We did it! My heart is full of joy and peace right now! Thank you Jesus for showing us a way to remember Emily, and bless someone who needs to know You. If you are reading this and are a little confused read this post and then come back here.

After explaining to the kids and praying with them, we ended up choosing a little girl from India. Her birthday is just a day after and a year before Emily's. And, we didn't notice until later, but the little girl's name is very similar to 'angel'. How fitting.

And, sweet sweet Rachel, she was so excited. She was looking forward to being a big sister to another girl and taking care of her and playing with her...Rachel thought we were adopting this sweet child. Oh, how Joel and I yearned that this was true. We tried to explain and I think she understands now. Maybe someday we'll adopt, but God has not opened that door yet. Until then, we'll all have to be content sending letters and stickers and colorings to our angel in India.

Another Milestone

I've been wanting to buy Emily a Christmas gift this year. I haven't actually succeeded doing this before. I've wanted to, but never knew what to get. Then Christmas would come and go... I did manage to find a stocking for her. We had it in the ornament box, this little red, white and green stocking. We hung it up on her would-be first Christmas. And we've hung it up every year since then. One of those years, I found time to embroider her name with gold ribbon and sew a cloth butterfly onto her stocking. This year, instead of either on the tree or off somewhere by itself, it's hanging up between Rachel and Madelynn's stockings. Where it should be. Because she's a part of our family. She's just not here right now.

But what do I give my daughter who has everything?

I've been reading a book. It's a Gospel for Asia book, titled "No Longer a Slumdog".  I've been reminded and touched by this book. It's full of personal stories of children who have lived in the slums of India and Southern Asia. Full of reality, but also hope.

Last night, the Lord led me through a thought process:

What should I get Emily for Christmas? I've been thinking of getting her a windchime or a suncatcher with a butterfly somewhere attached. It would have to be perfect, not too fancy, just simple. It would need to have pink, yellow, purple and maybe some white included. But I haven't found it yet. Because Emily doesn't want a windchime for Christmas. She wants me to do something eternal. To give her a gift that has eternity in it's heart.

I think back to the book I've been reading. These children have nothing. No clothes, no warmth, no hope and no love. And that is when God gave me the idea:  Sponsor one of these lost children, in memory of Emily Grace.

So, hopefully tonight, soon at least, Joel and I and the kids will sit down together and "give" our gift to Emily. And bring eternity to a lost child.

My desire to "buy" something for Emily has "mysteriously" vanished. I am so excited to unwrap our idea of giving our money and love to a child who so desperately needs it.

I know this is what Emily would want. This is what would make her happy.

Because ultimately, giving our resources to another, instead of ourselves, is what Jesus wants and makes Him happy.