HOPE - Hope Link Christmas Adoptions!

December - the Month of Reckless Love

True, Reckless Love reveals itself in sacrificial service;

and giving will ALWAYS bless the Giver, 

molding their hearts in radical ways.

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In case you have a few questions

about our Hope Link Christmas Adoption . . .

What is Hope Link? 

OKC Hope Link is the 501c3, 

which started in 2007 in honor of Ellie Kate McLaughlin.  

Hope Link serves families of children with rare, 

serious and undiagnosed disorders. 

We also reach out to families who’ve already 

lost a child to a medical disease or circumstance.  

This Organization is made up of families who love their children fiercely 

and fight intensely for the livelihood and happiness of their family. 

Being a Special Needs care-giver or parent to a medically-fragile child 

can be excruciatingly difficult – 

heartbreaking, watching your child suffer and fight through their disease; 

frustrating, as you watch your other children and partner 

as they so often feel tossed-aside 

in light of the heaviness of their sibling’s diagnosis; 

and disheartening, as you work so hard to provide,

 all to see your hard work seemingly 

melt away with endless bills to be paid.  

For more on Hope Link, CLICK HERE:  OKC Hope Link

Just a few of our Hope Link Mommas!

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 Who are the adopted, Hope Link Families?

 Hope Link Family, T: This sweet family has four children, 

with one now living in Heaven, healed and whole 

from the disease with which he was born – 

Non-Ketotic Hyperglycenemia (What Is NKH?).  

Family T is one of the three Oklahoma families affected by this disorder. 

This family has two healthy girls in the home, 

along with another little boy, also affected by the most severe form of NKH. 

Baby Braxston, Now in Heaven

This Hope Link Cutie has a trach and 

is unable to make purposeful movements.  

He’s non-verbal (he does not speak) and like Lucy, cannot eat by mouth, 

receiving all nutrients through a feeding tube. 

 He does not sit up or roll, although he is very-well loved and cared-for. 

He also suffers from seizures and other cruel symptoms, which NKH brings.

        Both sisters are typical, loving everything “girlie” – 

dress-up, Barbie and pink!  

As with our other Hope Link families, these sisters often take a backseat, 

especially when it comes to attention, 

only because brother needs hands-on, constant care. 

Mom and Dad are both Military Veterans with a strong love for Country.  

Because of Bubba’s disease, Mom is no longer able to work, 

which has added financial stress.  

Family “T” lives outside of the Metro area, 

so attending Hope Link meetings and events can be a financial burden too. 

Although they qualify for home health nursing, 

there are no nurses willing to drive outside of the City to work in their home.

*needs for this family are especially important

 To fulfill the wishes and needs of Family “L”, click HERE: 

Hope Link Family, "T"

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 Hope Link Family, V:  This family is very near and dear to us, 

being close to our family for many years.  

The momma is an RN and has served in our home during the night,

 caring for Lucy and serving as our home health nurse.  

Family V has four children, three of whom currently live in the home.

 

The main diagnosis for this little Hope Link Man 

is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, are and terminal form of the disease. 
What Is Duchenne?

Other diagnoses including autism, OCD and severe anxiety.   

Duchenne MD is progressive, meaning it gets worse, 

spreading throughout this Little Man’s body, 

eventually affecting every muscle, including the heart.  

Things that used to be so easy to do, 

are now physically impossible because of the disease.  

Recently, he’s become non-ambulatory (cannot walk on his own), 

and is the safest when in his wheelchair.  

He is non-verbal, but will tell you what he likes and doesn’t, 

communicating especially well with his family, whom he adores. 

Mom and Dad are both extremely hard working – 

momma works in healthcare and dad is a creative genius, 

painting murals around the State, producing unmatchable artwork 

and building many things, including a handicap-accessible bunk bed for his sons. 

To fulfill the wishes and needs of Family “V”, click HERE: 

Hope Link Family, "V"

  (this link will take you directly to the family’s Amazon Wish List) 

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 Hope Link Family, L:  This Hope Link little girl is, Gorgeous, sweet 

and perfect in every way”, according to her adoring momma.  

She was born with a genetic mutation – 
specifically, a mutation in gene Genetic Mutation SZT2

This Hope Link Beauty is non-ambulatory, non-verbal and suffers from seizures, 

although she WILL let you know what she likes and what she doesn’t.  

Big Sister is outgoing and intelligent, 

she too adores her little sister and tenderly cares for her as well. 

Their bond is a precious thing to behold. . 

These Special Parents are both extremely hard working - 

momma has even worked all hours of the day and night 

to help provide for their family. 

  It’s such a GIFT, showing Reckless Love to this Sweet Family 
so dedicated to their children and Faith!

To fulfill the wishes and needs of Family “L”, click HERE: 

Hope Link Family, "L"

(this link will take you directly to the family’s Amazon Wish List) 

Be watching for more updates on our Hope Link adoptions.
THANK YOU for joining us in showing the world some
 "Reckless Love", bringing HOPE to those who have none.

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 23rd, and 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 remembered, that 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.  

Would you please consider purchasing an item off of the Adopted Family's Amazon Wish List? 
(click on the link above to see the family's lists) 

 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!!! 

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"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)?

NKH Family 1

NKH Family 2

NKH Family 3

NKH Family 4

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

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 . . . 

• NKH Family 1:Amazon Wish List 1
• NKH Family 2: Amazon List 2
• NKH Family 3: Amazon Wish List 3
• NKH Family 4:  Amazon Wish List 4

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

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 Families - We 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.  

A Month of Reckless Love - It's Only Just Beginning!

December, THE MONTH OF RECKLESS LOVE!  Don't worry, Folks - there are still plenty of ways for you to still participate and to continue Ellie Kate's legacy of love.  I will get to more of that here in a moment, but you can start right now by changing your Facebook Profile picture and even your background photo as well!

Yesterday would have been Ellie Kate's TENTH birthday!  This ten-year mark has been quite emotional for me, as I still remember the sites, sounds and smells surrounding the hospital and her birth in such a real way.  In our minds, Ellie Kate will always be SEVEN, for that is the age she was when we last saw her.  A beautiful, happy, joyful seven-year-old girl with gorgeous green eyes and light brown, curly hair.


I must say - I didn't want yesterday to end!  It was just such a happy day and Mike and I were smiling, laughing and remembering with joy, the entire day.  He was able to take off of work this year, which was a huge gift to me.  Late Thursday night, I dug through Ellie's "Precious Box" and found so many treasures - endless school projects with Ellie's fingerprints and handprints, school pictures, artwork from Wonderfully Made at Bridgeway Church . . . the photo albums seem to be the most precious though, marking milestones in Ellie's life, along with everyday things as well.  Happy days, sad days, hard days, triumphant days - they are all there, documented in photo form for us to remember, always.  I am so grateful to have these tangible reminders.

"Ellie's Spot" decorated for her Birthday and for Christmas

Something so sweet happened and it was just too precious not to share here with all of you . . . as many of you know, we are incredibly grateful for Mike's current job at Ascent Resources. Mike works in oil and gas, which is a very tough industry right now.  All of the low gas prices take a HUGE toll on companies like my husband's (side note - those in Oklahoma need to pray for prices in oil and gas to rise because so much of our state depends upon this industry).  Mike's company has been supportive of our family in every possible way, loving us through hospital stays, ER visits, last-minute emergency calls from me, when I've needed Mike to come home and help with Henry during a bad flare.  These same folks donated gifts in Ellie Kate's honor - gifts to be delivered to Children's.  They also gave us birthday cards for Ellie Kate, including precious messages from each co-worker.  I've never seen something so thoughtful, especially from such a large group.  It took my breath away to see Ellie's name written on the cards and to see the prayers and encouraging words, especially when most of these people never even met EK.  As her mother, I felt honored and touched that, even after three years, My Daugther's story is still being shared to new people and new people are learning to recklessly love because of all that Ellie Kate endured here on earth.  Thank you, Lord for this most unexpected, tender gift from you!  




One of our MOST favorite parts of Ellie's Month of RL is delivering gifts to OU Children's Hospital in her honor.  Yesterday was the day we took gifts door to door, along with our friend Cara from Child Life.  These are the gifts YOU donated and purchased through the Amazon Wish List!  We were overwhelmed that, after THREE years, you would still be willing to give - you would still be willing to take the time to get online and purchase gifts in Ellie Kate's honor.  Some of you brought gifts to our house or brought gifts to Mike's office.  We also delivered darling parent packets this year - "Thirty One" bags full of comforting items to make their hospital stay more bearable.  Knowing that sacrifices were made on behalf of little ones at OU Children's, and that they were made in honor of OUR Daughter . . . it just means more than you could ever possibly know or understand, although I do pray God will give you a taste of our gratefulness!  

Our Annual Pic before the Big Delivery of Gifts!

This picture doesn't do justice to the many things that were donated this year!  There were SO many gifts given out last night and we were also able to share Ellie's story and encourage the hearts of families like ours!

Each gift, each item had either a special letter included or a darling "Reckless Love"  sticker, which were made by Jay Lohman at Boss Printing Design.  Jay and his sweet wife Sarah donated these cute stickers and got them ready in less than 24hrs!  What a gift!

Stickers include our blog address so that people can read Ellie's entire story!

There are many of you who've contacted us, wanting to contribute in some way or give gifts in Ellie Kate's honor.  Even though we've already delivered our gifts to Children's Hospital, there are several ways you can still give - even by purchasing gifts for children who are sick or suffering from serious and rare diagnosis like Ellie Kate.  Hope Link, the non-profit we founded in EK's honor back in 2007, assists families who are in similar situations as us.  There are several aspects to Hope Link and we are incredibly proud of all that God alone has done in and through this sweet ministry!

This year, Hope Link has TEN families who have been adopted for Christmas.  Each family was chosen by Hope Link leadership and is deserving and in need of assistance. Each family has at least one child who is living with a serious disease or disorder.  In several cases, families have multiple children with serious diagnoses.  Medical bills pile up, even when you are blessed with good insurance coverage and a great support system. Our goal in adopting our Hope Link families is to lift the burden of purchasing gifts when they are trying to make ends-meet.  This allows the entire family to focus on what's really important this Christmas - the birth of Jesus and time with each other.

 We've asked each family to choose three items for every family member.  There is a Hope Link Amazon Wish List  - you can easily go here and buy a gift for one of these family members.  It would mean the world to us for you to bless a Hope Link family in Ellie Kate's honor!  So, if you didn't get to order from Ellie's Wish List before her birthday (yesterday), if you are just now joining in on the blog OR if you are looking for another way to go out and recklessly love others this Christmas . . . click HERE and purchase one of these Christmas gifts. By doing so, you will bring so much joy to these families whom we so dearly love!  

Thank you for continuing to pray for us as we face the ups and downs that this month brings.  We covet your encouragement, love, prayers, texts, cards, calls and everything else that Reckless Love leads you to do.  Please do let us know how you are serving and loving those around you! 

With HOPE in Christ,

Ryan

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FOR WAYS TO GIVE while receiving a tax write-off (simply click on the links in blue): 

*Give to the Ellie Kate Project through Helping Hands Ministries - This is the family medical fund, and ALL donations go directly to Lucy Belle and Henry's medical costs.

*Give to OKC Hope Link- - a ministry we help lead; Hope Link reaches families of children with rare, serious and undiagnosed disorders.

*Give to NKH Crusaders and help us find a cure for this terrible disease which causes GI issues, epilepsy, extreme developmental delays, mental retardation, and more. 

In Honor of Ellie Kate - A Month of Reckless Love!

It's here! It's here! It's here!  December has arrived, and with it comes Ellie's Month - the Month of Reckless Love.  It's the month we celebrate Ellie Kate's birthday (December 4th) and her heaven-day (December 23rd), and we will celebrate her everyday in between by actively loving and serving those around us who are too easily forgotten.

Gifts have been pouring in - gifts YOU have given in Ellie Kate's honor.  These books, toys and therapy items will be given to children who are currently inpatient at OU Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City.  Mike and I have the privilege of going door to door, along with Child Life, allowing kids to pick out a toy and/or book of their choice.  Can you imagine the joy and excitement that comes from that?!  You are sick in the hospital, stuck in your room because it's flu/RSV season AND it's Christmas-time . . . talk about being down in every possible way!  Trust me - we've spent so many holidays in the hospital with the Girls, and we know first-hand how heartbreaking and defeating it is to be up there when the rest of the world is out celebrating, shopping and going to Christmas parties. By giving in this way, we are doing something that WE know will means SO much to these children AND to their parents.  Some of them won't have much of a Christmas, yet because of you, on December 4th, they will get to choose a wonderful new gift.  The child will feel loved, the parent will feel loved.  They will know they are NOT forgotten.

Going to the hospital wouldn't be the thing we would selfishly choose to do on Ellie Kate's birthday.  She celebrated several birthdays there, including her last birthday.  We had a small family birthday part for her that night, Hello Kitty decorations, pizza, cake and all!  No, it isn't easy to be there on that day, but we choose to act, stepping out of our comfort zone, to love and serve others in honor of EK.  We choose to love others and serve through our pain, as Jesus leads us to do.  We don't do this because we are super-human (trust me, we are anything BUT!), but because we want to love as we learned to love Ellie Kate - with reckless abandon.  That's how she loved those around her as well.  This is what we are calling you to do this month in her honor . . . show some "Reckless Love": 

• "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. 

So, go ahead and change those Facebook profile pics to one of Elizabeth Kathleen McLaughlin, and feel free to use our cute specific "Reckless Love" photos shared here on the blog today.  Three years later and ya'll still encourage us, support us and honor Ellie Kate by participating in this special month of heartache and unspeakable joy.

For those of you who want to purchase a gift, but weren't able to order one in time for it to get here before December 4th - there are still some BIG ways you can participate!  Hope Link, the non-profit we started in Ellie's honor, has adopted TEN families for Christmas this year.  Each family has a child with a rare, serious or even undiagnosed disorder or disease.  Each family has been given the precious responsibility of raising, protecting and providing for children with many extra needs.  Life can be overwhelming, and when it comes to Christmas and adding extra costs to an already strained budget . . . well, sometimes it's just too much.  You MOST DEFINITELY will be recklessly loving in Ellie's honor by purchasing gifts from the Amazon Wish Lists for the families (Hope Link ensures that each family will receive their gifts before Christmas):  http://www.amazon.com/registry/giftlist/1O32SS218DBC9

There are other ways to give and participate, and we welcome and encourage you to jump in with both feet - giving until it's uncomfortable, loving until you are out of your comfort zone, giving when it becomes a sacrifice to your family (see below for details).

THANK YOU for loving the world around you in honor of Our Precious Daughter.

In His Hope,
Ryan

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE AND GIVE:

1. Purchase items on our Amazon Reckless Love Wish List for Children's Hospital: All interactive toys, movies and books donated will be given to ill children at OU Children's Hospital on December 4th, Ellie's birthday (Ellie spent most of her birthdays, including her last earthly one, there at OU).  

2. Purchase items from the Hope Link Amazon Wish list, providing Christmas for families whose children suffer from rare, serious and undiagnosed disorders: http://www.amazon.com/registry/giftlist/1O32SS218DBC9

  
2. December 1-31st: Start loving those around you in reckless ways! Give to those in need, purposefully reaching out to those who are hurting, including those with special needs and families who have lost children. Share on our page how you have loved others in Honor of Ellie Kate (see the definitions and explanations above).

3. December 4th: 

• For Ellie Kate's birthday, we ask that you love, serve, encourage, or give to a family with a special-needs child OR to a family who has a lost a child due to any circumstance.  Bring a meal, bake a cake, send a balloon or flowers - anything uplifting to let the family know that they are loved and not forgotten.
• Share Ellie's story with someone you come in contact with.  Post and let us know about your encounter. 
• Share your favorite Ellie Kate memory or story on our FB page

Sissy's 7th Birthday at OU

4. December 23rd: Ellie's Heaven Day! Post pictures of you and your family releasing balloons in Ellie Kate's honor. Send messages with your balloons and be creative! This is a way to show our family that you remember our Sweet Girl.