This tapestry was a gift from Emily's Aunt Connie (Sam's sister) and Uncle Ron. It hangs in our living room and reminds us that Emily is now in the presence of Jesus.

Someone we went to church with in Moore, Oklahoma, found this old picture and posted it on Facebook, so I stole it to put here. Every time we see a picture of Emily that we've never seen before, it's like we're having a new encounter with her. Her memory ministers comfort to us. (She's the one in the middle holding the teacher's hand. Another Down syndrome girl, Kylie, is on the left.)

The butterfly has come to be symbolic for us. It represents the transformed body and life Emily now has. This butterfly was a special gift from a friend. We placed it at Emily's grave.

December 30, 2008, was a year since we said goodbye to our Emily. The family that was with us the night she died came all the way from their home in Florida to be with us on the one-year anniversary of her passing. That meant so much to us.

This picture is from when we lived in Oklahoma; she loved to dress up. Some people think that it makes us sad to think or talk of Emily. It's just the opposite. We might cry, but keeping her memory alive is important to us and brings us joy.

Beads for Christmas

Emily wouldn't go anywhere without her beads. How surprised she was to get a whole box of them for Christmas one year!

Last Thanksgiving

We were excited to be spending Thanksgiving with friends in Florida last year. Little did we know that we'd be staying seven weeks and returning to Virginia without our Emily. Her leukemia relapsed for the second time while we were there. We were thankful that she was cared for by doctors and nurses she had known and loved for eight years. We held out hope for a bone marrow transplant, but it wasn't to be.

It was a gift from God that she was cared for in her last weeks by people we knew and had confidence in at Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital. She was happy to see them and didn't seem to understand that it wasn't a good thing that we were going back there. It was like an odd family reunion. Having spent over 200 nights in that hospital over an 8-year period, we felt like it and the Ronald McDonald House were our second home. Little did we know as we checked in last Thanksgiving that we'd be staying another 39 nights.

We are thankful that Emily was able to see her friends Madison, Alexis, and Amber many times before saying goodbye. Had we been in Virginia when the relapse happened, they might not have seen each other again this side of eternity.

We are thankful for how people ministered to us. Both friends and people we had never met showed us God's love.

We are thankful for the gift of Emily in our lives for over 13 years. She changed us.

Emily loved the beach.

She had the cutest little feet and loved to tell others who painted her toenails.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of losing our Emily, we regularly think about where we were and what we were doing a year ago. This time last year, Emily was celebrating Uncle Ron's birthday in her cowgirl outfit and touring the Blueridge Parkway with us. What wonderful memories!

A favorite oldie from days in Oklahoma. It reminds us of Emily's joy!

As the new school year began and as autumn approaches, we think of Emily even more. She loved school. Just to make sure she was going to school the next day, she'd often say, "School tomorrow--bus tomorrow!" We drive by the bus stop every day and think of how much joy she got walking there to pet her two labrador friends before she'd hop on the bus.

Today we saw a beautiful Down syndrome girl with her parents at the store. And we see Sarah Palin's little Down's boy on TV... Each time we're reminded of our Emily. We thank God for her and pray that our culture would see the gift that these little ones are to our world instead of aborting 85% of them before they even get their first chance to breathe. God, forgive our nation.

Abby's & Megan's Memorial Tattoos

Abby's tattoo is the one with the stars. Megan's was designed by her friend Ilana.