Page 113 of Muskoka Miracle

The staff, after smiling congratulations, had left the room for a few minutes. For a few minutes they were cocooned in love, a sweet bubble of bliss and answered prayers. Wonder filled.

“How are you feeling?” How many times had he asked that question over the past year?

“So much better. I can’t believe it.”

“You were awesome. I don’t think I could’ve done that.”

She smiled at him. “I wish you could’ve.”

He laughed, stirring the baby. He touched her cheek. “She’s so little, like a little doll. A tiny princess.”

“What will we call her?”

They’d run through baby names before, but there really was only one possible name.

Sarah looked up at him, her clear green eyes dancing with delight. “Grace Elisabeth.”

Dan kissed her, then his new daughter on the top of her tiny head. “Welcome to the world, Grace Elisabeth Walton.”

EPILOGUE

One year later

“And I want to say thank you to everyone who has turned out on this beautiful Muskoka day to celebrate the launch of this awesome initiative.” Dan paused. “Many of you are aware that Muskoka is a place that holds a very special part of my heart. It’s where I met my wife, Sarah—”

Sarah blew him a kiss as they were surrounded by applause and cheers, Sam’s loudest of all.

“—and where I’ve grown in my faith, and now live with a family of my own.”

“Whoo!” Sam again.

Sarah snuggled Grace closer.

“I love the fact that here in Muskoka we find respite from our busy lives, as we soak in what I like to call God’s country.”

“Amen!” Rachel called.

“And I love the fact that the Muskoka Hearts Foundation is supporting this incredible cause that focuses on the importance of valuing all people, including those who are often marginalized or considered broken. I believe that God is in the business of restoration, whether it be healing people’s lives, or using people to make right an initiative to help the poor, or the beautiful, revamped grounds you see here today.”

Dan gestured to the renovated gardens, courtesy of Damian, Rachel’s husband, and his contractor connections.

“Here in Muskoka, we value community, family, friendships, all of which we can enjoy in this beautiful location. We don’t always get things right, but we can trust in God that things are being made right. So on behalf of the Muskoka Hearts Foundation, and the Musko-cheers, thank you all for turning up today and for your support for this awesome cause.”

Sarah covered Grace’s red curls with her hand, and blew him a kiss as the applause filled the air.

He was glad-handed and thumped on the back by numbers of people, then he made his way to her, kissing her cheek before drawing Grace from her arms.

“Thanks. She’s getting heavy.”

“Good thing these guns still work.”

She chuckled. “You were great.”

“It wasn’t too short?”

“It was perfect. You got your main points across, and you knew your audience. There’s a lot of young children here, so you couldn’t talk for too long.”

She glanced around, heart full at the scene. The old Muskoka Ferns Lodge buildings had been mostly torn down, apart from a farmhouse that Damian had deemed habitable. Instead, where once broken people were virtually enslaved, children ran, and flowers bloomed.

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