July 22, 2008

Fifteen years ago today our Emma Joy was born. She was born at 11:28pm and weighed in at 7lbs 1oz. She is a delight to all who meet her. Her compassion and care for the orphans of the world make her unique in her age group. She prays with passion for the orphans and dreams of what she can do for them. She is kind, tenderhearted and helpful and takes good care of her younger siblings. She has many friends who love her immensely. Although she appears to be a bit shy, she is known around our house as an instigator of sweet mischief (all the while looking least suspecting!)….she has a quick wit too and makes me laugh daily at her dry humor. She has a beautiful voice and sings on the youth worship team. She also debuted this spring when she sang, “Via Dolorosa” in the Passion Play at church. Her heart is in Africa where she will head one day, Lord willing, to serve Christ ministering to the orphans. A few weeks ago she was looking out the window as they were about to land in Uganda and turned to daddy and said, “There are children down there that need me Dad.”

I have long said, “I would rather my children live on the other side of the world serving Christ than in my backyard not serving Him at all.” I know God has called Emma to Africa as she has prayed for probably the last 8 years that God would allow her one day to be a missionary to Africa’s orphans. Knowing that, I revel in each minute that I have with this precious treasure named EmmaLee Joy. This 15th birthday of hers was celebrated with our traditional breakfast in bed, lunch with mom and dad at restaurant of birthday child’s choice and dinner together as a family at home eating favorite foods. Emma’s breakfast choice was Pumpkin muffins from Carvers (so I headed out in the wee hours to hit Carvers downtown to bring home her favorite muffin). Lunch was at The River Rat and dinner was her all-time favorite dinner meal – Polish Sausage, Sauerkraut and Mashed Potatoes, with homemade ice cream pie for dessert.