Fresh Look

Canon's First Haircut

Canon got his first hair cut ever on November 3rd. I didn't really want to cut it because I loved the curls in the back, but on this particular day (Nov. 3rd) I called Jess up and said I wanted to get his hair cut. I think a few days before, when I picked him up from mother's day out, I just remember him looking disheveled. I was always fixing his hair in the front and I guess I was ready for him to get a hair cut. I knew that if I didn't do it that day, it would be another 2 years before it happened.

So after eating some chinese food, we went to Sport's Clips (no cool kids hair cut places where we live), put a sucker in his hand, and put him up in the chair.

Here he is freaking out a little bit.

I was a little shocked when the first lock of hair hit the ground. I wasn't expecting her to cut off that much. Jess said I kept saying, "I wasn't expecting it to be this short", over and over. ha!

He did not like the electric clippers.

I didn't get an after shot, but it was a success and he looks so cute! He fussed a little during the hair cut, but overall he did excellent. He still talks about getting his hair cut. Every time he sees scissors he grabs his hair and acts like it is being cut.

Oh and thank goodness I had another sucker in my purse because his first one was disgusting from hair being all over it. 

A Friend's Comforting Words

After we lost Will many people including friends and family wrote blog posts in honor of Will. We felt so honored that they would take the time to write about him. Through their words they blessed us tremendously during those days shortly after his death. Those words still bless us today. I find myself reading those blog post frequently. 

A few weeks ago I was having a really tough evening and I found myself at one of my dearest friend's blogs. She had written a post about Will a few weeks after his death. After reading the post I didn't feel as alone and I felt comforted. I am thankful for supportive friends and family who are thoughtful, prayer warriors, and supportive. I thought I had posted it on my blog before, but I couldn't find it, so I am posting it today. Libby and I went to college together and were a part of the same sorority. Libby is beautiful with words, is a woman of God, and is extremely thoughtful of others. I respect her in so many way. If you want to read it from her blog you can go here.

Here is Libby's post.

This was a hard post to write... but I wanted to do it for Rachel. And I wanted to do it for sweet Will.

On February 6 two of my dearest friends, Rachel and Jess, held their newborn baby for an hour in their arms before they saw him into eternity.

I wanted to give a tribute to this sweet baby boy who graced the world for 60 minutes and to his parents who I adore and now respect more than anyone I know.

To Will... who I know was such a blessing to his family. His months in Rachel's belly and his minutes outside held purpose and beauty. There was not a second of his life that His loving Creator did not plan and give meaning to. I trust with his family that he is now cradled in the arms of a Savior who preceded Will in death and paved the road to make it victorious. Because Jesus conquered death, Will conquered death. Hallelujah! I am so sad to have not been able to meet him, but I look forward to seeing him at our true Home.

To Rachel... You are strong and you are brave even on the days that you don't feel like it, because you always have the presence of the Mighty One with you. There isn't another friend I have who is more bent towards nurturing than you; and so I can't imagine anyone else to have been chosen to carry Will. You loved Will more than you loved yourself, and I know he must have felt that as you held him in your arms. You and Jess were a brief picture to him of the Savior he was about to meet... who (can you even fathom?) loves him even more than you. I'm so glad that Jesus spared your life so that you could take care of precious Canon and your husband, Jess. But remember that this life is a vapor, and you won't be away from Will for long. I love you, Rachie...

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 31:18

Do not fear for I am with you; Do not be dismayed for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Thank you Libby!

Family Pictures

Fall Pictures

Here are a few pictures from our photography session we had a few weeks ago.

Emily Drake lives in the Nashville area and she was a great photographer. I recommend her! 

www.edrakephotography.com

It was a beautiful morning and Emily was so great to work with. She was so good with Canon and fortunately Canon was in a good mood as well! We had a great time taking these photos. 

       

       

      

I love my family!

Remembrance Service

Sunday, November 6, 2011

A church in the Nashville area has been so supportive to our family in the loss of Will. When we lost Will their members sent us card after card to let us know they were sorry for our loss and that they were praying for us. They even sent us a care basket full of goodies and a vase of beautiful fresh flowers. We were blown away on how sweet and supportive they were. 

A month ago, they sent us a letter inviting us to a remembrance service where they would honor Will among others that have passed away in the last year. We were honored they would invite us. 

It was a really nice service. When walking into the service they had each family grab a white rose before sitting down. The service was in their beautiful chapel. The service consisted of prayer, special music, singing, scripture reading, a short message, and honoring our loved ones. They named each loved one, one by one. When they called your loved one by name, you went up to the front of the chapel and placed your rose into a vase. It was really nice. 

I wanted to share the scripture the message came from. The message was so good and a message I needed to hear. 

 ³² When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
 ³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴ “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
   “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
 ³⁵ Jesus wept.

John 11:32-35

It was a sad service, but also very sweet. I am so glad we went.

Rick or Reat

Halloween

This Halloween was Canon's first Halloween to go trick or treating. We took him to a historic street last year in Wake Forest, but he just stayed in the stroller the entire time while we had a good time watching other families trick or treat. I didn't know how Canon would do this year since he doesn't like people dressed up in costumes. We were willing to give it a try and I am glad we did. 

We had some friends over for pizza before dressing the kids up and taking them trick or treating. After our bellies were full and the kids were dressed we headed out. We went to our pastor's neighborhood as it is small and wouldn't have huge crowds. Canon wasn't too sure at first and wanted to be carried. He would go up to the person handing out candy and would say, "rick or reat". He also was very polite by saying thank you after receiving his candy. There was only one scary house and we skipped that one. After a while Canon got comfortable and seemed to enjoy himself. We ended with our pastor's home and ended up staying for a while just hanging out and talking! 

We had a wonderful night with our little pirate and our friends. 

Not too sure about this trick or treating thing. 

Getting the hang of it.

Look, a popsicle (this is what he calls a sucker)

Playing with Jaqueline's bird.

Playing Catch Up

The Rainer family had a busy October. Whew. I always thought once summer was over things started to slow down, but I think it might be the opposite. Here are a few things we have been up to since Canon's birthday. 

1. Took family pictures. Pictures to come in another post. 

2. Trip to IL (Oct. 22)
Canon and I headed to IL to visit my parents and to go to a childhood friend's wedding. It was a quick, but fun trip. I was also able to spend some time with my grandparent's after Canon went to bed one night.  

This wedding was Canon's first experience at a wedding. They had child care during the wedding, so he stayed in there until the very end when they were dismissing people. He enjoyed throwing the rose petals at the bride and groom and goofing off with his cousin, Emma. We headed to the reception and I just knew he would have a good time. The food was delicious and we all ate like kings and queens. It was fun to catch up with a lot of people I grew up with in church. I also saw a lot of sorority sisters as the bride and I went to the same college and were in the same sorority. Canon and my niece Emma had a wonderful time on the dance floor. They had a live band, so Canon of course couldn't take his eyes off the people singing and playing instruments. It was a fun evening! 

Here is Canon eating at the reception. This hat is so cute on him. He was attached to it for about a two weeks. He even wanted to bath and sleep in it. 

Mesmerized by the live band.

3. We went to a corn maze for a fellowship with our church (Oct. 28th). We roasted marshmallows, went down big slides, and went on a hayride. It was a fun time of fellowship with our church. 

4. On Oct. 29th we headed to a Fall Festival at a local church in the area. We ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then came home to get dressed and head out for an hour of fun. Canon played lots of games, jumped in a bouncy house, and got his face painted. We all enjoyed some free food and a family hayride.  

We had a great time! 

5. Family Movie Night with Popcorn!
A few months back we tried to have a movie night, but Canon only lasted a few minutes, so we decided to try it again the night before Halloween. We watched the movie Rio and Jess popped us some popcorn on the stove (our favorite way to eat it). We all had our own buckets of popcorn and we all sat on the floor together underneath warm blankets. He lasted a lot longer this time and seemed to really enjoy the movie and his "nack". Jess and I look forward to having another movie night soon with Canon! 

6. Trick or Treating!
This deserves it's own post.

We have had a wonderful month of October while making lots of wonderful memories!

Longing for

I always miss Will and think of him constantly and tonight is no exception. Tonight I feel almost numb and wishing things were different. Canon and I were watching videos of Canon earlier today when he was a baby. I loved watching them, but it was hard for me to not wonder. I wondered if Will would have acted the same way, what his laugh would have sounded like, what would have been his first word, would he have found me funny like Canon did/does, ect. 

I miss Will terribly. I trust the Lord and his plans. I am thankful for his grace and comfort. I am thankful there will be no pain in Heaven. I have and continue to learn so much through Will's death, but the pain is still strong and real and I wish he was here with me. I wish he was in the spare bedroom (his room) sleeping. I wish that I was checking on him before I went to sleep like I do for Canon.

I pray I wake up refreshed in the morning!

  

I love you Will!