<div><p><span style="color: #231f20; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> <span style="color: #2ea3f2; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Advent Day 21 - Saturday, December 16</b></span> <br> <br></span></p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><div><p>God truly does make his presence known and deeply felt in the midst of our most difficult pain. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->This past summer was a very emotionally charged one for <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->our family; we were expecting our second child in mid-July and my grandma’s health had been declining as she was attempting to begin therapy yet again for her broken leg. Being an occupational therapist, I know the limits people must push their bodies to in order to achieve a level of independence in caring for themselves. My grandma, even though she was 98 years old, was a fighter and she certainly fought until the very end. I was very close to her, and I had such a special bond with her. Little did I know that God would work so profoundly on the Fourth of July. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->I wear my emotions on my sleeve and my big heart can sometimes be one of my biggest <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->obstacles to overcome. God, of course, knows this personal struggle of mine and he certainly knew how to best comfort my hurting heart that longed for just a little more time with my grandma. As I sat with her at the nursing home on her final days, I experienced such divine intervention taking place that was so difficult to describe. As my grandma was letting go of her dwelling place here on earth, she was about to be welcomed into God’s heavenly kingdom. Words didn’t have to be spoken—I could feel God’s presence in my heart as I accepted his <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->will, despite how badly I wanted her to meet our little baby. But God’s timing is perfect, as <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->challenging as this is to accept. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->God made it clear to me that it was my turn to “let go” and go take care of myself (38 weeks pregnant). My grandma passed away within an hour of my leaving the nursing home, and she entered her eternal home. I felt a sense of peace that she was no longer suffering. <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->Brooklyn Grace was born later that same day. The Fourth of July took on a whole new meaning for our family this year: “Life to Life.” Even though my grandma didn’t meet our little girl physically, I am confident she kissed our precious baby in passing from this life to the next. My grandma truly does live on through our little miracle, Brooklyn Grace.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><br><br><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->Laura Wong and Family</p></div>