remembering

december 9th will forever hold significance in my heart. it will always be a day that i reflect on these events and thank God for the sacrifice of my friends. it will always stand as a reminder to me of how fragile life is and to be grateful for each day i am given. it will always cause me to stop and reflect on the miraculous events that kept me and many others only minutes from being right in the midst of it. 2 years later and thinking through all the 'what-ifs' kept me up last night, although it was the first time in a long time and for that i am grateful.

my heart is with my ywam family today and the families of tiff & phil. i know the loss i felt that day which pales in comparison with theirs. i pray God's peace on them today and all those who were touched by tragedy that day.

but i am still filled with hope. hope of a time when tears will cease and joy will be everlasting. it's in that place that tiff & phil now reside and the thought of that comforts me today. they are dancing and laughing and i'm sure enjoying their time in the presence of the almighty. so on this day i take time to remember their sacrifice and to let them know that i have not forgotten. Their legacy of love is part of what drives me today and for that i am so thankful.

tangible love

my day started off with an email from my good friend joyce in zambia. her email said that today, friday november 20th, 38 mattresses were delivered for the musakanya deaf school and i couldn't be more excited! i can rest better tonight knowing that those 38 precious kids will be doing the same. the realization of what was done hasn't fully hit me yet. well, it's starting to hit me now as i type through blurred tears. this is what i want out of my life... to fight injustice with love. sure, it's small in the grand scheme of the world but for those 38 deaf kids this is huge. they now know that someone has heard their silent cry, that they are not forgotten, that they are cared for by strangers halfway across the world.

i wish i could hug each one of you who helped make this possible. you have shown love in such a real, tangible way and for that i am forever grateful. thank you for believing in this vision. we truly have SO much to be thankful for!

happy birthday to a special girl

dear kyra,

you are 3 years old today. even as i type that i almost can't believe how quickly the time has gone by. you were the one who finally made me an aunt- the job i'd been dreaming about for years. i pretty much missed your first year of life cause God had me all over the world so thanks for not holding that against me. i hope i've more than made up for it though with all the time we spend together now. this is the first time i've been with you on your birthday and i couldn't be more excited!

you are such a spunky, energetic little girl. you make me laugh and smile and shake my head all at the same time. i love that every time i see you i get to hear you say "it's susie!" most of the time you're excited to see me and it makes my heart happy. you see kyra, i'm not sure i could love you any more if i'd birthed you myself. on friday night you cuddled with me for a few minutes (which is a rare feat) and i asked you if you loved me. you replied with an enthusiastic "YES" and i told you how much i loved you. thanks for letting me have that moment kid. i know you don't understand all the mushy-gushy stuff just yet but i'll hold that memory in my heart forever.

i love that sometimes mommy lets you and i have time together, just the 2 of us. those are my favorite times cause it's just you and me and i get to listen to you jabber away about anything and everything. you are such a smart little girl. i'm amazed by how much information you already have in that toddler brain of yours! i'd like to say that you take after me in that sense, but your mom is brilliant so i guess she gets the credit. :)

kyra, i hope you have very special birthday today. i'm so glad i get to spend it with you! you bring me such joy and i'm so glad God entrusted you to be a part of our family. you are so loved by all your grandparents, aunts, uncles, counsins and even soon-to-be cousins! i pray that as you grow you will understand the depth of love that your heavenly father has for you and that He will show you the best ways to express it to the people around you. God has special plans for you. i think you're destined to be an adventurous world-traveler like me and i hope someday we'll have an opportunity to spread God's love together. mom and dad already said you can go to africa with me when you're 13... or was it 15? i'm gonna push for 13. 10 more years kiddo. can't wait.

love you so very much!

aunt susie