Emilie

"What if I allow myself to put the outcome in God’s hands and just live intensely in the present, absorbing and embracing life as it happens?" -Emilie Lemmons

When Jeff and I began our journey to have a family I felt completely alone, surrounded by people who, having never been in our situation, simply could not understand what we were going through. It was then that I was introduced to the wonderful world of blogs. Suddenly I was surrounded by women experiencing all the difficulties and heartache that comes with infertility. These beautiful, witty, intelligent, and eloquent women became my "Ladies". I would check in on them on a regular basis, sharing tears of joy and sorrow as they fought their battles.

I have continued to keep up with them all over the last few years, and have watched as some have succeeded in starting families, some have continued to fight, and others have chosen to live childless. Despite the fact that I keep up with them regularly, I have never linked any of their blogs to ours as I have always felt that the blogs that speak to me on a very personal level, may not do so to others.

On Christmas Eve, I had a couple of quiet moments before the babies woke up, so decided to check in on my "Ladies" and see how everyone was doing. One in particular had me worried, and I was hoping to see that she and her family were okay. Instead I was heartbroken to read that she had passed away in the early morning hours, surrounded by her husband and two very young sons (2.5 and 9 months). Her name was Emilie. Her first son, Daniel was born in 2006, and during her second pregnancy (with her son Ben) in 2007, was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of soft tissue sarcoma.

I sat at the computer, tears pouring down my face as I realized that there would be no more posts from her blog. No new words to make me think, to laugh or to inspire me. Instead I am left with the gift of her words, her example, and her grace. I was never given the privilege of meeting her or speaking with her, but she touched my life profoundly.

So today I am opening up a very personal place in my life, and placing a link to her blog lemmondrops in this post. I also want to share a beautiful column for the Catholic Spirit here that she wrote less than a week before her passing. I wish that I was more gifted in my writing so as to better express what an incredible Lady she was. Instead I will also pass along the links to blogs belonging to others also affected by her passing. Life in Fast Forward (her doula that delivered both boys), Peace Garden Mama and April's World to name a few.

Emilie is no longer in pain, and is at last at peace. To quote the Pilot Gillespie Magee, she has "slipped the surly bonds of earth....and touched the face of God". Please keep her family in your prayers.

Thank you Emilie. May God bless and keep you.