Peace, Hope and Joy

The Christmas Season brings so many feelings and emotions to us all.  In a previous post, I mentioned the fact that I feel that this is a season of Peace for our family.  It's a word that God has given me for this time in our lives.  Everywhere I look though, I have a hard time finding "peace" decorations and ornaments!  Hope, joy and Santa are just about everywhere, but I've been looking for PEACE - figuratively and physically.

A sweet ornament I unrwrapped last night from my friend Amy!

An amazing thing has happened over the last two weeks and it truly is nothing short of a miracle, seeing how burdened my heart has been.  God, in His goodness, has not only given me a craving for peace - He has actually GIVEN me peace!  He has also placed JOY and HOPE in my heart, and those are things that I truly did not think would be in my heart, or in my mind, at this time of year.  I  wasn't sure if I truly would ever again feel those things during Christmas time . . . Ellie's Month, ever, ever again.  But Jesus has changed that for me, and even if it only lasts for a bit, I am relishing in it, basking in it, and dancing in it, as one would dance in the rain!

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

How beautifully He ties it all together!  

The joy and hope in my heart have made me excited to decorate for Christmas.  To us, this is now "Ellie's Month", so having the house decorated early for Christmas just means that we extend the time of celebrating Our Girl!  It's been so fun and freeing to get things ready around the house.  In a strange way, I feel as though I am still parenting Ellie Kate by decorating.  I hang her ornaments just as I hang those of the other children.  

This Month of Reckless Love truly does give me the opportunity to feel as though I am parenting and sharing My Daughter's life with others.  I know it sounds strange and I wish I could explain it better, but it's just so hard to put into words.  That is one of the many reasons that it means SO much to have you participate in the Month of Reckless Love!  And, there is now a special way for you to support OKC Hope Link when you make your purchases on Amazon.com. You can go to Amazon Smiles and choose "Hope Link" and a portion of your purchase will be donated to OKC Hope Link, the non-profit that is so dear to our hearts.  Also, be sure to "like" our official Facebook page under "In Honor of Ellie Kate McLaughlin - Living a Life of Reckless Love".

Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless Love Wish List  - REMINDER - all gifts will be donated to OU Children's Hospital and will be delivered on December 4th (Ellie Kate's 9th Birthday)

It is truly a rich relief, distraction and solace to have these feelings flooding our hearts and home at this time.  Mike and I are even looking into getting a new puppy for the boys this Christmas!  New, hopeful, joyful, full of peace . . . He is SO faithful.

With Peace, Hope and Joy,

Ryan

  

The Book Drive Is Coming to An End!

That's right folks, the book drive for Ellie Kate's Month of Reckless love, is coming to an end!  We will be delivering and distributing the books NEXT Wednesday, December 4th.  This is the last week for you to hit up the drop boxes around town!  You also still have time to make some Amazon Wish List orders. All drop boxes will be collected by the end of this week, so this is your last chance!  

Here are the links you need in order to help with the book drive . . . 
Ellie's Amazon Wish List

DROP OFF BOXES:
Funky Monkey - 1401 North May Avenue, OKC
Bridgeway Church - 228 West Hefner Road, OKC
Chesapeake Energy - 1600 N. Western, OKC - located in Mike's office; call/text if you'd like to drop off (405-812-3589)
Uptown Kids - 5840 North Classen Blvd #3 (Classen Curve), OKC
Dr. Willoughby, DDS, -1222 S Kelly Ave, Edmond
Keller Williams Norman - 905 24th Avenue NW #A, Norman
Van's Pig Stand, Norman - 320 North Porter Ave, Norman
First Baptist Church, Moore - 301 NE 27th Street, Moore
To The Nines Boutique - 111 West Main St., Moore (Old Towne)
McBride Orthopedic Hospital - 9600 Broadway Extension, Edmond 

Each book and toy will be marked with a bookplate that looks like this, thanks to my sweet and talented friend, Katee Bailey.  We want each and every child who receives a gift on Wednesday, to know Ellie Kate's story and to be inspired by her legacy.  As her mother, this is a way for Ellie to live on . . .

Aren't they lovely?!  And below are the precious flyers that will be around the hospital, inviting children and families to Ellie's Birthday Celebration.  I am blown away by Katee's willingness to help and serve us with her talents!  Truly, the sweetest thing.  

As you know, there are MANY ways to participate in this month of Reckless Love, and there are MANY ways to honor Miss Ellie Kate this December.  The book drive is just the beginning!  So, if you aren't able to help with this part of the Celebration, don't worry - there were be many more ways you can love in Ellie's memory.  

Celebration Details:

The Birthday Celebration will be in the "End Zone" at OU Children's Hospital on December 4th from 3:30-6pm.  It will be a come-and-go event for the families who are inpatient.  We want our dear friends to be there to celebrate and to help with crafts, passing out goodies, handing out gifts, etc.  With that in mind, we cannot have too many folks there, as we want the focus to be on the patients. If you are interested or feel called to take part in the party, please feel free to email me at tullyryan@hotmail.com.  I'd love to hear from you!  

Also, our little family will be delivering books and gifts door-to-door after the Celebration there at the hospital.  We would like the time on the floor to be just our family, including grandparents.  It will be special for us and we will be emotional.  Also, it's "sick" season and there is pneumonia, flu, RSV, and many other things on the floor, and it's overall best to just keep it as a few limited people.  Thank you for understanding and respecting this decision.  

I can't tell you how blessed I am to see so many of you participating already in Ellie's Month of Reckless Love.  It moves me beyond words, and I just cannot wait to kick of the Celebration next Wednesday!!