children

She’s Here!

I’m so happy to announce that Jimmy and I welcomed our daughter Sadie Mae into the world last week!

We are completely smitten with our baby girl and are in awe that God blessed us with her sweet little soul! The love we feel for her has helped us to more fully grasp the love God has for us, and it is so beautiful.

We are soaking in these newborn days and cherishing each and every moment as we adjust to our life as a family of three (or six, if you count our fur babies!). Thank you to everyone who has followed along with our pregnancy and now new life as parents.

The comments, emails, texts, support, prayers, encouragement, and love we have received mean the world to us. I’ll be back soon to share miss Sadie’s birth story!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

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The ornaments

A few posts back, I mentioned that I was making Christmas ornaments for some special people. Now that I sent them, I can talk about them!

Since March, I have been working with Shiloh Christian Children’s Ranch. Shiloh is a ranch in Kahoka, MO that takes in children ages 0-15 that have been abused, neglected, or are at risk. The ranch has six homes and six sets of “home parents” that take care of the kids.

ShilohI got involved with Shiloh through my church. One of the founders of the organization came to my church and made a presentation about what Shiloh was all about. For weeks, I couldn’t get it off of my mind. I knew God was calling me to do something to help out, I just wasn’t sure how.

I talked to the elders at my church and we made an arrangement; I am provided with money each month from my church’s missions fund and I have a family that I “take care of.” We send letters back and forth, and the home parents tell me what their needs/wants are and then I buy whatever it is and ship it to them.

A recent box, all ready to ship!

A recent box, all ready to ship!

For the month of December, the home parents told me that they have a nice Christmas dinner. They asked for a few things to make it special. I sent them a Christmas DVD, CD, a gift card to purchase food for the dinner, and I made them each ornaments!

I bought wooden ornaments, paint brushes, pom poms, and glue. Then I set to work (with the help of Jimmy and his brother)!

I bought wooden ornaments, paint brushes, pom poms, and glue. Then I set to work (with the help of Jimmy and his brother)!

Ornaments2

Each family member was shipped an ornament with their name on it and a special scripture. Everyone got different scriptures, too!

Each family member was shipped an ornament with their name on it and a special scripture. Everyone got different scriptures, too!

All wrapped up!

All wrapped up!

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I absolutely adore being involved with Shiloh and that family that I have grown to know and love since March. They truly are special people!