Catching up on our livesFletchers 2006, 7, & 8 Volume XVII

Merry Christmas from the Fletchers. Many of you have not heard from us ina couple of years, and we wanted to be sure to send something this year. Our familyhas been through trials in the past that have left us struggling during the Christmasseason. Two weeks before Christmas in `05, we lost a baby to miscarriage. After afew difficult weeks, hand surgery, and hives, the baby did not make it, and we bracedourselves for a sad and difficult Christmas. We were so excited for this little babyand heartbroken at its passing. We didn't feel like sending a newsletter that year.

So, after months of prayer, our family decided to adopt a baby. We started thepaperwork process, feeling strongly that an adoption was in our future. However ,just days before the adoption would begin, we found that we were expecting anotherbaby! The adoption process was put on hold, and we excitedly began to prepare forour new baby. The boys were ecstatic! Our baby was due around Christmas!

After three boys, we all wanted to learn if the baby was a boy or girl. Mitchellbegan calling the baby "Ben." But, after several ultrasounds, we were told that thebaby would be a girl. We busily prepared the nursery with all things pink and pre-pared for little Hayley to enter our home. Mitchell continued to tell us that the baby'sname was Ben. We teased him endlessly that our little girl would be named Ben.After almost six years, we were so excited to have a baby in our home again. Wehung Christmas stockings and bought fun little girl presents for her.

At 38 weeks along, Stacey noticed that the baby wasn't moving as much. Herstomach was getting larger than normal, and she was having difficulty breathing. Wehad a stress test at the hospital and things were fine. Yet, after more concerns, wewent to the hospital again, and after an ultrasound, found that our baby's heart hadstopped beating. There is no way to describe the impact of this news or the terribletrauma that would surround our family. The hospital was immediately concerned forStacey. Her heart rate was 160, well over normal, and they were worried about a

bloodclot. After 31 hours of labor, our baby entered this world. Toour surprise, the baby had lots of dark wavy hair, was 7 pounds4 ounces, and was a boy! He was beautiful and so loved forthe short time that he spent on this earth.

No one will ever know what it was like to tell our threeexcited boys that the baby had died. As we sat as a family inthat hospital room we could feel his spirit with us and thelove of our Heavenly Father. We explained that we would bewith him again in heaven, but that we needed to prepare forhis funeral and also choose a name for our little boy. Imme-diately, Mitchell responded, as if he knew all along, "It's Ben!"So it was--Benjamin Charles Fletcher is an eternal part of ourfamily. He was born on December 12th. He was buried onDecember 15th in the Ephraim Cemetery . We gave him amissionary farewell for his funeral and sent our son into thearms of our Savior to do his work until we get to be with himagain. How would anyone survive the death of a child with-out the knowledge that families are forever? We are so grate-ful to our Savior for his sacrifice so that we can be with littleBen again. He is in our thoughts each day .

As the days and weeks following Ben's death painfullypassed. We were once again prompted to begin the adoptionprocess. It was a glimmer of hope for our grieving family .After much paperwork and a nervous wait, we were matchedwith a birthmother from Missouri. She was in Salt Lake liv-ing until the birth of her baby. We were so excited! We werefinally going to meet our little Hayley! We met with ourbirthmother several times and got to know this amazing per-

Benjamin's casket at the cemetery.

Manti Utah L.D.S. Temple, December 1st--Hayley is part of oureternal family! A beautiful winter white day!

The Fletchers

son. What an unselfish and wonderful thing she was doing. She met the boys, and we spenttime getting to know her and her little boy. We took her to dinner on Mother's Day, and thenext day, joined her in the delivery room for the birth of little Hayley. It was amazing! Whatan emotional time for us. Just hearing her heartbeat on the monitor and hearing her cry afterher birth brought tears of nervousness and joy. Our little girl was beautiful and perfect andhealthy! She entered the world at 7 pounds 2 ounces and had a head of black hair! Weexcitedly e-mailed pictures to the kids in Ephraim. After a very tearful and heartfelt departureat the hospital with our birthmother, we introduced Hayley to the world of boys! It is amazingthat such rough boys could soften for their new sister . As the weeks have passed, she hasreceived millions of kisses and hugs. We now hear fights over who gets to hold her, feed her,sit by her, and even burp her! She is so strong and fat! We love to count her fat rolls andwatch her smiles and laughs. Her face lights up and smiles when the boys enter the room. Sheis loved more than we can describe. Heavenly Father has blessed our family with a heavenlyangel and an earthly angel.

At this time of year we are struggling though the worst and best year of our lives as afamily. As we endure the one year anniversary of Ben's death, we think of another baby boy'sbirth--Jesus Christ. We were blessed to go to the temple with Hayley in December and become an eternal family with her.

May we all treasure the time that we spend with our children and loved ones. And may we all remember that Christ's birth was onlythe beginning. He died for us. He was resurrected for us. That is what Easter is about. We will see Him again, and we will see Benjaminagain. Our struggles are for this life only and are for but a short time. As we had engraved on Ben's headstone. "...weeping may endurefor a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

In the delivery room with Hayley

Hayley Lynn--4 months

Hayley laughing at Andrew

Mitchell and Hayley

"Parents hold their children's hands for just a little while,but their hearts forever."

(Stacey, Bryan, and Benjamin)Brock and Hayley Blessing/Temple Day

A picture says a thousand words...2006-2007

Our "projects"--finishing the basement, sprinkling system, and landscaping our yard!

Our grief--Christmas 2006, Memorial Day, Father's Day

Our joys--Andrew's baptism, Brock ordained a deacon, Hayley's birth, & baseball!

Our travels--Stacey & Brock in York, England; Fletchers at the Eiffel Tower; Mom (pregnant with Ben), Dad, &Andrew at a Red Sox game in Boston; Bryan and Stacey in Germany.

Welcome Amelia Dawn--2008After a very brief wait with an adoption agency (one week), we received a call that a mother was in labor in Ardmore Oklahoma with

a girl. We were told that if we wanted the baby to get on the next plane! So, after quick thought and prayer, we got our tickets, packed ourbags, grabbed Hayley and Brock, found a place for Mitchell and Andrew, and found ourselves at Mercy Memorial Hospital in ArdmoreOklahoma holding our new little girl! What a crazy experience! In 24 hours we were suddenly parents again! Amelia Dawn was bornApril 29th. She weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long. She is so tiny! After a few hours at the hospital, Amelia wasreleased into our family. We found ourselves at a Super 8 Motel in a strange town with two little girls under one year old! Wow have ourlives changed! The boys are in heaven with the babies. They help and hold them all day long! We find ourselves rocking, changing, andfeeding on a 24 hour clock! Hayley is so cute with Millie. She gives her kisses and pats her back when she is burping. However, she alsosteals her binkis, her bottles, and her blankets! She grabs them and runs away as fast as she can! Sadly, just one month after Amelia joinedour family, Stacey's dad, Custer, passed away. It has been a very emotional time for our family as we have welcomed life and lost life insuch a short amount of time. Pa Pa was a wonderful person and will be missed more than we can say . He is buried in the Ephrai mCemetery next to Benjamin. We are sure they are catching up on lost time and having wonderful experiences together.

Merry Christmas from the Fletchers. We apologize for dropping off of the radar the past couple of years. After reading our few pages, we are surethat you understand the emotional ups and downs we have experienced as a family.

Our family is now doing well. Brock is 14 years old. He is in 8th grade and is a wonderful artist. He is finalizing his paperwork for his EagleScout project. His favorite things are karate, video games, and playing with his sisters. Andrew is 11 years old. He is in 6th grade and loves theoutdoors. Andrew loves camping, fishing, hunting, and his new German-shorthair hunting dog. Mitchell is in 2nd grade. He is a great reader! He

likes to play with friends, ride his bike and scooter, and build things. He is a loving littleboy and is friends to all. Hayley , or the Tasmanian Devil as we like to call her , is 19months old. She is into EVERYTHING! She is into every drawer and cupboard. Shedumps any liquid she can find, and she steals Millie's bottles and runs and hides. Sheloves to sing and dance and play with brothers. Amelia is eight months old. She is themost mellow of all of our kids. She loves to play on the floor and can reach anything shewants by rolling and spinning in circles. She recently learned to crawl backwards! Shehas two teeth and her hair is starting to grow back! She is so happy, and she squeals andlaughs at everyone. Bryan is busy with work. He enjoys working from home and gets totravel to keep things interesting. He won a trip to Hawaii this year for President's club. Itwas a great vacation for Bryan and Stacey without the kids. He is a great dad and wouldlove more time in each day. Stacey is hanging in there with the kids. With two babies andhomeschool, life revolves around endless Diet Coke, endless diapers, endless laundry ,endless car trips to activities, and endless sleepy nights. She loves the kids (and Bryan)and hopes to one day get a shower before noon! She enjoys decorating homes and hasalso started decorating weddings. She loves to travel.

As this holiday season draws to an end, we are grateful for many things, most of allthe strength and love of our Savior Jesus Christ. He provided a way for our family to betogether forever. With His sacrifice, we will see Benjamin again, and we have our twolittle girls eternally as part of our family. He is the reason that we have survived the pastfew years and also the hope that we will have a wonderful life as a family.

Our prayer is that you have an excellent Christmas and a renewed spirit in the com-ing year!

Love,Bryan, Stacey, Brock, Andrew, Mitchell, Hayley, & Millie--

Capitol Reef National Park Bryan & Stacey in Kauai, Hawii "The Boys" at Goblin Valley State Park

Mitchell (7) & Millie (7 months) Hayley Amelia Andrew (11) & Brock (14)--deerhunting!

Manti, Utah L.D.S. temple--November 22, 2008