CAUTION

Cody sent us this picture of an interesting sign he found in Canada. Translated it says, "Watch your kid...this could be yours."

I guess they believe in creating a visual(little freaky if you ask me)!.

Happy New Year!

Christmas

With everything that happened in the months leading up to Christmas, Ryan was concerned we weren't going to have a Christmas. And I have to admit, I had not purchased a single gift as of December 1st. I was having a hard time keeping up with just the basics, let alone Christmas shopping, decorating, baking, ect... Emotionally, I was spent. Physically, I was exhausted. However, I knew we needed to keep as much of the normal routine in place for everyone to enjoy the holidays. Several people were posting various Christmas videos on facebook, and there were a couple I really enjoyed, but his one became my favorite and really transformed my spirit during the Christmas season...

It encompassed all that is truly important in my life. I am so grateful for the birth, life and example of our Savior Jesus Christ and the love that he has for each of us. It is what helped carry me through these last few months. I was looking forward to the season of love, when everyone is so involved in serving and loving their fellow men. We had several groups stop by and sing carols, we loved the Christmas cards we received from friends and family, and we enjoyed every single minute that we had to spend together as a family.

Ryan helped me decorate the house. We weren't able to set up our big tree in the living room, because of the hospital bed that had taken up residency, so we opted for a smaller version this year. It was perfect!

We had some cute visitors...

And Santa found our little tree and managed to leave everyone a gift or two.

Santa also found Cody and dropped off a few gifts for our missionary in Canada. Thank you all who sent mail to our missionary. He loved it and was very thankful!

We had a wonderful Christmas morning filled with all of the excitement that comes with opening presents and enjoying the gifts that were received, especially baby. He was definitely overstimulated by it all and needed an early nap. Too much fun!

Ryan got some Christmas kisses. Ry is his favorite - Grandma's a little bit jealous!

We had a delicious dinner, played some games...

And ended our day with a Christmas skype with our Cody - Absolute very best Christmas gift!!

We had a fun week with family. Nobody was sick, which was a Christmas miracle! As always, it went by way too fast, and we are looking forward to our next fun visit with our favorite peeps.

Catch Up - Accident Report

It's been a few months since our last blog post, and things have drastically changed around here. I was talking to my mom on the phone the other day and told her it felt as if someone had put us in a cup, shook us up, dropped us out, and left us scrambling to figure out what just happened and why?? We are doing much better in the grand scheme of things, but it has definitely been the hardest few months of our lives.

October 19th on the way home from church(just 3 minutes from our house), Casey was hit head on by a distracted driver. I was about 15 minutes behind Casey, so I came up on the wreck. Recognizing his truck, I quickly pulled over and walked up on the scene. It wasn't a pretty sight. His truck was pretty much destroyed. We weren't sure how Casey was doing, but the police officer assured us he was awake, and that was a very good sign. Casey managed to stay awake all through the extraction and all the way to the hospital but doesn't remember much beyond entering the hospital doors. As it turned out, Casey was very lucky to be alive. He was immediately wheeled into emergency surgery for a crushed diaphragm, dislocated arm, broken wrist, and a few broken toes. He also sustained a punctured lung, broken ribs, a broken knee-cap, badly sprained leg and ankle(opposite leg of the broken toes), and was overall pretty bruised up. His truck managed to come to a complete stop, even though it was faced downward, toward a ravine. Before they could even begin the extraction they had to chain his truck to the firetrucks to prevent it from rolling. They also placed wood blocks in front of the tires. As bad as it all was, we know it could have been a lot worse. He didn't have any head injuries, which was a huge blessing. We know that his life was preserved that day, and we are very thankful.

They had to take the top off of his truck and cut the truck in half to pull it apart around him, because his legs were pinned under the dash.

Casey spent 3 days in the ICU and was then moved to a regular hospital room for another 12 days, after which he was transferred to a re-hab facility for an additional 13 days. It was the first time he's ever been in the hospital for an overnight stay, and also the first time he's ever had any type of surgery. It wasn't a very pleasant experience. In fact, it was very scary and off-putting to say the least. The weekend of the accident we had friends in town visiting. Not having family close-by, I don't know what I would have done if they had not been here for support. We also had many friends and people from our church step in and do so much for our family. It was such a blessing, and I cannot even begin to describe how it carried us through those first few weeks. All I can say is we were surrounded by angels!

One of the first pictures I took post accident - It was very painful for Casey to sit up at this point.

A day in the life at the hospital...

I spent most of my time at the hospital with Casey during those first few weeks following the accident. Ryan missed a week of school and really had a hard time adjusting to our new normal. It was hard seeing Casey hooked up to the ventilator in the ICU and in so much pain. It wasn't a vision we had ever witnessed up until this point in our lives. Poor Ry fainted one afternoon while visiting Casey in the ICU. He came to pretty quickly on his own, after one of the nurses mentioned taking him to the Emergency Room(boy has a crazy fear of needles). Thankfully, we had some friends that had brought by lunch and a few milkshakes, so Ryan went back into the waiting room and finished off a shake, which helped bring his color back - he was as white as a ghost. Kaitlyn also missed a couple days of school, but she had papers to write and exams to take, so she tried her very best to find the time & concentration to study. She was a huge help to me during this whole experience. I could not have done it without her.

Visiting Casey at re-hab

In the midst of all this was Halloween, and Ryan decided he wanted to go trick-or-treating with a friend. He wanted to be a zombie, so Kaitlyn worked her magic and transformed Ryan into a creepy, gory zombie for the night.

Casey was progressing at the rehab facility and after a combined total of 28 days in the hospital and rehab, he was finally able to come home. It was not an easy transition. In fact, I think both Casey & I were a little uneasy about the "new normal" we were facing. Thankfully, they had in home nursing care and physical therapy that were still coming by the house a few times a week.

Ryan brought the Wii downstairs to help Casey with some therapy as well. They had the game system hooked up at the hospital, so we knew it counted as some sort of progressive therapy

Part of the AWESOME ramp that several friends from church built!

We had Dr. appointments with the orthopedics to remove the pins in his wrist and toes - A painful adjustment.

The very long pins that were in his toes and wrists for 6 weeks.

We've only had one small(and very painful) setback so far in recovery. I refer to it as our week of hell, because it really was for so many reasons. It was the week of Thanksgiving. Ryan had come home from a school trip sick with a really bad cold/flu. It lasted 5-7 days... and then some. He was quarantined to his bedroom upstairs, which meant I was going up and down the stairs tending to his sick needs as well as Casey's downstairs. In the middle of all of this I could feel myself succumbing to the awful illness. I put on masks, wore gloves and tried to shield Casey from this horrible mess as much as possible. Kaitlyn took over some of the nightly rotations, and Ryan and I did the best we could to keep away from the survivors. Thanksgiving dinner was just not going to happen, but I had a sweet friend offer to bring over the entire meal for us to enjoy. She cooked for her family as well as ours. It was another(delicious) tender mercy in the midst of our terrible ordeal. The afternoon of Thanksgiving Casey started feeling pain in his back. He had thought he pulled a muscle, but as the night progressed it became worse - he was throwing up and not able to sleep. By the time morning came, he wanted me to take him into the ER. So, away we went. Thankfully, we had a friend who had come over to blow our leaves that morning, and he helped me(still sick) load Casey into the van and followed us over to the hospital(another huge tender mercy)! They did a CT scan and found a blood clot in his lung and behind one of his knees. He was in the hospital for a couple of days and then sent home with blood thinners for the next 5-6 months. Poor Casey. Recovery at this point was feeling a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, the nurses assured him it was actually quite common. Over the course of the next few weeks we heard stories of several people that also endured the pain of having blood clots. It was also that way in the hospital, with nurses relating stories to Casey about car accidents that either they had been in, or one of their loved ones. It was encouraging for Casey to hear and know that things will get better. He is expected to make pretty close to a full recovery. It is just going to take time and a lot of patience.

Casey now has out-patient therapy twice a week. He is able to walk/shuffle without the use of his walker. He can't go far or fast, but he can walk to and from the car, into doctors appointments, and we get out and run errands several times a week. He still will use the wheelchair to move around in the grocery stores, or any place that requires a lot of walking. We went to the movies with the kids over Christmas break, and went out to eat a few times, so there are small bits of normalcy returning to our life of (temporary)obscurity.

A few things I have learned over these last several months:

1. Casey is made of tough stuff.

2. I can do hard things.

3. Heavenly Father puts total strangers into our lives to let us know he is aware of our every need.

4. We are surrounded by good people.

5. Elder Holland said it best, "My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.” On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal."

During this very difficult time, we were unbelievably blessed by many tender mercies, prayers, and so many thoughtful gestures from friends and family. Some I have mentioned above, and some are just to personal to put in a post. I am thankful for each and every blessing that we were given to help us endure and continue to carry on. Life is unpredictable, uncertain, and not always a walk in the park, but I know with the help of a loving Heavenly Father, we will be able to withstand any trial that comes our way. Thank you all for your love and support!

*The driver of the other vehicle was fine. He spent a couple days in the hospital for observation, and his one-year old daughter was released the same day of the accident. Thankfully, everyone will recover.

Canada, Eh?

Cody has arrived safe and sound in Montreal(letter below). He was able to call home and talk with us for about 40 minutes while he was at the airport. It was so good to hear his voice. They were a group of 29 missionaries(more than has ever went there together) that headed to Montreal. It sounds like he is settling in & doing well. He spoke a few sentences in french. He is sounding like quite the french-man in just a few weeks. I can't wait to skype with him in December! We are posting his weekly letters @ www.elderritz@blogspot.com

Elder Lloyd & Elder Ritz standing on Mount Royal in Montreal.

Bonjour ma famille!

First off, I am writing on a French keyboard, so pardon my grammatical errors. Second, I already love it here! It's sooooooo nice to be out of the MTC! It's good to be back in the eastern time zone, as well. Also, I loved seeing the pictures from that BYU game! I can't believe Riley got on ESPN! Better be careful though, I don't think BYU would have a football team anymore if they played an SEC team, let alone Bama.

The trip here went pretty well, aside from the fact that I didn't get my check-in bags until a day later! They came on a later flight, but that had me and a few other missionaries pretty stressed out. The city here is so beautiful, lots of cathedrals almost everywhere you look and almost everything is in French! It's crazy how many languages are spoken here! And so many different types of people live here from all of the world. It definitely is like the French New York! The drivers and roads here are pretty crazy though--don't worry mom, we are being careful. The weather here is pretty nice right now...there were a few cold days, though. They felt like a Georgia day in January, so I'm definitely in for a beating this winter. We are going to get winter clothes after this email actually.

My new companion is Elder Norman, a California boy who has been here for 15 months. I really hope I can speak French like he can by that point in my mission because right now I am pretty limited as far as conversations go. We have been working with a Haitian family...the mom's name is Geraldine, and they are pretty close to baptism. She has 4 kids and a sweet little grand-daughter, as well. We are actually having Family Home Evening with them at the bishop's house tonight. The members here are soooooo nice, and we have already been to see a few families! We are definitely trying to get used to our new area because my companion and I are re-opening this area up after it was closed down for a transfer, so the members are eager to see elders again. We are in a place called Longueil, right off the island of Montrèal. We can see the entire city from the roads we drive down, and it is beautiful. Our ward is called the Lemoyne East ward. The members here are so diverse. It's definitely a testimony builder just to see all the diversity.

We are staying in a member's grandma's basement right now. We call her grandma. She has been housing missionaries for almost 20 years, and she is not even a member herself. But she says she loves to have the missionaries staying in the basement. I think it's incredible that she has been doing it for so long, and she is sooooo nice and tells some pretty great stories.

The people here say I sound like I'm from France. They say I have a French accent when I speak because I articulate my words really well. Sorry Kaitlyn, but it looks like I speak the better French...TELL RYAN I SAID HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO!

I am still trying to adjust to life here, but I am enjoying being immersed in the diverse culture. Our area is heavily French, but most people here are bilingual. It's weird driving on the street and seeing everything in French, but I love it. Hopefully the language learning comes quick for me. Going to church was such a testimony builder to meet people from all over the world and to attend a church entirely in another language. It just reminds me how unified people all over the world can be through the gospel--it really is just incredible.

Also, the milk here comes in plastic bags...wut

I am loving the experience so far and am working as hard as I can! I just gave my second blessing to someone while out here on my mission as well! So many growing experiences! I wish I had time to fully explain them all! Rest assured, I am working hard and loving every minute of it! I will email y'all next week and send a few pictures)!

Love, Elder Cody Warren Ritz

Happy Birthday to our Ry Guy!

Ryan had his 12th birthday this past weekend. He is now a pre-teen. He is also our caboose, so it is all pretty bittersweet. I love being a mom, and I have enjoyed every single minute of these last 12 years with our Ry. He is sweet, sensitive, caring, and reminds us often that we(Casey & I) will always have a place in his house when we are too old to take care of ourselves - Thank you Ryan!

12 fun facts about our pre-teen:

1. Everything is awkward

2. Everything is embarrassing

3. School is not cool or fun

4. Still loves imaginary play

5. Loves playing the x-box

6. Starting to care what he wears

7. Loves ice cream cakes

8. Looking forward to participating in school sports

9. Loves to be involved in adult conversation

10. PB&J's are still the last thing he eats at night

11. Still doesn't like to be upstairs alone

12. Has always been a peacemaker

And he hates having his picture taken(can you tell)?

Happy Birthday Ry! We love you forever!!

September 11, 2001

Ryan came home last night with a homework assignment asking for his mom and dad to describe where they were 13 years ago when 9/11 occurred. It had me reflecting a lot about that day. My life was different in so many ways. Ryan wasn't part of our family yet, we were living in another town, family members that have since passed were still with us, and a security in living was being taken with each moment that ensued. To those that weren't born yet, it is a feeling that is hard to describe. I remember sitting in the living room that morning, having just taken the kids to school and watching Good Morning America as it was happening. My first thoughts were, "What is going on?" "Are there people in those buildings?" Nobody really knew yet the "whys?" and "whats" to what was unfolding on national television. I felt a vulnerability I had never experienced before in my lifetime. I wanted to go and pick up my children from school and hug each of them. I will never forget how it made me feel and continues to make me feel for those that lost their lives that day and for their families who also lost mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, husbands, wives, etc.... As story after story unfolded I was astounded at the bravery of those who were called upon to help and those who just felt a need to offer assistance in any way they could provide. Our lives are what they are today because of those who are willing to sacrifice their time serving our country and the citizens who live in it. It made me proud to be an American, where we saw the best of mankind in the worst possible of circumstances. I am thankful each day for the service and sacrifice they, and their families make for each and every one of us to live in the land of the free.