Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Ten Year Surprise!

Today is our ten-year wedding Anniversary. And today I surprised hubby with the news of this: We are expecting a baby! Our dear little one is due sometime around Valentine's Day next year... now isn't that appropriate?!

Every Wednesday night in church we have a prayer request / praises time. When everyone was done sharing, I raised my hand. Hubby was leading the services. I said that I was grateful for the ten years that God has given us and said that I would like to congratulate him and if no one was against it, I would like to give him his gift right then. Everyone lovingly agreed. So I walked to the platform with a little gift bag in my hand. He hugged and kissed me, then opened it and pulled out... a onesie! Imagine his surprise!

David later expressed how happy he was that I chose to tell him in this way, making our church people feel more a part of our personal lives. They are like family, so I could think of no better way to announce it to them as well.
It has been ten years since we said our vows, and I am even more happy now to be the bride of David Sloan than I was then. (And I was one ecstatic bride!) Ours has certainly been an adventurous journey, and I look forward to seeing all of the excitement that lies ahead for our family!

90 comments:

  1. Dearest David and Jolene,

    I don't know if this has anything to do with mother and baby being united before birth, but I knew even before you told me...even when I answered the phone and heard your voice that this had to be something extra special. And the tone of your voice gave me the assurance that your phone call was all about baby #4...grandbaby #32!

    What a happy, happy day!...absolutely unforgettable.

    I love you, love you. Thank you for getting married...I think exactly 10 years ago today, at 1:30 in the afternoon, I was helping you with your wedding garments, David.

    Make a whole lot of memories tomorrow on your getaway.

    Mom
    Nahum 1:7

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  2. CONGRATULATIONS!! On ten blessed years and the news of another bundle of joy!

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  3. Awww!!! Congratulations to you both. What a wonderful surprise. Lord bless you all.

    Bro. + Sis Harjo

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  4. Congrats! May the Lord hold His hand around your womb and make His heart known in the secret place to this little one. What a blessing!

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  5. awesome, congrats!

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  6. Happy Anniversary & Congratulations on your pregnancy!! :)

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  7. How exciting!! Congratulations to you!!

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  8. Congrats!!! :) Can't wait to see the newest Sloan addition :)

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  9. Congratulations Jolene!! I hope everything goes perfect for you!

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  10. Love looking at your blog! Congrats!!

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  11. congratulations!!!!

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  12. Congratulations! It gave me goosebumps when I read how you told him! That is so awesome!
    Looking forward to seeing lots of cute belly pictures. ;)

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  13. Big congratulations to you and your family! God is so wonderfully good and gracious!

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  14. What a special way to tell him! :) Congrats! Happy for your family!!!

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  15. P.S. Happy 10 yr Anniversary!!

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  16. Congratulations!!!! Happy Anniversary!!!!!

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  17. WOW --- you know I was kind of expecting that you would soon be expecting.. .hee hee - if that doesn't sound to corny. BUT congratulations all the same!!!! We are both excited for you.
    I am sure everyone is thrilled.....
    Glad your hubby is back home with you.
    My doc appointment is tomorrow afternoon. But I am feeling much better.
    Love & Hugs,
    Judy

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  18. CONGRATULATIONS!! We are praying for you both. Glad Bro. David made it home in good shape. Please set him up on FB so he can be in the 21st century, almost. lol.

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  19. Congratulations!!!

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  20. Yippy! I’m so very excited for you!!!! - Maria

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  21. Jolene and David - congratulations on 10 years of marriage.

    To the entire Sloan family - congratulations on your wonderful news of the new baby!!!

    I haven't announced on my blog yet - coming soon - but we too are expecting! I am due Dec. 10. After all the years of trying, fertility treatments and finally accepting that it was God's plan that we add to our family through adoption, we have been blessed with this wonderful news. Isn't God wonderful! He knew we needed to add Victoria to our family before this new little one.

    Congratulations again - I am so happy for you!

    Jaime

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  22. Oh, Jolene! Happy 10th year Anniversary and CONGRATULATIONS! I can't wait to tell Lina and Valentina. They absolutely loved your family and will be so excited for you!

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  23. Jolene, I am so excited for you!!! :) It reminds me of how my mom told my dad of number six: by giving him a pair of booties! :) I can't wait to hear of how God will bless you all in your eleventh year together. Congratulations, and Happy Anniversary!!! :)

    Love you!
    ~ Esther

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  24. WooHoo Congratulations! That was a sweet suprise.

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  25. Congratulation :) How exciting and a cute way to tell. Can't wait to find out what the baby will be :)

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  26. Well, congratulations!!!! So exciting! :o)

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  27. Awww...congratulations!! and happy anniversary!!=)

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  28. Whooo-HOOOO!!!! Congrats to you both! Love you!

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  29. What a blessing! We are very excited for you all.

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  30. Aw! For sweet! So happy for you both...I was wondering when there would be another little one on board!?! Congratulations to you both!!! Hugged with prayers...& Happy Anniversary!!! <3

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  31. So happy for you all! Will be praying that everything goes smoothly! Such awesome news! <3

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  32. Congratulations

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  33. Wow!!! Congrats. That is wonderful.

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  34. CONGRATULATIONS! Been wondering when and how we would hear the news! Maybe you will have another little girl! I love how you told David. How exciting for you and him. I loved reading about it in your blog. We praying for you.
    Love,
    Gwendolyn
    P.S. - I have been trying to find a new place for blog signatures. Where did you find the new one? I love it!!!!!!!!!

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  35. Happy anniversary and congratulations. God has bless you with three wonderful children May He bless you again. Love to all you.

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  36. Yay, Jolene! That's such great news!!!!

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  37. That's great!

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  38. So So So Sweet! Congratulations; I'm happy for you!!

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  39. Congratulations. Will look forward to all your updates and pictures.

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  40. A clever way to reveal the news! Happy anniversary:)

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  41. CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so happy for you!!! && HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! :o)

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  42. Congratulations!

    And Happy Anniversary!

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  43. Congratulations! and Happy anniversary . We are praying for you.

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  44. Happy anniversary and congrats

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  45. So happy for you all! What a wonderful surprise! And the timing...isn't God so amazing? Happy anniversary. You and David are a blessing to us as well as an incredible example. Thanks for sharing. CONGRATS!!!

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  46. Wow, 4 kiddos!! I love it! You are so creative, what a way to tell David your surprise! A day ya'll will never forget!! I am so very happy for you!! We sure love and miss ya'll dearly.

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  47. Congrats! It was a nice way to surprise David at church last night! :)

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  48. Many Congratulations on your Baby #4. I put him (?) on my prayer list this morning and will pray for him in the following months of development and growth. I will also be praying for Jolene.

    Love you!
    Anna

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  49. Dear Jolene,
    Happy Anniversary! God is so very good. Congratulations on the new baby too. We are so very proud of you and David and your willingness to be used of God in the Ukraine.

    We really do enjoy getting you blog every week and I love the pictures! We are praying for you please pray for us.
    God bless you

    Chris Brownell
    Tulsa OK
    Eastland Baptist Church

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  50. Dear David and Jolene,

    Congratulations! On the news of another Sloan!

    Sandra

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  51. Congratulations!



    I just read your update! I hope every thing is going fine for you guys! We are shipping Anna and Krista to Romania next week for the teen mission trip. I hope everything goes well for them. I guess that is about as close as you can get to Ukraine without actually being there!

    Talk to you later!

    Alan

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  52. Dear Jolene,

    I just wanted to say that I am so happy to hear your news about expecting a new baby!!! I know you and your family have got to be so excited! I enjoy reading your posts. It is such a great way to be able to keep up with you all over there.

    We are very close to leaving for Kenya. We are working on passports and shots this next two weeks. Yikes! Shots are not the fun part, but I am willing since it means we are leaving soon. August 17th cannot come quick enough! Gotta run! Time to hit the road again.
    Love,
    Jessi

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  53. Congratulations Jolene!

    I am so happy for you! I always liked to tell Stu in unique ways that I was pregnant, so I loved hearing how you told him. There was 6 years between my girls and boys and we had come to the thought that we would never have any more. We had prayed and prayed and thought the answer was no. SO when I found out I was pregnant with Seth, I gave him a gift bag of baby suff and he thought I was telling him someone else was pregnant. He had no idea that it was me. It was pretty funny. Then Jesse came along very close after that. I gave him a bag full of candy with different baby/kid themes. sugar babies, runts, baby ruth, etc. He didn't get it at first, but it was fun. We were both in shock with that one!
    Gotta run! Have a great day!

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  54. Congratulations! I can't say I'm surprised, but it's wonderful news and I can hardly wait to see pictures of the newest Sloan.

    Nyla's and my anniversary is tomorrow -- we've been married 22 years!

    God is so good! Again, congratulations to you, David, and the entire family.

    Garry

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  55. Congratulations Mrs. Sloan!

    I'm so happy for you.
    Prayed for you and the family this morning.

    Thanks again for the "With Love from Ukraine" - Love getting them

    God Bless you,

    Cindy Ossewaarde

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  56. Congratulations! How exciting.

    If it ever comes to your mind you can pray that the Lord would bless my husband and me with a child. We have been hoping for one since the day we got married. We know it will happen in God's timing, but you probably know how hard it can be to wait.

    Well I am thrilled for you. Your little ones will really enjoy having a baby around especially since they are getting older.

    Have a super day!

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  57. Oh, Wow! That is a great Anniversary surprise. I am so happy for you both. I have been following your blog for sometime and have enjoyed the many things you have written about. By reading what you have experienced has been a real joy to me, to read about what you and your family are doing in the Ukraine. Thank you for sharing your experiences with those of us who are praying for you all.

    In HIS service,

    Christi

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  58. Dear Dave & Jolene,
    First I would like to congratulate the both of you for your 10 yrs. of marriage. I've always admired the love you have for each other, y'all have been an example to all of us. I also wanted to felicitarte on your perspective new arrival or as Dad used to say "nueva gente." I am glad for you all. The only regret I have as far as my children go is that I don't have more.

    Keep up the good work.
    Love,
    T.
    Ps.71:16

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  59. Praise the Lord, what a wonderful surprise that is. May the Lord grant you a blessed time of carrying this precious new one. I am so excited!

    Much love and congratulations,
    Vicki

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  60. Dear Jolene~Don't know if you will remember me but my family and I are missionaries in Argentina from Northwest Bible Baptist, Elgin, IL. We met you all at Pastor Hanks' church when we were on deputation. Anyways, all that to say, I enjoy reading your post and am very happy for you on your coming baby and 10 years of marriage! Congrats!
    Heather Gansemer

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  61. How wonderful! That is such exciting news. We are happy for you. Your are a "joyful mother of children". Precious! Gail

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  62. Robert told me that you are expecting a baby! We chatted via Skype. That's great news! Congrats!

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  63. Dearest David and Jolene,

    Well, I guess you are alone on your little vacation. I hope you are having a romantic time.

    One of the men, Bro. Sixto, had special prayer for you and the baby last night, Jolene, and it was so sweet. He prayed that this child would grow up and serve the Lord in a special way.

    I love your Ukraine blog report, and the picture of you and David.

    But I love you even more!

    Mom
    Nahum 1:7

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  64. Congratulations, i know you are all really excited

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  65. Greetings with all Grace and Mercy and Peace upon you both,

    Bro. David and Mrs. Jolene,

    Wishing you both a most Blessed and Happy Anniversary!

    You both are so special to so many. Your love for one another is a treasure sent from GOD above, guard that treasure with all diligence.

    May GOD grant you both many more years full of HIS Joy and Peace and Love.

    HAPPY 10th Anniversary!!!

    We Love You All,
    Craig and Ann

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  66. We are so happy about your wonderful, exciting news!
    Congratulations!

    From the Lopez Family

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  67. Congratulations!!!!

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  68. Oswaldo & HeatherThursday, June 10, 2010

    Happy Anniversary to you! Happy Anniversary to you!

    Hope it's a happy 10th day!!!!!!

    We love you both!!!!!!

    ~Oswaldo & Heather

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  69. We hope you have a very special day.

    We love you!
    --Andrew, Anna, A.J., and Deborah Jolene

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  70. Dear Bro. David and Jolene,

    A very special anniversary greeting to a very special couple. God bless you both as you continue your faithful service for the Lord there in Ukraine.

    Sincerely in Christ,

    Your friends at Willamette Valley Baptist Church in
    Aumsville, Oregon

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  71. Greetings again from still RAINY Oregon...........
    WOW! What an impressive way to announce 'a new bundle of joy'!
    Congratulations! Yes, neat to include church family.

    You're more courageous than I was as your stage....sorta.

    History recalled....
    We walked into our young adult SS class late & only available seats were
    in the front row of 30.....my first day in maternity clothes (then called hatching jackets)
    and other wives buzzed, buzzed, buzzed as we entered. You see, one nosey young
    wife had been bugging me for months=when, when, when were we going to have a baby?
    She had 3 & we'd just been married one year & my response always 'some day'.
    My grown daughter now thinks that was reallly funny, considering the circumstances.

    Our children and grand children all love music & sing these days. So do sing to your
    unborn baby now, while you minister there. (in 2 languages?!?)

    Singcerely,

    Barbara

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  72. Congratulations on 10 years of marriage and also on this happy, wonderful news. I enjoy your blog so much --- you are a sweet example of a joyful wife and mother!

    Kaity

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  73. Happy anniversary! And congratulations on baby #4! I love the creative way that you told your husband. Too sweet!

    See ya soon!

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  74. Just read your announcement on your blog. Congratulations! Can I pray for another girl for you?".

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  75. I'm so glad for you !!! Congrats

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  76. Congratulations! I hope to get to tell you that in person! :)

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  77. Jolene, once again your writing has made me cry! CONGRATULATIONS on 10 years with your beloved and your newest blessing from our Father! I prayed for your family today and am so thankful for you! Congratulations again my dear sister in Jesus!!!

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  78. I am so excited for you!!! Congratulations on the new little one!

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  79. I just got home from final preparations for the day in church tomorrow. I picked up the iPad to catch up on a little news. When I opened the browser, Jolenes blog was open (Tiffany checks it just about every day!). I must say CONGRTULATIONS! Congrats on ten years of marriage and congrats on the wonderful announcement of a fourth child on the way. I am so happy for your whole family!

    Now, you'll need to have Jolene update the "wish list" for Tiffany of baby items that would be helpful and useful that may be difficult for you to get over there. Talk to you soon.

    Your friend,
    Ryan

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  80. Congratulations! We are so happy for you!

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  81. Congratulations! What a sweet surprise, and a unique way to tell you hubby! Sometime I will share with you how our eldest daughter in law shared with the grandparents on two different occasions (the first child, and then the 4th and last one). Hope you feel well during the pregnancy!

    God bless!
    Mrs. Hickman

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  82. Just saw your news! So happy for you!! Congratulations!

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  83. Jason and SarahTuesday, June 15, 2010

    Congratulations on your little one!!

    We love you and are so excited!!

    Sarah

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  84. Jolene This is so beautiful! I love reading your stories of life as a missionary. They are truly lovely.

    Lisa
    Houston, TX

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  85. Congratulations on ten years of marriage and a new little one on the way!!! Lots of love and prayers from Bakersfield now and always.

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  86. Jason and DeannaSunday, June 20, 2010

    I missed this post but saw your name in the expectant mother section of the church prayer bulletin. Congratulations!!! We're praying!!

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Thank you for your encouraging comments! "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25