December 2011

Dear Family and Friends,                                                                                         

We hope you have all had a good year.  It has been a year of challenge and reflection for us.  As many of you know, we lost our daughter, Marlene Jane, at just under 34 weeks of pregnancy.  She was delivered stillborn on July 14.  We wish we had more answers medically and spiritually.  Time is helping to lead us toward peace.  Thank you so much to all who have given your love, support, and kindness to us over the last few months.  It has meant a lot.  We have also found comfort in Jeremiah 1:5 which reads, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you.”  We are hopeful that we will see her again and have the opportunity to raise her in an environment free of sin, anguish, and death.

This experience has brought us even closer together and led us to marvel even more of the miracle we have in our daughter Rachel.  She turned 2 in October and is perfect in every way her biased parents can hope.  She has a happy disposition and enjoys learning, laughing, singing, and discovering new things.

Earlier this spring, we traveled for a couple of weeks up the west coast and over to North Dakota.  In addition to our parents, we visited with Ted and Linda, Mike, Lorinda, and Alisa, cousins Chrisie, Kim, and Carrie and their families, and Joyce and Elwyn. This trip created many beautiful memories.

We are both still working at Kaiser Permanente.  Ed works in the Endocrinology department at Riverside, and Gina works in the Health Education department at Fontana.  Life is still hard for many of our patients.  Finances and stress lead to poor health choices and consequences.  We do our best to provide education, direction, and motivation to them.  One thing our loss has led us to is more empathy for others who are suffering.

We have enjoyed continuing to participate in musical organizations this year, especially in this season.  Ed still plays the tuba where and when he can and Gina continues to enjoy playing the violin and percussion.  Last week, for the first time in two years, both of us played in the Candlelight Concerts at the University Church.

As the year ends, we wish all of you God’s peace and joy for the year ahead.

Love,

Ed, Gina, and Rachel