So I recently realized there are people following my blog that don't really know a lot about me. First off, that is really awesome to me. I always wanted to write like my mom and now I am. Second, I guess I should share my story in a nutshell for those who don't know my story.
My name is Renee. I'm a stay at home mom of a large blended family. My daughters are Megan and Haley. My husband is Ryan and his kids are Dean, Alex and Cassidy. Ryan is the shop foreman at Aspen Auto Clinic (Mark Dabling location).
I was married to Garrett Batron when he passed away in January 2008. He had gotten sick in 2006 and was in the ICU for 5 month, rehab for 2 month and then in and out of the hospital for 7 months. I was a young widow with two small daughter and somehow have learned to walk in grace through grief with God as my guide.
Just 13 months after Garrett died, my mom passed away. My mom and I were very close and this was a hard hit on our family. My dad is one of my best friends and we found ourselves without our spouses and a little lost. It was just me, my dad, my brother Mike and my two girls. We somehow found our way and God blessed us through it.
Ryan and I have know each other since high school and through mutual friend began to see each other again after Garrett passed away. We married September 2009 and blended our families. There have been many joys in this and a few hardships. Dean (our oldest and Ryan's step-son from his 1st marriage) use to live with us half time but has recently moved to be with his mom full time.
My dad remarried in 2010 and we found we went from a small broken family to a big, bursting-at-the-seams, blessed family. I know have a step mom, Diane and step brothers Rick and his wife Uko and their beautiful daughter Tamaki. I have another step brother, Matt. Plus Diane comes from a rather large family so I have Aunts, Uncles and cousins that I couldn't begin to count!
My brother Mike has started a family with Kelsey and their son is Aiden. They were married February of 2013. It is great to be an Aunt!
I have journeyed through my grief for a long time. I don't think it's something that ever goes away it just looks different over time. I don't fall asleep crying a wake crying but I have days that I cry and don't know why. I believe that grief is just as much as a part of life as joy, love and peace. I believe that God speaks to us through grief and pray my heart and ears are always open to hear what He has for me. I also believe that many get "stuck" in grief and need gentle counsel to walk with them as they find their way. I hope to offer hope and experience as I share my story.
Many posts in my blog are about the joys and struggles of a blended family. It is also my journey walking in grief, listening to God and sharing His love.
