When You See His Hands and Feet

2017 - A New Year is upon us, and it hardly seems possible.  I think I say that every year, but I genuinely feel that each and every time the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, when Ellie Kate's "Month of Reckless Love" comes to an end.  I hate seeing it go - December, that is. 

This year, it was hard for me to jump into Ellie Kate's month, hard for me to get things organized, hard for me to put out our requests.  I think part of it is because we have been sharing with all of you for eleven years now.  That's a long time to be an "open book" and it's a long time to be vulnerable, opening yourself up and admitting your needs, weaknesses and troubles of this world.  This is, however what God has called us to do, to continue to do, sharing the ups and downs of people who love Jesus and also go through extreme difficulties.  Thank you all for your patience with us as we changed things up this year in celebration of Ellie's life, while also preparing our  hearts for adoption.  

Even though it felt chaotic to us, I know God has been in control.  We know this because we've literally sat back and watched God at work, forming relationships and working things out so that this little baby girl could come to be part of our family.  Not only that, He CLEARLY worked out the details for the outpouring of service during Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love, and more detailed items were given and shared than ever before!  Having a specific family to donate to, to provide for, has been such a joy for us to witness and I am just thrilled to fill you in on it all! 

Mike and I do so want to protect this sweet family which God has led us to "adopt" for Christmas and for Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love this year, so with that in mind we'll continue to keep their details private. However, I absolutely want you to know just how incredible and detailed your gifts have been and how deeply they have touched this particular family and ours as well!  I am THRILLED to tell you, because of YOU and your generosity, the following has been donated during this season (both new and used items): 

• New mattresses for mom and three children
• New bedding for mom and children
• New sheets for mom and children
• New mattress pads for all four, which is important bc they've dealt with bed bugs in their apartment complex before
• Furniture for their apartment, including a kitchen table, which they've never had before AND a gorgeous couch!
• Beautiful bed for Mom and eldest daughter (the kids have been sleeping on the floor)
• Floor lamp, rugs and home accessories
• New crock-pot
• Gift cards for groceries, clothing, restraunts, shoes, household items
• An entire Pantry-full of food and dry-goods was given including detergent
• Feminine products
• New, soft blankets for each member of the family (something they needed)
• Socks, gloves, coats, and hats for each member of the family
• Shoes for several members of the family
• Clothing was donated
• Warm Robe for mom
• Monetary gifts allowed bills to be paid, including electric bills, so that heat could stay on!  Basic needs could be taken care of because of one large financial gift. 
• A new laptop for the teenage daughter, which she can use now in high school and can take with her to college (they've had no computer access except when they go to the library)
• Games for the family to play together
• A camera and video camera for mom, which was her main wish.
• Pajamas for all family members, soaps and shampoos, razors, etc
• A few toys for the 8yo son and teenage toys for the girls, including make-up and nail polish
• Hair services for mom and daughter (they've never had this before)

More importantly, we have friends trying to help Mom get a job there in Shawnee and  we've contacted a few precious churches so that the family will be followed-up with on a regular basis. 

Our prayer is that the family will continue to see the Love of Christ in Action, through His Body, there in their town.
 Our desire is that Jesus' reckless love would capture their hearts and minds so greatly that their lives will never be the same after this "Reckless Love" experience!  

Equally as important to us has been the giving spirit you've shown towards our fellow NKH Families, in honor of our Daughter.  Each and everyone of the gifts we listed were purchased and given to the families!  Not only that, a precious Sunday School class further adopted one of the NKH families and provided incredible gifts and needs for this family who is dear to us.  

How in the world do we even BEGIN to thank those of you 

who've given to these two projects?  

How do you pour out your heart and express your thankfulness for 

something done in your dead Daughter's name, in her honor?  

There are SO many people to thank and many of them would be embarrassed at me mentioning their names. These blessed, giving hearts - many of whom have sacrificed in order to give in honor of Ellie Kate, in order to take care of the basic needs of people they don't and haven't even met!  What love and compassion must lie in the hearts of those who have given!  There are many of you who have wanted to give but just weren't financially able to.  You've come along beside us anyway, encouraging us and reaching out.  Most importantly, so many of you have prayed intensely, interceding on behalf of those God has laid on our hearts this season.  

When Mike and I married, our friend Laura Ramey sang "How Beautiful" at our wedding, which describes the Body of Christ being the hands and feet of Christ.  It was truly a prayer we shared because we wanted our marriage to be a picture of just that.  God has been gracious and because of our story and because of what we've been through, because of Ellie Kate, others have been inspired to love others with reckless abandon, giving and serving without expecting anything in return.  

I was reminded of this sweet song and although it most definitely IS "Old School", I ask that you take the time to listen to it.  I think the Lord will touch your heart, reminding you of what Jesus did for you while He was here on earth, fully in human form.  I hope it will remind you of the beauty of YOUR hands and YOUR feet as you continue to love without expectation.  

 "How Beautiful" - you tube version

A Prayer for You this New Year . . . 

We thank you for involvement in this past month in which we honor Ellie Kate!  We thank you for your continued encouragement as this time of year still has a deep sting and frosty bite.  We pray that the Father would bless you so richly this year, this 2017 - that you would know Jesus more deeply, that he would capture your heart in incredible ways; we pray that you would see, feel and hear him (even literally) in this New Year and that He alone would be glorified in that!  We pray too that this coming year will be full of sweet moments and memories with friends and family and also sweet memories with the Lord, as you open your heart to hear from Him.  

With Hope and Thanksgiving, 

Mike and Ryan

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Adoption - thank you for your precious words and encouragement as we continue the adoption journey with our Bowen Jane!  We have NO doubt that God has chosen her to be our daughter, esp after being born on Ellie's exact Heaven-Day.  There is just so much more involved within this process than we ever knew, more than I especially ever knew or understood and it's taken it's toll on us emotionally and physically.  We covet your prayers for a safe continuation of the adoption process and that all will fall into place quickly and easily.  As in times past, we will CHOOSE to trust that God has this under His control.  

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How Beautiful, Lyrics

Twila Paris

How beautiful the hands that served
the wine and the bread
and the sons of the earth.
How beautiful the feet that walked
the long dusty roads
and the hills to the cross.
How beautiful
how beautiful
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful the heart that bled
that took all my sin
and bore it instead.
How beautiful the tender eyes
that chose to forgive
and never despise.
How beautiful
how beautiful
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
And as He laid down His life
we offer this sacrifice
that we will live just as he died:
willing to pay the price
willing to pay the price.
How beautiful the radient Bride
who waits for her Groom
with His light in her eyes.
How beautiful when humble hearts give
the fruit of pure lives
so that others may live.
How beautiful
how beautiful
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful the feet that bring
the sound of good news
and the love of the King.
How beautiful the hands that serve
the wine and the bread
and the sons of the earth.
How beautiful
how beautiful
how beautiful is the body of