2 years and counting...

Our two year wedding anniversary came and went, just like many of the days this summer have. However, I would be remiss not to mention how wonderful it was to celebrate with my hubby and spend time praising God for the love He has given us.

Our love story is one that only God alone could have written and we are so very thankful for that. His blessings on our love and our lives have been truly overwhelming. I love Brian so very much and it only grows each and every day. He is truly my best friend and I am so thankful for him and all that he does for me, Sierra, his family, and his community. He truly has a servant's heart and I am thankful that he serves and protects us every single day.

To celebrate our 2 years of marriage and our 19 years (yes, really!) of friendship we decided to pamper ourselves with a couples "Rekindle Package" at Nesbit Spa and Salon in Richmond (one of my very favorite places on Earth). Thank you to my wonderful parents who watched Sierra for us so we could enjoy each other and our time together. The package included: champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, a hot bath for 2, a steam room, and then 60 minute side-by-side massages. Oh, it was pure bliss!!!

After returning home to freshen up, we took some family pictures together and then headed out to dinner for 2 at Maggiano's Italian Restaurant. It was a perfect day! Simple wonderful! Here are some pictures that I snapped from the day.

Home Sweet Home

We are HOME (for a few days at least)!

The beach trip to Corolla, NC with my family last week was truly amazing! God has been so good to bless us with wonderful parents, siblings, and nephews. Words definitely can not do justice to explain the amazing time we had. We laughed, we cried, we celebrated, we reminisced, we played games, we talked, we relaxed, we played, we swam, and we ate (constantly)!!! Wii fit gladly told me that I had picked up 4 pounds and Brian, 6 pounds! Thanks vacation!!!

Seriously though, we truly are blessed beyond measure and I personally would not be the person I am today with out the love, friendship, and support of each and every one of those people that we spent time with last week. I am sad it has come and gone and already counting down the days until next year!!!

Here are (several) pictures from our fun-filled week. Enjoy!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Large Quantities of FUN!

Today we leave for a much needed and much anticipated

"Family Beach Vacation!" with all 13 family members in tow.

Don't worry about us, I can assure you that there will be A LOT of this going on...

Followed by A LOT of this...

Intermingled with MUCH of this...

Ending each day with a LARGE amount of this...

And beginning each day with MANY of these...

I will (hopefully) share MANY pictures upon our return.

Blessings to each of you!

Sissy's Surgery - With UPDATES

UPDATE: Saturday @ 9pm - I got a chance to talk with Sissy this evening and she is talking & sounding so great!!! However, she is not feeling great. The pain in her head is intense and the IV meds are only helping for about an hour, then wearing off. She is having trouble keeping any food and oral meds down, so those are not able to bring any relief. She is also weak and dizzy when she stands. She told me that she falls right over to her weak side. These things are all to be expected after undergoing brain surgery; but she is strong-willed & feeling frustrated. I am hoping that she will try and relax and take it easy on her self. No one expects her to be "super women" and healing and recovery will come at its own pace. Please continue to pray for her and for my Aunt Kathy who is spending hours at her bedside doing those things that only great moms do (like cleaning up our vomit when we are sick!). Sissy is hoping that she will be moved to the step-down unit tomorrow (Sunday) and will be discharged on Tuesday. I will post more updates as I get them and as I get the time to do so. Thank you for your continued prayers.

UPDATE: @ 8:00pm - Sissy has been moved to the Neuro-ICU & she is recovering. She is doing good. I actually saw a picture of her (I would post it here if I knew she wouldn't kill me later - haha). She looked great, not a lot of swelling and they only bandaged her left side where the incision is, rather than wrap her whole head. They used to do that to Daniel and it always looked very interesting. Her mother (my Aunt Kathy) is in with her & is planning on staying with her all night. She is eating ice chips right now & talking. She smiled when her husband walked in the room and was happy to see everyone.

Praises to report: All muscles are in good working order!! The doctors said the tumor tissue looked to be benign (Pathology report will hopefully confirm that). Bleeding during surgery was controlled & there was minimal blood loss! Praise God!!!

Specific prayer requests for during the night: She is feeling very nauseous and is experiencing a lot of pain, the meds are not currently strong enough for her. And she is having trouble resting because there is a constant ringing in her damaged ear. Please pray for comfort and rest throughout the night. Thank you again for all the prayers!

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UPDATE: @ 2:45pm the doctors began the hour and a half long process of closing up Sissy's skull. They were able to remove 90% of the tumor. 10% of it was completely entangled in the facial nerve and was unable to be removed. They were not able to spare her hearing and she lost 100% of her hearing in her left ear; but that was expected and Sissy was okay with that risk. She will have some drooping/numbness in her facial muscles, but hopefully over time and with rehab, she can regain all of it back. Once she is "back together" and bandaged up, she will be moved to Neuro-ICU. Hopefully then, she can have visitors and I will get another update. Thank you so much for your continued prayers. They are so much appreciated by me and my family members.

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I know it has been a while since I posted. Sorry. I thought I was going to be better during the summer months, but it turns out, we have been so busy this summer. The last time I posted on June 26th, I was packing and preparing to get on a flight with my mother and Sierra to Rochester, New York. We were going there because my dear cousin, Sissy, was scheduled to have brain surgery on Monday, June 29th.

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Background Info: In February, Sissy started experiencing headaches and medications were not controlling the pain. The doctors continued to tell her that it was hormonal because her birth control recently changed. However, in late March/early April when she started experiencing hearing loss and ringing in her ear, the doctors decided to take a second look. A few days later, an MRI revealed that she had a brain tumor on the left side of her brain, sitting on her auditory and facial nerve. At that point, Sissy was given several options and she consulted with many doctors. She agreed that surgery was her best option at this point. So her surgery was scheduled for Monday, June 29th.

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Fast forward a few months: Upon our departure for Rochester on the 28th of June, we learned that the doctors had canceled the surgery. Seriously???!!! Apparently, Sissy's surgery was listed as a "white sheet" procedure, meaning that it was not urgent; and because there were other patients that needed to have brain surgery that were more urgent, Sis got the bump! So, needless to say, we just spent our week hanging out and visiting with family (pictures to come - I promise).

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Well, that brings me to today. Friday, July 10th was the new date selected for the surgery and yes indeed, this time it will happen. In fact, the surgery has already started and as I type this, the doctors are working to complete a total resection of the tumor. I am asking for prayers. Please keep Sissy in your prayers. I know she was very anxious and nervous yesterday and this morning. I so much wish I could be there with her at this time; but we are leaving (once again) for our family vacation to the Outer Banks on Sunday. (This also probably means another blog hiatus for a while - Sorry about that)!

I will try to keep you all updated on Sissy's progress. For those of you that are on Facebook, I am updating my status every time I get information from Rochester, so you can stay tuned in on there as well.

Thank you for your continued prayers for Sissy, her family, and her doctors.

God bless!

Genetics

Apparently, the love of Sonic Raspberry Sweet Tea is genetic! Then again, any drink with a straw is a magnet for Sierra these days!

It is nice to know though, that she takes after her mother on some things! :)

Don't fret, no sweet tea was actually ingested by the above toddler. Do you really think I would leave leftovers? By the time she woke up from her nap, ice water is all that was left! :)

Fun with family, day 3 and 4

As promised, here is another update from our fun days last week with my nephew Pierce and my sister Katie.

Click HERE to see all the pictures from our adventures at the beach, feeding the ducks, and playing at the zoo!

It was such a fun week and a wonderful blessing to have them here with us. The week went by too fast and certainly we could have filled up many more days with activities; but we are thankful for the time that we did have. Thanks for visiting guys and come back again soon! :)

Farewell Friends. For Now.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends,

for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

~John 15:12-15 NIV~

I love this friend! I praise God for her life and what she means to me. This is Courtney. Our meeting was one totally ordained by the Lord. Courtney was a 1st grade teacher at a local Christian school this past year and because I am studying to become a teacher and needed to observe a private school classroom, I was placed in her class. God was in control. I could have been placed in any grade level, any classroom, at any school. God placed me in Courtney's 1st grade classroom. To say that she has been a blessing since the moment we met, would be an understatement.

Sierra and Jeremiah hanging out in the little pool

Soon after we met, we shared our testimonies with each other, really bonded, and learned that we have children that are only 1 month apart. I love this friend and I praise God daily for placing her in my life. She has a real zest for life and a heart that is truly focused on the Lord. She inspires me and encourages me daily.

Me with Courtney's son, Jeremiah, and Sierra on the carousel

Courtney and her son Jeremiah are leaving us this week though. :( They are headed to Washington State to be with Hubby & Daddy. Jeremy, Courtney's husband, is on a 2 month stint with the Navy in Washington and they are going there to be with him for the rest of the summer. That is a wonderful thing for their family, that they get to be together; but it is very unfortunate for Sierra, Brian, and I.

Courtney & Jeremiah

Sierra LOVES to play in the pool with Courtney and Jeremiah

So, farewell friends. We are sad to see you go, but we pray that this summer God will reveal many things to you for what the future holds. We know and believe God has big plans for them and we look forward to their return mid-August when we can play again and have many more wonderful adventures together. God Bless you guys in your travels this summer! We love you!!!

Sierra and Jeremiah in the pool together

In the pool with Sierra and Jeremiah

What good is a friend if you can't share your goldfish with him?

Come home soon! We miss you already!

Fun with family, day 1 and 2

Because I am enjoying my summer vacation WAY too much and because I am a blog slacker (seriously, I still haven't posted about our beach vacation back in May - yikes!)....Now, I am going to be a blog THIEF as well! :)

Last week, Monday through Thursday, my sister Katie and my nephew Pierce were here visiting us. We had 4 full days packed with wonderful things to do with the kids. It was so fun! I think we were all pooped out every single day. In fact, here are the Mommies "resting" after a long day...

I did not take any pictures because we are in "camera transition" (more on that in a later post); Katie did take many wonderful pictures though. So, as I said, I am being a blog thief and stealing my sister's post! Click HERE to see all the wonderful pictures and adventures that we had on days one and two. If Kate follows through and posts days 3 and 4, I will be sure to steal that link as well and share it with you all. :)

Now...back to enjoying my baby, my hubby, and my summer vacation!!! :)

The Coolest!

Happy Father's Day to the coolest dad I know!

I love you Dada!

Love, your precious little girl, Sierra Rein

PS - Happy Father's Day to all you other fathers out there too! :)

Happy 3 Year Homecoming!

Today marks 3 years since Daniel was called home to be with the Lord. I feel like I have been writing my emotions in my head for several weeks now; but now as I sit here to write it all out, I really am feeling emotionally drained. Every year since his passing (2007 and 2008), I have been writing to honor Daniel's memory; however this past year (the 3rd year of grief) has been the hardest year so far for me. I am not sure if it is because of I am fully coming to terms with all that happened 3 years ago, or if it has to do with watching my precious child grow, or if God is just slowly working on my healing heart. Whatever it is, healing is a slow process. I praise God daily for my loving husband who has listened and talked with me, held me when I cry, and just overall understands like no one else can.

I think one of the reasons this year has been so hard for me is because when Daniel was sick, I was so good at trying to be perfect. Hiding my fear, my emotions, my pain. You become almost numb when that happens and sooner or later it all catches up with you. Recently, my dear friend Courtney said something so profound to me. It was a conversation in passing, but it really rung true in my heart. She explained to me that as outsiders, it is really easy to look at me and my family and see how blessed we are with Sierra and a loving family, etc. She also explained how easy it is to forget all that has taken place in my life and all that I have endured. I thought about this and realized that this is often how I have lived as well. Not forgetting about Daniel by any means, but suppressing all my pain and emotions; trying to continue with that "perfect" persona. Don't get me wrong, we are called to worship and praise God for His blessings; but He also wants us to cry out to Him. When we are weak, He is strong!

Over the past several months, I have been listening to a song that has really spoken to my heart. It could definitely be my "life song." I praise God that I do not have to be perfect and know that He is ALWAYS perfect. Although we may not understand the ways of this world; His plan is truly perfection.

Perfect People

by Natalie Grant

Never let 'em see you when you're breaking
Never let 'em see you when you fall
That's how we live and that's how we try
Tell the world you've got it all together
Never let them see what's underneath
Cover it up with a crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while

There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God

Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted
When you hear the words that you are loved
He knows where you are and where you've been
And you never have to go there again

Who lived and died to give new life
To heal our imperfections
So look up and see love. Let grace be enough

By a perfect God

Be changed by a perfect God
Be changed

I am CHANGED! 3 years of being loved by a wonderful man; 3 years of battling a horrible illness and now 3 years of living without him. I am not the same and I thank God that I am not perfect and I don't have to be - Because HE already is!

Daniel, I miss you every day; until we meet again in eternity...enjoy Jesus for us!

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

~Revelation 21:4 NIV~

14 Months Old

Sierra is 14 months old today! Wow! Where does the time go? I think I have missed several months of updates for our busy little kiddo. Alas, I am posting and she is growing, growing, growing!

She is communicating so much lately. It is so fun. She is awesome with the signing and I am amazed at how quickly she picks up new signs. I probably can't remember all her signs, but here

are some that she does often:

• Milk
• Please
• More
• Eat
• Water
• Bye-Bye
• Quiet or "Shhhhh"
• Poop (she associates this more with "diaper" and less with actual poop in her diaper)
• Night-Night or Sleep
• Bath
• Book
• Baby

She is saying more words now too. Thankfully she will say her own variations of the words when she is signing them. This makes me proud; especially because some one recently asked me if I was concerned that signing with Sierra would cause her not to use her words or speak very much. I personally don't think that is going to be the case.

• Book
• Bye or Bye-Bye
• Balloon
• Hot
• Mama
• Dada
• Papa (What she calls my dad)
• Ball
• Eye
• Hi

(The last two sound the same when she says them. I thought she was saying "hi" to me the other day as I was unloading groceries out of the car, and then when I looked at her, she was actually pointing to her eye and saying "eye"...she is just too cute!)

She continues to LOVE to eat. She is still nursing about 2 or 3 times a day and has not tried any other milk yet. We are fine with that and so was our pediatrician. Sierra just loves to nurse! She loves to eat and at this point is not picky at all. She will eat just about anything and everything that we put in front of her. When we are out at the beach, playground, etc. as soon as she sees

someone with food (especially "goldfish") she will walk over to them and make friends and start signing "eat" or "more" "Please". It is cute, but so overwhelming. She just LOVES to eat!

Last month, at her 13 month check-up she was 22 pounds, 4 ounces and 30 inches tall. Also last month, 1 day before she turned 13 months, she took her first steps. We, of course were so very proud of her! Since then she has gotten better and better. She has built up her confidence and is walking just about everywhere now. She is still a little wobbly and loves to hold Mommy or Daddy's hand. This stabilizes her a little better. I just know she will be running soon and won't want to have anything to do with my hand; so I am thoroughly enjoying her little fingers wrapped around mine right now.

She is still a great sleeper too. She gets up around 9-9:30am every day and takes one nap a day

around 1-1:30pm. She generally will sleep/rest until 3:30-4pm. She goes to bed typically by 7:30pm every night.

That is about it for now! Wow! Who knew parenthood would be so wonderful? Every day and month just gets better and better. We are so in love with our precious little girl and are striving to raise her up and lead her in the right direction always.

PS - Just because I know you all are really here looking for more pictures of Jacob Michael (son of Kirsten and Keith), I will post this as well...

He is just too sweet and precious! Can't wait to see him again this weekend!

Introducing - Jacob Michael Weimer

It seems as though Kirsten's body was being a little stubborn after getting the epidural. Either that or Jacob just decided it was time to rest. Here are the updates I received during the night last night and early this morning:

3:40am update - Still at 5 cm, no progression since 11pm.

4:34am update - Still at 5 cm, no progression since 11pm.

4:38am update - Headed to the Operating Room for c-section.

6:06am update - Jacob Michael Weimer has arrived! 7 pounds 4 ounces, 20 inches long.

As far as I know, both Mommy and baby are doing well. Thanks for your continued prayers for Kirsten, Keith, and baby Jacob! We will be heading to the hospital shortly to see them all.

Early Arrival

It seems that ALL of us that voted on my sister Kirsten's blog were very much off base. God always has other plans. We are never in control!

Sometime on Friday afternoon (at 37 weeks pregnant), Kirsten felt as if her water broke, as she was "leaking" steadily. Not wanting to seem over anxious, she did not call her doctor until this morning (Saturday). Her doctor brought her in, checked her, and confirmed that yes indeed her water had broken. Chalk it up to barometric pressure, the full moon, or just God's plan; either way, Jacob is arriving 3 weeks early.

To read more about what happened yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) click HERE.

Otherwise, here is the latest update as of 11pm Saturday night.

Kirsten just received an epidural (twice!) - It seems as if they put it in wrong the first time. Oops! She got to 5 cm on her own, with coaching from my other sister Katie and Keith, Kirsten's husband. She was in a fair amount of pain and is thankful to be resting now with the epidural kicked in. The doctor is hoping/thinking that baby Jacob will be here in time for breakfast (Jacob will be happy about that, I am sure! After this long journey, I assume he will be ready to eat!)

Sierra and I are about "3 steps" to Charlottesville, so tonight we drove 2 of those steps to my parents' house in Mechanicsville. We will make the trek to C-Ville in the morning or whenever we have more news. Please pray for Kirsten, Keith, and baby Jacob Michael. I know they appreciate your prayers. I will update next time I can. 

Wordless Wednesday: Blondie

...And yes, she is turning into a blondie!!!

Strawberries!!!

Apparently, our kiddo LOVES strawberries...

This is a classic Sierra picture!!

I think by this point, she had a belly ache!

...So much so, that we went to the berry farm twice during the month of May!

The second time around, Sierra ate so many berries, I think she just about ate her own weight's worth. Since you pay for the strawberries by the pound, I asked the clerk if she wanted to put my child on the scale, in addition to the bucket!!! Not sure if you can tell from the pictures, but Sierra was covered in strawberry juices! She loved sitting in the middle of the patch, when ever she got hungry for more, she just picked and stuffed! Lord only knows how many bugs she ate that day!!! Yum! Protein!

Book

Sierra loves to read her books. She knows the sign for "book" and does it several times a day. She is just now getting into the habit of wanting to read the same book over and over again. In fact, last night I read, I Love You All the Time at least 3 times before Sierra went to bed. That wonderful book was a gift from our dear friends, The Ngs (who could actually use your prayers right now for their sweet baby girl, Abby.) I am not complaining though. I don't mind at all. I mostly have all the books memorized at this point anyway.

Sierra also likes to do some reading to herself and to her "friends." Here are some pictures to show you an example:

Sierra reading to Neko

Now taking a break to show a little love.