She's Arrived!

Dear Friends,

       I know it has been a while since we have last written to all of you and there has been a lot of exciting new events that have taken place in the Puckett Family. First off we are delighted to introduce to you Miss Elyana Elysa Puckett, the newest addition to the Puckett crew. Elyana means "God has answered" in Hebrew, and as most of you know, Elyana is definitely an answer to prayer after having the two miscarriages last year. She made her entrance on Wed., November 9^th weighing in at 8 pounds 1 ounce and 20.5 inches.  It has been a joy over the last week to see Ramiyah loving on her new baby sister.  She wants to hold her all the time and has instantly turned into a wonderful big sister for now (haha).  Please pray for us as we travel through the wonders of being a family of four now.

       On top of having a new baby as you all know I have been enrolled in seminary and taking a full load of five classes, and I am approaching my last two weeks of my first full semester. Seminary has definitely been very time consuming from tests, to quizzes, to homework, and most of all lots of reading.  Since January I have read more books than I have  probably read in my whole life that range from 100 to over a 1000 pages.  Having a family, seminary, and working at the church have really caused me to become more disciplined with my time and how I steward it.  Pray for me because my natural tendency is to want to do everything at 100% and that is pretty much impossible, so please keep me in your prayers as I definitely don’t want to punt on the things that are most

important to me like family.

 A Word From Kaley

We are a family of FOUR! I still  cannot believe these two little princesses are ours! I am so thankful for how God has blessed us, but it definitely has been an adjustment having two! Getting used to Derrick’s schedule with work and school was difficult before Elyana was born and now that she is here I am a little overwhelmed thinking about how life will be when Derrick goes back to work. So please keep us in your prayers as we embark on this new adventure as a family of four! Please  continue to keep us in your prayers as we are in this new season of life.  

Baby #2 Will Be Here SOON!

Hey! Just letting you all know that baby #2 will be here soon! She is due November 11 but hopefully before then for mama's sake;) Here are a few pics our friend Jen Russel took the other day.  Check her work out at http://lifeiscreative.weebly.com/index.html More pics to come!



Belly love!



More belly love:)



What God has been teaching me (Kaley)…

Being a mom has been such a blessing. At times very rewarding and others exhausting! But it truly has been a blessing none the less. Being a mom has been really tough at times because I am reminded daily of how sinful and selfish I am. They say that getting married is truly a sanctification process which it is but when you add in being a mom it has me thinking this sanctification process is too hard! The other day Ramiyah was truly acting up, not listening and purposely doing things I told her not too. As you can imagine I was very annoyed and overwhelmed. This same week I just happen to be in the Old Testament reading through Joshua and Judges. I kept reading about how the people of Israel kept going back to false gods and worshiping idols even after all that God had done for them. God would discipline them because He loved them and he always came back. It hurts to have Ramiyah disobey me and to see her hurt when I discipline her but at the end of the day I will always love her and welcome her back with open arms. God never failed to remind me that I too disobey Him at times and would put me in Ramiyah’s shoes but that He too is always there with open arms. I am so grateful and thankful to serve a God who loves me and is extremely patient with me as I grow as His child. Please be praying for our family as we prepare to add another child into our family.



Ramiyah wearing my heels and jewelry! So fun;)



Potty Training!

We started potty training last Saturday. And it has been an exhuasting process but Ramiyah has been doing great! She is already in her own undies and going to the potty! We haven't been successful when we are out the house but its a great start! So thankful! Praying she will keep this up and we will only need to buy diapers for our newest edition!:) If you see Ramiyah please be sure to praise her for doing so well!;)

Our first blog! Hear whats new from June and July.

Friends,

When we moved to Memphis, I was praying that I could get involved in some kind of ministry that would involve Muslims and also have the freedom to take Ramiyah with me. One of Derrick’s co-workers told him about Christ Community Ministries, one of the many ministries that they do is work with refugees. They assign volunteers to new arriving refugees to Memphis and help them adjust to their new home in America. When Derrick told me about this I was ready to sign up! I went to their office; got the information and began to meet with two ladies (we will call them Sally and Kelly) from Africa with my partner, Lisa. Can I just stop and say what an amazing, loving, caring God we serve!? I have been praying for an opportunity to share Christ with them. I found this organization within a few months of being here! God is so GOOD! I seriously tear up every time I think about it.

Ok, back to Sally and Kelly. Lisa and I have been meeting with them for about 2 months now. Sally speaks great English and is very outgoing. Kelly is just learning the alphabet. Sally talks to everyone, and we are always meeting new Muslim women every time we meet. We have been able to connect with about four other women that we weren’t assigned to. About two weeks ago, we took Sally and her friend to Lisa’s house to hang out. We were eating popcorn and looking at pictures when Sally asked us why we didn’t cover our hair. This started a time of sharing. They shared what they believed, and we shared what we believed. Sally shared that they do not believe that Jesus died, but that he went right up to Paradise (Heaven). She then said there is not a big difference; you believe Jesus died, but we believe He did not. We then took the opportunity to share that we believe Jesus did die and rise from the dead. We told her it was a big difference and shared why.

I then asked Sally if she knew for sure she would go to Paradise. She told us that she cannot say whether or not if she will go to Paradise only Allah knows. I told her that because we believe in Jesus we know that we are going to Heaven. I am so thankful to already have had spiritual conversations with these ladies. What a blessing this ministry has been already! Please be praying that God would move in the lives of Sally, Kelly, and the other refugee women .

Derrick preaching Mount Moriah East Baptist Church one Sunday.

Family picture at Derrick's cousins wedding.

    

    

Prayer Request:

 · I am 23 weeks pregnant and it has been going well, just have been having a lot of Braxton Hicks lately so please pray that the baby and I will be healthy for the rest of the pregnancy. Our new princess is due  November 11! :)

· Please pray for my new friends that God would provide jobs for them and help them to adjust to the American culture. And that God will continue to open doors for us to share the Gospel with them.

· Pray for Derrick –he has finished two classes both with A’s and starts fulltime August 1 and has just come off of preaching eight times this last month.