Reese's Name Gallery #13

Thank you thank you for continuing to send us pictures of Reese's name. We appreciate the time you put into doing this for us. It means so much!

Fruits

Sweet page of pictures

Angel wings

Snowmen

Pat Neff Hall tower at Baylor

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.

Psalm 20:5

Christmas 2009

Thank you for your precious words and prayers. You encourage and bless me so much! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and hugged your loved ones a little tighter this year.

A few fun pics of our week...

Zach loved this amazing snow village display. They even let Zach "control" some of the trains. ; )

Complete with an airport

This is my fifth grade teacher Ms. B. Isn't she beautiful!? She has always been one of my favorites, and it was an honor to spend time with her. I can't say enough wonderful things about this woman who loves Jesus fearlessly. She has always challenged me in my walk with the LORD, and GOD has used her in a powerful way to minister to my heart since Reese was born.

Zach with his second cousin Charles at a little family party

Fam pic

A little reading with Pappy

Two of my beautiful nieces and I made a gingerbread house. Everyone seems to disappear when we do this...I have no idea why!

Our masterpiece

Meredith my sis in law and me on Christmas Eve

I don't know what I would do without my sister Mandy and my amazing sis in laws Mere and Shannon.

Us

Shannon my other sis in law and I at another family party

Baby Westin will be here in three months. ; )

Playing the piano with Gran

G-Daddy doing what he does best

I will never forget him saying to me on Christmas day after I'd come out of the bathroom crying, "You're gonna make it, girl." So sweet.

Zach playing on Christmas morning

Pappy with Riley (our dog) & Hannibal (Faber's dog)

Z & Garrett (G is six months younger...poor thing was hungry!)

Z with two of his great grands Gigi and Papa

Papa made this sweet ornament for Reese. He is so talented, and I know she loves it. Gigi told me they hung an angel above her ornament for "our angel."

Silliness

Helping Z open his gifts

"Horsey!"

Z making himself comfortable in Faber's lap

"Ready!"

This is my precious friend Jen. Her son Tyler went to be with Jesus on June 24. He will always be a handsome little guy, and I can't wait to hold him when I get to Heaven. I only wish we lived in the same city. Jen (and so many other sweet mamas who have little ones in Heaven) rushed to my side when Reese passed away. She is amazing, and I am blessed to be in her life.

Sweet Rebekah. We lived together for three years at Baylor, and she is so close to my heart. I don't get to see her often enough. She told me, "Katie, you come back whenever you want to." I love this because I know exactly what she means. She like so many of my close friends are here for me...praying me through, listening, not judging my feelings in any way. Just letting me be.

Bunny with Z and Garrett

Bathtime!

Hil, Laura, Braysen (poor little guy was not happy), & me

I've known Laura since JH and Hil since HS, and we've been through so much together. These girls came straight to our house as soon as they could after Reese was born just to sit with me. Lifelong friends. So beautiful and real!

Cody chillin' with Zach

We missed you Bo, Mandy, and Abba!

We made it.

Through lots of prayers, laughter, tears, and even making sweet memories despite our ache of missing Reese. Like my mom said on Christmas morning, "I want you to know I'm thinking of Precious right now and wishing she was here with us."

Remember Your word to your servant, for You have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Psalm 119:49 - 50

Merry Christmas

Couldn't decide. ; )

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel"--which means, "GOD with us."

Matthew 1:23

Christmas in Heaven

This sweet poem was read during Reese's candle lighting service. Can you imagine spending your very first Christmas in Heaven?

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below, with tiny lights like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular please wipe away that tear,
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
but the sound of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you of the joy their voices bring
for it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren't apart.

I can't tell you of the splendor or the peace here in this place
Can you just imagine Christmas with our Savior face to face?

I'll ask Him to lift your spirit as I tell Him of your love
so then pray for one another as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your hearts be joyful and let your spirit sing
for I am spending Christmas in Heaven, and I’m walking with the King.

~ Wanda Bencke

Those little wrinkles where my hand is holding Reese's head always do me in. So precious. It's my favorite part of this picture.

A dear friend told me that instead of wishing me a Merry Christmas she was going to pray for me a Merry Christmas. I love this.

From the lips of children and infants

You have ordained praise...

Psalm 8:2

Reese's Name Gallery #12

Sunday in worship we took part in the LORD's Supper, and as a church body did something I have never seen before. A little background...Jason and I were running late yesterday, so we sat in the balcony. I think we have been up there a total of three times in seven years, but we wanted to slip in unnoticed.

Fifteen banners were set up all over the sanctuary with names of GOD such as Messiah, Friend, Faithful and True, etc. Each person or family was to go to the banner that GOD had been to them this past year and take part of the elements.

Jason and I are living through the hardest year of our lives (or really the past eight months), so as I read through all of the names and descriptions of GOD in our program my eyes fell to Majesty on High: "GOD has been sovereign with all the events in our life even though we may not have understood them."

I then looked up and guess what banner was right in front of us? Majesty on High. We were already right where we needed to be. Wow. Coincidence? Not a chance.

A new friend of mine who has a little girl in Heaven recently wrote in an email, "The ache is deeper than I thought possible and yet Christ is more real." Perfectly said!

Since Reese went to Heaven I have cried out time and time again, "LORD, can't I be this close to You without all of the pain and heartache? Can't I know Your presence this deeply, feel Your comfort this closely, and see You work in amazing ways with Reese in my arms?" Obviously His answer to me concerning Reese is "No." I love feeling GOD so close to my heart during this time, but the pain is great and the tears seem endless.

He knows how difficult it is for me to see Christmas card pictures of happy families with one little boy and one little girl. It's what our Christmas card would have looked like this year with Reese. GOD knows I desperately need His faithfulness and embrace. His grace is endless.

I'm so thankful for GOD's constant affirmation in my life. That He loves Jason, me, and Zach. That He is always here. He sees my vulnerable places. He is not letting us go.

Bless your hearts for reading my blog. I know it's your choice to be with me on this crazy roller coaster of emotions, and I am amazed at the constant love and support we receive.

More pictures of Reese's beautiful name...I wanted to share her Christmas pictures while it's the season, so if you haven't seen yours yet, don't worry. I love sharing Reese's name gallery pictures and will show each one in time!

Sweet ornament

Ornament hooks

Dove ornament

Christmas bloomers

Red food dye in the snow...this reminds me of when I was a little girl. My mom, sister, and I would make "snow ice cream" with snow, sugar, milk, vanilla, and food dye. I still love it!

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Luke 13:35

Santa Baby

Zach loves Christmas lights. He says, "More ights more ights!" without the "l." It's cute. Jason and I took him this past week to see the lights and all the excitement on the square. It was a perfect night.

Riding a pony

Jason and Z on a camel

Walking along...

Cutie pie

This is the best we could do. I know I know, Santa looks kind of scary, but he was so nice! He looked great in person. ; )

A few "Cook & Conquer" answers ~

1. Elli divided up the meals into three groups...five chicken dishes, five beef, and five "other" dishes which was a lot of pasta. Yum!

2. If we had any preferences we let her know before she chose the meals. For example, Jason does not like onions. You can't always please everyone, but we didn't have a problem and you can always add things later if you want.

3. Each recipe tells how much of each ingredient you must have to meet your group's needs (cooking for three families, six families, nine families, etc.).

4. I will be happy to post my three recipes, but I'll also include the names of the the recipe books they came from. They are full of great freezer recipes. I just need to get it all together. ; )

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I'm all about this idea...not worrying about cooking each night, trying fifteen new meals, having healthy food choices, and saving money, too!

This picture of Reese with Jason looking at her melts my heart. I hope we have another daughter who looks just like her! She's perfect.

God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true.

Psalm 18:30