17 For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD -
and their descendants as well.
24 Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent - its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the LORD.
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD -
and their descendants as well.
24 Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent - its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the LORD.
Isaiah 65:17-25 (NRSV)
We have heavy hearts. Baby Melanie is in the arms of Jesus, and although we know that her pain has ended, we know too well the hard road her family and friends must now travel as they mourn the loss of her presence in their lives.
We have been neglectful in our updates. Melanie was able to come to the United States for an operation. This was actually facilitated by our adoption agency. They also started a "caring bridge" blog that tells the whole story that you can access here. I have been unable to read it, or really think about the situation, as it has been too overwhelmingly sad for me to handle in this already emotionally stressful time.
Melanie's operation was successful, but because her body had been wearing itself out compensating for the birth defect for so many months it did not have the strength to endure recovery.
Our hearts and prayers are with Patrick and Sarah, Melanie's parents, and Mark and Martha, her siblings.
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