Running the race for Aubrey
by moderator Carla
My daughter Aubrey died in the Meadowbrook Clinic in Minneapolis on September 5, 1990.
Each year gets harder and harder for me, and I seek to do something that helps me grieve.
This Saturday, September 5, I will be participating in the St. Croix Valley Triathlon in Aubrey’s memory. I will swim 1/3 of a mile, bike 10, and run 4.
I will run the race to bring awareness to others of the devastating “choice” that abortion is. To kill your own child solves nothing and leaves wounded women and men. I long for others to know of the amazing abortion recovery resources that are available to help and to heal those that regret their abortions….
I will be raising money for the nearest pregnancy care center to me, the River Falls Pregnancy Helpline. They offer all of the things that I wanted for myself back in 1990. If you’d like to support my race, you can send checks made out to me with RFPH in the memo to: Carla Stream, PO Box 1418, Hudson, WI 54016. Or my blog has PayPal, and you can donate online.
I ask you to please consider donating to The Pregnancy Center. I will continue to honor Aubrey’s short life in any way that I can and look forward to the day when I will be with her again.
JLS note: Carla also sent along a photo of a tattoo she recently got to memorialize Aubrey.
I thought of Carla the other day when reading this section in the book Heaven:
But if Isaiah 11 is speaking of the New Earth, as does its parallel passage in Isaiah 65, who are the infants and young children playing with the animals?…
Believing parents then, would presumably be able to see their children grow up – and likely have a major role in their lives as they do so. This would fit something I’ll propose later, that on the New Earth many opportunities lost in this life will be wonderfully restored.
Although it’s not directly stated and I am therefore speculating, it’s possible that parents whose hearts were broken through the death of their children will not only be reunited with them but will also experience the joy of seeing them grow up… in a perfect world.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Carla, I donate through your paypal. It’s not much but it’s something. God bless you…Andy
Carla, you’ll get an anonymous donation from the Seattle area, that’s from me.
Thank you, Andy!
Hal, I am sitting here in tears. You know why. I love you and I thank you.
love you too. And admire your spirit and dedication.
my dear, I am so sorry. God Bless you for your work.
God bless you Carla, and may God hold you gently in his hands as you continue to heal.
Oh Hal and Carla, you touch my heart! God love you both.
I gave through the Cause facebook link. I hope you’re able to raise your $500 goal.
you will be in my prayers Carla. Remember, Sept 5 is also the day she went to heaven!
Can’t imagine trying to do a triathlon. Good grief they’d be scrapping me off the pavement! (then again, I can’t swim!)
God bless!
Carla…may God bless you with wonderful weather and a light spirit to make it through the day.
Peace,
Ann Marie
PS..made a small donation.
Carla, as a friend who loves you very much I am so proud of your strength and voice in the race for unborn lives. I will be there for you at the finish line yelling love for you and Aubrey!
You keep going girl!
The race is not to the strong or the swift but to them that endure to the end.
And to them that overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and do not shrink back from death but boldly take their stand in the land of the living.
Blessings on Carla
yor bro ken
Dearest Carla,
What you wrote above just breaks my heart.
You said, “Each year gets harder and harder for me, and I seek to do something that helps me grieve.”
I want you to know that I pray for your TOTAL healing often. You’re such a wise woman, but please don’t ever forget that we are never guaranteed even one more day. God knows what we will do before we ever even think of doing things. He has a purpose for each and every life that He creates, no matter how long that life lives.
I remember reading on your blog that (paraphrasing here) you think about what Aubrey would look like, etc. at the age she would be now. But that’s the point I was trying to make above…we are never guaranteed 1 year of life, 10 years of life, etc. I believe that there is a real possibility that your speculation of things that would have been may not have been regardless of what happened on 9/5/90. But the one thing we can be assured of, is God’s purpose and His plan. We can’t see it, and we can’t understand it. But someday (hopefully soon!) we will!
I truly believe that you are doing amazing work in God’s purpose for your life right now and I’m sure you will continue to do so until the end. Maybe if you look at it like this: Aubrey’s life was short, but look how God used your situation to bring healing and comfort into the lives of other women in the same situation as you. You won’t know how many people that God called, THROUGH YOU AND AUBREY, to Jesus Christ. The earthly body is not as important to God as the eternal soul. How many people will have the gift of eternal life through the purpose God had in you & Aubrey’s life?
Gosh, I hope that made sense and it helps. Regardless, Carla, you will continue to be in my prayers.
Also, as a sidenote, people talk alot about who they would like to meet in Heaven. For me, the first thing I want to see is the Carla/Aubrey & Bethany/Blessing reunion. Please try to plan them at the same time/place so I can be there to see both!
:)
Carla, you are such an inspiration and what you are doing to bring awareness about abortion is so admirable!
Marie’s post was so sweet…and I really appreciated what she said about Blessing and Aubrey.
I also hope for your total healing so that you can feel peace that you have been forgiven completely- no matter what we do, God is willing and faitful to cleanse us completely from what we’ve done so that we can go on. I know without a doubt that you have been forgiven a LONG time ago, and I know you know that! But sometimes it’s hard to “feel” it. And that is what I hope for- for you to “feel” that peace, that forgiveness.
Sometimes our memories of the past make it so difficult to get through what we’ve done – not to mention, the constant “what ifs” that we think of to torture ourselves. But God has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.
There are SO many lives that have been saved as a result of your testimony, Carla- your willingness to share your story openly with everyone has helped so many people to realize just how important life is- you’ll probably never know till we get to Heaven how many people’s lives you have touched with your life and story.
I just admire you so much for your strength and courage and boldness- just keep fighting the good fight. We love you!
Hal, and Carla… your posts bring tears to my eyes!
Can I be at the reunion? Oh! Please come Lord Jesus!
Thank you for all of the precious thoughts and sentiments and donations. :)
I miss my girl. I miss her and I never even saw her. She matters to so many.
September 5th is a very heavy day for me. Just like the two days I miscarried my other babies. I know where Aubrey is, I will be healed when she is in my arms and it is my love for her that fuels my passion to help others. I don’t know if I could do what I do if I didn’t feel His deep and abiding love and forgiveness for me. I am free. Free to tell as many people that will listen to my story.(over and over and over again) :)
Please know that I consider it a great honor to be Aubrey’s mother. She is mine and I am hers. I shall go to her, but she will not return to me.(Loosely quoting David there.)
Hal,
Love wins. :) You are such a gift to me, I hope you have some idea of what I mean. This blog wouldn’t be the same without you.
Show ’em what you’re made of, carla! (SPOILER ALERT: the heart’s pure gold, ladies and gentlemen)
A more loving mother there could never be. You’re wonderful. ;)
Triathlete?
Good heavens, I didn’t know you were Rocky!
Off to the Olympics with you, young lady!
Dig that tattoo.
Hal, that is the sweetest thing you could ever do.
Carla,
You are out there every day fighting the good fight. Your testimony has opened so many eyes and so many hearts. You not only inspire the women you help, but you inspire others to help them as well. Thank you for doing God’s work.
Ditto TRT!! Thanks for all of your suppport!
Carla Babe – I am proud of you!!
Carla,
Prayers! Have a great triathlon and raise lots of $$ and lots of awareness! The latter, with you, goes almost without saying. :) Donation sent with great love.
Hal,
You’re amazing.
Carla,
You are amazing!
We need to make a date at the MOA!!!!
I will be thinking of you and praying for your strong will to carry you across the finish line.
Hi Carla, may God strengthen you to achieve your personal best this coming September 5th in memory of Aubrey. You are a wonderful testimony to a life changed by God. LL :)
Thank you, sweet people!! I shall do my best! Carla is getting a tad nervous…
We’ll be praying for you Carla!
A few words of inspiration for you:
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
–Psalm 30:5
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
–Psalm 31:24
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.
–Isaiah 40:31
Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
–Isaiah 41:10
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
–Philippians 4:13
Thank you, Janet!
You and Aubrey are in my prayers today, Carla. May God grant you peace and strength.
Carla,
You have been in my thoughts and prayers since I read this post.
I’ve been looking at this post since late Saturday, hoping to see an update on how the triathlon went.
So, how did you do?
Race was hard and good and fun!! Wow! I started and finished and even passed a couple of people. :)
So far I have raised $800 for the pregnancy center.
Thank you for praying!!
Photos are here. Click on my name
Carla,
I am so proud of you!
Thank you for posting pics as well. I can’t believe you’re smiling in them! I wouldn’t be able to find the stregnth to even move a mouth muscle at that point!
Contratulations. I’ll bet your family is so proud of you!
Thank you, Marie!
My daughter biked all summer while I ran and she went with me for swims. She said, “So, that is what all that training was for!!!” :)
The family is very proud of mom. Near the finish line when I am running you can see 3 of my children cheering mom on.