Thursday, April 17, 2008

A New Journey

This is Chantell.......

At 11:28pm Wednesday April 16th Regan Faith Mills' faith was made sight. While in bed with her Big brother Ryder and Big sister Rylee with Brian and I right at her side and feet surrounded by a crowd of nurses, doctors, her Nana and Papa along with Shannon and Rob Maupin. With no struggle or medication assistance Regan took her last breath and let go of her body and was made New.......

God answered many prayers in the moment. He gave us a year of bonus time with her none of which was spent in the hospital and very few doctors appointments. He made sure that all of us were there. It was peaceful. We got three hours afterwards to hold her over and over, give her a bath, hear God's Word read by Rob, confess loudly our pain and joyfully express what Regan left behind.

We are happy for her. We are full of sorrow for ourselves. We know God is going to give us the grace to get through this but it will be another miracle to experience. We are helpless on our own. A new journey that is unfamiliar is beginning. The Mills' are great at working hard but we are terrible at letting it go.

Thank you seems little but it is what we have. Please continue to pray. More later.....

67 comments:

Danielle said...

Brian, Chantell, Ryder, and Rylee,
I will never be able to express what is going on in my heart right now as I read this at 4:30 am, but know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
What Regan taught me about life is something that cannot be expressed here in the moment.
Love you all, and God bless you!!!
Danielle Lash

Unknown said...

we love you.

~ 'becca, Jonathan, Elliott and Chas

Unknown said...

our deepest and most heartfelt love to you all!
Doug, Amy, Abby and Aaron

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Though we've never met, I wanted you to know that your journey with Regan has inspired and encouraged me over the last year. I'm praying today that God's grace will amaze you all...

Emily said...

Brian, Chantell, Ryder,
and Rylee,
We send our love to all of you.Our hearts are breaking at your loss. We are praying for all of you as you go through this.
Emily and Jim Mc

Amanda and Nolan said...

Brian, Chantell, Ryder, and Rylee
We love you and will be praying for you that you all will continue to be blessed by God's grace.
~Amanda & Nolan

kneazle said...

Our continued prayers for you all! So grateful that God is our Rock!

Shelley, Ross, Jonathan, and Maddie.

Mandy said...

love love love you guys...

praying hard for you. it's not easy to let go...

Caryn Collins said...

Dear Ones,
My words cannot express fully what I know you're feeling right now...and will be for a long time. Praise God for His gracious love for and tender care of your precious girl. Just as He's protected and cared for her all these years, He'll protect and care for you. And praise God for His Spirit, our Comforter, who goes to God for us when words fail and hearts are lonesome. "Jesus, our brother, kind and good" are the words to a children's Christmas song and they apply to what He is to us all the time. Our love, prayers, blessings, and hearts are with you, both now and in the days to come...

Unknown said...

God is good...all the time. Our prayers are with you.
Nancy and Kevin

Beth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Beth said...

Though I've watched from a distance, your journey has been a tremendous testimony of God's grace. We're praying for you,
James and Beth McMillion

Lori said...

In the midst of sadness, I've got a wonderful image in my mind of a beautiful, happy little girl with a hula hoop...

All our love and prayers,
Tracy, Lori, Katie & Hannah

Deanne said...

We are shedding tears of pain and joy with you.

The Young Circus said...

We are praying for your family. We have learned so much from you about life and love. Our hearts are breaking for you and yet we rejoice that Regan can breath and dance to the Jesus she loves!

farmnwife said...

We will be praying for you all.
judi

Kathy said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you.There are no words to comfort you right now in your sorrow. Let those feelings flow,and soon with Gods grace you'll see the joy and happiness that is hers right now.
Give it time. Love and prayers to you.

Kathy

Normal Green's said...

Dear Mills Family,
Your steadfast love, endourance, and amazing faith are an incredible testimony of God's love for us. Thank you for sharing your journey with the rest of us. Your family is in our prayers.
Love,
Greg and Nicki Green

Debbi said...

Dear Brian, Chantell, Ryder and Rylee,

Through all of your lives....we have seen God at the center and we have seen a beautiful little girl, he parents, her brother and her sister impact all with their care, their love, their devotion and remarkable witness. Thank you for blessing so many with your example of faith. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy. Ps. 17:15
Our love....John and Debbi Barr and Family

Laura said...

Brian, Chantell, Ryder, and Rylee,
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you"
Matthew 5:4 (the Message)
We love you all and are praying for you.
The Rosa fam

Lindsay said...

We love you guys and are wrestling in prayer for you.

A boy named Toadie said...

I just want you to know how much I love you. My heart aches for you and thanks God for the wonderful gift He gave us in Reagan. She blessed my life in so many ways. I am thankful for God letting me have so many opportunities to learn from her beautiful example. I pray the Lord's comfort be upon you today and the days to come.

You all are dear to my heart. I love you.

-Nathan

Natasha said...

Rejoicing with you, crying with you, praying for you . . . May God grant you his unexplainable comfort and a sense of the same joy that Regan is experiencing now.

Love in Christ,
Les & Natasha Miller

Shannon said...

Regan was remarkable. Her life and your family's faith gave so many people a glimpse of who God really is. Praying for you all...

Shannon Carter

Cindy Keller said...

I heard this morning about Regan's passing and I have no words. I did share with Annagrace and told her, "Now Regan is perfectly whole! She's running and laughing and singing with Jesus"....oh, what a joy it would be for us all to be able to experience that with her!

I know the roller coaster still goes on here and please know that our family is and will be here for you all at any time.

We love you!

the Johnsons said...

Our prayers are with you guys- our hearts are heavy for your loss. Thank you for your beautiful posts and your great faith.
Aaron, Shauna and Evelry Johnson

Sheldon said...

Mills Family
The Jefferson's send heartfelt sympathy. Our prayers are with you. May God send his peace and comfort! Thanks for being the type of Christ followers we can look up to!

Sheldon

The Mollet Family said...

We are also praying for you. I'm so happy that you have so many, and will continue to have, people loving you...

DanielleDoug said...

My heart is heavy. We love you both so much. May the peace of Christ dwell within you. Danielle Gibson

Jonathan H said...

I wept when I heard the news. I can't imagine the grief you must be feeling. Praise be to God that we do not grieve like those who have no hope. May the Lord give you the peace which transcends understanding. You are in our prayers.

lindsaygreer said...

crying for all of you.
praying for God's peace that i know will come.
thanking God for your faith.
loving and hugging you right now.

rhills said...

Words fail and our hearts can not contain what we feel.
Please be surrounded by love and prayers,
Jeff and Robbin

Jason said...

Thank you for sharing your intimate heartache and wonderful joy this past year with us and letting us participate through prayer in Regan's life.

-Jason & Erin Rowland

Unknown said...

We love you.

Gary, Cindy, Meagan, Caleb, and Ethan Hardy

Lisa B said...

May God continue to bless you, comfort you, and give you peace.

Much love,
Chris and Lisa B

Dan and Tammy said...

Mills Family,

My heart is sad and heavy for you today. I am so sorry for your loss. But I know that we can rejoice that Regan gets to be with our amazing & loving God before we do! We are praying for peace for your family as you begin this new joureny in your life. We love you and ask God to place his loving arms around you so that you can feel the warmth of his love.
Love Tammy & Dan White

Monica said...

I am so, so sorry. We love you all and are praying for you.

Monica, Brad, and Bethany

Cory said...

When Mandy sent me a text this morning at work I sat here in tears. And I had never even met Regan, so I can't imagine how you all are feeling. Will be praying for you all in the days to come. -Cory

B. Claire said...

We love you and hope that you can feel God's arms wrap around you during this time and forever. We are and will be praying for you. We will pray for strength, patience, understanding, and the ability to hold on to many many beautiful memories of Regan. Love- the Anhalt's

Stacey said...

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Words can truly not expressed. We love you all.

Unknown said...

Brian, Chantell, Ryder, and Rylee,

Our hearts are broken with yours.

We love you and continue to pray for all of you.

Love,
Tom, Linda, Kyle, Kent, Kristi, and Blake Greenwell

Moochelle's Kid Kare said...

Chantell, Brian,Ryder and Raylee,
My heart cries out for you and your family.
Thank you for sharing your feelings and emotions through this season of your lives. Stand Strong on the rock of Jesus Christ!!
God Bless,
The Hagenbuch's
Michelle, Randy, Mitchell and Matthew

Jennifer said...

Brian, Chantell, Ryder and Rylee,

We are praying for you guys. Our hearts are hurting for you.

- Rondel, Jennifer, Zach and Abbie

Jennifer said...

This is Abbie Ramsey,

Hey Brian, Chantell, Ryder, and Rylee

I feel like I am about to cry. I e-mailed some of my friends from Indiana to pray for you guys. I will pray for you always, because your family and I love you 'cause you are like family to everyone at church and at the college and everywhere I see you guys. I LOVE YOU guys and your in my prayers

Love,
Abbie Ramsey

Lemrick05 said...

Your family means more to us than you will ever know We love you so much

Mike, Tara, Devan, Kelsey, Brenden

Fitz Clan said...

Regan will be missed.......We love you!
Love,
Andrew, Jen, Abi, and Lydia

Faviola said...

Our prayers are with you,and may God's grace be poured out abundantly in your lives, we love you.

Faviola, David, Joshua, Jonathan, and Laura Lagunez

Julia said...

Dear Brian, Chantell, Ryder, and Rylee, our prayers are with you as you grieve for your little precious one. Love, Dave & Julia Rossen

Judy Horn said...

Brian, Chantell, Ryder, and Rylee,
You all (including Regan) have been a blessing, example and inspiration to us. You continue to be in our prayers as Regan begins a new journey with Jesus and you begin a new journey together as a family here without her. "God is our refuge and strength"; He will continue to be there for you.
With our love, prayers and deepest sympathy,
Harold & Judy

Heidi McKee said...

You can tell by the amount of comments that Regan's life touch so many. Our sympathy is with you and we are praying for you. Thank you for giving God the glory.

We love you,
The McKee Family

HODAPP said...

My love, my prayers, my heart goes out to you and your family right now. You two have ALWAYS been such faithful servants and although I never had the honor and blessing of knowing your little Regan.. I know she was an angel simply because I've known you.
May He wrap His loving arms around you now.

robin graham-hodapp

Alissa said...

We love you all so much.

Bo, Alissa, Aria, Evie, and Trip

Becky said...

Dear Chantell, Brian, Ryder and Rylee,
I remember rocking that sweet angel in the nursery when she was born....now she is rocking in God's loving arms as heavens' newest angel.
Our hearts, prayers and love are with you all,
Richard, Becky & Conner Clay
Dallas

HollyAnn said...

Brian & Chantell:

You have such a beautiful family! It has been an honor to trace your journey of faith through your blog. I am so thankful that Reagan's days were ordained before time began to be your daughter, and to be part of your story.

All our love,
John & HollyAnn Petree

bubbles said...

Our love and prayers continue for you all. Regan will be missed!

Todd, Dawn, Dasha, Bethany, Joy, Wesley, Charis and Levi Phelps

Johnson family said...

Blessings in the journey. You are all such a testimony to so many. Love and prayers for His peace and comfort. Fred, Kathy, Lisa, and Amy

Stacy Peacock said...

Oh Mills family, what can I say that has not already been said by the 50some comments already left. I heard today at school, then tonight I sit here reading the blog and bawling like a baby (which you might remember is something I do NOT do). I don't know what it is about that special little angel that has and will always touch my heart. Now Regan will get to ask God the all important questions I can't wait to find out-like did Adam and Eve have belly buttons, and what exactly is the purpose of slugs, tonsels, and the appendix. I will keep you guys in my prayers.
The Peacocks

TLTLH5 said...

We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Todd, Linda, Tate, Levi and Hattie Mourning

Shoshannah said...

Brian, Chantell, Ryder, and Rylee,
You are a wonderful family and God's grace will see you through this time. We are really inspired by your love for God and your strength in God. We are praying for your family and praise God that He has made Regan new again.

Love,
Shoshannah, Joshua and Brayden

April said...

Mills family-Thanks for sharing this journey with us. We are praying for you during this next journey. It's hard to imagine that there is anyone who was more loved than your precious Regan, and it is a neat thought to think that she is now with Jesus, who loves her the most. Love and prayers to ya'll, April Tanner Solomon

Brad and Lindy said...

God bless each of you. You have been an amazing example of compassion and endurance. You are in our prayers.

Unknown said...

Mills Family,
We mourn alongside you, but rejoice in Regan's new body and new life with Jesus. I know what it's like to have a child who is very sick, but oh, how heartbreaking to lose your child. Our prayers and love are with you. Remember to love, cherish, and embrace each other in all the coming days. God will send His light for you through this dark time. Love to you all and may He keep hold you tight.. Susie Meneely

Rachel said...

We can't even imagine what you and your family are going through. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
~Chris and Rachel Hoblitzel

Tammy said...

As I mourn with you, I rest in this: that "God is close to the brokenhearted," and that "He turns our mourning into dancing.." In time.

Loving you and missing little sweet curly haired Regan with you.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Tammy Grinn

cocoaeyes said...

Our tears are mingled with yours in both joy and sorrow over the loss of your precious Regan. Her life was an amazing gift and her life still speaks! Thank you for the light that so clearly radiates from you as you trust in Him.
May his presence continue to hover over you and give you grace on your journey.
We love you!
The Erbs~

The McKnights said...

We are sending some more Kansas love your way. My heart aches as I imagine what wrenching pain you must feel with this loss, yet it rejoices as I imagine what great relief and joy you must also feel!

Thank you Jesus for loving Reagan like none of us ever could and for bring her home in your perfect timing.

You will continue to be in our prayers. Thanks for allowing us to join your journey!

Abi' K. said...

Though I never got to meet sweet Regan I was amazed at the love and compassion she taught my nephew, Elliott...God's love was made real through her to so many people. Know my famiy is thinking of yours...

--abi' krulatz and family