I never intended to write on this topic. I’m not an expert. To make matters worse, I’m infertile and wish with all my heart that wasn’t so. I’m also a Christian with a conservative voting record.
If you’re expecting a rant or a sermon I’m going to disappoint you.

Read the rest of the article HERE

Joy

Sometimes you read a book that moves into your heart to stay. My Emily, by Matt Patterson is that kind of book. I started to love people with Down Syndrome when I was a little girl. As a teenager, my mom babysat a little girl named Patti Jo. She told me sweet stories about this child who was born at a time when most children with special needs were institutionalized. Instead, Patti Jo’s mom took her home. Her husband left, so my mom was hired to help out.

When I was a pre-teen, my mom bought me a book titled, Angel Unaware by Dale Evans. I read it more than once.

In what was then called Jr. High School, my Phy. Ed. teacher took an interest in me. I was lousy at sports, but he saw my heart. Mr. Jacobs knew I couldn’t swim to save my life (literally), but he asked me to give up one of my study halls each week to teach some kids how to swim. They were all mentally and/or physically challenged. I loved those few hours. Years later, I ran into the family of one of the kids. I had no idea if he’d remember me, but he and his mom did. I cried. She cried. He clapped and smiled.

Shortly after I married Jon, I met Annie – she is my sister in law’s sister in law. Annie has Down Syndrome, and she is my friend. We are auntie to some of the same kids, and we love them dearly. One day while waiting in the MPLS airport to meet our baby niece Annelies (she had been born in Holland – the country), and we hadn’t met her or held her yet; Annie turned to me and said, “We’re the same – we can’t have babies.” We stood in the airport and cried and hugged. Annie gives great hugs.

For awhile, I worked in at Hiawatha Home. I still think about and miss those kids. Oh the stories I could tell you about them. Each one so unique, and far smarter than most people realize. Add to that funny and loving and naughty.

The one day in June, a few years ago, a dear friend gave birth to a little girl. Jenna who has DS. She’s also beautiful, loving, and fun. My favorite thing about this child is the way she loves. And loves parties.

God brought another baby girl into my life – my great niece, Olivia. This beautiful little spit-fire delights our whole family. Last summer at our family picnic we were worried about the kids being in the house – we have solid oak doors, and fingers can get hurt so bad. Olivia kept trying to sneak in. Uncle Jon caught her and got down on one knee and said, “Olivia, no. You can’t go in there.” She put her little hands on her little hips and said, “You no!” Then, she walked away with all her sass and sweetness intact. I laughed so hard and secretly wanted what she has.

Recently, thanks to Matt’s book, I got to meet his Emily.

If you read this book, it’s likely you will cry. I bawled. But, mostly I celebrated the love of a daddy for his first born daughter. I especially cherish the way the Pattersons saw their daughter as perfect. She was Emily, and that was enough.

As Matt shares Emily’s life with readers, through the tears still present long after her journey into eternity, they will discover a cadence similar to a song or perhaps a hymn in the writing. A praise to God for the joy and grief.

The lesson that lingers after reading this short book about a joy-filled life is how it applies to me and my sorrows. That bit of truth washed over me again and again.

I read it in one day – I meant to enjoy it slowly, but once I got started I couldn’t turn my Kindle off. There will come a time when I’ll re-read this story-song. Emily’s life will inspire me yet again, and remind me of how beautiful the love of an innocent child is. My soul will dance to the gentle rhythm that beats softly in the background. Tears will flow again as I grieve for a Mom, and Dad who still love Emily.

There’s an especially amazing part I will not reveal here, but I believe Matt experienced two miracles – one in the life of Emily and one in a moment after she was gone. Although I knew something about the second one, when I read it, I was blown away by God’s tender mercy. Honestly – what He did for Matt is so like Him.

Emily’s Story is more than a memoir; it’s a gift.

Whether you know someone who has a child with DS or not, I hope you will read, My Emily. This life that at first seems fragile is instead powerful. And yes, I feel in love with a little girl I can’t meet this side of eternity, but who I hope to someday dance and twirl with on streets of pure gold.

Matt, thank you for writing this story – it could not have been an easy task. God must be so pleased.

Matt Patterson is author of the best-selling Kindle e-book My Emily and an award-winning communications professional. His two-plus decades of experience include public and media relations, as well as print and broadcast journalism. He volunteers his time to helping organizations and charities dedicated to assisting families with children who have special needs or those battling pediatric cancers. He resides in Arizona with his wife and two daughters.

 To purchase My Emily, click here.

Websites:  http://mattpatterson.me   http://www.my-emily.com

Twitter: @myemily_thebook

Facebook: Matt Patterson, Author

Welcome to this very special guest post by my friend, Matt Patterson. Wednesday, I will post my personal review of his book, My Emily. For now, I’m going to let Matt share. . .

What is a Gift?

If you ask a large group of people to give their definition of a gift, it’s quite possible you would receive an even larger group of different answers.

Replies could range from items related to holidays, milestones, our talents, families, as well as important or life-changing events. Personally, I can say the greatest gifts I have received in this life have come from some of my greatest trials and tragedies.

Among the “gifts” I have been given in my short life consist love, tragedy, grief and redemption.

Nearly 25 years ago, our first daughter Emily was born. The birth of a young couple’s first child almost certainly falls under the “gift” category.

After celebratory phone calls, bubble gum cigars, hugs, kisses and laughter we learned Emily was born with Down syndrome. There was shock, combined with absolute dismay. Thing is, these emotions quickly gave way to joy and happiness. Our little angel was truly a gift from God.

Life was good.

Just two years later though, this joy and happiness turned to heartache.  A routine late-night visit to the emergency room to battle a temperature would later reveal our little one had leukemia.

Cancer.

Down syndrome, first.

Now cancer.

Three-plus months of chemotherapy were followed by tests, transfusions, remission, relapse, surgery and eventually, death.

Each of these moments during Emily’s treatment and life brought countless gifts. Included in these are obedience, patience, faith, strength, persistence, endurance, fellowship and character.

Incidents in our lives – big or small – develop our character. The Bible says, “We know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character.”

Our lives, as short as they may be, are a test. And one of the biggest tests we can endure is how we respond to those moments when we don’t feel the presence of God in our lives. I believe deeply that one of God’s greatest gifts is to teach us there is a purpose behind every single one of our trials or problems.

Treat them as a gift, an opportunity to draw closer to God. Problems often times compel us to look to God and count on him, rather than ourselves.

In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says, “You’ll never know that God is all you need until God is all you’ve got.”

In Psalms 139:12, it says that Jesus offers himself as the light in our darkness. It’s my prayer that you learn to have faith and trust that God can lift you in your times of peril and save those moments as gifts.

In Emily’s life, treatment, and in her death, she brought me countless gifts for which I’ll be eternally grateful. It has truly brought light to my darkness. Her loving nature and courage touched the hearts of everyone she met. Today, and every day, she continues to teach me and so many others to value their own lives.

That is what I call – a gift.

Copyright 2012 Matt Patterson

Matt Patterson is author of the best-selling Kindle e-book My Emily and an award-winning communications professional. His two-plus decades of experience include public and media relations, as well as print and broadcast journalism. He volunteers his time to helping organizations and charities dedicated to assisting families with children who have special needs or those battling pediatric cancers. He resides in Arizona with his wife and two daughters.

To purchase My Emily, click here.

Websites:  http://mattpatterson.me   http://www.my-emily.com

Twitter: @myemily_thebook

Facebook: Matt Patterson, Author

I love to color. This weekend, I spent some time with my colored pencils and what Conner (my 5 year old great-nephew) calls my “big girl coloring books.” We sang together (Yes, the Oak Ridge Boys), shared laughs, and got serious about our “art.”

We talked about the red birds in the bush outside the window – they’re making a home for their babies there. I learned why super heroes are so important to Conner – because the good guys always win. We talked about Jesus and finger prints. From time to time when it got too serious. he’d show me a couple of his super guy moves and I’d giggle. He said he liked it when I did that. From time to time he’d check on my coloring and would say, “You’re doing a good job, Joy.” He meant it. What a kid!

I sure hope Conner comes back to color with me soon.

When I first started speaking on this topic, it was titled: Journal With Joy. Isn’t that. . .cute? Ugh.

The topic evolved into Your Life a Legacy which grew into a book, and now this retreat and seminar length event. Men are enjoying the book and the events as much as women.

When an author and speaker starts a project, you hope someone will like it. No one is more surprised than I am by the responses. I hear from people on a regular basis who are preserving their stories for another generation to enjoy and learn from. They tell me they are changed again by their own life experiences – for the better.

Especially the ones that include their faith.

This is no longer a cute topic – thank goodness. It is full of information, ideas, and infusion to get you started writing the stories that matter – yours.

If you want to transform one of your faith stories into a Legacy, email me at joydekok57@gmail.com and I’ll let you know when the next event is. To schedule me as a speaker on this topic at your next event, use the same email address or call me at 507-358-8332.

The responses coming in aren’t confirming my greatness – they are proclaiming God’s. It was His idea, the talent comes from Him, and the glory is His.

Joy

P. S. You can order the book too.

   The Kindle Copy 

   The Paperback 

I had the privilege of spending Friday and Saturday with some delightful women from Bethany United Methodist Church in Rochester, MN.

Friday night we had our own supper – BBQ Pork sandwiches, a delicious salad (romaine, apples, cashews, & poppy seed dressing), Hummus (my fav was the black olive) on pita bread, fresh veggies, and fruit.

And. . .we shared stories and laughed – hard.

They decorated the lodge with old photos along the fireplace mantel.

They also shared their stories with each other. . .

I shared. They shared. And. . .a few of us got a little goofy.

Best of all. . .they wrote bits & pieces of their Faith Legacies.

We prayed, sang, ate, laughed, and cried together. That’s fellowship!

Joy

It’s easy to judge the homeless guy on the corner from the comfort of my car, and my life. It’s tighter for Jon and than it used to be, but we’re okay. We used to give ten bucks and now it’s two. Yeah, things have changed, but we can still share.

Now when I look at these guys from the comfort of my car I know it wouldn’t take much to be sitting on a different corner in dirty clothes, holding a sign, and wishing with all my heart I could be somewhere else.

Every now and then I hear someone talking about these homeless ones and he or she says, “They won’t even look me in the eye.”

My  honest response: Why in the world would they? Who wants to see the condemnation in your eyes? Not them. Not me either.

As I consider my place in this world, I realize these important truths:

• That could be me.
• Jesus wants me to care.
• Jesus is watching and when I take a moment to show I care, He sees both my faith and deed.

I don’t always obey when I hear Jesus say, “Stop and give.” Even as I drive away I know I chose not to take an opportunity to care the way Jesus does. How sad is that!

Matthew 25:36b  ”I was sick, and you cared for me.”

(NLT)

This picture was taken at Christmas, 1963. That’s me in the fake-fur trimmed coat – my smile is a little “off” because I had lost my two front teeth. My little brother and cousins, Sheila and Scott, are also in the picture. I can smell her “toilet water” (she really called it that), and can remember the way she held my hand when we walked. She was my Grammie and I was her Honeybunch. I miss her.

I knew her love, her voice, her touch,

But, the truth is I didn’t know very much.

She was gone before I knew what to ask,

My chance to know has long since past.

Under her nice was she naughty too?

And, what was her favorite food?

I wonder what she’d tell me about him,

The first male to get under her skin.

Or about the one whose babies she bore,

And what about those styles she wore?

Who gave her that first kiss?

Was there someone she’d always miss?

What did she dream about when all alone?

Was she ever broken in heart or bone?

What made her laugh or caused her fear?

Did she shed secret tears?

What songs did she hear in her heart?

What did she do when things fell apart?

Oh Grandma, how I wish knew,

The woman who lived inside of you.

By Joy DeKok – copyright 2012

Joy DeKok

Author & Author Coach

Visit my other sites:

www.booksbyjoy.com  (Books by Joy & Others)

www.authorinfusion.com

www.socialmediainfusion.net

My Latest Releases:

To learn more, visit AMAZON.

To learn more, visit AMAZON.

I don’t enjoy flying and going far away without Jon is not high on my list of fun stuff to do. As I packed my bags, I prayed, “Lord, send me a friend, as soon as I land – just like you did at the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference.”

I first noticed her in the Minneapolis, MN airport. She had this cool yellow bag, and walked with confidence. Watching her I thought she had it all together, and wished I was more like her. I assumed she was flying to CA on some kind of important corporate business and was surprised when she rode the van to the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference. We talked and agreed to touch base through-out the conference.

We kept our word by meeting at breakfast, lunch when we could, and the ice cream parlor. We talked easily about our dreams, disappointments, and goals. We took copious notes, shared them at coffee, and made it through the 2nd-day  writer’s conference blues together.

I’m not sure how long ago  we flew from MN to CA, but we are now both published writers (Her book; BlessBack is incredible – learn more about it HERE), and we still share our dreams, disappointments, and goals.

Julie is part of my writing legacy – she’s been there through the publications of all my books. She’s soared with me and stayed faithful when the wind was no longer beneath my wings.

The Mt. Hermon Conference birthed a lot of new dreams that year in the hearts of two writers, and God sent an answer to prayer – a friend at the other end.

Thanks, Julie!

Joy

This is the cover of Julie’s book – isn’t it beautiful?

www.juliesaffrin.com

Sometimes being an author is hard, but even then, there’s hope. Either that I’m a radical optimist, and I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.

Recently, my publisher took Rain Dance out of print and returned the book rights back to me. That happens to authors every day. As I read the letter, I felt a sting of sadness – we both had big dreams for this book. Then, I considered putting it in storage, but first I prayed. As I did, a gentle surge of hope started to twirl in my heart. I asked God, “Really? You want me to try this again?” I paced and prayed some more. After I said yes, a peace I could not understand settled in.

The next step I took was to contemplate my target market – again. Christian women who are pro-life, infertile, or have chosen abortion and regret it. I stepped back into the book and tried to visualize Jonica – again. She’s young. So is Stacie. When I saw them with the eye of my imagination, I was stunned by how  young. None of the covers this book has worn have represented that vital piece of them. The new one had to.

Determined, I started the search for the right cover graphic. I spent hours looking and almost chose another, before I found this one:

Rain Dance re-release date: April 15, 2012 – Kindle E-book only.

She made me smile, and she looked like I’d always (yes – always) thought Jonica looked.

The thought of her on the cover excited me. I tested that by printing this off and walking out of the room for an hour and then back for a second, third, and fourth look. I liked her better each time.

Here’s the catch: Rain Dance tells the stories of two hurting women – at times it’s sad as they battle their pain, hypocrisies, and more hurt before they both find the hope that heals. What do I want my readers to know before they start reading? There is no happily ever after for either of my girls, but there is a hope-filled and hard-won  victory for both.  Do I really want to give away the end? I’m not – until you read the book  you have no idea how.

The other reason she appealed to me is that she is that in this picture, she radiates confidence – in my mind that confidence is in the One she has placed her faith in,  her husband, her best friend, and herself.

I want my readers to see who she is when her circumstances don’t change, but her faith triumphs after a heart-wearying battle. Isn’t that what we all want from the novels we read?

So – here’s the 4th Rain Dance cover. Do you see why I thought it was time for the file cabinet and why I resisted God a little? I’m stubborn, but it would have been far easier to let the book go. Instead here I am admitting failure and announcing I’m going to try  – again.

Have you ever read The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews? The 7th decision is, “I will persist without exception.”

This is my public declaration: I will persist without exception. I will release

Rain Dance – again.

Joy

Joy DeKok

Author, speaker, author coach, and social media manager.

Titles of my books: Rain Dance, Your Life, a Legacy, Poetry – Touch the World With Your Art & Soul, It Is Good, Room for Bandit, and Raccoon Tales.

My other websites:  www.booksbyjoy.com    www.authorinfusion.com   www.socialmediainfusion.net

Graphic purchased at fotolia.com © annette shaff – Fotolia.com