#893 - Mrs. Iylene

The other day I was trying to think back to the very first time I met Iylene Dew. I can't put my finger on it. I know it was sometime in the last 7 years, but honestly, it feels like she's always been part of our family. Mrs. Iylene (as our kids know her) is one of the gentlest, kindest women you will ever meet. She has a deep love for Jesus and serves Him in so many ways. She's very loyal and has a huge heart for sharing the truth of the Gospel around the world.

I also can't remember when she first started keeping Riley so we could go on dates, attend meetings, or do anything else that a toddler could not be a part of. What I do know is she very quickly became an adoptive grandmother to our son. My parents were 20 hours away in Maryland, and when Riley was real little, Daniel's mom was 9 hours away in Tennessee. Iylene stepped in and loved on him as if he were her own. She's the one who kept him all day on Saturday, November 26, 2011 when Ella decided it was time to make her debut. She's the one who brought him to the hospital the night of Ella's birth so he could meet his new sister. She's the one that then turned around and drove back to Hughes Springs with Riley and spent the night with him so Daniel could stay with me in the hospital. And then she enveloped Ella with the same kind of love throughout the next 5 years. When we began fostering, she jumped right in with both feet and loved all 6 babies that came through our home.

To say we miss Mrs. Iylene is a huge understatement! We jokingly said she just needed to move with us, but honestly, there are days when I really wish she had! We were able to spend some time with her before we left and attempt to thank her for everything by feeding her lunch and giving her a framed collage picture of she and the kids.

In true Iylene fashion, she turned what was supposed to be a time of celebrating her and thanking her into a time of service and focusing on helping others around the world. I failed to mention earlier that Iylene was also our own personal seamstress. I cannot tell you how many items in our home have been touched by her hands and sewing machine! She hemmed pants, sewed up holes, made us pillows, curtains, seat cushions, recovered a foot stool, and the list goes on and on. So, when Daniel was given a bunch of neckties, he immediately drafted Iylene to begin making bow ties and then tie purses as a fundraiser for Stephen's House Peru. The purses have been selling like hot cakes! So when she came over that day, she brought a bunch of ties and patterns and put Ella and Riley to work!

Riley took his job very seriously

And Ella just likes to have fun!

 Iylene worked her magic, and here's the results!

I just love how she uses her talents for the Lord. And He is definitely blessing her ministry. If you are interested in a tie purse, these have all sold, but she continues to make more. She's even making custom ones if you want to send her ties that are special to you. Email me (laurabramlett@gmail.com) if you're interested in getting one made, and I'll connect you with her. All proceeds go to support our ministry in the mountains of Peru (Stephen's House).

We love you, Mrs. Iylene, and we are ready for you to come visit! Thank you for loving us so well over the last 7 years. You will always be part of our family - we've walked through too much together already to just say goodbye. So, like it or not, you're stuck with the Bramlett's! :)