Amazing Grace

I came across a video that was uploaded to Facebook two years ago (this week!) and just had to share.  In this video hubby and I are singing at Simferopol Baptist Church in Ukraine with some of the dearest friends we have on this earth. Oh, how we miss these people, this church, and the Russian language!  We are thrilled with what God is allowing us to do in our lives today; however, we have nothing but sweet memories of what God allowed us to do in our yesterday.  Really, though, our yesterday and today are quite inseparable.  We couldn't have one without the other.

The song we are singing is "Amazing Grace," just to a tune that is different from the familiar one.  Yes, God's grace truly is amazing.  His grace has been evident in our lives as well as in the lives of the others who are singing with us.  We all have been touched with His grace.  {You can hear the song by clicking here: Amazing Grace}.

First family snapshot

{Below} Thanksgiving Day... our first family snapshot of the "new us."  There are 7 of us now.... the "perfect" number, wouldn't you say?!

 {Below}  Here is the little princess on Thanksgiving Day... one week after her birth.

We have SO MUCH to be thankful for this year!  The holidays are just that much sweeter with a newborn to cuddle.  Little Miss Mackenzie Grace has melted our hearts and there just isn't enough of her to go around!  My bigger kids said it is too bad I didn't have triplets so that they didn't have to share just one baby.  Ha!  As sweet and perfect as she is, I am glad there is just one of her.  She too has much to be thankful for with this adoring audience that can hardly wait to get in line to hold her. What a blessed little girl! And what a blessed little family we are!

Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful gift of life!

Mackenzie Grace

Mackenzie Grace Sloan was born early Friday morning at 12:40, on her due date (a girl who knows how to be on time?!).  She weighed 7 lbs, 1 oz. and is 19 inches long.  Mommy and Mackenzie are both home now recovering.

  Image Source

All of the pictures in this post are from the first 20 hours after her birth and are all iPhone pictures.  They are not perfect quality, but are precious nonetheless.  It felt nice to keep things low-key and easy, not worrying about the perfect Kodak moment.

{Below}  Ah... THIS MAN.  He was my strength, and I could not have done it without him by my side.  He is the perfect husband and daddy.  My children and I are unbelievably blessed to have him lead our home and love on us.

{Below}  Thursday evening, when labor was imminent, our children were picked up by friends' parents for sleepovers. They rode to school with their friends the next morning, excited to share the news that their sister was born; however, they had not seen her yet.  Hubby went to their school mid-morning, picked them up (They loved being called out of their classes!), and brought them to the hospital for a visit and lunch with Daddy.  Here they are with a hospital dog that visits patients. 

Nearly everything about Mackenzie's birth was different from my previous four children.  One of those things was the fact that this was my first time to not need an induction after being at least a week overdue. Mackenzie apparently wanted to be part of the 5% of babies actually born on their due date.  So, unfortunately, I was counting on getting my 40 week picture on her due date and missed it altogether. Instead, here is what I have (crooked, imperfectly designed collage) which I think is a great substitution.  I'd rather be holding that baby in my arms than in my tummy anyway!

A huge thank you to hundreds of deserving people who have sent congratulations, bought gifts, flowers, and balloons, brought home-cooked meals, and loved us through this time.  Our family is overwhelmed by the loving response of so many people who are dear to us.  We are undeservedly blessed and oh, so grateful during this Thanksgiving season when we have so much to be thankful for.