Our Blessing Has Arrived …

Abby and I are so pleased to let you all know … our sweet baby BOY has arrived … straight, fresh from Heaven, smelling all delicious and lovely and completely adored by his big family …
Loyal Albert Kenneth is here, snuggled warmly in my lap, sighing sweet little sighs of joy … a piece of our family puzzle knit so perfectly in the womb by God’s hands …

 

His birth was wonderful … and I would like to record it as a memory for myself, to remind myself of the sweet, precious quiet details that are often forgotten in the busy-ness of life …

Loyal is our biggest baby yet! Born Tuesday, September 19th, at 3:56 a.m. – 6 lbs 10 oz – his size was a sure shock and surprise to us all! He has lovely dark hair and chubby cheeks and smells of Heaven. More than once, the girls have asked why does Loyal smell so sweet? Because, of course, he is straight from Heaven, I replied …

 

Things have been busy around here since Loyal’s birth, but it also has been lovely. In same ways, it has reminded me a bit of the Waltons … as family pops in and visits and the days are filled with love from family and coffee mugs are strewn across the long kitchen table, hyper, happy children line the benches at the table, excited with all the attention of the event. As Abby runs a very sensitive business (the funeral home), you cannot just choose your time off – if there is a need, he is there. This week has been busy at the funeral home and a very emotional one at that. My husband has had to work (picture the old days … when men did not get breaks from work and life just continues) but his mom has come over every day to help around the home.  Last night, as she took the girls and Lazer for a bumpy golf cart ride through the fields behind the house, I sat holding baby Loyal and watched the children, while indulging in a delicious slice of homemade blackberry pie (lovingly made by my mom)  … the children were loud and laughing, silly … the sun was setting quickly behind them, disappearing beneath the canopy of the back forest and I thanked God. Again. He has blessed us.

 

 

A favorite verse:
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow,
because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child,
she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

John 16:21

P.S. I would love to post more photos but there, of course, has to be a little technology glitch and I cannot retrieve the photos off the card right now. I will post some as soon as I can figure out the glitch…

September 30, 2017 - 5:40 pm

Gigi Molly, what a sweet thing to say. I’m humbled.

September 27, 2017 - 10:07 am

Gigi Caitlin, thank you for your kind words… a post on clothing would be fun to do, indeed! I have thought about writing about a certain topic of clothing but have not written it fully.

September 27, 2017 - 10:06 am

Gigi Courtney, how *lovely* to hear from you! I’m delighted you named your little girl Lyla! My Lyla was excited to hear this. We’d love to see you again, one day! Enjoy your motherhood journey!

September 27, 2017 - 10:06 am

Gigi Thank you!

September 27, 2017 - 5:50 am

Katy Congratulations! I’m so happy for your family! What a blessing indeed!

September 25, 2017 - 5:24 pm

Chipmunk He is beautiful, and a wonderful gift from heaven! Congratulations to all!

September 24, 2017 - 6:45 pm

Courtney Hi Gillian, I looked you up to see if you were still doing photography & came across this beautiful blog you have going ! Your family has grown so much & it is so so beautiful. I think of you guys often. I have two girls of my own now Lyla & Laura. Hmm I wonder where I fell in love with that name lol
Congratulations <3 Sending Love.

From Courtney
{ Your first two lovely girls babysitter }

September 24, 2017 - 2:01 pm

Caitlin Congratulations on your newest dear blessing! What a sweet and beautiful boy! The Lord has blessed you and your family with another little darling. I must say, I always admire how beautifully you dress. You always look so feminine and lovely. When things settle down for you (haha) it would be lovely if you would write a post about your wardrobe.

September 24, 2017 - 7:51 am

molly Your family is beautiful in a way that is unlike the rest of the world. Seeing you raise your children to enjoy the beautiful simplicities of life and also in your faith, is reminder of the way I was raised and is so encouraging to me as I raise my own girls. Thank you for putting it out there to encourage others. Congratulations on your new addition, hope you’re feeling well too!

September 24, 2017 - 4:04 am

Rebecca PS: I laughed out loud when you said he was your biggest baby at 6lb 10oz. My smallest baby was 8lbs 12oz and my biggest was 9lbs 14oz! How in the world are you so lucky!?! Haha!!!

September 24, 2017 - 3:47 am

Rebecca Oh my goodness how wonderful!!!! Another boy, and I LOVE his name! Congrats!!!!

September 23, 2017 - 6:49 pm

Tara C Congratulations!!!! Who would have thought that you would have not one, but TWO little boys after a string of girls 🙂 I love that he was born in the wee hours of the morning too, just as you had prayed he would be! I remember chatting when you just had 3 (or maybe 4) little ones and I had just found out that I was pregnant with baby #3.

September 23, 2017 - 3:01 pm

Maike Congratulations to your little boy. How beautiful he is, but then all of your babies look beautiful and they all smile. They must know from the very first moment in what a loving warm family they have been born. And how caring and close-knit all your family always being there to help out. You’re truly blessed – I just adore your family! 🙂

September 23, 2017 - 12:39 pm

The newburys So so wonderful!! Congratulations and so happy for you all!

September 23, 2017 - 3:04 am

Teresa Congratulations; what a handsome gift from God, his cute little smile and those cheeks ~oh my

September 22, 2017 - 10:34 pm

Our Home of Many Blessings Congrats Gillian!!!! He is amazing! I bet your kiddos are just thrilled!Now we have the same amount of wonderful kiddos!!

September 22, 2017 - 8:15 pm

Sarah Kukucska Your family is so beautiful, I have been following your blog for years. You are an inspiration to me. I have 4 of my own and my boyfriend has 2. I love reading your blog and seeing your beautiful photos, we live in Mansfield. Congrats on your beautiful baby boy. <3

September 22, 2017 - 8:14 pm

sarah Your family is so beautiful, I have been following your blog for years. You are an inspiration to me. I have 4 of my own and my boyfriend has 2. I love reading your blog and seeing your beautiful photos, we live in Mansfield. Congrats on your beautiful baby boy. <3

September 22, 2017 - 6:44 pm

Rachel Joy Congratulations on the birth of sweet Loyal! Such a nice surprise to read today. <3

September 22, 2017 - 4:43 pm

Lauren Blessings to you, Gillian! What a darling baby boy! Love from us all ❤️

September 22, 2017 - 1:53 pm

Claire Makes me smile reading your post. Very happy for you and your family. He’s just beautiful.

September 21, 2017 - 5:00 pm

Gigi Thank you, Jen! Lacey read the name in a Mennonite magazine that had birth announcements… and we all took a liking to it. His middle names are his dad’s and my dad’s names.

September 21, 2017 - 4:20 pm

Jen Heemskerk Congratulations on another sweet boy!!! A brother for Lazarus!!! This is such incredible news! How did you come up with the name Loyal? It’s so unique. In the one photo, I see a resemblance to Lacey little bit (maybe it’s his lips!=) ) Anyway, rest well and enjoy the new baby stage once again! Congrats!

September 21, 2017 - 3:15 pm

Gigi Thank you, Sarah!

September 21, 2017 - 3:14 pm

Gigi Thank you, Regina! P.S. Maybe I wrote that funny – will check my wording!

September 21, 2017 - 2:15 pm

Courtney Congratulations on another little boy! What a blessi g!

September 21, 2017 - 2:07 pm

Regina Shea Oh Gigi he’s gorgeous! Congratulations to you all! Oh and I wasnt wearing my glasses when you wrote about the blackberry pie. I read it as ” I sat holding baby Loyal, watching “him”, eating a slice of homemade blackberry pie”. I’m like what? Then I realized what you actually wrote. LOL!
Blackberry pie sounds so lovely!

September 21, 2017 - 1:04 pm

Sarah What a precious little boy!! Congratulations to you and your family. His name is beautiful too!