Tipton Children’s Home would like to say thank you to all our friends and family who shared your love with us over the holidays. The children had a great Christmas with all the presents they received. In addition, they had the opportunity to meet new friends and reconnect with the old friends they have made in the past years. What a wonderful example of Christian love for our children. It is our goal that someday our children will be in the position of giving back to others just as so many of you have done.

We wish you all a blessed year in 2016!

Tipton Children’s Home has benefited from the generosity of so many friends and families over the holidays. We returned to find our homes cold and dark like so many of you. The town of Tipton was without electricity for 3 days and others in the area were without electricity for a week or more. We have had happy times and some trying times. The children were kept safe and warm with the use of generators and mounds of quilts. It was a true adventure for children and houseparents.

I want to express thankfulness to all of you for your generosity in bringing food, gifts and cards for the children. In addition, many of you sent monetary gifts. Your generosity is overwhelming. I would also like to express our gratitude to the lineman who helped restore the electricity and many others who called to check on our needs or brought supplies.

We continue to thank God for the blessings we have received and the guidance and safety he provides as we do His will. I pray we will never lose sight of the love and care God provides for us when we trust Him and put our faith in Him.

A few years ago, there was a story in the National Geographic magazine reminding us of God’s greatness and the plans he has had for his creatures since the beginning. A forest fire overtook Yellowstone National Park and after the fire the forest rangers walked up the mountain to assess the damage. One ranger found a bird petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. The ranger was saddened that the bird had perished and was astonished that he did not fly away as the fire came closer. He took a stick and knocked the dead bird’s ashes over. Immediately, three tiny chicks scurried from under their mother’s wings. The mother, keenly aware of the impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and gathered them under her wings, knowing that the smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety all by herself, but she did not want her babies to perish. When the blaze arrived and the heat rose, the mother remained steadfast protecting her babies. Because she had been willing to give herself for her babies; the babies continued to live.

“He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:4

As God’s children and ministers to others, let us remember to find our comfort in his love for us. If we have but a tiny measure of faith, the size of a mustard seed, he will bring us through our trials.

Thank you to all who have been providers for Tipton Children’s Home in the past. I wish you all a new year of God’s blessings and pray that we will continue to provide a refuge for children needing our help. If you know of a child that needs our help, please call the office at 580-667-5221.

Welcome to Renee Boyd. Renee has accepted the position of Secretary / Business Manager for Tipton Children’s Home. Renee comes to us with a real estate background and will continue to be connected with Remax Property Place in Altus on a part- time basis. She is a 1999 graduate of Tipton Schools. Renee and her daughter, Chloe, live in Tipton. She will be the “voice on the phone” if you call our office.

Judi French, our former secretary/Business Manger left in November. Her and her husband, Stan, who was the farm manager at Tipton Children’s Home, have moved to Colorado to be closer to their children and they are the new owners of Road Runner roofing. We wish them well in this new endeavor.

The children who have animals have been working for several months to prepare their animals for the local and county stock show which will be coming up in February and March. Erika is holding one of the pigs as a baby. It is fascinating to watch the pigs grow so fast. The children go daily to check and feed the animals. We wish them good luck in their efforts at the stock shows

L. A. Todd passed away on October 16, 2015 at his home in Tipton. L. A. was an active member of the Tipton community, serving on the Tipton School Board, Humphrey’s Co-Op board, the 911 Board and had served on the FSA Board for over 20 years. He was still active on the Soil Conservation Board and the Tillman County Fair Board. He had worked and served on the Board for the Oklahoma State Spring Livestock Show for over 30 years. L. A. was a very active member of the Tipton Church of Christ where he served as an elder and was on the Tipton Children’s Home Board of Directors.

L. A. was indeed a busy man, but he was never too busy or sick to attend the meetings for the Board at Tipton Children’s Home. L. A. had a deep love for the children and he was that man at church services who passed out gum and mints to the children. Phyllis always had an ample supply if L. A. ran out. L. A. would want to know when a new child came to Tipton Children’s Home. He would often call the Home to see if we had a new child and he would say, “Now, I want to meet him/her.” He was one of the first people they would meet and he would usually know someone who lived in the town from which they came. The remarkable thing about L. A. is that he never forgot a face or a conversation. He knew history. But not just history of places, he knew your history and could tell you about anyone in the community or surrounding area.

He was involved in your life and genuinely cared about what was going on with you. He was an interesting man to talk with because he knew so much and he was the go to person if you had a question about Tipton. He was the man we will remember in the future because of his love for Tipton Children’s Home and his humor. But we will also remember him because he truly knew us.

L. A. is survived by his lovely wife, Phyllis and his two sons, Leigh Alan of McCloud and John Robert and wife Suzanne of Spring Branch, Texas. He left four sisters, Melba Reece and husband Max, Linda Armstrong and husband Lewis, Catherine Grampp and husband Larry and Paula Hughes. He had 6 grandchildren and 5 greatgranchildren. He was preceeded in death by his parents and one daughter, Sue Ann Todd.