Behold, children are a gift of the Lord …

Our precious Emma lived up to the meaning of her name. She persevered greatly … and through her life we experienced the grace of God in a way that changed us forever. Born at 31 weeks with an orthopedic impairment called arthrogryposis, to a single mom who couldn’t care for her … she was among the group of children considered “difficult to place” … even “unadoptable”. We spent over three months in the neonatal ICU, where she overcame the issues related to her prematurity. On August 3^rd, we were finally able to take her home for the first time, only to have her Life-Flighted back to the Medical Center a few days later with her first of many life-threatening seizures. For the next several months, we worked with genetics & neurology to understand Emma’s condition and try to control her catastrophic seizures. There were so many questions … but very few answers. We were able to bring her home again mid-November with less frequent seizures, but not without serious concerns about her speculative diagnosis of mitochondrial disease, or what the future might bring. We treasured several weeks back at home with our sweet baby girl, before she had a seizure mid-December that resulted in respiratory and cardiac arrest. After several days back in the hospital, we brought her home with a diagnosis of renal failure. Our gracious Heavenly Father blessed us with 10 very peaceful days at home together before He took her … two days after Christmas … from my arms into His own … and bestowed upon her ultimate healing. Randy & Matthew sat on either side of us as she flew home, while her favorite hymn/lullaby tape was playing “Amazing Grace”. She was so beautiful … so strong … and she left her imprint in our lives & souls. Our final labor of love for our Emma Grace was to care for her after her death and lay her to rest here on our homestead.

Emma may have started her life an “unwanted” child … but eight incredibly brief months later, her spirit & tenacity had touched countless hearts. She promoted from this world passionately loved and cherished by her family, and cared about deeply by many who had fought the battle for her life along side us …

To our dear friends at Adoption Access, we thank you again for your part in bringing Emma Grace to us. Your compassion for both birth & adoptive families is extraordinary. You’ve stood with us through it all, and your friendship has enriched our lives … we’re so blessed by your love for us, and for Emma.

To our friends at Adopt America … thank you also for your part in helping Emma find her way into our family … and for caring so much about the children. You all are doing an incredible work.

To our families, church families and wonderful friends & cyber-friends, there’s absolutely no way we could ever have done without your fervent prayers, support, listening ears, continuous encouragement & warm hugs … we’re also very grateful for the meals, tokens of love, and offers of help, so generously and freely given.

To the countless doctors, interns, nurse practitioners, nurses, TPN staff, respiratory, speech, occupational & physical therapists, patient advocates, social workers, volunteers, cleaning staff, Kangaroo Crew, receptionists, Ronald McDonald House staff, chaplains, medical supply personnel … and everyone who became such a special part of our lives during the past year … you know who you are, and how much you’ve meant to us. You invested so much in Emma … and in me … I’ve learned so much, grown both as a person & as a mom, and will never, ever be the same. You did everything you knew to do … gave of yourselves … went above & beyond to accommodate so many of our needs, wishes & desires … and most importantly, many of you reached out and really cared.

Thank you … every single one of you … from the bottom of our hearts for all you did for our family and for our precious Emma. We love & miss her so much … I can’t see ever adjusting to life without her. It seems unfair sometimes that life should just go on … and there are moments that I don’t think I can take another breath. Never have we known such depth of pain and sorrow … sometimes it seems the tears will never stop flowing. Through it all though, we maintain that God is good … all the time. Emma’s life was ordained, and her days numbered, by her Creator. In spite of anything we did or didn’t do, her purpose here has been fully accomplished … her life was in His hands from the beginning. We will continue to love Him, praise Him, and serve Him until the day He calls our own names. Heaven is a sweeter place … and oh, how we look forward to seeing our beautiful daughter again, perfect & free! Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself is our comfort & our peace, our rock & our salvation … and someday we will understand in full what we now only see in part. His love for us is what overflowed our lives into Emma’s … how vast must be His love for us … for ALL of us!!

Friends & family are helping put in a lovely memorial garden … “Emma’s Garden” … around her gravesite here on our country property. More than just a way to commemorate her life, Emma’s Garden will stand as a testimony to the legacy of an “unwanted” child. Our desire and goal is to find our place within a network of individuals & professionals committed to helping children who have needs which make it difficult to place them in adoptive homes … and also to help find the many waiting “forever” families willing to provide loving arms and devoted care for these special little ones. Our prayer is that the legacy of Emma’s Garden will grow to include many of these children … like flowers … each uniquely and purposefully designed and created by a loving God Who never makes mistakes, and has a plan & purpose for each of their little lives.

Thank you all for being part of Emma Grace’s story … we love you.