___ Place night-lights at least three feet away from crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.

___ Check age labels for appropriate toys.

Keep bathroom safe:

___ Put a lock on medicine cabinet.

___ Lower household water temperature. (It should be set at 120 degrees F or below to avoid burning your baby)

___ Always test water first before bathing a child.

___ Never leave your child alone in bathtub or near any water.

___ Secure toilet lids. Many young children are fascinated by putting objects inside.

___ Make sure that bathtubs and showers aren't slippery.

___ Install ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sings and bathtubs.

For Kitchen:

___ Keep all knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags out of children's reach.

___ If stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use protective covers to prevent kids from turning them.

___ Never leave your baby alone in a highchair. Always use all safety straps. ___ Replace any frayed cords and wires. ___ Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and stove.

___ Remove all household cleaners from bottom cabinets or put them in a cabinet that is out of your baby's reach.

In Yard:

___ Store tools, garden, lawn-equipment, and supplies in a locked closet or shed.

___ Don't use a power mower when young children are around.

___ Don't allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours following an application of a fertilizer or pesticide.

___ Know types of trees and plant life on property in case children ingest berries, leaves, or other plant life.

___ If you have a swimming pool, install a fence that separates house from pool. ( Make sure that gate is childproof)

This list is a general guide. For more in-depth information go to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.

I wish I could tell you that I was a "good little Christian" who praised and thanked God every day for His righteous judgements--but, truth is that I questioned God. I really felt that it was unfair of Him to let my dad go free, when he was one who had done this great wrong to his family, and to allow my mother to die this cruel death. Finally, I asked God, "How do You see this situation?" The answer He spoke to my heart would one day transform all our lives.

About a year after my mother died, I felt something stirring inside of me--a desire to see my dad. In long eighteen years of separation, I had only invited him once to visit my home and during that visit I had tried again--and unsuccessfully, again--to confront him with Bible. I had no reason to expect that another visit would end differently, but I honored that desire anyway and invited him for a long weekend.

My dad came armed with his own arsenal of justifications. He knew what to expect from me. I hadn't planned anything specific to confront him on--I didn't need to, I had a whole list of offenses that I could whip out at any given moment. So, weekend progressed--awkwardly, but quietly.

I had no idea that Spirit was about to move in on us in a powerful way. I simply invited two gentlemen friends over for lunch. They lead a prayer group I attended and I suppose I hoped they would "say something" important to my dad. If not, it was a way to let others meet my dad and see man who had so wounded me. We were sitting around my dining room table, when one gentleman began telling story of a young soldier in Napoleon's army who had gone A.W.O.L., been caught and was now about to face firing squad. This young man's mother came to Napoleon and pleaded for mercy for her son. Napoleon replied, "He doesn't deserve mercy." To which mother implored, "But, Sir, if he deserved it, it wouldn't be mercy!" At that, Napoleon allowed boy to live. After telling this story, gentleman said, "I have no idea why I told that story. It just came into my head."

As he has been speaking, I felt strangest sensation of heat come over my head and into my chest. Without wavering, I said, "I know why you told that story." I turned toward my dad and gently said, "Dad, when mom was dying, I felt that God was being very unfair. So I asked Him what He had to say about situation. Would you like to hear what God had to say about you and mom?" The room was very quiet. I could tell that my dad was afraid to know. But, after a few moments he indicated that he would.

I felt heat increasing as I reached deep into my soul for those words, "He said, ‘I could not heal your mother, because she would not forgive. But I see wounds upon your father's heart, and I have pity on him.'" In moment I spoke those words, power of Spirit hit both of us "like lightening." We stood up, pushed our chairs back from table and fell into each others arms, sobbing. After quite a while of crying and kissing, we sat down again--even two gentlemen present were crying--and I realized that I could not remember even one of those offenses on my "list." The whole list was erased from my memory--and five years later, it is still gone!

From that day on, my dad and I have had a relationship that is far beyond mere "reconciliation" or "recovery." We never had a relationship like this before--ever! This is a totally new relationship! We talk on phone every weekend, we plan visits around special holidays, we go to conferences together. Where before my dad had been closed to "things of Spirit," due to wounding caused by my own judgementalism and legalism, now he is hungry for more of Spirit. Right away my dad began having powerful dreams which he KNEW were from God. He shares these dreams with me and we discuss their possible meanings.

Two years after this momentous day, my dad was reconciled to my brother and sister. My family traveled to California where we had a true "family reunion." It had been twenty years since divorce.

Whenever my dad and I are together, we look for an opportunity to share our story. It is a story that brings hope to hopelessly broken relationships. It is a True Love story. Do you have a secret dream, desire or hope? Contact Rebecca to learn how YOU can live your dream!