Glory Through Our Gifts 🎁

2004’s Phantom of the Opera Movie

A Memory from Father Mark

From the July 2025 church bulletin by Father Mark (the Chaplain at Nationwide Children’s Hospital where Emily had her double lung transplant):

We wanted to share this special memory from Father Mark because it’s a beautiful reminder for us to never take our gifts, whether seen as big or small, for granted. If the Lord has given you the gift to sing, dance, compose music, create art or any other gift then don’t let it go to waste!

Just like the parable about the Master who gave 3 servants talents (another word for money) in Matthew 25:14-30, it’s important how we use what we’ve been given. These gifts have been placed in us to bring glory to God and give Him honor and praise.

Beauty and the Beast on Broadway

Musicals to Inspire

Emily loved musicals and so we want to end this short, but inspiring, post with a link to some of her favorites. We hope you can take some time to enjoy them and sing along!

Phantom of the Opera (the most popular songs)

Beauty and the Beast (full musical)

The Wizard of Oz (Emily’s favorite)

Wicked (best views compilation)

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Pick up a copy of Emily’s book:
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Seton Shrine

Emily's Legacy: Still Touching Others 💖

Inspiring Message from Emily’s Family

(The following message is directly from Emily’s father and contains a few precious moments he and Emily’s mother have heard from others and experienced themselves recently.)

These last few weeks, which marked the second Easter and the first new Pope election since her passing, have produced more stories about the continuing impact Emily’s life is having on people. Here’s a few examples. 

On Good Friday, the Sunday Visitor published this article (preview article image below):

Image from “Our Sunday Visitor” article. Features “Jesus Carries His Cross As Part of Cross Way Station” by Karl Geiger

Then a few days later, we got a message (also out of the blue) from a friend who read her book for the first time. 

“Finished it in one sitting and It is incredible. It really showcases her heart, faith, humor and most of all her strength. I laughed, I shed a tear or two, and I was sucked in. … It will probably have me thinking for a while.”

That same day we got a message from Em’s Aunt Mary.  She and her daughter, who is running a 60-mile race for charity in England, was having lunch with one of their friends who is running to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis  since his son has it.  He mentioned how impressive and inspiring Em was—he had read Mary’s Facebook post about Em and had heard about her over the years. So they ended up talking about Em for a little while. 

That same week while at a blood draw, we saw a nun praying the rosary while waiting for some test results so we gave her Em’s book to read as we left.  She said how she was just thinking that she had a 2-hour wait and had forgotten to bring a book to read so it seems that it was meant to be that we were there and had a copy of Em’s book in our car to give to her.

These stories remind us that while Em’s physical presence is gone, she is certainly not forgotten as her message endures and continues to inspire others. 

Pick up a copy of Emily’s book:
Amazon
Ave Maria Press
Seton Shrine

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10

First Christmas in Heaven 🎄

Young Emily during Christmas in front of a Christmas tree.

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
- Luke 2:10-12

This was Emily’s favorite time of year that she approached with an almost childlike excitement and anticipation. She never took celebrating another Christmas for granted and loved getting gifts but even more buying and seeing others (especially her Godchildren and nieces) enjoy opening their gifts and of course loved seeing the church decorated and celebrating Jesus’s birth.

As much fun as she experienced here we know that will pale in comparison with her first Christmas in Heaven. We can’t even begin to imagine how awesome that will be, but this poem from Angel Baby Network is a beautiful depiction.

My First Christmas in Heaven poem by Author Unknown

As we approach the last day of this year, we continue to miss her. But we are comforted by the strong force of her spirit spreading her love and the joy that we know she is experiencing in Heaven.

Emily’s Christmas wreath at her grave 2024