Susan's Blog
What is Man’s Chief End?
While the acceptance letter to your college of choice is wonderful, and the making of money and saving of the 401k is great, and the pleasures of life are essential, there is one chief end.
Where is the Merry in Merry Christmas when you lose one you love?
It is definitely that time of year where people smile, bell-ringers grace their red kettles, and well-wishers beam, "Merry Christmas!"I've been thinking about this phrase and the question popped into my head. "Can there be a merry in...
Milestones and Memories
LWR had a "celebration" tour of sorts in celebrating the milestone 10 years in Chattanooga, TN and also in Elmont, New York! We could be coming to a city near you, keep your eyes peeled!One of the featured young men during these events was young Harsha...
A Look Back and Celebration of 10 years
It was on Friday, August 8, 2008 that Santhosh, Philip and I made our way to the Children's Hospital for Philip's simple flap repair. This would be a 45-minute same day surgery, and we would be discharged home later in the afternoon.But in that span of...
Craniofacial Acceptance Month
September is Craniofacial Acceptance Month, and I asked Philip what that meant to him. His response was that everyone deserves respect and dignity, no matter what they look like. It isn't easy to walk around with a facial birth defect, with scars on...September is Craniofacial Acceptance Month, and I asked Philip what that meant to him. His response was that everyone deserves respect and dignity, no matter what they look like. It isn't easy to walk around with a facial birth defect, with scars on...
Inaugural Mission to KENYA!
As I was searching for the final numbers and data collected from the recent mission to Kenya, I could not find any updates on the website. It has been such a busy few weeks since we returned from Kenya, that I did not even blog about it!Thirty-one members made...
#PhillyPhilly
and time to
#TitanUp
Well, if you are Titans fan, you have probably heard the word 'GOAT' and Mariota used simultaneously after Sunday's win against the reigning Super Bowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately, it was a game I could not see, only hear Caleb's reading off...
Promises Made, Promises Kept
The tears have been endless for the past month. I can't believe it has been one month, since my baby boy passed from this world. I miss him so much. No parent should bury their child. It should always be the children who pick the coffin and make the funeral...
Her name was Praise
I'll never forget baby Praise. I met her for the first time in the Chitungwiza Hospital of Zimbabwe. She was one-month old, and was the first child born to her mother. Praise was born with a cleft lip. I found her serendipitously, as the long Sunday...
Polite’s Missing Father
Polite's Missing Father Polite was 14-years old when we met him in Zimbabwe in June 2017 at the first medical mission of Love Without Reason. He had lived for 14 years with a cleft lip. His surgery was successful, and when the LWR team returned to Zimbabwe...
A Mother’s Hope on Mother’s Day
A Mother's Hope on Mother's Day Baby Hope was examined by LWR's surgical team in the early part of 2019. Hope's parents sat by with much heartache and sorrow. Sharmila, her mother, would not look at anyone in the eyes. The tears seemed to be...
A Table in the Wilderness
A Table in the Wilderness Thank goodness for February! No, I'm not excited about Valentine's Day, though chocolate is one of my best friends. I'm just ready to move on ahead and forget the past few months.A question from the writer of...
Love Reading about Christmas Miracles!!
Love Reading about Christmas Miracles!! Don't you LOVE Christmas miracles? I'll tell you one about a poor husband and wife who lived outside of Bangalore, India in a rural village. They had a happy dream of a new baby to be added to their family. All their...
Do His Promises Still Stand?
Do His Promises Still Stand? I watched Philip roll his backpack across the parking lot, after I dropped him off at the McCallie School. By the time I curved around the parking lot, I could see him carrying his backpack up the flight of stairs to get out of the...
McCallie School joins with Love Without Reason
During the parent teacher meetings of Philip's freshman year at the McCallie School, we were told that there would be an opportunity for the upcoming seniors to lead an international mission trip. Even though we kept this in our hearts, we did not know if...
Celebrating 10 years…the party continues
Celebrating 10 years...the party continues In February 2017, Santhosh and I spent an hour in Nairobi, Kenya in transit to Zimbabwe. Something in our suitcase alerted the security officials. As they were examining our bags, they asked us why we were in Africa.After...
Happy 10th birthday, Love Without Reason
Happy 10th birthday, Love Without Reason I want to give you a quick look back and share a look ahead to the next 10 years!Looking BackThe vision of LWR is to Love, Transform, and Reintegrate the vulnerable and the victims of human trafficking. During our early years,...
Kenya on our heart
Kenya on our heart Santhosh and I were blessed to attend this year's Global Missions Health Conference in Kentucky. While there we connected with other organizations, relief agencies, ministries working to expand the Kingdom by their service. We met people from Kenya...
My “FORCED” restful Birthday Week!
My "FORCED" restful Birthday Week! If you have seen any Love Without Reason social media in October, you would know that on October 21, there was a fundraiser for LWR called the SHINE fashion show! For an event of any magnitude to be successful, you need a mass of...
Tennessee was whooped, and Philip laughed in Georgia’s face!
Tennessee was whooped, and Philip laughed in Georgia's face! I'm not sure when Philip started loving football. I have a feeling something invaded his system through osmosis from this preschool picture!! He started with just watching the games on television,...