Still Waiting...

The last week has nearly been unbearable, as both Leah and I are very excited. Our due date is August 26, so the time is fast approaching where we will get the chance to welcome a new member to our little family. I plan on hopefully updating the blog as we can after the baby is born, and maybe depending on how mad the dash to the hospital is, maybe before we go... EIther way, I plan on trying to get pics on there quickly.

Still waiting!

One Year.

One second.

One minute.

One day.

One year.

I have always found it interesting to find how such finite units of measurement can seem so relatively flexible to us. As children, these units of time can seem to last forever, be it waiting for the next time we would get to go out and play, our next birthday, the time till Mom lets us out of time out, or the countdown until we can open those mysterious Christmas packages. We make statements about how we can't wait for the next summer vacation, to finally graduate, grow up and set off on our own.

I have noticed that as we get older, time seems to slip away ever more quickly, the sand of the hour glass inexorably slipping away, the time zooming past, yet there are certain times where time seems to stand still, the seconds turn to minutes, minutes to hours, and days drag on like years. The world continues zooming by, but we are stopped, trapped like an insect in amber. August 4, 2007 is one of those moments where those finite unit of time suddenly blurred, and had no meaning.

August 4th, 2007 was a hot steamy day, one that I had been waiting for with child like enthusiasm, counting the days, thinking it would never come. My family was going to go on a vacation to the mountains, a vacation like we used to take when we were children. Sadly, August 4th turned out to be a day were time stopped. My sister Renee, wife Leah and mother Rachel were in the car behind us, and were involved in a tragic accident. Leah and Rachel were seriously injured, and Renee was killed instantly. Even now, one year to the day, I can clearly remember that day like it was yesterday, yet it still feels like it was a hundred years ago.

For some of us, we had doctor's appointments, physical therapy, and a fight to get back healthy. We all had tears, sorrow and the pain of loss. Time once again resumed its normal pace, the sand eroding away, the wounds healing, the shadow of sorrow fading, and joy beginning to brighten the day. We all had to face this journey to recovery our own distinct ways, each of our efforts to recover different, but yet together. We find ourselves still facing challenges, but each day is a little easier, even though some days are harder then others, I believe we are all going to find joy returning to our lives. All of us will never be able to express the gratitude for all the help, support and love that we have been given from strangers, friends and family. We are fortunate to have been exposed to so many wonderful people, who continue to help us on our way.

Renee was a wonderful sister, daughter, wife and friend to all of us. She brought us joy and laughter, and reminded us to cherish life, to make the most of all those fleeting seconds, and to approach life with a smile and a laugh. She approached life the right way, taking precious seconds to smile at a stranger, make music with a student, laugh with a friend, tease her brother and sister, make a mother and father proud, and help her husband be the wonderful man he is today. We were fortunate for her time with us, and those of us she took the time to touch are better for it. I know she is up there in heaven, spreading joy and music.

I approach August 4th, not as a time to remember pain, suffering, loss and tragedy, but as a day to remember all the good things about life, to laugh, to smile, and most importantly, to cherish the opportunities I have to tell those people I love how much I love them. August 4th is a reminder to take the time, all those finite grain of the hourglass, and to make the most of the opportunities we have to spread the joy, laughter and love to one another.

One year.

Three hundred sixty six days.

Five hundred twenty seven thousand forty minutes.

Thirty one million six hundred twenty two thousand four hundred chances to love in one year.

Amazing how flexible time really can be...

Please take some time and view this slide show of Renee, living life how she wanted to live it, with laughter, joy and music. Please be patient, it takes a little time to load...

Renee Kristin Hall Ramsey

Silversmithing - Rhodocrosite and Sterling Silver Ring

Rhodocrosite and Sterling Silver Ring

Custom made ring for one of my friends. Ring was made for his wife's birthday, and he was so excited to give it to her he managed to make it to 12:01 AM!!