Booty Shake

 

Amber made this Facebook post on Emily's 19th birthday.  The booty shake was her signature dance move.

Today: Her 19th Birthday

This is a post that a  Florida friend made today in memory of Emily.  It's been over 5 years since she entered the arms of Jesus, and today would have been her 19th birthday.  I especially like this because it reminds me of Sonja's prayer when Emily was very little and we were realizing just how limited her language ability was going to be.  Sonja prayed that someday we would be able to hear the words "I love you" from Emily's lips.  Not only did she quite often declare "I luh you merry, merry, mush,"  she also flashed the sign-language message to us regularly.

 

Dancing with Donna

It's been five years now that Emily has been in Heaven.  Donna posted on Facebook this picture of her dancing with Emily along with this comment: "Missing my precious Emily especially today. So wish I could dance with her again. We had so much fun that night. Celebrating being one year closer to seeing my precious angel again."
     Donna and her husband Mitch watched and prayed with us for 38 hours before God called Emily home.  We will never forget that gift of "presence."  Neither will we forget the love their family gave to Emily and us in so many ways --  more precious than gold!

MRS. YOUNG, ONE OF EMILY'S TEACHERS

The following message is posted here with permission of Mary Young, one of Emily's teachers from Forest Middle School who emailed it to Sonja a few days ago.  Mary was a great influence on Emily's life, which spread to our family.

~~~~~

     This has been a hard school year and I have often questioned if what I am doing is worth while.
      When I switched classrooms and they moved my computer, my co-pilot fell off. (Emily's picture).  I found her picture today and visited her blog spot.  She still makes me smile and her joy in learning to read gives me hope and strength to continue.
     Thank you for sharing Emily with me.
     "Hello-oh!"
      Love Mary Young