Ellie’s Purpose

19/03/2024

"Thank you God for my moments of suffering, because even though I feel completely lost and completely unaware of your plans, I trust You. I trust You." 🤍

We all go through seasons of Job.

Seasons of intense suffering.
Seasons of wondering where our Healer is.
Seasons of feeling angry at the entire world.
Seasons of questioning every ounce of our
faith.
Seasons of letting the jealousy of others'
happiness overcome us.
Seasons of crying out to God asking how on
Earth this could possibly be part of His plan
for us.

We all go through seasons of coming to a crossroads with our faith. Questioning whether we continue to put one foot forward and keep crawling toward the cross, and if the journey is truly worth all the pain and suffering.

But, sometimes?
Sometimes, God has to let us break
to piece us back together again.

Sometimes?
Sometimes, God has to allow our layers
to peel back, exposing our hearts to His
miraculously healing hands.

Raw.
Vulnerable.
Uncomfortable.
Exhausted and broken.

We never choose to break, you know?

But, amidst each of our lives, more than once,
we all find ourselves at the point of cracking...
..shattered.....splintered.....crushed.....fragmented.....defeated...

Sometimes, we feel as though God has tossed us into a pile of ashes, leaving for ruins. Sometimes, we feel as though God has knocked us right off our feet, face-first, onto the earth's dust below. Sometimes, we feel as though God has completely crushed us, into an infinite amount of pieces.

Sometimes, there is no way around the storm. Sometimes, He just has to let us cry and push through the pain and heartache.

Sometimes, He simply has to let us break.

And when suffering enters into our lives?
We have to trust that God has purposed it
to help us in some way.

It feels almost impossible to muster the words,
“Thank you, God, for my lost job.
My miscarriage. My broken relationship.
My lost loved-one. This unexpected and devastating mountain standing before me."

Everyone suffers in this life.
Some suffer far more than others.

Yet, in the pain and suffering, there are good moments. And we can let them slip by, or we can cling to them.

Because even this—even the pain and suffering that you are experiencing this very moment—is part of His plan.

For, God?
He won’t let us shatter; break; or fall to pieces, without a plan to pull the beauty back from our ashes.

Keep your feet on the ground.
Keep your heart in Heaven.

Give Him your weakness, and watch Him do amazing things. Slowly allow your weary heart to quietly whisper...

"Thank you God for my moments of suffering, because even though I feel completely lost and completely unaware of your plans, I trust You. I trust You."

Does certain pain ever go away?
Maybe it’s not supposed to.

All we can do is have faith that
God will give us the strength to carry on.

Because, when suffering enters into our lives, we have two choices:

Use it as fuel for anger, resentment and defeat. Or use our pain as fuel for gratitude, drawing closer to God and a stronger faith.

And, we can look to the cross for our reminder of that. For, Jesus Christ absorbed all the suffering and evil in the world so we could one day live without any of it. His death and then victory in His resurrection gives us the strength we need to conquer it too.

Job's story doesn't end in sorrow, pity and a withered life. Job gets it all back at the end.

And so much more. He is blessed abundantly and beyond measure. He subsequently learns to thank God for every little thing in life--good, bad, amazing, hard, painful and over-joyous.

If you are in a season of Job, never forget...

…it is okay to let yourself break into an infinite amount of pieces.

Take that deep breath and remember to give it all to Him—in prayer, through streams of endless tears, with a broken heart—and He will make you whole again. For, there aren't many things in this life, greater than hope. (Job 11:18)

"Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding." (Job 36:5)

"You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and Your care has preserved my spirit" (Job 10:11-12)

"Agree with God, and be at peace, thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart." (Job 22: 21-22)

"Then Job answered the Lord and said: 'I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.' " (Job 42: 1-2)
♥️ ♥️

Gracefully Woven by Elizabeth Spenner

22/08/2023

27/06/2023

In Honor of Ellie’s 5th birthday last Friday, we delivered five more Ellie’s Purpose baskets to Shackelford Funeral Directors. This means five families will have the opportunity to have a lasting connection with their Angel through the personalized keepsakes provided in the basket and hopefully be able to grow their relationship with God through the two devotions included within the basket.

Also pictured is the ten baskets that was taken to Shackelford’s last year that I never posted about!

Ellie’s Purpose would not be possible without our support system.

Our family is always willing to help prepare the baskets, financially support us, delivering baskets while we are working, or even go to several places helping me search for some of the items in the basket.

Aunt Vickie Rowland has put so much time and love into making the handmade quilts for our families.

Floral Connection wraps our baskets year after year and puts the prettiest bows on them.

G&P Printing always listens to any idea that I have and brings them to life!

K&G Gifts helps makes sure that we always have plenty of devotionals and comfort crosses!

Thank y’all for your continued support another year.

07/05/2023

Sunday, May 7, is Bereaved Mother’s Day—this one is for the mamas who are hurting—you are loved.
If you are a mama who’s lost a baby and is on or moving toward the journey of pregnancy after loss, you may be interested in my book, Courageously Expecting, which empathizes with and encourages those who have lost a baby and courageously want to try again: https://amzn.to/3NCUWRG

01/05/2022

Happy Mother’s Day, Bereaved Mamas. ❤️

Today, Sunday, May 1st, is International Bereaved Mother’s Day, and I want to take the time to acknowledge and recognize those mama's who are not able to hold their little one’s in their arms, but only in their hearts. I want you to know that I am thinking and praying for you. I admire you because you have experienced the unimaginable and yet you are still able to walk. You are still able to get up in the morning and get yourself dressed. You are still able to put on a smile and go throughout your day. And its because you are a strong woman, even if you don’t feel it most days.

If you know someone who has lost a child whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, or by cancer, disease, or car accident, please reach out to them on this special day. Celebrate their child by using their name. Give a thoughtful gift in remembrance. Send a text letting them know you are thinking of them. Or take it a step further and bring them a meal or take them to lunch. But whatever it is you do, affirm their identity as a mother to the precious child they think about every single day.

10/10/2021

💗💙💛

17/06/2021

Yesterday, a week before Ellie’s 3rd birthday, we were able to bless a family in Savannah with the first Ellie’s Purpose basket! This is the third family that we have supplied keepsakes to since we started at the end of April. Thank you to everyone who has donated and made this possible! We will be giving Shackelford six more baskets on Ellie’s birthday, June 23rd, so that they will always have them on-hand and no baby will be missed! Shackelford Funeral Homes are working with us and are going to make sure all of the keepsakes are done for the family!

I would give anything in this world for our baby girl to still be alive and healthy with us today but a part of me truly believes this was God’s plan and “Ellie’s Purpose”. If my family and I had not went through the awful, awful heartbreak of losing our girl then we wouldn’t be helping these other families that are going through the loss of their baby. It wouldn’t be because we wouldn’t want to but because until you go through that pain yourself, it may just not be something that you would think of unless it’s brought to your attention.

I want to share with y’all a little bit about the baskets that we are providing these families and the purpose behind each item.

The baskets include:

- Baby Angel Canvas: Let this canvas be a home for your angel’s hands/feet prints.

- Loved Baby Devotion: This devotion helped me get through many days. I hope you love it as much as I still do. You can also place your Angel’s hand/foot print inside the cover so you always have it close.

- Comfort Cross: When having a hard time, cling to this cross tightly. It fits perfectly into the palm of your hand.

- Baby Quilt: Made for your Angel by my Aunt. One thing I didn’t think of for Ellie’s funeral was to include her blanket. I assumed the casket had silk like most others but that’s not the case. I wasn’t aware until Ellie’s visitation when it was too late. Thankfully another Angel family had donated blankets to the funeral home so they were able to lay Ellie on that. You may use this blanket for your baby to keep forever or you can take it home as a keepsake knowing this was made specifically with your baby in mind.

- Mommy/Me Bracelets: When our daughter was born, my mother-in-law gifted me with matching bracelets for Ellie and I. During Ellie’s funeral, I placed her bracelet on her tiny little wrist so she could wear hers forever. When I wear mine, I feel so connected to my baby girl. I hope you can be blessed with that same feeling.

- Invisible String book: A perfect small sibling book about grief and the “Invisible String” to heaven.

- Picture Frame: A frame for your precious Angel.

- First look was Jesus photo with frame: I can’t even imagine! It gives me such joy and peace to know that my Angel and yours are now in the arms of Jesus and will never know the feeling of pain or sadness.

- Hand Mold: Use this mold to always be able to hold, feel, and see your baby’s hand.

- Christmas Ornament: An ornament to hang on your Christmas tree or wherever you wish to include your angel’s hand print. (You can’t have too many prints!) Use the paint provided inside your basket!

- Matching Set of Stuffed Animal: Another Angel mommy gave me this idea and I wish I had thought of it with Ellie. Let one be your baby’s and if you wish, you can place it in the casket with your Angel. Keep one for you so you can cling tight to it whenever you want and know that your baby has the same one. “We know that a bear could never fill your aching arms which will always reach for the baby who is no longer here – but we also honor how sacred that bear is.”

- Angel in Jesus’s hand figurine: I hope this brings you peace knowing your baby is in the hands of Jesus.

- Forget Me Not seeds: Plant these and let them put a smile on your face every time you look at them and know that your baby will never be forgotten.

- Heartbeat Discount Card: When Ellie was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, my cousin purchased a necklace that on one side has Ellie’s heartbeat and on the other it has her name. This is one of the most cherished items that I have and I wanted to provide you with the option of purchasing one that is customized to your Angel. The company has generously given Ellie’s Purpose a discount code for you to use. It is located on the card that is inside your basket! They also are donating 25% of all proceeds back to Ellie’s Purpose so we can continue to help other families like you and myself.

- Scrapbook Paper for hand/foot prints: Like I said before, you can never have too many hands/feet prints! Use this scrapbook paper to make more prints and you can place in a frame so they don’t get messed up!

-Two songs that make me feel connected to my baby girl and that we played during her funeral services are “I Will Carry You” by Selah and “You Are My Sunshine” by Dream Baby.

-Also, “Trust In You” by Lauren Daigle got me through some of my darkest days.

If anyone would like to donate to Ellie’s Purpose so we can continue to provide keepsakes to bereaved families, our PayPal link is https://www.paypal.me/elliespurpose

We truly appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts and I know the families do as well.