love too. Where do I start?
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Date
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March 4,
2005 |
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Name
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Keri
Miley |
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Email
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km123_377@msn.com
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Home Page
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City
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San
Jacinto |
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State
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CA
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Country
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USA
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Comments
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I truely
enjoy reading your words, they are so powerful to me and they make me
only want strive towards being a better christian myself. I recieved my
"Big Ben" band yesterday, I was so happy to get it. When I was at the
gym last night I was asked about it several times, and enjoyed getting
to tell them about Ben's story. god bless you.....
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Comments
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Tom,
Jennifer and Eli: My thoughts and prayers are with you everyday even
though I do not know you. I pray that God continues to comfort you in
the way that only he can.
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Comments
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Praying
for you, you're in my constant thoughts. You have opened my eyes to a
disease I knew very little about, and I now pray for all children and
their families who experience this. You and your family have blessed me,
Big Ben. Thank you.
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Comments
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You
entries continue to touch so many. I am total agreement that Ben was
chosen for a purpose. He was a mighty warrior and a small man of God in
so many ways. I do believe too that God chose Tom and Jennifer for this
purpose as well. I believe that God's plan was in place long before Tom
and Jennifer met. I believe that God placed Tom and Jennifer...two
Godfearing people...in each other's lives for a purpose. I believe Eli
was chose to be the brother that could handle and witness through this
storm as well. I believe that God gave you Eli to be there for Ben and
to be there for you when Ben was gone. There is so much said about Eli's
character in the pages of this Web site that make him a little man of
God as well. I do believe that God chose two people that would live out
this story in His honor in order to bring many lives to Him through it.
I don't want to take anything from Ben, but I do hope that people see
that your whole family was chosen to honor God through this, and I
believe that God is proud of the job you'v
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