Jemma Sophia Starks

We welcomed the darling Jemma Sophia Starks into the world Tuesday, October 8th at 5:22! A beautiful little girl that makes me so proud to be called aunt. There is nothing quite like the birth of a new baby and the celebration that surrounds the gift of life. The full head of dark hair and the puffy little cheeks brings the biggest smile to my heart. I was able to wrap her up in my arms, kiss her, talk to her, and tell her how much she's loved. Our sweet Jemma Sophia has no idea how many fans she has. Any baby born into our family becomes quite popular... quite fast! Jemma, you are brilliant!


Although we continue to celebrate the gift we call Jemma, there were some complications that occurred the day after her birth. Wednesday the 9th, in the morning, Rory and Stephanie, her parents, noticed that she was having a difficult time breathing. They sent a video clip to their midwife and she immediately responded and said, "Call 911." So they did, and the newly born Jemma was rushed to the hospital. I wasn't there upon their arrival, but my dad described it like a sense out of a movie. A security guard handed my brother Rory (Jemma's Dad) and my dad visitor badges to go into the NICU. They walked in the room to find 20 doctors and nurses running around getting Jemma oxygen, hooking her up to IV's and making sure they wasted no time with stabilizing her. Rory and my dad couldn't even see Jemma because there were so many people surrounding her. To call the scenario "intense," would be an understatement. 

Doctors said that they like to see people's oxygen levels around 90% and when Jemma was first brought into the ER, her oxygen levels were around 20%. She was not in good condition. Not everything has been figured out and they are still running several scans and tests, but they have concluded that she has a severe heart defect and will need surgery this week. We are praying against any long term affects. We don't want any seizures to occur now or in the future due to her time spent with such little oxygen. The most beautiful little doll has been through some much in her 2 1/2 short days of life. I believe she will make a full recovery and be completely healed. The doctors said she will have heart surgery in about a week and she will need to spend three more weeks recovering in the hospital. Needless-to-say, Rory and Stephanie and our families will be spending days and weeks and months in the hospital to ensure that our Little Jemma Sophia is made whole again! If you think about it, pray for everyone surrounding the situations; Jemma's parents, the doctors, India and Olive {Jemma's older sisters}, all the aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents. We all would appreciate your love and support through prayer. So if you think about... Pray! We are very grateful for the blessing and joy Jemma Sophia has brought to all of our lives. Even in the midst of the chaos, she is beautiful, strong, and has officially melted all of our hearts. As her older sister calls her, "We love you Princess Jemma!" 

I give everything over to You Lord  

Don't Fear Darkness

I had a revelation! Although it has been several gradual realizations that have culminated into this one “Awe” moment for me. I am so excited to share this with you.

While at work I decided to put on a Youtube video of Christine Caine while I was finishing up a few projects. I clicked on a message that was 26 minutes long, and began to work. Everything Christine was saying was absolutely beneficial to me and was getting me amped while I sat at my desk. {I was attempting to focus more on my work then on her message but she’s good!}Out of the 26 minutes it wasn’t until the last one minute that God used something she was saying to completely confirm, affirm, encourage, challenge and excite my spirit. My God is so faithful to graciously be answering my prayers. I have been praying for vision and direction and guidance for where and what I am going to be doing in this next season of my life. But listen, I haven’t just been shooting prayers to the sky and hoping that God hears me. I’ve been praying with diligence and a desperation and fervency. Not just prayers that imply that I want to hear from God, rather, I need to hear from Him. I am desperate to do what He has called me to do and my passion is overflowing. I just want it to be able to leak into the areas that God has planned for my present and my future. So here is what reached my heart from what Christine Caine was speaking on. 

Christine Caine told a story of her little girl and how she bought her daughter a flashlight. While in Walmart, Christine put batteries into the flashlight and as they were getting ready to pay, her little girl turned the flashlight on. Since there was so many florescent lights in the store here daughter couldn’t see the flashlights light in contrast to the other lights in the store. Christine’s little girl looked up at her and yelled, “MOM, my light doesn’t work in the light, we need to find a dark place.” It was then that Christine turned to look at her daughter and completely paused. She stated, "My daughter couldn’t see the light because of all the other light in the store, which meant her light was ineffective in the midst of all of the other light that there already was." Christine then challenged the audience {myself, via the Internet}on how we should not be a people who are scared of the DARK since we are called to be the LIGHT. We can only truly be seen or useful if we venture into the dark places of our generation where our light {By God’s Grace} can be distinguished from our surroundings.

I have been told from my Pastors Erica & Jason Parrish that they really believe that I am called to the dark places of the world. Since Erica, Jason and myself have a pretty extensive track record and have been in relationship and ministry together for 7 years, I trust their words and I know they saw and still do see a vision for me. I have heard their words when they have told me this over the years, but it hasn’t been until recently that I have actually experienced what they really believed I am called to. It has turned from “Pastor Erica & Jason believe this,” into, I believe that this is truly my calling - To go into the darkest places of God’s world, where not everyone is privileged to go into and to bring God’s light. A light that is so piercing and bright that not even the people who are bound tightly to their sin can deny it. A light that demands freedom, restoration, physical healing, spiritual wholeness and the acceptance and acknowledgment of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know where my platform will be. Who God will have me build relationships with  or how I will connect with, or the encounters I will find myself in. I can’t even imagine what I will face and the fight that will rise up in me. But I have caught the vision God has been slowly laying out in front of me, and I am running with His truth and promises over my life. I am thrilled to be living this life. Through all the hardships and trials I still understand the worth fighting to make God’s name famous! I love my God!

My goal is to dispel the darkness with my little bit of light.

Matthew 5:13-16

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I give everything over to You Lord