Our Newest Family Member-Yael Grace Volkhardt!

On September 10, 2018, Yael Grace Volkhardt was born to our Carl and his beloved Jamie after nearly 8 years of marriage! Such joy! I had specifically asked for prayer that we would be in town when she was born--I arrived home from speaking at a women's conference just 12 hours before they headed to the hospital!

Yael weighed 6 lbs, 12 oz.  and measured 20  inches at birth.

We love this picture of Carl holding her when she was just about 2 hours old! 

She is coming along beautifully and our most recent excitement is that she is smiling, giggling and locking in on our eyes. At right is her picture at two months old.  

We had the joy of celebrating her first Thanksgiving at our house, surrounded by both sets of grandparents (us and Ed and Sherri Zehner, Jamie's folks), her two uncles (our Culver and Barrett--Jamie's brother) and her two aunties by marriage, (Karen Volkhardt and Cicada Zehner).  Her very special Uncle Cal and Auntie Mimi Wilson were also there to enjoy the day! 

Before we knew if she was going to be a boy or a girl (we referred to her as "Peanut"), I asked God for a verse to claim and pray for her as she grows up. The verse He gave me was, Luke 2:40, "May Yael Grace grow and become strong; may she be filled with wisdom and the grace of God be upon her." (my paraphrase). I was deeply moved when we learned her name.  Yael means "Strength of God" and of course, her middle name is in the verse!