Thank you, sweet friends, for all the prayers, kind words and sweet love you have shown to me this past week.

I can honestly say that God’s grace is sufficient.  In fact it’s times like these that we learn, again, just how faithful He is.

Although this past week has been a time of grieving, the Lord has tenderly whispered things that minister perfectly to my soul.  He knew what I needed.  He has moved in ways that I am left completely dumbfounded – oh, the faithfulness of God!  It knows no limit!

Then today, at church, Ruby was completely jazzed up and was making such a racquet that I had to spend the entire service in the hallway listening to the speaker {Ruby loves Pastor Luke so much that she squeals and carries on like none other}.

Anyway, a man, whom I don’t remember ever seeing before, came by the little bench that Liberty and I were sitting on while holding Ruby.  He stopped and pointing at me, said, “The Lord has given me a word for you….” and went on to tell me something that was, no doubt, directly from the Lord.  Exactly what I needed to hear.

Two days before Emma left we had a very small gathering of a few close friends to honor her and pray over her.   It was an intimate time together.  After we shared some clips of some home movies from when Emma was little, we had a time of prayer over Emma, laying hands on her and many prayed powerful prophetic prayers over her.  Such a precious historical moment in our lives!

After it had finished, one of Emma and Graham’s friends came to me.  He said, “I feel like the Lord has given me a word for you,” and proceeded to share what that word was.  It could not have been anymore accurate for me, personally.  It was unbelievable!

Lastly, I thought many of you would enjoy seeing something that I found last week.

Not long before Emma left, I suddenly remembered something from just about 20 years ago.  I had not thought about it in a long time.

So I want to share a little story….

Back when I was pregnant with our missionary girl, I was dialating and having so many contractions that I was required to go on complete bedrest when I was just 34 weeks pregnant with Emma.  {They let me up at 37 weeks and she was born the next day.}

As I was laying there for the three weeks, I thought, “It would be really fun to have an unusual birth announcement to send to friends – announcing this little miracle treasure.”

So I prayed and prayed….asking the Lord to give me a creative idea…we were pastoring outside Richmond, Virginia at the time and there was no money to speak of….so it had to be an economical idea as well.

Then last week, just before Emma left, I remembered the birth announcement that I had made almost 20 years earlier.  I had completely forgotten that announcement, but since remembering it, I was one determined silver-haired mama to find it!  I just had to!

Now, the thing is…if you saw our garage and the piled high boxes that are e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. you would know that this is a little miracle in its own right.  I prayed and asked the Lord to help me find that invitation…no matter what….

Heading out into the abyss of boxes, my eyes zoomed in on a box immediately.  I really didn’t think it could possibly be there.  But, the Lord knew!

I slowly began sifting through piece by piece…think about it, it’s only a folded piece of paper – I started to squeal – faithful God….

And I joyfully share it with you…”The Baby Behind the Belly”

So I took a picture of my 8 month pregnant self…with Autumn, Abi, Dw and Tyler on our front porch…Then I gently glued it to a card stock piece of paper, and ever so carefully sliced the edge of my dress so that one could easily lift up the piece of my big ol’ belly…..

Somehow the Lord knew that finding Emma’s announcement would bring me such tender pleasure…

Oh the faithfulness of God.