Emma presented her self-guided research project on geodes last night, for a small group of parents and kids.

She was excited to go first and share her project.

3 years difference!!

Beware

A few days ago (Wednesday) there were two burglaries in our town, one across the street from us.  Here's what happened:

The old woman and her son (who is pretty old too) were doing some work in the front yard when a man approached them claiming to be a contractor.  He was wearing an orange construction type vest, but otherwise pretty scruffy (I know because I saw him walk past our house and over to them).

He persuaded them to go round the back of the house to look at some work they should do.  Meanwhile he had an accomplice who went in the unlocked front door to ransack the house. 

Thankfully, the woman's granddaughter, who lives there, was inside and confronted the man as he went upstairs.  We believe he fled before taking anything.

Another home not too far away was not so lucky and they had things taken.

When the police told us about this, and I told them what I'd seen, I also mentioned a blue minivan that had pulled up across the street within the same period (I had been outside doing yard work too), probably before the guy came.  When the kids are outside I always pay attention to vehicles that stop on either of the two streets bordering our house.

I am posting this as a word of caution, no matter where you live, to be cautious of strangers, approaching without invitation and visible credentials - the guy didn't even have a vehicle, he walked from around the block! 

A new beginning

Well, I finally did it!  14 years after moving to the US with a view to staying for a while, I made it "permanent" and became a U.S. citizen!  (It's only permanent unless God calls us to go somewhere else!)

I initiated the process in June 2016, before any change in the White House - it was not a knee-jerk reaction to new leadership, as some might think.  More a choice to offer more stability for the family.

The ceremony was to be held at 9am on Friday, March 24 in Philadelphia.  Scott and the kids came along for the occasion - we brought the kids more for a civics lesson than thinking it would mean much to them at this age! 

There were 64 people taking the oath of allegiance, from 32 different countries!  We had no idea what to expect on duration, anything.  So we were pleasantly surprised to find it would be over by 10:30am, and it was actually finished by 10:15am. 

The final part of the process was collecting my certificate of naturalization, which I'll use to get my  passport as identification - the picture on the certificate was taken at an appointment last summer and I was not told it would be my forever picture!!!

Here are a few pictures from the day!!

 

Eternity

It was a sad weekend for our church family, as two families lost loved ones.

In one case, a couple we have known for years, roughly the same age as us, lost their 21yo son the day after his birthday to a heroin overdose.  He leaves behind a little girl and baby on the way. 

Despite having many struggles over the past few years with poor choices and self-destructive behavior, he had been doing well and his last Facebook post the day before revealed a thankful heart and optimism for the future.

As the church was informed and asked to pray for them, an older couple, who the week prior had brought their 26yo daughter to church and had prayed Scott as she was recovering from addiction and doing better, they told their daughter what had happened, warning her.  The next day she died of an overdose too, with her 5yo daughter in the room.  She also has a 7yo daughter.

We taught them and played with them in Sunday School yesterday, they were unaware that their mother had died, because their grandparents did not yet know how to tell them.

These are not isolated cases - drug deaths are rampant and it's not always people from "bad" families or poverty.  Our world is broken and there are many things that promise an escape, or [temporary] peace, but they lead us down the path of destruction.  Not just drugs, alcohol, acquiring possessions, sex and porn, even food.  All false gods promising redemption.

But the truth is we were created to crave and serve the real God, the one who made us.  Without him we are a slave to the desires that lead us to seek significance in places it can't be found.

These deaths have affected me more than any other because of their timing.  Recently I've been reading more about eternity. 

Many of us, myself included, turn to God for help in this life.  We screw it up on our own or fail to find purpose for our life, so, if we are very fortunate, we meet Jesus and he says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

But it's not this life that was Jesus's primary reason for coming.  At the end of this brief life we will find our eternal destination - our residence with no expiration.  Due to the separation of man from God, the default setting on our eternal GPS is Hell.  A place of incredible suffering and torment without end. 

There is nothing we can do to alter this course ourselves.  Doing good things is pointless without having a personal relationship with Jesus.  It is only through him, and his substitutionary death on the cross, where he went to hell in advance, on our behalf, and subsequent resurrection that we can be reconciled with God.

It is not what we do that changes our destination to Heaven.  It is our decision to lay aside our independence and accept the offer of Lordship from Jesus.  The scum of the earth have the same invitation as you and I, because we have all fallen short of God's standard of holiness, the extent is unimportant.

The thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus, at the very close of his own life, recognized that Jesus was the Son of God and had the authority to forgive (erase, remove) his sins against God and become acceptable to God - simply through faith that had the courage to say "I need you, because I am not worthy". 

Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43

We spend so much time and effort seeking peace and pleasure, reward and recognition, in this life that we fail to realize how little time we have to make decisions for the eternal life.

The smartest thing the devil ever did is convince people that neither he, nor hell, are real. 

People say that a "good God" would not send people to hell.  But in fact it is us - we have committed the sin that sends us to hell.  Our good God, sent his Son to rescue us!!  He made a way for us to escape the sentence we were born under.

How little time we spend contemplating eternity, or simply what comes after death.  We spend our days focusing on the here and now, but

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:17

It is in love, and desperation that I write this.  I urge everyone to take a look at their life and consider the future.  If you have even an inkling that there is life after physical death, you owe it to yourself to find out what that is.  Don't take the chance.

I leave you with this account from the Bible:

Luke 16:19-31New International Version (NIV)

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹ "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ²⁰ At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores ²¹ and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

²⁵ "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

²⁷ "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸ for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

²⁹ "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

³⁰ "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

³¹ "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

I love you.  God loves you.  Don't let pride or ignorance stop you from receiving that love.

30 day journey

About 6 weeks ago an acquaintance made me an offer I couldn't refuse - to try a 30 day nutritional cleansing and fat burning diet system.  you know the routine, 2 meal replacement shakes and some other supplements, mixed in with a few days of a type of fast, and only eating non-processed healthy food for dinner.

It's no secret my nutritional health journey is a rollercoaster and the holidays always make me go downhill.  I wasn't quite at my heaviest, but not where I wanted to be.

I went for it and lost 15lbs, and 10" in all the right places!

But, what goes beyond the exterior is what changed in my mind!  I went from seeing healthy choices (as opposed to junk food or processed food) as being deprived and "poor me" to actually being empowering - to have control over my cravings.

Often we crave certain things, but it's not out of hunger - any food would satisfy hunger!  We crave things for comfort, reward, pleasure etc, and we sabotage our own bodies in response.

I started a study group on the book Made to Crave.  It talks about how we were designed to crave, but that craving should be for God, for his will and plan in our life.  Misguided cravings result in pulling us in the opposite direction.

And that's the difference - realizing that my health honors God and enables me to serve him with more energy and ability than before!

Toby's bedroom makeover!

Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day

We all desire to know the future, to see clearly the road ahead.  But if we did, there may be things that scare us, because we are not able to see the preparation we will have, or the strength that emerges.  Often such things turn out to be some of the most incredible blessings in life.

Nine years ago, with a diagnosis of Moebius Syndrome, our baby girl faced an uncertain future.  Would she walk or talk?  Would she eat and drink?  Questions she has answered without doubt! 

We aren't able to answer the question of how Emma Hope, or anyone else, developed Moebius Syndrome.  The quest for an answer can be a blinding distraction to the journey we find ourselves on, because answers are unlikely, this side of Heaven!

What may seem like devastating news can actually reveal purpose, strength and character, in light of God's promise to bring good out of all things for those who love him.  This is the perspective we choose to have as we navigate life.

Every day, when I pause to think about the impact Emma Hope has had on my life, and so many people around her, I am in awe.  Courageously facing her fears and refusing to be angry or sad about thing, and people, she cannot change.  Her faith and trust in God, that He has a plan for her life, and will be her strength and shield all her days, is inspiring. 

So, today, we work to increase understanding and awareness of Moebius Syndrome.  We want people to be aware of the tendency to pre-judge those who look different, or are unable to express themselves in the same way.  Look at the heart, see the smile that shines out!!

Happy New Year!

I was both shocked and surprised to discover that someone other than my mum and grandmother have been following this blog!  (Hi Sandy!)  How exciting to find out that Emma's story is enjoyed by people, and hopefully my writing can do justice to the everyday triumphs of her quiet faith and strength.

I feel somewhat guilty that I've been neglecting posting lots of things (in favor of the wider reaching Facebook), which maybe you would have enjoyed.  Also due,in part, to the glare Scott gives me when my face is glued to the little screen, and not engaging with the family I write about!  It's tough to find the balance of being present, but also wanting our lives to be poured out in hope and encouragement for others.

I will resolve to do better this new year!

If you are following this blog, and have never made contact, I'd love to get a comment from you, and maybe any feedback on how the Story of Hope might have impacted your life.  I love to share such feedback with Emma, so she is not oblivious to her impact on the world.

I also want to take this opportunity to encourage you to stand with Emma and our family on Monday, January 24th for Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day.  Wear purple, tell people why!

We are continuing the drive to raise awareness of this syndrome, not only for social and societal understanding, but also to inform the medical community, so family doctors, pediatricians, midwives and even NICU nurses, can recognize the syndrome and help babies thrive.

I'm excited that this year Emma will wear a recognizable smile on the day that means so much to her.  Her school principal told her teacher that the whole school will be encouraged to wear purple and she was AMAZED!  This is how we change the world!

Scarlet, my darling

This was our Sunday evening...

Following a week long cough, Emma developed a rash on her cheeks Saturday morning, which quickly spread to the rest of her body.  We didn't hesitate to take her to urgent care (a walk-in doctors office that is open 7 days until late and has a lab and x-ray on site!) where they diagnosed Strep Throat with Scarlettina - Scarlet Fever.

We picked up the antibiotics, and drove home in the building snow. 

On Sunday, Em and Scott stayed home from church but the rash seemed to be only getting worse.  I called the care place and asked them if it was normal to itch and get worse.  They prescribed a steroid which quickly worked.

Still, it all takes a toll on a little girl and Emma wanted to just cuddle with mommy!

I kept her off school on Monday to give more time for the rash to heal.  She had plenty of energy and enjoyed missing gym class and watching TV all day!  Just as well since I was working from home!

Back to school tomorrow.

If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

I've heard it and read it many times. Today it came with the goal to "spend more time in rest than worry and fear." And then our pastor moved on to the next point.

But not me - I was stuck. He was correct, I have been conditioned to try to fix everything, to Google the answers and do everything until it's better.

I don't think you need to have a child with "a diagnosis" to recognize the "heavy burdens" I'm dragging around as a mom. Trying to control the variables, influence the world and even feeling the pressure to HEAL my child!

No amount of care prevented Emma getting scarlet fever, and while not the worst diagnosis she's ever received, seeing her sweet face covered with angry red marks and welts has broken my heart. Not preventing, and not being able to take it away has hit me hard, harder than many previous things.
So the invitation to lay down the burden at the feet of One who CAN heal, protect and restore. Not just Emma, but me. And you.

When the service was opened I went straight to the altar, to kneel and lay down the burden I've been carrying all this time, without realizing how much it has been weighing on my heart. Apparently burdens come out of our eyes in salty droplets, and they flow quickly.

I can't promise I won't forget that it's not my burden to carry again - even tomorrow! But my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will quicken my heart when I reach for the control that is merely a chain of performance that looks like power, and I will drop it like a hot potato.

Christmas

After church on Christmas Eve (above) the kids got new Christmas PJs (below)!

In the morning they got their "stockings" and brought them in to our room to open, before church.

A giant root-beer float (like an ice-cream soda!)

Boxing Day Brunch

This year I think we started a new tradition - Boxing Day brunch!  We had our good friends over at 9am (because the kids get up that early anyway), made breakfast and hung out until evening!!  Good times and a great way to chill after all the crazy!

And I ate this - bacon, ice-cream and a waffle!!  It was great!

Really, Really Good News

This past Sunday was the church's family Christmas show "The Really, Really Good News".  Emma was an angel and Toby was a shepherd (he was happy to not be an animal this year!)