Fire & Rain

For our friends Jessica & Roy Andreas. (The two wonderful people that shot the pictures of our wedding, and our beautiful family pictures, as well as Reece's baby pictures.) Jessica and I worked together at Penton Media until today when Jessica was layed off. Jessica & Roy, we want you both to know that our prayers are with you. We're praying that Jessica finds another job quickly, and that you both find faith and strength in each other. I am going to miss my friend Jessica, whom is stronger than she seems, braver than she thinks, and all together a wonderful person that I was fortunate to meet in this life and call her my friend. Thank you for your love, friendship, & kindness Jessica. Heard a song, and thought that it was fitting...I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end. I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend. But I know that I will see you again my friend. Won't you look down upon me, Jesus. You've got to help me make a stand. You've just got to see me through another day.
All my love, Liz

Baptised in Christ

On February 21st, 2008, Reece was baptised in the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic church in the very same gown that my sisters, Barbie and Cindy, and I were all baptised in. For our families and friends that are interested in our decision; the Catholic church teaches that we are all born into original sin from our first parents, Adam & Eve, and that we inherited their sins. Baptism as an infant, represents the original sins being washed away with holy water. As Ryan & I stood craddling Reece in our arms, the thoughts of Reece's beautiful life within the last seven months flooded my mind and heart. She's brought Ryan, Ben, & I so much joy and happiness. Reece has such a happy personality. She's spicy and willful...and she's perfect in every way. I also went back to the day that Ben was baptised, remembering what an inspiration he was to me. Now I'm inspired daily by the love of a wonderful man, who found Ben and I, and has brought us to his phenominal family, whom we now love as our very own. Ryan also brought along with him, his friends which are now dearly loved by us all. Most amazingly to me, Ryan brought Ben & myself Reece. The little sister that Ben proudly draws pictures of, and writes stories about at school. I promised Ben a very long time ago that someday he and I wouldn't be alone, that one day we'd have a place to call our own, and that he'd never have to ask me again "momma, are we home?". Thank you Ryan, the love of my life, my heaven on earth, my knight in shining armour, and my best friend, for all your love.
God bless. Liz.

On a good day...

Well there was one nice day so far this year that we were able to get Reece out and enjoy the weather! The child doesn't see sunlight unless it's through a window!! Hope that everyone is doing well. God bless!

Reece's Day Out...

As you can see in the pictures above, "Reece's day out" was not a fantastic day. Reece was diagnosed yesterday with stage 3 vesicoureteral reflux. What that means is that some of her urine goes back up into her kidneys and exposes her kidneys to infection. The plan of treatment is to give her a low daily dose of antibiotics until she grows out of this, which could be three or four years from now. The doctor seems to be confident that with the right treatment, Reece will not have any kidney damage. As a matter of fact, we'll go see a specialist in about four months and will find out if she has any kidney damage already. All of this sounds scary to Ryan and I; all of the possibilites for things to go wrong and "what ifs". Our plan is to follow the doctor's orders and stay faithful that God will bless Reece with all the strength that he can give a little girl. We love you, and hope that all of you will offer up a little prayer on behalf of Reece. God bless!