But Wait!

Yes, today is an indelibly engraved date on the Emily Rea calendar.

No, this isn't going to be a newsy update post.

At some point in this Search for Emily journey the realization came that "wait" is a 4 letter word.

Patience is closely related to waiting. I once heard something to the tune of "Patience isn't just the ability to wait, it's what you do while waiting". We continue to roll boulders, turn over rocks and flip pebbles seeking the "some" in Someone, Somewhere knows Something.

When was the last time you invested 2+ hours each on calls with banking institutions, phone companies, records departments etc. in pursuit of information..."please wait while we connect you to..." only to find you've reached a dead-end and need to search elsewhere. My days and the better parts of most nights are consumed by such as these in addition to compiling emails, texts and other data for forensic experts. There has been no "stop", only additions as life and death continue in other circles of our lives. Before the next newsy post, there needs to be news. We're actively waiting.

Yes, wait is a 4-letter word and so are: best, able, help, bold, team, goal, nice, read, tune, dawn, glow, Mama, find, grin, grow, dear, send, home, play, hymn, kind, idea, grit, live, heal, calm, balm, warm, care, give, free, gift, King, Lord, Lion, roar, Lamb, holy, Dove, Lamp, wipe, tear, keep, life, safe, near, mend, cast, rest, star, wise, and yeah.

I wish I could convey how immensely heartwarming it is to continue to receive your encouraging words, calls, texts, posted mail and reiterations of how often, far and wide prayers are being offered up on our behalf. It is no exaggeration to state I personally (and others by their reports) live and function by the positive answers to those prayers. I beseech you to never stop praying. In parting for now, here are more 4 letter words: Hope, Love, Pray, and let's leave it with this one Amen!

Emily, I (we) miss you more than than words will/can ever express.

With love and continued appreciation for each of you joining me in the missing,

Mama Rea