Friday, November 25, 2016

Bad Dreams, Disappointment and Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love


This week, I had a beautiful dream but first, let me fill you in on a few key things so you can really get the jest of it all . . . 

As you may know, to celebrate Ellie Kate's home-going the past three years, we've created Amazon Wish Lists full of books, games and toys for patients who were staying at OU Children's Hospital.  YOU would purchase items directly from the Amazon Wish Lists,and those items were sent directly to our home.  Mike and I would hand-delivered those gifts to patients at OU on December 4th, Ellie Kate's birthday.  After all, Sister Sue spent that last birthday inpatient, where we had a simple little party for her in one of the waiting rooms.  That place, those halls, those rooms are sacred to us and it has been a JOY and delight to hand out gifts to patients while sharing Ellie Kate's story and legacy of Reckless Love; a legacy we want to live out for the rest of our lives. 



Hopefully you've heard that God wanted us to do something different this year. He clearly told us to adopt a small family as part of celebrating Ellie's Month, with the idea of us all coming together in honor of EK, loving, serving and providing for this little family.  The Father literally gave us the perfect family, who's needs are great.  God has also told us to provide for fellow NKH Families around the world,  affected by the same rare and terminal genetic disorder as we are.  We've been led to partner with NKH Crusaders to further "Ellie Kate's Helping Hands", providing wishes of both needs and wants this Christmas.  

So, now that we're all on the same page, let's continue with 
that beautiful dream the Spirit gave to me . . . 

THIS DREAM:  You know the kind, when it's so real you could hear, touch and smell during it's entirety; where you wake up bursting with JOY, grateful for God's faithfulness?! 
Oh Friends, I do so hope you've experienced this in your lifetime!  

In this particular dream, I FELT God's faithfulness, goodness and provision. I was closely watching the Amazon Wish Lists for Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love.  In this vivid dream, I literally saw the list for the family we've asked you to join us in adopting this Christmas. I also physically saw the NKH Christmas Wish Lists through NKH Crusaders.

At first in my dream, I saw the Amazon Wish Lists, with the many pictures of items these Sweet Families so desperately need, along with a few little items they want.  Big tears filled my eyes as I realized NONE of the gifts had been purchased and Christmas was almost here! The dreamy tears  flowed and turned into dreamy SOBS.

Out of nowhere, it was as if the Father sweetly lifted my face with His finger.  He had been standing there, looking at the lists with me the entire time and all of a sudden, in some ultra-speedy way, people started purchasing the gifts from the lists!  "PURCHASED!" popped up over and over and over again, and Mike and I were filled with JOY and excitement!

In my dream, I kept praising and thanking God for His provision, for clearly stepping in and fulfilling the needs of families HE alone laid on our hearts.  I praised Him for allowing us to physically SEE His provision, knowing EVERY wish had been granted, knowing EVERY need had been met, knowing EVERY gift would be delivered in time for Christmas morning.  In the dream, I worshiped God as Jehovah Jireh, "the God who provides", and that's when I awoke, still filled with JOY and THANKSGIVING!

Yesterday (Thanksgiving Day), I excitedly looked 
at those same Amazon Wish Lists and I was shocked.  

My dream was coming true - when looking at the lists,  
I saw NOTHING has been purchased off of ANY of our lists

Unfortunately, I realize I haven't posted or promoted our lists like I have in past years. Even so, I am terribly disheartened, and being raw with you, I'm sick to my stomach thinking about our Adoptive Christmas Family and our fellow NKH Families, for at this point, NONE will receive the items they need, nor the items they long for this year. 

At this time, our families will not have a single present under the tree in honor of Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love, and the mere thought of that breaks my heart into a million pieces.  

Questions flood my mind . . . 
  • What have Mike and I done wrong to make it so no one has participated so far? In years's past, most wish lists have been filled and sent to our home for wrapping by this time! 
  • Did changing our giving "focus" for the Month of Reckless Love bring too much confusion? Instead of handing out gifts to patients at Children's Hospital, we've clearly felt led to provide Christmas (wants and needs) to a precious, local family in need.  We've also decided to support our fellow NKH families in need, filling their wishes for the "Ellie Kate Helping Hands Project" through NKH Crusaders.  We know God told us to do this, but where is His faithful proof?
  • Has it been too long now since Ellie died? Have people just simply, innocently, forgotten about Ellie Kate and The Month of Reckless Love we do in her honor?  It has been four years this December 23rdand it's completely understandable if people forget, or no longer feel the urgency in supporting these efforts which to us, keep Ellie Kate's name and legacy alive.

As I said, this December 23rd marks FOUR YEARS since Ellie Kate's passing.  FOUR YEARS since I last held her, since I last felt her heartbeat or kissed those gorgeous, pink, full lips and those sweet little earlobes.  To us, it's like yesterday and at moments, like a lifetime ago.  I have learned to never, ever expect people to really "get it".  I don't expect people to understand or remember the anniversaries, birthdays or hard days such as holidays, family celebrations.  Only those who've truly lost a child of their own, whom they've raised, birthed, then buried - only they can bear witness to the type of pain, heartache;  the waves of grief we've tasted too frequently.  Only they know the sleepless nights (like Thanksgiving Night for me), the grief-sickness, and everything in-between.


The holidays are especially rough as you see those close to you happy, continuing to make memories with those they love; you realize again that there are no more memories to be made with your child. There's a sting when walking by that section of clothes where you used to shop for your daughter.  No more Christmas wish lists for him or for her.  There won't be any presents for them  at the Family Holiday Gathering, and why should there be?  They are gone, but the feelings can be ever-so-tender.

This is when the dagger-thoughts start creeping in, "Do they even realize she's gone from the Kid Table? That there's one less place setting again this year?".  "Do my parents, my brothers and sisters, even the cousins - do they remember his/her laugh and mannerisms?".  We often wonder, especially during the holidays, "Will anyone say her name? Will they share a memory (esp without me having to instigate it)?" or maybe, "When we go around the table saying what we are thankful for, will anyone mention My Child?  Or has it simply been too long for everyone else but us?".



It's during this most difficult time that our family needs encouragement from the Body of Christ - from our friends and family around the world.  Is it selfish to shout your needs to the world? Well, I believe the Lord wants me to share my needs and brokenness with you and with those around me, because He wants others to see Christians (true followers of Christ) hurt, mourn and question during life's most tragic times, just like any other human do.  The Body of Christ is called to share each other's burdens and most of the time, I won't know your burden unless you share it with me.  It's what we're called to do; it's in our nature, in our calling as Followers of Christ. Jesus called His Disciples to sell all they had to give away so that they could FULLY follow Him.  He gave them mandates to love, serve and give to the hurting, the widowed, the poor (physically poor and poor in spirit), and the same is true today. Friends, because of the Holy Spirit, we are fully capable of loving these same ways! 

I wish I could explain how important it is to our family that Ellie Kate is rememberedthat her legacy continues through others who've known Ellie Kate personally; by those who have known OF and ABOUT EK  and by those who've known and experienced reckless love 
because of her precious life!


Dear Friends, thank you for sticking with me this far on this post.  Let me wrap it all up here below and although I know it isn't a spotless package wrapped perfectly and without flaw, I DO invite you to still open it, to still take part!  
Read here until the very end and click on the links 
to see how you can give, what you can give and who you can give to.  


Christmas Family Adoption 2016

 Our Christmas adopted family  is in great need of almost everything, as they hardly have any possessions of their own. They sleep on beaten-up mattresses, laying directly on the floor.  Their furniture (given to them or taken from out of dumpsters) has holes from cigarette burns and are covered in stains.  They sleep with little blankets and mom wears the same pair of jeans each day.  All three family members share a little flip phone, even though the daughter is in high school and the son is in 2nd grade.  They also do not have a car or computer.   

Although momma especially is incredibly clean and keeps their little home immaculate, she can only use the washer and dryer at the apartment complex.  This only happens when they have detergent and quarters to pay for the machines.  Father/husband is out of the picture and isn't responsible for any financial help at this time (he physically is unable to assist for the foreseeable future).  

Our Adoption Family is just Mom, her teenage daughter and their little son, desperately trying to figure out how to survive, how to find a job while not having a car to get to and from work, etc.  

 Remember, this Amazon Wish List gives you great ideas (and sizes too), but you do NOT have to order only from Amazon.  You can purchase these items, or even similar items!  There are items from all price-ranges, too!  It was difficult to get the family to list items other than just socks, underwear and groceries, which is further proof of how humble and genuine they truly are.  I had to prod and poke them to choose things for an Amazon Wish List, and I encouraged them to "go big" and put a few extravagant wishes on the lists as well.  You never know what the Lord might lead an individual or Community Group, Life Group, Small Group, Sunday School class, Church, or even one individual to give this Christmas season!!! 

***********************************************


"Ellie's Wish" for fellow NKH Families from around the World

As part of the Ellie Kate Helping Hands Fund through NKH Crusaders (which is the main organization supporting NKH families as well as NKH research around the world), these special Amazon Wish Lists were created specifically for individual NKH families.  These particular families were chosen because of their background within the NKH Community and because 
of the needs their children with NKH have at this time.

  Families were encouraged to choose items that would bless them this Christmas - gifts for their special AND typical children, as well as needs for their disabled child(ren), 
which aren't currently covered by insurance.  

Would you please consider purchasing an item off one of our NKH Family's Wish Lists (click on the link below to see each Amazon Wish List)?


God truly IS faithful and I BELIEVE He WILL fulfill each and every one of these lists!  I believe He will meet the needs of these precious people whom He has laid on our hearts, whom He has told us to share with you.  I believe the dream He gave me will come true, and ALL of us will see the Father at work as Jehovah Jireh, the God Who Provides!  

Thank you for taking part of this most important time of year for us; for remembering Our Daughter and through that, breathing life into our hearts once again.  There are many other good and happy things happening and we cannot wait to share them with you!  We will do so very soon, especially since the gifts will start coming in and our hearts will be at peace, knowing you remember and care!

With Gratefulness, Expectation and Love,

Ryan





Sunday, November 13, 2016

The Month of Reckless Love - Join us in the Celebration!


Oh, My Friends!  You precious people who have followed our story from the beginning (December 2005), those who've jumped in along the way, and those who are brand new to Our Journey in this life of special-needs and medical fragility . . . each of you, ALL of you, just simply MUST KNOW that having you by our side has helped us to get through it all.

It's been difficult this year, in particular, to force myself to sit and write about this upcoming celebration of Ellie Kate's life and the Month of Reckless Love.  OH, how I long to celebrate Our Daughter with you!  And OH, how our hearts continue to hear the call to recklessly love the world around us, calling others to do the same! And yet, grief seeps in, sweeps in, roars in at times - even when you don't want it to.  We will be marking four years without Ellie Kate.  We will be celebrating what would be Ellie's 11th birthday.  My fears this Season are real - since it's been so long, I'm afraid we won't have people commit to these special projects, even though they still love us.  It's so easy to move on with life, and natural to do so.  For us though, life is changed forever and it will never go back to "normal" again.

To us, this Celebration isn't "just" an event or a mere call to action.. This is a life-marker for us, each and every year.  It's our Ebenezer ( ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us’ 1 Samuel 7:12). and with each year, we add a stone representing the outpouring of love specifically shown because of Ellie Kate. With all of this in mind, you can imagine just how important these efforts of reckless love are to us!



For Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love this year, we will be doing the following:  

1. Williams Family Christmas Adoption - This is a precious family we have come to know well and they are very dear to our hearts.  The family's needs are great and we had to really push them to list things other than groceries, socks and underwear on their Christmas Wish Lists.

You can provide for the Williams Family in the following ways: 
  • Purchase something directly from the Williams Amazon Wish List - the item will be mailed to our home where we will wrap them and give them to the family
  • Purchase items similar to those on the Amazon Wish List (the family is NOT particular about where their gifts come from), then contact me directly about wrapping and pick-up plans
  • Clothing items for each family member:
    • Mom - size Large, mediums, size 9 shoe
    • 14yo Daughter - size large, mediums, size 9 shoe
  • Give other items needed by the family: 
    • grocery gift cards (Walmart)
    • car (they currently have no vehicle)
    • job for momma (she is currently out of work, but wants to!)
    • basic pantry items and toiletries
    • furniture - mattresses are currently on the floor, and there are no dressers for their belongings
    • laptop or computer for the 14yo daughter that she can use for school (can be new or used)
    • Gift Card Ideas - Hot Topic, Ross, KMart, Shawnee Mall, fast food 
2. "Ellie's Wish" through NKH Crusaders - this special fund set up in Ellie Kate's name, is solely purposed to bless and serve fellow NKH families around the world.  With the help of many of YOU, we recently held a table auction for this fund at the NKH Crusaders Fundraiser in Boston.  Because of some great donations, we were able to do a small Facebook auction to raise money for this as well.  
Since we have not met our goal of $2,000 for Ellie's Wish, we have set up an Amazon list full of needed and requested items from our approved NKH families.  This list allows you to directly mail your item to our NKH family members around the world . . . 

We ask that  all gifts be purchased no later than December 18th

3.  December 4th - Ellie Kate's Birthday; help us celebrate in one of the following ways:
  • Tell someone about Ellie Kate - tell them her story 
  • Tangibly love someone around you who has a disability OR who has a child with a disability.  If you feel comfortable, tell the recipient about your friend, Ellie Kate.
  • Tangibly love someone around you who recently lost a loved one OR who has a loved one who is medically fragile/critically ill.  If you feel comfortable, tell the recipient about your friend, Ellie Kate.  
4.  December 23rd - Ellie Kate's Heaven Day: 
  • Join us in releasing balloons in Ellie Kate's honor, anytime and anywhere.  
  • If possible, take a photo of your balloon release and share it on social media

Friday, November 4, 2016

Facebook Auction Taking Place NOW - November 4, 2016!

FACEBOOK AUCTION!!!! The following items are being auctioned off for the Ellie Kate Helping Hands and Wishes Fund through NKH Crusaders. All monies raised go directly to this special fund whose purpose is to support fellow NKH families. Our goal is to raise $2000 in order to help our NKH friends, all in Ellie Kate's memory and honor!! Please help us by bidding on these fabulous items. Winners will be contacted by midnight tonight (Friday, November 4, 2016).


All you need to do is go to FACEBOOK, find me under "Ryan Elizabeth McLaughlin", and bid on some items!  Simply post bids in the comments below each item.  If you are out of state, we will mail items directly to you.  

We are incredibly grateful to the individuals who donated items so that this auction could take place.  A BIG THANKS to YOU for supporting our fellow NKH Families while also honoring our Ellie Kate!  












Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - In Honor of Ellie Kate




The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - In Honor of Ellie Kate


You've seen the decorations in stores and ads on TV, and your children are already giving you their lists. You might even be thinking of getting that tree down from the attic in this mild November weather.  You know what all of this points to, don't you?  It's not "just" Christmas, although that is approaching faster than I would like!  It's almost DECEMBER, and with December comes, "In Honor of Ellie Kate - A Month of Reckless Love"!  THIS is OUR favorite, most WONDERFUL time of year!  

As many of you know, our gorgeous eldest Daughter, Ellie Kate was born December 4, 2005 and she took her last breath on earth December 23, 2012.  Ellie Kate was born with a rare and terminal genetic disorder, the same disorder that Lucy Belle has.  This disorder causes Our Girls to essentially make too much glycine within their little bodies.  The effects are extremely damaging and deadly.
There are less than 600 people living in the world today with NKH.  Most children die within the first few months, but we had SEVEN, GLORIOUS YEARS with our EK!

Ellie Kate ROCKED OUR WORLD, and in a GOOD way.  It's through Ellie Kate's life that the Lord gave us a mission as a family - to love and serve fellow special needs and medically-fragile families just like ourselves.  Through Ellie Kate, we also learned how to recklessly love others, including our Daughter who could not walk, talk, hug or show many signs of true affection..  Now, this is very much a "Mike and Ryan"-type of word and definition, but we stand by it and agree with it 100% . . .
  • "Love" should be a verb, an action; it's not just a feeling, because our feelings pass and fail us.  
  • "Reckless" means to be unconcerned with the consequences of an action; to test the limits and not worry about what might happen, be it good or bad. 
Reckless Love is taking intentional action in order to benefit the life of another without worrying about the consequences. 




For the past three years, at the beginning of November, I have posted an Amazon Wish List in order to collect specific books and toys for children inpatient at OU Children's Hospital during the holidays. Those who felt led would look at the list and purchase items that would in turn, would be given to patients at OU Children's. This has been a precious tradition and we've proudly passed out gifts for three years now, all because of YOU and your overwhelming generosity!  

This year, the Lord has laid something completely different on our hearts and we hope you will be equally as excited and involved as you have been with our efforts in the past!  

This year, our Reckless Love Challenges will include the following:

1.Grant wishes for fellow NKH FamiliesWe have a special Amazon Wish List dedicated to "NKH Families called, "Ellie Kate's Wish"

NKH Crusaders has created a special fund in Ellie Kate's name.  Through this fund, fellow NKH families are encouraged to submit needs such as medical equipment, medical bills, and other things that may lessen the burden of the family.  These needed items will be posted on the Wish List for you to help provide. 

2. Family Christmas Adoption - An Amazon Wish List will be dedicated to the Williams Family from Shawnee.  This list will include "needs" of the family as well as a few "wants".  Their needs however, go way beyond that of an Amazon Wish List . . . 

This small family  has become very dear to us and they are in great need.  Dad isn't in the picture at the moment, so it's just momma and her two children.  Mom needs a job and is looking for one at the moment.  They do not have a car.  They do not have bed-frames (their beds lay on the ground).  They do not have proper furniture in their home and many times do not have money for groceries and bills. Our desire is for this momma and her kids will get to TASTE and SEE that the Lord is good and that He will provide for their every need.  It's exciting because you and I can be a part of that this year!  

3.  Hope Link Christmas Adoption - There will be an Amazon Wish List dedicated to a precious family within our Hope Link support group.  This list will include "wants" and "needs" as well with the main goal being that we meet those major needs.  We will be "adopting" this family alongside of OKC Hope Link, the non-profit Mike and I helped to start in Ellie Kate's name.  This particular family has three children with disabilities and medical needs.  We want to show them that Jesus cares about the tiniest details in their life!  

So, you have a few questions . . . 

  • Why am I posting info on this special event  at the beginning of November? Posting now gives you enough time to look at the Amazon Wish Lists and purchase items. It gives time for the gifts to be mailed and gives time to beautifully wrap and deliver each and every gift.  
  • Once I purchase a gift online, where does it go?  Each Amazon Wish List will be different. 
    • Items purchased for the NKH Families will be mailed to Boston and then on to their specific family.  
    • Items purchased for the Adopted family in Shawnee will come directly to our home where they will be wrapped by a group, of lovely ladies and delivered by hand
    • Items purchased for the Hope Link family will also come directly to our home, where they will be wrapped by a group of lovely ladies, then delivered by hand to the family
  • Can I get a tax-write off from this purchase/donation?  Yes! This IS possible if you do so through Amazon Smile (check our their site for more info).  
One Last Important Thing . . . 
Whenever you order from Amazon, be sure to do so from Amazon Smile!  By doing so, you are giving a small portion of your gift to the OKC Hope Link Foundation.  Those small gifts do add up, so please take the time to purchase your items in this way - even make it your habit from now on! 

About AmazonSmile

"AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.
Every item available for purchase on www.amazon.com is also available on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com) at the same price. You will see eligible products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages".

December is a month we look forward to because we celebrate Ellie Kate with those around us and for a time, we hear her name more often and see her name in print.  It's a beautiful thing to us as parents, and we give the Lord ALL the glory for what has been done through this in the past three years and we ask Him to richly bless our efforts this year as well!  In the days to come, I will be posting more information on this special time of the year, giving you ideas on how to love those around you in recklessly loving ways, while also honoring Ellie Kate. More details to come later this week!  

Thank you for praying about how God would have you participate in this year's Month of Reckless Love.  












50k Try