Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love!

Last Tuesday, Ellie Kate would have turned 13 years old but in our hearts, she will forever be SEVEN - the perfect number, the number of Completion, the number of God.  We are so grateful for the precious seven years we had with our curly-headed daughter; it's through Ellie's life that God gave us a mission as a family, as a couple and as individuals!  I never thought I would be called to the world of special needs/medical-fragility but I was, all because of MY Daughter. 

Through Ellie Kate, I have learned more about love than I ever thought possible.  Real, true, perfect LOVE - RECKLESS LOVE, a love which surpasses understanding and goes beyond rules or limits we so often set.  This Reckless Love calls us to serve, to be and to DO - even when it's least expected, ESPECIALLY when it's least expected - going out of our comfort zones, choosing to give of ourselves, no matter what the cost.  THIS is how God loves US.  THIS is how we are called to love one another, above and beyond, giving all we have, going outside our conveniences, even laying down our lives for others. 

It is with this thought, God led us to create, "Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love", which spans the month of December.  Ellie was born on December 4, 2005 and met Jesus face-to-face, December 23, 2012.   Although sometimes bittersweet, we choose to CELEBRATE the entire month of December by honoring our Ellie Kate with acts of Reckless Love towards the community around us.  In the past, we have hosted parties at OU Children's, collected books and gifts for that hospital so close to our hearts; we've also adopted families for Christmas and we've invited you to do the very same, joining us, every step of the way. 

Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love 2018 . . .

#EKMonthofRecklessLove

#EKspreadthelove

SHARE THE LOVE/LOGO/MESSAGE

• We invite you to change your FB profile page to Ellie Kate's logo, spreading the word about Reckless Love, bringing opportunities to share about Our Girl. 
• During now and December 23 (Ellie's Heaven Day), Recklessly love those around you by mowing a law, bringing a meal, dropping off a gift card, and more!  
• Share a picture of your expressions of Reckless Love, even printing off the logo to share along with your acts of Reckless Love! 

*CHRISTMAS CARE BASKETS  We invite you to come alongside OKC Hope Link, donating Christmas care-baskets, elaborately and specifically made for eight, chosen families with our Hope Link Communities.  These are families hit with the unimaginable - a child with a rare, serious or undiagnosed disorder.  Some are born with their diseases and some are diagnosed after horrible accidents.  Precious families, like those within this group, are too often forgotten by the world and by the Church as a whole.  They are isolated because of disability and overlooked because of financial, emotional and mental stressors which come along with raising an extra-special child. 
Christmas Care Baskets are to be delivered BEFORE December 20th, just in time for Christmas (we will happily deliver in your name)! 

• Adopt a basket individually OR as a book club, Sunday School Class, Life Group, etc. 
• You can donate individual items for our Christmas baskets, contacting me for clarification on gifts.  
• Baskets can be themed, such as, "A Night at the Movies" or "Christmas Love" and include the essentials for a special night. 
• We hope to include gift cards for meals, gas and groceries with each Christmas basket, as well as practical and fun gifts for those of all ages.
• If you'd like to take part, contact me via messenger or email: tullyryan@hotmail.com

The perfect example of a Christmas Basket for a special-needs family!

"ELLIE KATE'S WISHES" with NKH Crusaders
Every December, NKH families from all over the world are encouraged to apply for an, "Ellie Kate Wish".  The wishes consist of things insurance won't cover, important items the child/family needs.  This special program was started by my Dear Friend, Kristin Archibald who founded NKH Crusaders, the main fundraising foundation within (and without) our NKH Community (Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinemia).  We are so grateful to have Ellie Kate honored in this way and feel so loved, knowing other members of our NKH Family are blessed because of her life!

Two Precious, past Recipients of Ellie Kate's Wishes through NKH Crusaders!

 GRANT an ,"Ellie Kate Wish"!!  Ellie Kate's Wish through NKH Crusaders

THANK YOU for loving us by participating in

Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love 2018. 

You will never know, this side of Heaven,

how much it means for you to share Ellie's story,

to say her name and most importantly,

to help us spread that beautiful,

Reckless Love we continue to learn,

because of her life. 

With Hope, Love and Gratefulness -

Ryan



*OKC Hope Link reaches families whose children suffer from rare, serious and undiagnosed disorders of all kinds.  We also serve families who have lost children to those same issues.  Hope Link is a tight-knit family. We cheer each other on during the hard times and hold one another's hands during the dark days.  We are different in diagnoses but our journeys are very much the same. 

Henry, Home and HOPE

We're home from D.C. and have successfully finished Henry's treatment!  Today is December 1st, the beginning of Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love and yet, I find myself falling a bit behind on it all.  I promise to soon post about EK and how YOU can show reckless love this Holiday Season! 
It is with great excitement I share this detailed update on Henry's recent medical trip to Washington, D.C.!  This trip has been in the works for months now - Henry's specialists here in Oklahoma "encouraged" us by sharing, our only real hope, the only possibility for PANDAS relief and for or a chance to see "Our Henry" again, was for him to receive the specialized IVIG treatment.  This was the very same treatment we blessedly received through an epilepsy grant, just a year earlier from which we saw great results!  The goal is, the more IVIG sessions completed, the better the outcome is for the patient.  Henry's chance is higher now, since this is his second round of treatment, for which GOD has provided. 

Unlike our previous trip for treatment, this chilly travel was provided by YOU - our precious friends and supporters, even with a few strangers jumping in.  In reality, we fully believe it was Our God, Jehovah Jireh ('The God who Provides') who made this trip happen, who orchestrated and allowed every dime to be given, every travel plan to fall in place (big or small), and SO much more!

Bottom line:  I wouldn't be writing this now if it weren't for your sacrifice and generosity, all of which does not fall lightly on my spirit or mind; in fact, it will stay with me forever, along with your precious prayers, messages and calls.  

 Go Fund Me Page - LOOK at what YOU did!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Elizabeth Latimer heads the clinic where Henry was seen and ultimately, she signed-off on this specific treatment, agreeing with our doctors here in Oklahoma.  Dr. Latimer is one of the leading doctors and researchers on PANDAS/PANs, even appearing in the recent 20/20 program about the disease as well as in the documentary, "My Kid's Not Crazy".   

 

 

Once we had arrived and were situated in D.C., and once we check-into the office, Dr. Latimer read through Henry’s charts once again, and giving the final stamp of approval on the treatment. Even though our entire trip was based on receiving that treatment, it was still a relief to get that very final sign-off.  

 

 

The nurse started Henry’s IV infusion Monday morning, November 19th and he was an absolute warrior through it all, not even batting an eye when the IV was placed.  Because of Ellie and Lucy, H has grown up around needles and syringes, both pokes and prods.  What an intertwined blessing of which I could never dream up: Our God has seemingly, both given and allowed, all of these things within the lives of our children.  My Babies benefit from one another, even in the darkest, scariest things; even when time transcends the action, memory or experience.  They are each other’s teachers and students, mostly without knowing, and every part of it makes a lasting, changing, positive impact on the life of the other, however long that might be.  What an indefinable gift, with layers beyond my comprehension! 

 

 

Both infusion days went off without a hitch.  During the procedure, Henry played video games on his own and with the two other children receiving infusions that day.  Both of the fellow-Infusers had been diagnosed with PANDAS; One was a young teen girl and the other, a boy, exactly Henry’s age.  I took GREAT JOY and comfort in hearing Henry connect with these other precious kiddos.  I giggled with satisfaction upon learning the slightest details the children openly shared about themselves. Hearing about their own quirks, what makes them tic (quite literally, as all three have been diagnosed with various tics).  I drew-in deep, heavy and happy sighs of relief for Henry (sighs only a mother-figure can understand), as I heard our fellow infusers chat a million miles a minute, just like H, almost shouting with excitement in their responses, “Yoouu feel that way sometimes, too!? and, “I get scared to eat, too! ", followed by, "Yes! Even when I’m hungry, I get scared!”.  Priceless.

 Taking Infusions like a BOSS

Sitting among fellow PANS/PANDAS families during treatment was also a very-welcome, yet unexpected event, and I walked away feeling as though I had been to an NKH Conference or an extended Hope Link support group meeting.  It was incredibly sweet.

Being REAL and RAW here:   I have accepted NKH, special-needs, the world’s limitations, the finality of what is defined as a, “terminal” disorder.  I have mourned the death of dreams I once had for the little girls I'm blessed to have birthed.  I can share those dreams without getting super emotional, even though it's been a long road, even though it's taken months and years to wrap my mind around.  I am not yet in that place with Henry.  I don't believe (nor have a reason to believe) PANDAS will take Henry's life and have no evidence he will eventually pass-away because from complications of this confusing disease.  However, I'm having a hard time accepting the fact that part of PANDAS is literally a, "mental" AND "physical" disorder.  This Child, whom God prompted us to have; the One the Spirit told me would be an NKH-free, "healthy" boy .  .  . isn't healthy.  He may not get back to his old self, to who we really know him to be, and that both scares and angers me.  Most of all, I just want to make things better for Henry. 

Dealing with the stress of travel - he was so brave! 

Since we've been home, Henry's had a difficult time, all-around.  This time, he has been incredibly nauseas from the infusions, vomiting still  The first few days, Henry was EATING, which was quite the welcome sight to us, as his parents!!  The feeding-frenzy has slowed-down dramatically and today, there were heavy tears because he was "starving", but couldn't eat, "anything" - it all hurts his tummy (which we've had checked out). 

Since the infusions included strong steroids, Henry has been bouncing up and down and all around, often staying up most of the night in what we call a "happy-wild/manic" state.  Henry has been HAPPY but today, had a big setback with his friends.  I'm wondering if that will continue to worsen IF his PANDAS will worsen?  I don't know - no one knows until we get there. 

For now, here's what I'm clinging to and praying for .  .  .

• I'm praying the Father will fill us with HOPE instead of despair. He's faithfully reminding me that He provided this treatment for a PURPOSE and even if I don't see transformations just yet, I need to give it all time.  God makes ALL things beautiful, in HIS time.  I'm praying God will use these IVIG transfusions for Henry's GOOD and for God's GLORY!! 
• I am praying God will set Henry free from PANDAS, as he truly compares it to being tied to it or locked into it. 
• We are praying God will heal Henry's brain, specifically the frontal lobe. 
• We are praying for our other children, for comfort and PEACE - I so desperately want a home of PEACE and PANDAS threatens that everyday. 
• The doctors say it will likely take around two months for the infusions to start showing their benefits, but we are asking the Lord to do it even NOW

  
  

Friends, FOREVER we are grateful for your help in getting our Son the help he needed, help we couldn't provide on our own.  You stepped in, showing us Reckless Love, beyond imagination.  I look forward to keeping you posted on all the GOOD things yet to come for Henry! 

With Hope,

Ryan

"At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” - Albert Schweitzer

 

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gifts!”, 2 Corinthians 9:15

 

Fear and Hesitation

My heart is beating quickly, in anticipation of something big and exciting, although I cannot truly foresee what that might be.  What I HOPE for it to be is the miraculous provision of Henry's IVIG treatment, which will help to cure and calm his PANDAS.  I'm in an expectant place because I know we NEED this; HENRY needs this in order to survive and in order to keep his faculties in check.  He needs this if he wants to become a contributing member of society and I do not say that lightly.  We know God has gifted Henry in multiple ways, ways that can and will bless the world around him but right now, PANDAS suffocates ALL of that.  It steals the good.  It blows thick, heavy smoke over the bright like a heavy, black cloud, preventing Henry from seeing clearly and preventing others from seeing Henry clearly, for who he truly is.  

IVIG and PANDAS (click on purple link for more information)

If you look at Henry from the outside right now, you can see the affects of PANDAS - he has lost weight and is dehydrated because he's afraid to eat or drink certain things (hysterically afraid); this is a newer symptom of his disease.  Henry's skin is pale and weak,  those big, brown eyes of his are sunken-in, with dark circles underneath.  Henry isn't sleeping - PANDAS isn't letting him but rather, it's making his mind go on overload almost all the time.  Last night, Henry showed me a picture of this new item he really wants.  He ended up showing that photo to me 27 times and finally, he apologized and said he "couldn't stop showing it" to me because his "mind keeps telling me to look at it and show it to you".  Imagine having those types of thoughts, especially as a child - uncontrollable thoughts, constant thoughts about the same thing, and those thoughts wake you up in the middle of the night; those thoughts hit you when you are trying to rest or when you just sit down to attempt school work.  He cannot control the invasive thoughts and it's tearing him up.  He's hungry but won't eat, tired but can't sleep, needs to do school work but cannot focus - understandably, all of this causes anger and resentment and all sorts of negative feelings, "WHY CAN'T I JUST FEEL NORMAL?!".

20/20 Story on PANDAS (click on purple link for more info/to watch video)

US News Report on PANDAS (click on purple link for more info/to watch video)

HESITATION: I've hesitated writing this post - I've put it off for so long and although I have posted on Facebook a bit, I still feel as though I'm holding this tightly to my chest, in a corner, slightly hiding from everyone.  I am so tired of asking for help (which I will get to at the end of this post)  I mean that with all of my heart.  Our Journey started in December 2005 and literally since that time, we've been sharing our story with you and you've been supporting us in so many ways - too many to mention, really.  I know many have "compassion fatigue" where our family is concerned and I hate that - I hate that we've driven you to that place of being tired/overwhelmed by the sorrows and needs of others. 

A "SEASON"?:   Yes, this may only be a "season" for us but, it has been an extremely long season, 13 years to be exact, and some of you have been with us from the beginning!  I need you to know, when we married, our goal was to love and serve others - that was our dream.  Our dream was NOT having others love and serve us.  YES, we ALL go through seasons of need and all of us get to a point of being humble and broken, in need of relationship, love, grace, prayers, and more.  I want you to know, I often cry-out to the Lord and wonder WHY our "season" has taken so long, wondering if this "season of need" is meant to cover our entire lives?  I surely hope not, Lord!  I cringe at sharing the deep, the dark, the needs anymore bc of that fear in my heart - fear of causing even MORE compassion fatigue, worried that by sharing again,  others will leave and walk away because it's "too much" or because they are tired of hearing all of the bad.  


TRUTH:  I love having the opportunity to share our Journey with others.  I do NOT like sharing when it seems to always be bad or dark.  However, the Lord reminds me now that I cannot help if this Season He has called us to, the one which He has kept us in for a Divine Purpose, is often full of heartache, loss and need.  I think of Job - I'm sure Job grew weary of his own journey being so "bad"and sad.  I know, part of the very reason of our journey IS indeed, for me to share - I'm to share the good, the bad and the ugly of this special-needs, medically-fragile, child-loss, life of a Believer because the World (and the Christian Community) NEEDS to see this part of life and needs to know how to go and love this people group with the love of Christ.  
So, I will choose to continue to share not only for  our family, but so these groups of people, these special individuals and their families will also be loved well and served, provided for in all sorts of ways, with the reckless love of God, through fellow Believers. 

I choose to believe God has a continued purpose for our continued Journey.

I choose to believe and recall the TRUTH, that God has allowed this Journey, 

He has placed us here for Divine Purposes.  

I choose to share, even if I feel uncomfortable; 

I choose to put-away my earthly fear in order to fulfill His purpose within me.

I choose to remember and cling to the fact that I am not responsible for how others interpret what I share; 

I realize not everyone will always know my heart nor 

always see where I am writing from.  

I choose to believe God will cause ALL 

of my sharing to work for MY good and for HIS Glory. 

I choose to believe God will use ALL interpretations of what I share, for HIS Glory.  

GO FUND ME:  Stepping out with the Lord's confidence, I share with you our Go Fund Me page, which was set up by two dear friends of mine - friends who have physical struggles and diagnoses of their own, yet still wanted to help our family.  Some of you have already seen this page on Facebook.  Please, feel free to share the entire link, however you see fit, with whomever you see fit.  Sharing the page alone will bring awareness to PANDAS and to Henry's struggle.  We know not everyone can give and we certainly don't expect that.  Please, only give and share as the Lord would see fit.  As you can read on the page, there is also a way to give and receive a tax-deduction, if you are interested.  Paypal can be an option as well.  

Go Fund Me for Henry McLaughlin (click on the purple link)

After meeting with Henry's doctors again this week, we KNOW he needs IVIG immediately.  That won't happen in Oklahoma (the 'immediate' part)- it's a ton of red tape, all the way around, even without insurance paying.  If we go to D.C. and receive treatment from Dr. Latimer, a leading PANDAS specialist who administered Henry's first treatment,  we know exactly who would be giving it, where it would be given, how, etc. If we do make it to D.C., that IVIG formula would only require one more infusion, IF that.  No matter how or where we do it, IVIG treatments will each cost approximately $13000.  

Thank you, Dear Friends.  Thank you for taking the time to read through this message, thank you for educating yourselves not only about NKH, but also about PANDAS.  Thank you for loving us and serving us as the Lord has led you, all of these years.  Please join us in praying the Lord will provide for Henry's IVIG treatment and if that means going to Washington, D.C, pray He would also provide a way to and from.  We are forever grateful for you.  I am forever grateful for you.  

Love Comes from God

I John 4:18

…17In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him. 

18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, 

because fear involves punishment.  

The one who fears has not been perfected in love.    

19We love because He first loved us.…

With LOVE, Amidst My Fear - 

Ryan

Lost Faith

Summer Break is over and by far, it has gone by faster than any other Summer I can remember. I'm sad about it, actually.  My Darling Niece, Isla Edwards, entered this world last month.  My Brother and his lovely twins, headed home to Europe recently, after six fast weeks of staying with my parents.  We've loved family time and staying close to home has been one of our goals.  In no way was I going to miss the birth of my niece and thankfully, I was able to be there for the entire thing, briefly holding her after the emergency c-section Rachael underwent (after around 15hrs of labor).   

Lucy's been extremely ill these last few months, with ER visits, suffering from new seizures, living with unbelievable spells of pain, and being hospitalized for c-diff twice, thus far.  Henry's suffered from an extreme PANDAS flare, the likes of which we haven't seen in well over a year, mainly because he needs a new round of IVIG - the same treatment he received last year in D.C. and yet, it's simply financially unattainable at this time.

Struggles, fear, doubt - lonliness in the trials, heartache in the journey; a roller-coaster of emotion, thought, feeling, and experience.  

Lost Faith
In this post, I'm sharing personal struggles, fears and doubts.  I'm sharing these because I believe it is healthy for us, as individuals, to do so.  We can help one another and encourage one another by sharing our burdens and our journeys.  In making ourselves vulnerable, we make ourselves, "real".  There is great beauty in allowing the world to see we aren't perfect, that we are indeed, needy individuals - in desperate need of friendship, support, love, and forgiveness.  All of our intimate needs can be met, WILL be met, in and through a relationship with God.  

This Summer, maybe even back to the Spring or even Fall, I started to truly doubt God.  My heart was hurting, my feelings raw.  In my heart and mind, I had spent my entire life, from as far back as I remember, surrendering everything to God, as best I could, and STILL .  .  . still, my world continued (continues) to fall apart - to fall into pieces, all around me.  

The PANDAS, the NKH, as well as the stresses and illnesses coming about because of those things, have held us captive as a family and as individuals.  Our hearts have also remained broken for dear friends who've recently suffered the earthly loss of their children, both within our Hope Link and NKH Communities.  We long to see God move in miraculous ways on behalf of friends suffering from long hospitalizations, life-changing accidents, and everything in between.  Life is hard and it isn't meant to be lived-out alone.  Contrary to some beliefs, NO man is an island and no man should try to live as though he is one.  It won't work.  It's not the way we are made.

Struggling with this lie has been a life-long struggle for me and I'm laying it all out there for you.  Sure, I believe God can, will and DOES perform miracles, does good, makes beauty from ashes, but it doesn't really happen for me or won't really happen for me.  When Ellie Kate was born with something genetic - something which literally CAME from MY DNA - that only convinced my belief that the "good", the promises, the miracles, the fairy-tales, were all for someone else . . . someone MORE obedient, MORE devoted, MORE called, than me. 

Over the years, I accepted this lie (although sad about it) because I really and truly gave God EVERYTHING - from my food to each class at school; from my friendships to my thoughts, from my hair to what clothes I would wear, to every move in my cheer and tumbling practice to every single word that left my lips, every single thought which popped into my mind. 

I'm not talking about a pity-party or bouts of depression, although those certainly have been a part of our journey. No, this is  something I have really struggled with and learned to accept, even live with.  But Friends, this is where FAITH steps in.  Without faith, I am nothing - without faith in my marriage and my partner; without faith in our doctors on behalf of our children, without faith in our school system, without faith in our counselors and more - well, we just couldn't survive, living a life of crippling fear and severe anguish.  I don't want to live that way.  I WANT to choose FAITH, to choose to walk by faith.  I CHOOSE a GOD I believe created me, designing me for a purpose.  

A Moving God
Around July of this year I chose FAITH, after months of letting DOUBT win, I was enabled to reach out for something more - LIFE and liberty within and without.  I did not do this because I felt like it - in fact, I felt the opposite.  Personally, I know this faith and the ability to choose God, only COMES from God.  I chose to surrender again, because the Christian Life, the life of the Believer, is one of constant surrender. We recognize we cannot possibly handle this life on our own.  We accept the fact that we need help, that we would be miserable within the intervention of a Mighty God and all that He is, WHO He is, and He IS who He promises to be.  

I've asked the Lord to help my unbelief.   I am willing to choose Him and I am in a spot where I desperately want Him - I want Him to take over my heart, consume my thoughts and be established as Lord.  I want to see God for who He truly is and I want to fully trust Him and His character.  Desperately, I want Him to woo me, to show me His goodness towards our family, to show His provision as He has undeniably done in the past.  I've been asking Him to show up like this since July and ya'll, He HAS. 

Since July, we've been gifted a washing machine, among other sweet and unexpected gifts.  Friends came together for the washing machine, which makes it mean even more to us, especially as some of these friends also walk a continual road of suffering.  What a beautiful thing!  Having a Lucy Belle (NKH, Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, diapered, etc) as well as a typical one year old baby, a typical 15 year old boy, and a Henry (frontal-lobe damage, seizures, PANDAS, etc) - well, we have a lot of messes overnight and during the day, doing approximately 3-5 loads of laundry each day.  God GAVE us this gift and it moved my heart closer to His.  

This Gift sparked something within me and I began to realize God has NOT forgotten me.  He has not forgotten my children, my husband or my family, as a whole.  In fact, He very much cares about our needs.


Last week, we were able to take an unforeseen trip to Eureka Springs.  All four of our children were able to go and Mike's mom (Jayme McLaughlin) met us in Arkansas, along with her dog, Maggie Mae.  It was WONDERFUL to see Jayme and the kids adored spending time with her (let's face it - they also loved seeing the MiMi and PawPaw's dog, Maggie Mae).  Although we had no idea how taking Lucy would work,  it all turned out fine, even if we did continue to trash most sheets, blankets, towels, and clothes because of  continued c-diff (no hotel/motel belongings were destroyed/trashed).  We brought just enough disposable pads for the trip and didn't forget a thing, which is a big deal for us.

I had no idea God would provide all of this - the time, finances and details for this trip, including a rental SUV so we could safely carry all children and all equipment.   In fact, I was so sad we had not been able to get away for the summer.  In fact, the boys had only been swimming one time because of the constant illness and more. This Trip is also something GOD has done, something HE allowed and orchestrated.  Once again, my heart is moved closer to Him, closer to the Truth and further from the lies my heart has been tied to for most of my forty years on earth. He swept in and swept us away, giving respite, providing joy and laughter we so desperately needed.  He very much cares about our needs AND our desires.  


The Future
I wish I could tell you that now, after everything God has done for me and for our family this Summer, I am gleefully trusting Him; but that isn't where my heart, mind and body are at this time.  I'm still asking God to step in - to sweep in and move things around inside of me and inside my Family.  I'm still choosing Him - I'm choosing to believe He loves me and wants good for me and for each my children.  I'm asking God to continue to help my unbelief, to continue to deepen my desire for Him.  I'm asking Him to do new things within me and within my family, which I haven't been able to do in a very long time.  

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

SO, there you have it - My heart and Spiritual State as it has been, in many ways, for the last several months.  Thank you for allowing me to share it.  Thank you to those who've had the patience to read through this particular blog.  Even more so, thank you to those who have obediently given and reached out to us, to me, even when it was not deserved or warrented.  It is YOU who have shown us God's Heart;  it's YOU who have shown us Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I could not be more grateful for your ability and willingness to be used by Him on our behalf . . .

Ryan

- Jeremiah 29:11-14 (ESV), "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile".

-Romans 8:28(NLT), "And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them".

- Jeremiah 9:24(TLB), "Let them boast in this alone: That they truly know me, and understand that I am the Lord of justice and of righteousness whose love is steadfast; and that I love to be this way".

- Lamentations 3:24-25(ESV), “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him,  to the soul who seeks him.

-2 Corinthians 5:7 (TLB), "We know these things are true by believing, not by seeing".