Lilly Video

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Beautiful Blue Eyes

It has been 10 days today since Lilly went to be with our Lord up in Heaven, and it has taken me this long to really put my thoughts together and write something. I still have so many thoughts to piece together, so many questions, so many happy memories that I just can't express, but I try to allow the Lord to guide me and comfort me. At first I was so angry with him; I just couldn't understand how this could happen to his faithful followers; I couldn't understand why this would happen to parents that loved their little girl more than words; I couldn't understand how such a precious, happy, healthy baby girl could just be taken away in seconds. But in all that the Lord understood, He cried (and still cries) with us, He mourns for this broken world and longs to save us from it, He gives us peace and comfort that only He can give, and He brings His people to us to show His love in the smallest ways. HE IS FAITHFUL, HE DID NOT DO THIS TO US, HE DID NOT TAKE LILLY AWAY FROM HER PARENTS, but HE WILL GET US THROUGH THIS.

Lilly was a precious daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend to us all. She was always so full of life. Sam and I loved her more than we ever thought was possible. Without having known the love of having our own children, she was the closest thing we knew to that deep love. She overtook me in away that I had never felt before. From the first time I saw her, I loved her and would have done anything for her. I longed to see her all the time and cherished each moment that I got to spend with her - holding her, watching her, loving her. And although we are sad and morn her loss , we know that she is being taken care of by our Heavenly Father. I can now look back and remember those happy times with her and be comforted.

We will cherish each memory we have of our precious Lilly with us every day. Right now I still feel so sadden in my thoughts of her, but just thinking of the way she would smile at me brings such Joy. The Lord's hands are in this and with us all and it is so evident, but I ask that you would each continue to fervently pray for Lilly's parents, Richard and Jennifer, whom we love so much; Lilly's loving grandparents, Mike and Carol & Alan and Kathy; and for all the rest of the family as we go about each day. Pray for healing of our hearts, pray for peace, pray for joy, pray for understanding that only the Lord can give.

I also want to thank each person that has reached out to Richard and Jennifer and the rest of the family. The Lord has truly used you to bring comfort to us all. Whether it was through food, cards, text messages, blog messages, phone calls, emails, flowers, or just a tender hug your love for us was felt. It brings me to tears to see how much love is out there. We live in an evil and fallen world, but the Lord has shown us through each of you that there is still love and hope.

I feel my words are still so jumbled and that I haven't said half of what I wanted to say or in the way that I hoped it would come out, I hope you can feel and know my heart. The Lord is teaching me things through all of this each day, and I am just trying to be a faithful follower and lean on Him. If you get nothing else out of this, I ask that you would concentrate on the paragraph of praying b/c we need others to intercede for us in prayer to the Lord at this time.

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the borkenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delievers him from them all." Psalm 34:17-19

Last I am happy to say that today is also a very special day - Sam's birthday! Although it is kinda hard and bitter sweet to celebrate in the season that we are going through, this is still such a special day! I love you so very much and I pray that the Lord bless you today on your Birthday!

The Lilly Among Thorns

The Lilly Among Thorns

Blossoming elegance

Tender white petals

Captivate the eye

of souls passing by.

Though sown among thorns

And in the same ground

There is no resemblance

To ever be found.

A different seed

Born of Light

Fills the air

With fragrant delight.

Born of Light

Scenting the breeze

Among the thorns

She remains at ease.

Among the thorns

She brings peace

And gives praise -

All of her days.

Song of Solomon 2:2

"As the lily among thorns,

so is my darling

among the daughters."

Lillian Reese Thomas

Lilly's funeral will be this Friday at 4:00pm. I just wanted to share this information for anyone that might be interested.

Restland Funeral Home

13005 Greenville Ave.

Dallas, TX 75243

(972) 238-7111

The service will be held in the Memorial Chapel

There is also a memorial fund set at for Lilly:

Westminster Presbyterian Church

2525 Wimberley Road

Amarillo, TX 79109

Att: Lilly Memorial Fund

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I can not express how much every one of your thoughts and prayers have been felt. Richard and Jennifer would not be making it through this with out them. Please don't stop b/c they will need these prayers for a long time. We also appreciate all the kind words and expressions of love. We will continue to keep everyone updated. We truly miss our Lilly, but we also know and understand that the Lord is in control. As we look back we can see His hand preparing this situation. He gave each person that loved her time before she left and we thank Him for that. Blessings to you all.

http://babylillyspad.blogspot.com/

*****

I also wanted to share a new blog that someone set up for Lilly where people can post prayers and letters of encouragement to Richard and Jennifer. Thank you to the person that cared so much to set this up. http://lillyinspirations.blogspot.com/

*****

Good-bye for now precious baby girl, but not good bye forever. We love you so much.

http://www.amarillo.com/stories/030608/obi_obit27.shtml

Precious baby girl

This will not be a long post, but one of the hardest things I will ever have to write. Our precious niece Lilly went to be with the Lord yesterday. At this point there are many unanswered questions and I don't really have to much to say. I am just asking that if you are reading this that you would lift her parents, Richard and Jennifer, and the rest of the family up in your prayers. Everyone is just hanging on trying to get through today and we need all the strength through prayer that you can offer. I will post more when I know more and when I can figure out words to say.

Dinner Time

I did not need to go to the store this week, so when it came time to fix something out of one of my recipe books I had to find something that I had all the ingredients for....Turkey Burgers! It was Rachael Ray this week and man can she make some fun burgers! This meal is really something that you can easily do on a week night. Since Sam was not home yet we did not grill these (I don't get near the grill), so I just baked them. Doesn't make for the best burger, but it does the job; you could also do them in a skillet! We also did not have any buns so we just ate the burger with some veggies! This recipe is from Rachael's Express Lane Meals (I believe this book came from Mrs. Cherry...thanks!)

Turkey Burgers with Horseradish and Cheddar Cheese (what's with me and Horseradish??) with cranberry sauce

1 package ground turkey breast
2 round tablespoons of prepared horseradish (side note, when it says prepared horseradish or mustard, don't get confused - its just the normal stuff that you have in your fridge…my sister-in-law learned that the hard way!)
1/3 pound sharp white Cheddar cheese (I only had mozzarella and it was good)
2 scallions, finely chopped (I only had an onion and green bell pepper, so I sautéed those and used them instead)
1 round palmfull grill seasoning
EVOO
Spicy Brown mustard
Rolls - she recommends Kaiser rolls
1 tub or can of good-quality whole-berry cranberry sauce
Lettuce, tomatoes, and veggies of your choice

Mix all the burger ingredients in a bowl (get messy with your hands) and then make 4 patties. Drizzle with EVOO and then you know the rest! Cook and build your burger! Next burgers I am going to make from her – Open-Face Blue Moon Burgers with ‘Shrooms!

Oh and just a little tip that I do - maybe everyone does it, but I find it helpful. When I first get a cookbook I excitedly sit down and go through it with a pen and lots of sticky, colorful tabs. I look at each recipe and mark the ones that I want to cook. That way when I need a go-to meal out of the book I can just flip through the marks recipes...TIME SAVER. Then when I have cooked the recipe I write what I thought in the book and either leave the tab to use at a later time, or take the tab off and demote the recipe! Helps me keep track! So just a little tid bit there that might help you along!

Ok, and now for your SNACK ATTACK!!! I found this yesterday randomly on the web. It sounded interesting and the fact that you make it in a crock-pot interested me, so I think I will try it this weekend.

Cherry Almond Granola

1/2 cup honey1 cup oil (something light)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
6 cups rolled oats
2 cups sliced almonds
1 cup unsweetened coconut
1 cup sesame seeds
2 cups dried cherries
1/2 cup brown sugar

Heat the honey, oil, vanilla and almond extracts in a large round or oval crock-pot on high, stirring to melt honey. Cook about 30 minutes. In a large bowl, mix all the rest of the ingredients well. Stir about a third of this mixture into the liquid, mixing to coat well. Slowly add the rest, mixing well to make sure all of the dry ingredients are coated. Cook on high, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn't burn for 45 minutes to an hour. Allow to cool while stirring to cool evenly. Store in an airtight container and use as you would any other granola.

Now to tell you our thoughts on what I cooked last week. We liked the seasoning on the salmon, but could do without the sauce and why waste calories if you don't have to. I found another salmon recipe that sounds really good that I will hopefully try soon and maybe like better; I'll let you know how it goes. Also the muffins and cake were a success, so maybe I'll share those recipes later if anyone wants them (just let me know).

Lilly's Modeling Debut

So Lilly had her 3 month old pictures taken a few weeks ago and her AMAZING photographer - Lezlie Andrews - posted a few on her blog. I just had to share them with you because she did such a great job. I just love photography and really wish I was better at it. Maybe one day I'll get a fun camera and practice!! I just think its such an amazing talent; what's better than capturing people's most treasured moments! I really wanted to give Lezlie kudos on these pictures and to show everyone how beautiful our one and only niece is!! Go to her blog to see more pictures - http://lezlieandrewphotography.blogspot.com/ and then check out her website to see more of her work - http://www.lezlieandrew.com/.

Here are my favorite pictures and the ones that I am going to order and display as a proud aunt in my house!

We also had a great weekend!! One of my bestest friends and college roommate, Megan, and her husband, Ronnie, came down (http://veryverycherry.blogspot.com/). It was so nice to spend sometime together just like old times! I'll post some pictures later if any of them turn out worthy!

What's Cook'n

Ok, like I promised I have dug through some recipe books and found what I will be cooking!! One of Sam's favorite things to eat is Salmon, so I have decided on Broiled Salmon with Creamy Horseradish sauce from Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade Cooking made light book. I have a few of her books and like I said last time I like to keep things easy, yet delicious and I think she does a good job of this. For a week night meal I like to go to her a lot!

Salmon with Creamy Horseradish

Salmon fillets

1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

2 tablespoons of prepared horseradish

1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning

Brush fillets with EVOO and sprinkle with lemon-pepper seasoning and place on a prepared baking sheet. (TIP: When I cook fish in the oven I always cover my pans with foil so I can throw it away and not have my pans and house smelling like fish) Broil fish 4 to 6 min. per side or until fish flakes easy when tested with a fork.

While cooking stir together the sour cream, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce. Drizzle this on top once the salmon is done.

EASY!!!

I am planning on serving this with some sweet and salty baked sweet potatoe fries, asparagus, and maybe some couscous.

Also one of my best friends and college roommate is coming in town with her husband. I plan on making some carrot coconut muffins for breakfast and a chocolate, cookies and cream ice cream cake for snacking! Yummy! I'll let you know how they turn out!

Facets of God

Another one of my greatest passions is reading. I am constantly reading...usually its more than one, even two, books at a time, but I love to read. I haven't really shared much on here what I am reading or things that I learn from my reading, but as I was reading "The Life You've Always Wanted" by John Ortberg today at lunch I read this quote from C.S. Lewis and just had to share it:

"Each person is created to see a different facet of God's beauty - something no one else can see in quite the same way - and then to bless all worshipers through all eternity with an aspect of God they could not otherwise see."

Wow, that is beautifully put! God speaks, touches, loves each of us in a different way and He calls us to share that with others. Seems like a pretty daunting task, but how amazing that He entrusts us with that.

Anyways, just a little food for thought that I thought I would share!

Side note: I highly enjoy John Ortberg's books - life changing. This one we are actually reading together with our young married couple’s class at church, but I have read some of his other books and was greatly impacted.

Enjoy!

All about Lilly

We haven't shared any updates or pictures about Lilly (our niece) lately, and since Sam and I babysat this past weekend we have some cute pictures to share! Lilly turned 3 months old on Valentine's Day and is as precious as ever. She is at a really fun stage right now as she is starting to smile more and develop so much! We adore her so much and wish that we could see her even more than we already do! Here are some sweet pictures we caught of her when we were playing.