Heart-breaking News and How You Can Help

Hi there,

My name is Beth Cranford. I’m writing this post on behalf of my dear friend and writer of this awesome blog, Laurie.

Some of you may have already heard the news that on Monday, May 1st, Laurie and her family suffered a tragic loss. Laurie’s precious child, her lovely daughter Natalie, was killed in a car accident. She was only 17.

 

Laurie and her family are overtaken with grief. If you’ve known the Bostwick family very long you know what a tight knit family they are. If you know Laurie even a little, you know that her life is completely lived in service to and in love for her family. I have only ever heard Laurie express discontent over one area of her life, and that is the desire to have mothered more children. While we wholeheartedly believe that God will, in time, ease the intensity of their grief, we also know that they will never be the same.

Natalie leaves behind her mom and dad, Laurie and Toby; sisters, Mary and Rebecca; brother, Thomas; as well as grandparents, cousins, and many, many friends.  There is another beloved Bostwick child who is lovingly remembered as “New Baby.”  He went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 13, 2007 before the family got a chance to meet him.  We do find a sense of comfort in knowing that Natalie has been reunited with her precious little brother.

 

Laurie says of her sweet girl, “She was a champion for the underdog. She was our ray of sunshine.” Judging from the outpouring of love they are receiving, Natalie has indeed touched many lives; as a ray of sunshine warms your skin, so the sunshine that emanated from Natalie’s heart warmed the hearts of those she touched.

Concerning The Immediate Future of  SuccessfulHomemakers.com: 

This blog is dear to Laurie’s heart and a source of income for her family. Thankfully, she has endeared herself to the blogging community as a whole and they have responded with overwhelming love.

As a community and as close friends we have made arrangements for her blog to continue, uninterrupted, for as long as she needs us to. That means you’ll be seeing lots of posts from other writers; Laurie’s trusted friends and peers. We’re sure you’ll love the variety of posts we are planning for you and hope you’ll stick around and enjoy all that is coming your way.

How Can You Help? 

When we hear of a tragedy, one of the first things we ask is, “How can I help?”

Here are ways you can help, that may seem minimal but they are truly not. They are all appreciated. Just as the Lord can make a miracle out of fish and bread, He can make a miracle out of our small offerings of service. 

Send Her a Note of Encouragement

If you want to send Laurie a note, you can do so by simply hitting reply to this email. This was sent from her account so she will get any responses that are sent. It would be nice to also Send her a note in a few weeks, when the required final activities have been completed and the guests have all gone home. She will be lonely and will need to know that we remember.

Contribute Financially

Friends of the Bostwick family have set up a fund to help with final arrangements. As you can imagine, this is a cruel thing for a family to have to think about in the midst of such raw pain. I ask that you will prayerfully consider donating, even the smallest amount, to the family through this link. Remember, God gives the increase, He just needs willing givers. 
Share Laurie’s blog posts on social media:

If you’re not familiar with how blogging works, this is an essential part of what it takes for Laurie to continue to earn income from her blog. It’s as simple as clicking the “share” button on facebook, or pinning a post, or sharing on instagram. Every action helps. We invite you to join the facebook group we’ve set up to help people easily share her content.
Above all, they need your prayers:
If you feel moved to share your prayers with her, feel free to do so on her Facebook page.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or a message you’d like for me to relay at: ForLaurie@BethCranford.com

If you are a blogger…

and would like to contribute a blog post or help with social media or offer any other service you feel will be helpful, please email me at ForLaurie@BethCranford.com

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Our hearts ache for the Bostwick family. We covet your prayers and trust that the Lord will keep in perfect peace this family who trusts in the Lord.