One year ago today our daughter came into this world and changed our lives forever. Thank you for allowing her to touch your life, too.
The Lord brought Nicole into my life last summer. She is a precious friend and has greatly encouraged me throughout this year. She is very talented and helped me put together this card (with Lisa's pictures) to celebrate Reese's one year birthday with others. Thank you, Nicole!
Front
Back
I'm so happy with how it turned out. It's perfect just like Reese.
We love you Reese and love being your parents. We can't wait to spend forever with you.
Happy Birthday, Mom! I'm so glad two of my favorite people share the same special day.
This is what the LORD says: You say about this place, "It is a desolate waste, without men or animals." Yet...there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying,
"Give thanks to the LORD Almighty,
for the LORD is good;
His love endures forever."
"Give thanks to the LORD Almighty,
for the LORD is good;
His love endures forever."
The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
Jeremiah 33:10-11, 14
Katie, the card is absolutely perfect! Praying for you all today as you remember your sweet girl...
ReplyDeleteThinking about you and praying for your family today, on my son and your Reese's sweet birthday.
ReplyDeletewww.babyballantyne.blogspot.com
It is such an example how much you rely on your faith and God and how that shines through in your life. You have experienced more pain than most, yet you continue to smile and love life. Praying for you today. What a special day it is!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful life! Praying for you today as you celebrate Reese. One year later, her life is still making a big impact...I think about her and your family often. And because of Reese, I still hug Caroline a little tighter everyday and will forever be a mommy with a different attitude/perspective because of Reese's precious life. Just wanted to let you know she is still impacting lives...what a special little girl!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI meant what a beautiful card :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Sweet Reese!!!!!! Love you Rowe Family!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteKatie - praying for you today. I'm sure today is full of emotions but I know God will squeeze you a little tighter. Happy birthday sweet Reese - you have forever left your sweet footprints on my heart. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday precious girl!!! You are loved, remembered, and honored. And to my equally precious friend - not many can choose to PRAISE God after the year you have had - it's been a true blessing to walk alongside you and to witness the Lord at work.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday,sweet Reese! I know you'd love your little brother if you were here!
ReplyDeleteKatie,thank you for being so strong and full of faith throughout the last year; you've been such an example of a Godly woman to me! <3
The card is absolutely beautiful and perfect. Praying for you and your family today as you remember sweet Reese. I am sure today is a rough day, but I know you will get through it, being carried by the Lord today.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, sweet baby Reese! Katie, I loved opening our card yesterday! I have no doubt that Reese is eating cake, probably chocolate, with Jesus today!
ReplyDeleteYou know I think the card is perfect friend I cried when I got it! I am praying extra hard for you today and hoping God gives you the strength and peace in your heart during this difficult day! Reese is beautiful!! Happy 1st Birthday with Jesus sweet Reese and Happy Birthday to your mom
ReplyDeletelove ya
Summer
Katie, Such a beautiful card for such a precious little girl!! Praying for you and your family today and a very Happy Birthday to Afton!! Much love to you all.
ReplyDeleteVictoria Driver Heydenreich
Remembering Reese with you! May God's peace comfort you! The card is just beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Reese! Everytime I read your blog I'm amazed at the courage God has given u and the faith u show and have. My son will turn 1 in a few days and we have been thru a lot this year, but nothing compared to what u have been thru. I am so encouraged by u that no matter what happens God is somehow in it all.
ReplyDeleteSue Moore ( Kelly W. Friend )
Happy Birthday Beautiful Reese. We know you are having a wonderful celebration in heaven today. Praying for your family as they honor and miss you seeing your precious face.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Prayers
Rachel
Katie -
ReplyDeleteThe card is just beautiful! Happy Birthday, sweet Reese!! Many prayers over the next few days for you and your family.
You are in my thoughts and prayers this week as you celebrate Reese's precious life
ReplyDeleteWe pray that the Lord has replaced the hurt in your hearts with peace and happy memories.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Reese
Happy Birthday to Sweet Reese! I have 2 baby nephews and a niece in Heaven and I am sure they are celebrating with her.
ReplyDeleteWhat a year you have had, so thankful that little Colson is in your life today of all days.
Praying for you all today as you celebrate your daughters life.
Praying for your family. I am sure there is a big celebration in heaven right now.
ReplyDeleteI love the card - what a great way to honor such a special girl. In my thoughts and prayers as you remember your precious daughter today.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Baby Girl! You are one special little lady...
ReplyDeleteLove the card! Praying for you on this special and tough day. Reese is so beautiful! My heart aches knowing she is not in your arms, but smiles knowing she is with Jesus and in His.
ReplyDeleteThe card is beautiful! Happy Birthday sweet Reese. I'll be saying extra prayers for you today Katie.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, sweet Reese! We are thinking of, praying for, and loving your family today. We are so grateful to the Lord for you!!!
ReplyDeleteI have been reading your blog for a little over a year now. I will always remember Reese's birthday because today is my birthday, too. God bless your precious family.
ReplyDeleteYou have been such an inspiration to me this year. The grace that you have shown and your faith in Him has made me become stronger in my walk with Jesus. I thank you for the impact that you and Reese have made on my life and pray for your continued strength. Have a beautiful day celebrating her precious life.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful card and a great way to celebrate Reese.
ReplyDeleteI continue to be inspired by you.
Happy Birthday, Reese! I know everyone in Heaven is celebrating her first birthday today - can't you just see the cake and streamers? Beautiful card, too. You think of everything!
ReplyDeleteSuch a touching card. Praying for you during these no doubt difficult days.
ReplyDeleteMuch Love from Kentucky-
Emily
http:emilybryanbrooks.blogspot.com
Happy Birthday sweet Reese and sweet Afton!!! A special day indeed!!!
ReplyDelete:(
ReplyDeletethose cards are perfect.
Happy Birthday, sweet Reese!! Imagine the party she's having in heaven...and what a guest list! Thinking of you, Katie and Jason and boys as you remember the life of your daughter and sister....thank you for the blessing you are to so many people. Your faith is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Reese! Thinking of you and your family on this special day!
ReplyDeleteThe card is beautiful. Such a sweet little thing.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Reese :)
Beautiful card. Thinking of you today.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful just like your little Reese.
ReplyDeleteThe card is amazing. Thinking about you today.
ReplyDeleteKatie, I just love the card. It is beautiful! Happy Birthday sweet Reese!
ReplyDeleteKatie,
ReplyDeletePrayed for you and your family this morning and will continue!
Happy Birthday sweet Reese.
xoxo,
Melissa
Katie, I want to add my voice to the ones who love you too!!
ReplyDeleteReese's celebration card is so fitting and so sweet. It is very well put together!
You know, you keep saying how many people have pulled you through and helped you through, but Katie, I want to tell YOU how much you have inspired me to keep going and how the grace of God, through you, has been such a testimony to me of how God sustains and holds His own! Oh, I know it hasn't been easy! On the contrary, it probably has been hard and long and sometimes ugly.....
But I love how you have allowed God to be your source of strength. I am glad I found your blog!
Happy Birthday, Reese Catherine! Give our Janie a hug for us!
Praying for your family, as you celebrate your sweet Reese.
ReplyDeleteThinking about you all today. The card is beautiful, and perfect.
ReplyDeletehappy birthday sweet reese!!
ReplyDeletethinking of you all a little extra today.
So sweet...what a perfect Birthday Card. My Jesus Bless you all abundantly today.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Reese! I know she is celebrating up in Heaven!
ReplyDeleteKatie, what a beautiful card it is!!! you are right! it is perfect, just like Reese!! You are such a wonderful mommy!!!
ReplyDeleteThinking of you especially today. The card is beautiful just like Reese.
ReplyDeleteI am honored that I get to share the same birthday as your sweet Reese! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday sweet Reese!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Happy Birthday Sweet Reese.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Reese! I'm thinking of you and your parents ALL day!!!
ReplyDeleteKatie - when I opened that card - I just sat and cried. Praying for you and Jason as you celebrate Reese's first birthday! I pray she's eating a very yummy cake with Jesus!!
Katie-
ReplyDeleteI'm still checking your blog often, even though I rarely comment. I have been praying for your sweet family all day- Mandy told me that she would be there to celebrate Reese with you all. I am SO thankful for Reese's life and for the changes I made in my daily walk with Jesus because of her. I am SO thankful that perfect Colson is here to celebrate Reese with you- I know he can't and (SHOULDN'T!) ever replace her- but I'm glad he can be a party of her celebration. I pray there is PEACE and JOY today along with EVERY other emotion you experience.
In Him,
Ashley Krieg
www.kriegsontulsatime.blogspot.com
I love the cards. What sweet memories they gave you. I am praying for you and your family on this hard,but special day. Happy birthday sweet Reese. I love followering you blog.
ReplyDeleteThe card is beautiful and such a perfect way to remember Reese. Thinking of your family and sweet Reese on this special day.
ReplyDeleteAnd our daughter Elsie is 5 today...special day. :) Thanks for sharing - beautiful card.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet reminder of a little life that has changed your world.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin passed away last month and today would have been his 40th birthday. He had a rare type of prion's disease and it surfaced 6 months ago. We were told and witnessed how quickly it progressed. I am so happy that my cousin, Garry and your precious Reese will celebrate this special day with our Heavenly Father.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and your sweet family!
Thinking about you all today. Reese shares a birthday with my little boy. Such a special day.
ReplyDeleteBlessings.
Happy Birthday to Reese! Your family has touched ours in ways we never expected. Your faith inspires us and helps us strengthen ours. Continuing to keep you in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteI started following your blog because I follow Bless our Nest. Your story is precious and your faith is incredible. Katie, you inspire me to be so grateful for my life and thankful for all the blessings our sweet Lord has provided to me. You have been in my thoughts and prayers for the last week since I clicked on Katie's Keepers. I pray that the Lord blesses your family abundantly this next year. I guarantee Reese's story has inspired many and will continue to inspire many to look towards Jesus. Happy Birthday Reese! God bless your family!
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL card! I love this idea and I think it's so prescious! Happy Birthday to your little angel :-)
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful...makes me cry. I lost one of my best friends this day last year. Sweet Reese is in heaven looking down on y'all today. God is good, all the time. Praying hard that you and your family will feel His Peace as you remember her sweet little life :)
ReplyDeletehttp://racheldillard.blogspot.com
Beautiful post for a precious baby girl. I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating her life!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl! Prayers for you Family today and everyday!
ReplyDeleteCan you even imagine the birthday celebrations they throw in heaven. To have the angel chorus sing Happy Birthday to you must be pretty sweet.
ReplyDeleteI know it is a sad day for you and your family and I will be praying for you!
paige
Beautiful card and beautiful daughter and family as well! I'm so glad Jesus comforts you!
ReplyDeleteI have been following your story for awhile now. You have an amazing faith and are such an inspiration to me. I am praying for you and your family. I know the next few days will be hard.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to a very special and beautiful little angel! Even though I never knew you, I think about you often.
ReplyDeleteKatie, the card is just beautiful!
Renea (Michigan)
Happy Birthday Sweet Reese!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet card to celebrate such a sweet baby girl. I'm so happy you found a special way to honor Reese's first birthday.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday sweet Reese! Praying for you today as you celebrate her precious life...remembering the time you had with her and looking forward to the time you will see her again. Praying God's Mercy will rain down on you today! God bless your sweet family...and the card was perfect...just precious!
ReplyDeleteHello Katie,
ReplyDeleteI have been following your blog for over a year, and still remember the night I saw that Reese was now in heaven. I have been inspired by you and your journey with your grief,not only as a fellow Christian, but also as a bereavement counselor. I marvel at how well you have allowed yourself to grief, and what a great example you are of not "having to get over this" but allowing Reese to be part of you,your family and your life. I tell people all the time as I counsel them that figuring out how to still have a relationship with their loved one who has died is a critical part of the grief journey. Thanks for your vunerability, your insight and strength, you honor Reese every day and you should be very proud of yourself for that. I think it's one of the best gifts you can give her. Also just wanted to wish Reese a Happy Birthday.
Michele Fry
Praying for you today Katie!! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Reese!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Sweet Girl!!
ReplyDeleteI adore that card. What a special thing to do!
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Angel Reese, Happy Birthday to You! As we celebrate the birth of Reese 1 year ago today, she is worshipping with the One who created her perfectly! Thinking of you today and praying for comfort for your aching heart!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Happy Birthday to your sweet loveable baby girl. I have been thinking and praying for you and your family as you celebrate your girls first birthday!! Love you girl - Reese is having an amazing first birthday in heaven!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl.
ReplyDeletexo
Happy Birthday Precious Reese! I pray you twirled a dance with Jesus while looking in on your Dad today.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card ...Beautiful Reese ...Beautiful family! I thank you for your Faith and how I learn thru it!! Happy Birthday Reese!
ReplyDeleteI love the Bible verse on the card. Happy Birthday, Reese! Although you have no idea who I am, you have changed my life. I will continue to keep your family in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteThe card is precious - I'm linking over from your sister's blog...but have followed Reese's story just a bit. What a perfect little girl - and the pictures are beautiful. Praying for all of you today.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Reese , I am so sorry you lost her , my brother and his wife lost two baby girls 12 months apart , it is so painful, Reese is a beautiful girl. Its so hard to know how to best mark such birthdays and holidays , I wish you all the best.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and your family as you celebrate Reese's all too short time with you. Your faith is such an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Amanda
Forever missing Gavin 4/7-5/3/08
That is a beautiful card. It brought tears to my eyes! Your testimony and faith in our Lord in amazing!
ReplyDeleteOh Katie, they turned out so very perfect. You are right..just like Reese. You are such an inspiration to me, more than I can explain. Your faith and trust in God are so pure. Thank you....for being you!
ReplyDeleteXOX
That card is so beautiful and sweet. I didn't know your mom shared a birthday with Reese, how special :) I have been thinking of y'all the past couple of days, and praying for you as you think of Reese on her birthday.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to be commenting so late. Regardless your family is in my prayers. What a beautiful little girl you have in Reese. It's an honor to feel touched by her without ever knowing any of you. What a celebration she must have had in heaven. Much love to you all.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday sweet Reese!
ReplyDelete