A few years ago I was reading a friend’s blog when I saw the most adorable handmade doll made by Baby Be Blessed. Of course I wrote a little mental sticky note about Baby Be Blessed and tucked it away to memory. Over the years I’ve peeked in on their shop only to find out — yep, they’re still the most adorable handmade dolls :)
Baby Be Blessed is a doll ministry that allows customers to select from boy dolls / girl dolls / animals, custom clothing for their doll + skin/eye color, and a custom patch that’s sewn onto the dolls tummy. And it’s the patch that pulls at my heart…
Almost a year ago, Zack + I were invited to travel with Compassion International to Tanzania, Africa to spend a week with cute kids while we learned more about their sponsorship ministry. That trip changed our lives. We had been having a hard time starting our family, and while we knew that ultimately the Lords Will would be done, it wasn’t easy letting go of this. Stress and curiosity and overall confusion got in the way, and often. However, once we traveled to Tanzania and then returned home, something shifted in our souls. Suddenly we felt a blanket of peace, and by the end of the next month we found out I was pregnant.
This baby, although only 4 weeks into his or her creation, was already a blessing to us.
Zack + I decided from the beginning we didn’t want to know the baby’s gender, so for almost 34 weeks now we’ve been living in suspense :) My due date is March 2, so not too much longer. Although choosing to not know the gender may not surprise some of you… we seem to really like suspense/adventure. Just a little ;)
A couple of months ago Baby Be Blessed offered to send me a couple of their adorable dolls — one boy {we picked the Jacob Michael doll} and one girl {the Ruthie Mae doll}. Right away I started thinking about what we’d have printed on the custom patch.
And of course it was so fun picking out two dolls. I seriously adore the tiny pink crocheted flower in the girls hair — not to mention her curls, and the little yarn tuft on the boy doll’s head. So precious.
Every time I see these dolls in our nursery I am reminded of how Tanzania blessed our family a thousand times over.
The smells of the country and the individual, personal experiences we had… The adventures we sought together… The opening of our eyes… The beauty of a world once unknown but now so well known within our hearts.
This trip wouldn’t have been the same had Zack + I not gone together. But I suppose that was The Plan all along ;)
Yes, Tanzania blessed us a thousand times over.
Both dolls have matching tummy patches that read:
Baby Whitley
“I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted me what I asked of him.” 1 Samuel 1:27
Tanzania, Africa
I love so much that Baby Be Blessed has helped us capture the precious beginning to Baby Whitley’s story. And just because we have a huge soft spot for Africa, I had to show you this giraffe teether from Little Alouette that’s between the dolls.
The sight of these three baby toys bring me to my knees in gratefulness.
Thank you Baby Be Blessed for creating something our family will forever treasure.
Those dolls are precious and I love the verse you picked for the patch. My brother and sister-in-law adopted a baby and I’ve heard them use that verse frequently. By the way, I’m due March 1 :) I’m definitely going to go back and catch up on your posts now!
@Jessica Lynn, …yeow, the countdown is ON! :)
These are the most precious, soft & cuddly dolls.
I can’t believe you only have a few weeks left! I am so thrilled for you!
@Katy (lil’ alice), THANK YOU!!! :) :)
LOVE. Can’t wait!!!!
I have become so enamored with your blog! May you always be blessed!
Thank you for sharing. We’ve been waiting to adopt a child and we’ve been looking for dolls with asian features.
Beautiful, this brought tears to my eyes.
It’s so fun to think back to Tanzania with you. I remember our last night there as we all walked through the emotions of the week. While you didn’t come right out and say you were struggling to have a baby, I felt it in your words. I also remember feeling a distinct sense that you would be pregnant within the month. What fun it is to see God continuing to write His story in you guys. Much love to you. I can’t WAIT to see pictures of your little miracle. :)
so precious!!! I love that verse – we’re nearly entering our ninth year of infertility but have been hugely blessed with two precious children (from Africa!) I feel so much that the verse from Samuel is for them… I just didn’t know who I was praying for way back when we first started “trying.” Adorable dolls!
Wow- you guys are so patient, I don`t know if I could wait that long- I think I would have given into the suspense & had to find out. But what an amazing surprise it will be in the end! My parents waited until my sister & I were born to find out our genders, too.
love these dolls!
I wrote this verse on the subfloor at the new house in Easton’s soon to be room! SNIFF SNIFF!!!!! xoxoxoxoxo
Wow, this story just gave me goose bumps- what an amazing doll.
Congrats on your baby boy, he is so beautiful.
Prayers, Jen @ frazzled5
CONGRATS on tour beautiful son! Miss Helen & miss grace are just too cute. tough to choise between the 2. Love them both. Honestly, my girls would fall in love w/ANY of your treasures. They’re all so special.
CONGRATS on your beautiful son! Miss Helen & miss grace are just too cute. tough to choise between the 2. Love them both. Honestly, my girls would fall in love w/ANY of your treasures. They’re all so special.
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