Sunday, January 10, 2010

New Year and New Beginnings

In looking back over 2009, I feel that it’s only right to mention all that you have done through the Annabelle Baskets! 

~In 2009 alone, 199 Annabelle Baskets were given to heart babies!

~Since April 2008, over 400 Annabelle Baskets have been completed entirely through donations given by you!

~In addition to the baskets being given (and, let me tell you, they are about three times the size that they began and include even more goodies than we ever imagined), countless boxes of toys, clothes, rattles, blankets, socks, stuffed animals, bows and more have been given to 7C which is the step-down unit from the ICU at MUSC…all to make our heart babies and heart kids a little more comfortable during their stay.

Annabelle Baskets have also opened doors for me to raise awareness about CHDs & give my testimony.  God has been so good!

As we move into 2010, Annabelle Baskets will experience a new beginning.

Many of you know and may remember that we were asked to be a service of Palmetto Hearts in November of 2008.  It served both of our purposes well throughout the past 13 months.  It allowed Palmetto Hearts to have a built in care package program through the Annabelle Baskets.  And, it allowed for the Annabelle Baskets to be a non-profit organization through their non-profit status. (So, all of y’all’s donations were tax deductible!)

God has grown Annabelle Baskets in ways that I’d never dreamed.  It’s time for a chance to be able to do even more with all that He’s entrusted to us.

Beginning this year, Annabelle Baskets is entirely separate and I’m working tirelessly on filing Annabelle Baskets as its own non-profit organization!

Friends, you know as well as I do that the LORD laid this ministry on our family’s hearts through our daughter.  It wasn’t our plan and, goodness knows, I’d much rather have my baby girl in my lap.  But, through it He has given us so much joy!  Oh, and the blessings that have been showered on other well-deserving heart families!!!

So, for this New Year I am asking for your prayers as we have yet another New Beginning…a New Year to bless even more families and a New Start to grow in ways we never dreamed!

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10

7 comments:

Ashlee Tomes said...

Rebecca, That is so wonderful!! God is using you in mighty ways, and I know that your little princess is just beaming with pride at her mommy's hard work!! I'm so proud of you at the wonderful success that you've had. There's no doubt that this was God's plan from the very beginning. He is blessing so many lives through your work!
Love you,
Ashlee :)

RHONDA said...

I will be praying.I know that God is working through this awesome ministry!! It is an amazing thing that you are doing in honor and memory of your precious baby girl. She has touched many of lives, including mine. I will keep praying..

Blessings...
Rhonda

Unknown said...

What a beautiful way to honor your sweet Annabelle and to share Jesus with others who are in need of Him! Praying for this ministry, friend!!!

Our Family said...

This is just AWESOME! We are working on the same thing with Luke's Tree (non-profit status). We can get through the growing pains together. I know your little angel is so proud of you guys and all that you are doing to raise awareness. Thank you for your friendship and for sharing your journey. God bless you, friend!

Bernie

The Hardy Family said...

Wow, such a truly incredible ministry that keeps on growing! God is just doing so many amazing things through you and this ministry and it is cool to see it unfold!

Unknown said...

Hey Rebecca,
I've tried to email you a couple of times to see if you got the information about my grandmother's memorials being made to annabelle baskets. I just need to know if you've gotten the info I've sent you and if you've gotten any donations. My mom wants to be able to write thank you notes. I hope you are doing well and hope to talk to you soon! Bryna Rickett
brynacasey13@yahoo.com

Danielle @ Living Out Loud said...

Dear, sweet Rebecca...

This is wonderful and exciting news! Your dedication to Annabelle's ministry is so inspiring. I, among many, have been blessed to watch how you have turned your loss into a hopeful and comforting ministry that blesses so many people in their time of despair. Annabelle is a lucky, lucky girl to have such a faithful and devoted Mommy!

Speaking of your little princess, she has been heavy on my heart in the past few days. As I got myself and my family ready for church this morning, my thoughts continued to drift to you and Annabelle. I don't know why, but they just did... and so I prayed for you today in a special way. I know the coming weeks are going to prove to be yet another "occasion" that you have to "get through"... maybe that's why I was thinking of you. But I just wanted you to know that you are loved from afar and prayed for often!

Thank you for your past few posts... none of us know what the future holds, but watching you CHOOSE to be joyful in ALL circumstances inspires me to do the same!

Thinking of you and praying for you in the coming days and weeks...

Love,
Danielle