WHO WE ARE

Our Beginning

By Niccole Connally

I met Sean at Vanguard University while we were both earning our teaching credentials. Sean was obviously the smartest student in class, and I was instantly drawn to him in a way that I couldn’t explain. Unbeknownst to me, Sean had been curious about who I was and wanted to get to know me better as well.

On February 9, 2006, I opened up my email to find a message from him! I read the words, “Call me sometime and you will have the pleasure of speaking with me.” I was immediately intrigued by his confidence, wit, and forward approach. I quickly learned that Sean was actually very humble and less forward than his email insinuated. The next day after class let out, he ran to catch up with me as I climbed into my red jeep wrangler. He invited me to coffee and after 4 hours of amazing conversation, I knew he was the one God intended for me! Sean experienced the same emotions after our date, and four months later on July 22, 2006, we became husband and wife.

Sean and I were married at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on the hottest summer day. As I prepared to walk down the aisle, I turned to my dad and said, “I absolutely know without any doubt I’m marrying God’s best for me.” The ceremony was long and the church was warm, but we couldn’t have been any happier. After being pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Connally, we walked to the back of the church to the Star Wars theme song; my surprise to Sean, who is a huge Star Wars fan. Our dreams of being married had come true! We honeymooned in Maui, Hawaii, and for the entire week we talked nonstop about the large family we had been praying for since our first date. Just six weeks after returning home from Maui, we found out we were pregnant with Emma! On June 4th, though we tried to deliver naturally, Emma was born via c-section. We were absolutely in love and over the moon with our new addition. This was just the beginning for us as we then had babies every two years after that; Hannah, Rebecca, Leanna, then Noah in 2015.

2015

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” –Luke 12:34

2016

For nothing will be impossible with God. ~ Luke 1:37

As the New Year rolled around… Noah was still between surgeries and still very critical. The community played a huge part in keeping Noah safe while between stages of surgery. Meals were delivered weekly and donations made it possible for me to remain home and look after our son 24hrs. a day. We are forever grateful for those that surrounded us throughout those very critical months. On March 2nd Noah had his 2nd open-heart surgery. The Glenn procedure went incredibly well. Our son responded well to the changes in his physiology and we were home in 6 days! In May, Noah had a Cath. that showed a strong, well functioning half-heart. Summer time ushered in a new normal. For the very first time we were not required to visit a doctor every week. Noah learned to crawl, pull himself up to standing and walk in his walker. We now visit CHOC twice a week for feeding therapy and occupational therapy. The  Regional Center is kind enough to visit Noah at home twice a week for physical therapy. Noah is growing each day and we are extremely grateful for all that God continues to do through our son. Our family is forever changed for the better and though raising Noah will never be easy; it is our joy and privilege to love and care for our son. We look to the future with so much hope for all that Noah will do for God’s kingdom. Our son will undergo another open-heart surgery in the next two or three years and we pray for a fully reconstructed heart that will remain strong… caring Noah well into old age. We believe in miracles… we’ve witnesses God’s hand move and know that through Him, all things are possible.