Family & Friends, this afternoon, I write to you from the quiet peace of the room at Wages where Emily's ashes are now resting surrounded by some of her creations. If you come by you will see the paper Christmas trees she learned to craft in a class just a few weeks ago, the knitting project she had just begun, and the painting she did for Nathan that normally hangs in his office. One of her beautiful quilts covers the table that holds her small oak box. The room is guarded by the banners she crafted 20 years ago for worship at Prospect United Methodist Church which still proclaim "Glory to God in the Highest” and signal the celebration of Easter resurrection. Wages has appointed the room well with beautiful furniture and Emily's art makes it warm and inviting. The work of Emy's hands is here, but Emy is not. Nathan, Jessie and I are grateful for this week of resting. We were exhausted from the battle for life at the hospital. Inside the quiet of the room, I can hear the traffic of Scenic Highway. The busy noises clearly signal that Christmas is forgotten and the demands of a new year is on everyone's mind.
Over the next week, you are invited to come and sit in this quiet place and enjoy her creations. There is a basket with note cards. If you have a great story about Emy, please record it and leave if for us to enjoy. If you want to step out of the business of life and begin the new year with some plans on these cards that make the quality of your life better, please use this quiet place to make a card to take with you to guide your future. So many of you have prayed for us over these difficult weeks and now we pray for you that your quiet time in this place will change your year and your life and bring all you need to manage the challenges of this difficult world. Emily would like that.
Our time of quiet reflection will continue every day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm until Friday evening. On Friday, January 17, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, our family invites you to come visit with us in this place.
On Saturday, January 18, we will also visit with friends and family beginning at 2:00 pm in the narthex of the Buford Church of God followed by a service of celebration at 4:00 pm. For those of you who cannot attend the service, we will post a link to the video of the celebration on this site. Words cannot express our gratitude for all your tender care over these hard weeks. May God grant you His favor for your kindness and care.
