Orlando's Labor Day Hurricane Baby!

Currently floating around the state of Florida are Facebook memes poking fun at Hurricane Dorian's extremely slow approach towards the Florida coast.  Some joke Dorian won't arrive until Thanksgiving, while others are making jokes about "sticking a fork in it and just being done." 

Meanwhile, a young couple in the city of Oviedo - twenty miles north of Orlando - awaited an incredibly important arrival as well:  their first child.  

Esther Nobels, born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Okinawa, Japan, married Douglas Nobels from Belgium, in 2013 and for the first six years of their marriage, taught Bible lessons in places such as Thailand, Taiwan, Greece, and Los Angeles.  Most recently, the young couple moved to Orlando to begin careers in the culinary world and found jobs at a local steakhouse while studying Culinary Baking and Pastry Management at Valencia College.  But, wouldn't you know it, this beautiful couple got pregnant!  Wanting to make a grand entrance into this world, their baby had a plan:  to arrive on the annual holiday American citizens honor the social and economic achievements of American workers and their contribution to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.  So on this special 2019 Labor Day - as we await the blowing winds of a hurricane and inches of rain - one woman was laboring into becoming a mom, the most difficult (and important) job a woman will ever have.  

At noon exactly, on Monday, September 2, 2019, Ivy Joy Nobels made her entrance into this world! 

But these new parents are not just any parents.  Esther and Douglas are servant-hearted do-gooders bringing another servant-hearted do-gooder into the world.  And though they deserve much more, life has been far from easy...

 A few years ago, Esther lost one of her best friends - her sister - in a car accident and Esther was in the car.  Tragedy struck Esther's heart and it lingers still today...  

Out of admiration of the love her sister brought into the lives of everyone around her, newborn baby Ivy's middle name, Joy, is a forever reminder of her lost sister 💛.  Just when Esther and Douglas thought life was stabilizing, a few months ago their humble Oviedo home's pipes burst beneath them, causing thousands of dollars in repairs and forcing the pregnant couple to go without running water for a month.  More stressed piled on when Esther's father was diagnosed with cancer during Esther's pregnancy.  Esther's parents wanted to be here more than anything, for Ivy Joy's birth, but first, there must be healing from cancer.  Without family nearby and few close friendships yet to be formed in greater Orlando, this committed couple relied on each other, their faith, and the furry friendship of their adorable dog, Nacho.  A friend from Ohio came to throw a baby shower for this stressed, (also resilient) couple, but her friend's daughter had to be taken to the hospital on the day of Esther's baby shower.  When I asked Esther about it over the phone, she laughed.  Her resiliency came shining through once again: "It's just what happens in motherhood and starting yesterday, I came to deeply understand it!"

But no woman, new parents, or newborn - especially one born on LABOR DAY - should ever go unnoticed.  Any new life is cause to celebrate! 💕 Not only is baby Ivy a huge reason to celebrate, but we also need the chain of good to continue with this family because their plans are BIG and IMPACTFUL.  These young adults plan on owning a cafe someday and incorporating their diverse backgrounds into the business while actively sending funds to places they've graciously served.  Their biggest dream isn't to make a lot of money.  Instead, it is to spread the agape love of a relentless God.  

This blog comes with an invitation...

Could you pray for Esther's father to recover 100% from cancer?  They would love that!  And if you feel moved to help Orlando's Hurricane Labor Day Newborn and a special Mom and Dad, this couple could use your support in getting their dreams off the ground and ensuring baby Ivy has every baby supply she possibly needs.  If you would like to help, we'll be collecting gift cards and possibly incorporating other ways to help baby Ivy!  

Please reach out to me or Korrie Stevenson to let us know you want to help!   Esther, Douglas, and Ivy have not had any visitors yet and Korrie and Annette plan on visiting ASAP to wrap our arms around a precious new life! 

Peace & love (in the midst of high winds),

Annette