The Many Faces of Rayya

The Journey Continues

As always, my faith is continously growing, changing, improving... sometimes backsliding. However, I was brought to tears when I read this post from a year ago. Oh, how God has blessed me! The journey never ceases to be boring. I feel so honored that I have been blessed in the ways that we have been over this last year. Gary Chapman who wrote "The Five Love Languages" also wrote a book called "God Speaks Your Love Language". My love language is receiving gifts, and God sure has given me many! I also just want to thank you for coming along with me on this journey - it's never the same without friends. May you be richly blessed today my friend! I love you!

The Good Life

"For I KNOW the plans I have for YOU", declares the LORD, "plans to PROSPER you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and FUTURE".

His plans for me are good, and He has prospered me beyond my dreams. He has not harmed me, and has given me hope. If this is my future, I am blessed.

Rayya's Name

I haven't had the chance to tell you all about Rayya's name yet. Rayya was a name we had chosen if James would have been a girl. However, he would have been Rayya Isabelle. I absolutely love the name Rayya, and I couldn't let it go. When we got pregnant this time around, Ryan wasn't really as fond of the name anymore, so I tried to find new names for a girl. No matter what, I always came back to Rayya, and loved it. During the many times that I begged God to spare this little girl's life, I told Him I wanted Him to guide me to choose a name that would honor Him - and also that would open a door to allow me to share about the miracle that Rayya is. I kept coming back to Rayya, and could not allow the name to slip through my hands. Near Rayya's birth date, Ryan and I talked about names and he agreed to Rayya's name.

The name Rayya, spelled as it is, is the Hebrew version of the name, and means "to no longer be thirsty". I wouldn't have spelled it this way otherwise, knowing that Rayya will forever have to spell her name for people. However, it doesn't mean the same thing if it's spelled different. We thirsted for this baby, and now we are no longer thirsty for her - and I can't think of a more fitting name! Her middle name Katherine was Ryan's choice, but it's a beautiful name and means "purity". Her second middle name Faith is pretty self-explanatory! Without faith, the faith of others, faithful prayers, and the faith of the Father above we would not have Rayya. I just couldn't name her without the mention of Faith!

So that is the story of Rayya's name. It means so incredibly much to me, and I love sharing the story of her name!

Rayya's Modelling Gig

Rayya was a model at two weeks old! The photographer (Kristel Bueckert) "paid" us by giving us a free newborn photo session. Here is the sneak peak of Rayya's photos, with more to come later...

Good Friends & Cute Kids

Kamryn, Rayya & James

My dear Janelle, and Rayya

One Month

My sweet, sweet one month old. How we love you Rayya!

Baby Love

Despite the crazy week it's been, and the many, many tears... there are still beautiful moments, like this one. I love this baby girl.