Thursday, January 14, 2010

Good Thing

Jason and I continue to be overwhelmed by the love and support we receive. THANK YOU!! You may not realize or see until Heaven the good you are weaving into our lives, but I must try to tell you.

To our amazing families, friends, and "bloggy friends," may GOD bless each of YOU as you continue to bless us with your sweet words and prayers.

I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from You I have no good thing."

LORD, You have assigned me my portion and my cup;
You have made my lot secure.

Because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

because You will not abandon me to the grave...You have made known to me the path of life;

You will fill me with joy in Your presence...

Psalm 16:2, 5, 8 - 11

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Mothers

Another sweet poem passed on to us...


What Makes a Mother

I thought of Reese and closed my eyes

And prayed to God today,

I asked, "What makes a Mother?"

And I know I heard Him say:

A Mother has a baby,

This we know is true -

But, God, can you be a mother

When your baby's not with you?

Yes, you can, He replied

With confidence in His voice,

I give many women babies,

When they leave it is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime,

And others for the day,

And some I send to feel your womb,

But there's no need to stay.

I just don't understand this God,

I want my baby here.

He took a breath,

and cleared His throat,

And then I saw a tear.

I wish I could show you,

What Reese is doing here...

If you could see her smile

With other children and say,

"We go to earth to learn our lessons

of love and life and fear,

but my Mommy loved me so much

I got to come straight here!"

I feel so lucky to have a Mom who had so much love for me,

I learned my lessons very quickly,

My Mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy oh so much

But I visit her each day.

When she goes to sleep,

On her pillow is where I lay.

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek,

And whisper in her ear,

"Mommy, Please don't be sad today,

I'm your baby and I am here"

So you see my dear sweet one,

Your children are okay.

Your babies are here in My home,

And this is where they'll stay.

They'll wait for you with Me,

Until your lessons there are through,

And on the day that you come home,

they'll be at the gates waiting for you

So now you see

What makes a Mother,

It's the feeling in your heart,

It's the love you had so much of

Right from the very start.


Usually the pictures I share of Reese are the professionals ones, but I love the more "raw" moments just as much.

This was the first time I held Reese very early in the morning after she was born. I was in awe and couldn't believe they let me hold her.

Another one of my favorites. I love her little arm on her chest. ; )

Reese was with us on earth five months ago at this time. Thank you, LORD, for giving us those 50 hours with our daughter. What a gift!


Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

His greatness no one can fathom.

Psalm 145:3

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Q-tip Anyone?

I know I must be in trouble...
but at least I'm cute!


To everything there is a season...a time to laugh...and a time to dance...

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Mine for a Moment

Yesterday I received one of the most beautiful prints I've ever seen. It's called "Mine for a Moment." Kelley, what a precious gift. I continue to be amazed how GOD brought you into my life in His perfect timing. Thank you for continuing to pour Jesus into me.
My first thought when I saw this was, "It's Reese." This little girl has dark skin, dark straight hair, and brown eyes. She's perfect. It's her.

The artist Kelly O'Neill shares the story behind "Mine for a Moment." After losing a close friend, she "was struggling to balance loving fiercely with a willingness to let go." GOD showed her this picture in her mind, and she painted it. "...a little girl was playing in the field with her father. He had just let go of her hand, and she was running away, but smiling back at him. I knew that this image represented the attitude I was to have about the people I treasure most in my life."

She speaks of the fear of losing her husband "knowing that his life is not in my hands, but in the hands of his Creator, who has seen each of his days before even one of them began."

This picture reminds me that GOD loves me. He loves me with my broken heart who will never see what her little girl would have looked like. He knows I'll never again put headbands or bows in Reese's hair or dress her in pink dresses. He knows we'll never hear her say "Mama" or "Dada" the way Zach does all the time. I miss these things. I miss Reese.

I love to imagine what Reese would have looked like, but it also makes me so mad that we won't be able to see how beautiful she would have been as a little girl, a teenager, and a woman. This was not GOD's plan for us. I know this in my heart, but it seems impossible to grasp.

My Abba Father will never let us go. He sees my hurt and confusion. He sees every tear I cry. He knows every sigh of the "what ifs" I'll always wonder and never know. Jason and I have a perfect daughter in Heaven who is waiting for us.

How wrong Reese's death is in my earthly eyes. How Christ longs for me to have His eternal eyes. Jesus, You're mine. My shattered heart is Yours.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Recipes

These recipes are for you to make with five other friends for SIX families. Enjoy!

1. Rio Rancho Taco Meat
For tacos, burritos, taco salad, or nachos

6 med. onions, diced
9 lbs. ground beef
6 cups of mild or medium salsa
6 packages of taco seasoning
3T brown sugar
6 cans of diced green chiles
8 cloves fresh, minced garlic
1T salt
1 1/2 t pepper
1 1/2 t ground red pepper
4 1/2 cups water

Cooking day instructions: Brown onion and ground beef until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease. Add salsa, taco seasoning, brown sugar, green chiles, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper. Stir until mixed well. If you like your meat hotter, add more ground red pepper to taste. Add the water and simmer on low for 30 - 45 minutes until mixture has thickened and spices have had time to blend. If meat mixture is too thick, add more water and adjust seasonings. Cool. Freeze in meal-size portions, using freezer bag method.

Serving day instructions: Thaw meat or defrost in microwave. Heat through and serve in taco shells or soft, warm tortillas. Top with cheese, lettuce, sour cream, or any of your favorite toppings.


2. Honey Pecan Chicken

36 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Marinade ~
3 cups of olive oil
1/4 cup fresh thyme, minced
18 cloves garlic, minced
1T salt
1/1/2 t pepper

Honey cream sauce ~
3/4 cup butter
1/3 cup shallots, minced
6 cups orange juice
1 1/2 cups whiskey
6 cups whipping cream
3/4 cup honey
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 1/2 t salt
3/4 t pepper

Serving day ~
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1/4 cup flour
Olive oil

Cooking day instructions: For the chicken - mix olive oil, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper. Place chicken breast in freezer bags, then pour olive oil mixture over chicken breasts. Freeze.

For the sauce - melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Saute shallots in butter until tender. Add orange juice and whiskey over medium heat, and continue cooking until liquid is reduced by one half. Add cream. Continue cooking until slightly thickened. Add honey, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Cool. Freeze separately.

Serving day instructions: Thaw chicken breasts and cream sauce. Mix chopped pecans and flour together. Dredge chicken breasts in flour mixture. Heat a small amount of olive oil in large skillet. Pan fry chicken breasts until golden brown and cooked through. Heat sauce over low heat until warm; do not boil.
To serve, place chicken on individual serving dishes and pour cream sauce over chicken breasts.


3. Lasagna

3 (48 oz.) containers of cottage cheese
12 eggs, lightly beaten
9 cups of Parmesan cheese
39 cups basic red sauce
54 lasagna noodles, UNCOOKED
6 lbs. lean ground beef, cooked and drained
24 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Cooking day instructions: Combine cottage cheese, eggs, and 6 cups of the Parmesan cheese in a large bowl. Lay 6 baking dishes before you and spread 1 1/2 cups red sauce in the bottom of each. Assemble lasagnas in layers in the following order:

Layer one ~
3 uncooked noodles
2 cups red sauce
1 cups cooked ground beef
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese mixture
1 cup mozzarella

Layer two ~
3 uncooked noodles
2 cups red sauce
1 cup cooked ground beef or whatever remains
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese mixture or whatever remains
1 cup mozarella

Layer three ~
3 uncooked noodles
2 cups red sauce or whatever remains
2 cups mozzarella
1/2 cup Parmesan

Wrap each dish entirely in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze.

Serving day instructions: Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and foil. Cover with new foil, and bake for one hour.


The recipe books Elli bought...

1. Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer...Part 1 and Part 2

2. Fix, Freeze, Feast

You can buy them all on Amazon for about $30. Good luck!


And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8

Sunday, January 3, 2010

A Little More Christmas

I know Christmas is over, but I wanted to share a few more sweet pictures.

This ornament was a gift from the funeral home we used for Reese. They had a tree filled with ornaments with loved ones' names who passed away this year.
My mother in law Trish placed this ornament in Reese's stocking at her house. It's so dainty and perfect.

Meredith put this one in Reese's stocking at my mom's house. My six year old niece Allie came over to me Christmas morning and whispered, "See, Katie, Santa even brought something for Reese." I was so surprised when she said this. Her heart is so tender and young.
A new friend of mine who has a daughter in Heaven sent this ornament to me. She has one just like it for her Emma.
My sister Mandy put a bracelet like this in Reese's stocking for me at my mom's house. This is the one she gave us for Reese, and we chose to bury her with it on her wrist.
Stockings at our house
What Christmas is complete without a Snuggie? Random, I know. ; )

My friend Jessica took this picture of Reese's marker in the snow on Christmas day. Her handsome son Wyatt is buried at the same memorial gardens, and I always look over at him as I pass by to see Reese's garden.
This is today. Snow snow and more snow. Is it spring yet!? ; )


When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
"Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"

I Corinthians 15:54-55

Friday, January 1, 2010

2010

Jason, Zach, and I brought in the new year at his grandparents' lake house. We spent several days there this week with his family. It was a relaxing time (for the women at least), but as always I can't help but think (especially during "down" times) that Reese should be right here with us. What I would give to instantly heal this pain that leaves me breathless.

Zach with Gran & G-Daddy
The men busy at work...there is always some work to be done at the farm.
Zach kept saying, "More, more!" on the four wheeler.

Grampie & Grammie with Z
Jason and I went to a movie last night. I love our little date nights. Thanks Gran and G-Daddy for watching Z. ; )

Yesterday I was thinking how the last day of the year was slipping right through my fingers - not that I would have done anything about it if I could. Reese is coming right with us into the new year, so I don't feel as if we are leaving her behind. I'm so thankful GOD does not leave me hopeless. Thank you for hoping and praying for us, too.


I will repay you for the years that the swarming locusts ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust...

You will praise the name of Yahweh your GOD, who has dealt wondrously with you.

You will know that I am present...and there is no other.

Joel 2:25 - 27

 
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