Listening Up↑

Have you ever had an experience that made you realize we are all probably just one conversation away from something really powerful?  That if we just listen for the Holy Spirit's direction, amazing things can happen? In the book, I write much about the Holy Spirit's involvement during Daniel's life, and it never ceases to amaze me when I am blessed with one of those moments.

Which happened last night.

Let me back up to yesterday afternoon. I took Madi over to my friend Carrie's house to play with her girls. Carrie told me that she was planning to go to a special reconciliation Mass last night. So I spontaneously invited myself to go with her (we're tight like that).

She picked me up promptly at 6:30, and we headed over to the church. When we arrived, the parking lot appeared empty, but we didn't question it. As we approached the church, we saw a well put-together looking lady with a cheerful smile and a warm aura about her. She asked if we were there for the Mass, and we introduced ourselves. Her name was Erin.

Erin seemed distressed, to say the least. She indicated, through our conversation, that she was having a really difficult time finding a faith community in her area that shared her same beliefs and convictions. Erin said she's in desperate need of spiritual guidance, and that God is calling her to do something, but she continues to hit road blocks. In fact, this was the second time Erin had driven to our area from her residence, which was about forty-five minutes away. And ironically enough, that last time was when Hurricane Wilma hit. Mass had been canceled then, and we began to have the feeling that Mass was canceled, once again, due to our area's severe weather.  Carrie tried calling someone who would know more, but there was no answer.

As we stood there perplexed, I said to them both, "Well then, there must be a reason that we are here tonight."

I knew immediately that Carrie would be able to put her in touch with some people who could help with her spiritual guidance. Then, Erin asked us if we knew her friends who were supposed to meet her there. She described them as a local family with nine children. Who had lost a son.

I was stunned. I asked questions about her friend's son and his death. Upon hearing the story, I just couldn't resist, and I gave her my card about With an Open Heart.

I divulged that I, too, had lost a son.

Now it was Erin who looked stunned. As she took the card from my hand, she revealed that she had also lost a son.

Our eyes filled with tears, and we hugged. We began to realize that perhaps it was no accident that the three of us were standing there alone in that parking lot.

She told us the beautiful story of her baby boy, who was born missing a part of his brain. The way Erin described her sweet, precious child, we knew that he was nothing short of a miracle. She and her family gave him nine months of unconditional love before he went to Heaven. And he died nine times in her arms before he passed.  She claims to have seen Christ many times throughout her son's life, and her story has led to numerous conversions.

Awesome.

Erin then spoke of her desire to start a Catholic palliative care program for babies. A program that would send sick babies on their way to Heaven knowing the power and the touch of love before their departure.

Sign me up.  Perhaps I've just discovered something I'm supposed to do in Daniel's memory.

We stood there talking for about thirty minutes--and in our "severe" weather--we received not a drop of rain.  Until, of course, I pointed out that God had spared us from the rain, so that we could converse. Almost immediately after my statement, the skies opened up, and it began to rain.  Carrie and I said our goodbyes to Erin and promised to keep in touch.

As Carrie and I drove away--in sheer awe--her phone rang. It was the woman she'd tried to call earlier returning her call.

Mass hadn't been canceled at all. It had taken place on Wednesday. The three of us were there together on the wrong night.

What are the chances?  No accidents...

To be continued.

FUMCBB fundraiser

I am excited to take part in an "Ice Cream Social" fundraiser for First United Methodist Church of Boynton Beach this Thursday evening. I will have a table there dedicated to the book and will donate to the school for each copy purchased. 

The goal is raise money to purchase new equipment for the preschool's playground. And since Charlie will be a student there next year, this fundraiser is an act of kindness that we will benefit directly from.

Bonus.

This fundraising event was the idea of a young woman named Lindsey. She and her husband own a photography business, and they rent photo booths for events. They are graciously donating their photography equipment--and their time--to take family portraits for a mere $10.00 donation to the school.

First United Methodist Church and Preschool have been such a huge part of our family's journey, and they are even mentioned in the book. The school administrator and the teachers were so attentive to Madi while Daniel was in the hospital. 

And they grieved with our family when we lost our son.

The school and church congregation continue, to this day, to collect pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in Daniel's memory. I find that simply amazing. Such proof that Jesus lives in the hearts of so many.

Daniel would have been a VPK student there this year.

If you are local and would like to come for ice cream between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m this Thursday, please email me, and I will happily RSVP for you!

Women of Faith

With an Open Heart is one of the titles that will be featured at the upcoming Women of Faith Conference in Kansas City, Missouri on November 2nd and 3rd.

You will find our story in the new BookStub Gallery, where they will give away 50 free downloads of the e-book format.

To me, this is a really big deal. Because this conference is attended by approximately 15,000 women of faith. I'm not sure I could find a more appropriate audience for Daniel's story.

So, if you happen to be traveling to Kansas City for the conference, please stop by and grab a BookStub!  But please hurry...because (hopefully) they'll go quick!

The Bee's Knees

I recently received a message from Suzanne, the owner of The Bee's Knees Learn & Play in Delray Beach.  Suzanne graciously asked if I would like to put some of my books on their shelves.

It was kind of a "God thing," because I haven't seen Suzanne in years. Not since before Madi was in school, and we used to play there on a regular basis.

Her contact stirred up some unexpected and warm memories.

Because I remembered that I used to go there with Madi when we were waiting for Daniel's arrival. And we almost always went with our friend, Vanessa, and her children.

While the kids played, I would bend Vanessa's ear about Daniel, about our excitement of his arrival, and about our plans for his surgery and his life with us. I could hardly wait to see him running around The Bee's Knees with his big sister.

It was a magical time, filled with hope and anticipation.

Like waiting for Jesus.

So three years later, I find it quite ironic that our son is not running around The Bee's Knees. But his story is.

And hopefully he'll open some hearts there...

Email from a friend

I mentioned, in yesterday's post, how it seems like amazing things are happening every day with Daniel and his story.

This is an email that I received last night from a friend. Just the mere possibility that Daniel's story might help people such as these?  Thoroughly warms my heart...

"Just had to let you know that when I was on the cruise last week, I "happened" to be sitting next to a lovely couple at dinner and somehow we got to talking about losing a child.  I honestly don't know why that happened - we were on vacation for goodness sakes, so that's kind of a strange turn of a conversation!  Turns out they had adopted a boy from Germany when he was very little.  He ended up with some emotional problems, and felt the need to return to his homeland when he was 17.  Shortly thereafter he died in a car crash.  

I mentioned your book to them, I thought it might help them.  Turns out they were already aware of it!  Your message - Daniel's message - is spreading!  They weren't from Florida - they were from the mid-West somewhere.  But when I told them the title, they said they thought they had read a review somewhere.  I didn't know how much publicity the book has received, but I wrote the name of it on a napkin for them, and I'm sure they will look it up.

Now what's the likelihood of this happening?  I think you already know the answer!"

The struggle

I feel like, these days, the most amazing things are happening with Daniel's story, and I'm so grateful for it.

Today, as I strolled down the street with Charlie, I ran into a neighbor. Frank is a very insightful and kind man. He has always taken every opportunity to say hello to the kids, Daniel included, and he and his wife even showed up for our fundraiser for Charlie's adoption. They are good people with compassionate hearts. And you can sense that Frank is special after spending only minutes in his presence. I'm sure we all know that type of person.

I handed Frank a card for the book and proudly announced our accomplishment of the book's release. He asked me how much the book costs, and I awkwardly told him the price.

He smiled at me and said, "And now it's time to recoup your investment."

I was stunned. It was as if he could see right through my eyes and straight into my heart.

Without hesitation, Frank whipped out twenty dollars and handed it to me.  And I gave him a great, big hug.

You see, every day, I struggle with the monetary. Because I want so badly to GIVE this book to EVERYONE we know. Even to people that we don't know!

I want everyone to have a chance to know Daniel without a price attached to it. But that isn't the case, because of our choice to self-publish. Should I have waited?  Held Daniel's story in my clutch and chased publishers in pursuit of a good contract?  I think not. All along, I felt a strong desire to get God's message out there. As soon as possible. And that, my friends, unfortunately came with an investment.

And so I realize that I must put the brakes on. Especially if we want to reach our goal of giving to charity in Daniel's memory.

So, while we can't dispense this story as freely as we'd like to, we will continue to trust God's guidance, and pray that Daniel's story gets into the hands that need it.

And we thank you so, so much for your support along the way.