Blog 689 – 07.10.2017
(Excerpt from the book, Emily – The Little Girl Who Sang Her Song To Anyone Who Came Along)
Episode 10

Emily always had babies and children in her life. When she was a small child her mother did child care in the home and her brothers and I were active in the children’s ministry of the church we attended. In fact her mother and brothers were introduced to that church through its bus ministry to children and I met Sandra, David, and Ben when I moved back to Texas from Tennessee after my second marriage ended.

Emily had a favorite little joke about a baby that said, “Let’s get this diaper off and get this party started.” No matter how often she told it, it never got old for her and she could hardly get the words out without breaking up laughing. She had an infectious laugh. Some lines from the song from which the title of this book came, Seven – sung by Nora Jones, that Emily sent me on one of her Father’s Day mixed CDs, come to mind: “Crooked little smile on her face tells a tale of grace that’s all her own.”

Emily always entertained children where ever she went for she was a child at heart and had empathy for little ones. It was a disappointment for her to learn she could never have babies but she turned that in to a blessing for all the children she loved through the ministry of her church in Virginia. Even her work for her livelihood gravitated over time to working with children. So many marked her passing and many of those were the children whose lives she had touched.

Emily’s cousin Deb is an ordained minister in the church Emily attended and put together a short video of Emily’s work over the years with the children of the church. I hope once many of you have come to love Emily through this little book there will be not only a swell of interest in her music but in all things Emily. It is my intention to first publish this book or at least the rough draft of it to Emily’s family and friends and to incorporated their comments and suggestions as much as possible. Perhaps some testimonials from “her babies” will become a part of this book as well.

Many people had a part in Emily’s adventure and the adventure continues. And as her babies have babies her legacy of love will continue here and I believe in the much wider universe. Love never ends but like a stone thrown into the ocean makes ripples that turn into waves that crash upon distant shores. My baby made a lot of waves that still sweep over the hearts of many. And Emily’s babies will carry on her work and her music if I should fail. But I will not for I will not rest till everyone knows Emily – The Little Girl Who Sang Her Song To Anyone Who Came Along.

Your friend and fellow traveler, Emily’s Dad,
David White