McKimmeys An Alaska Family in Utah

yellow belt!

2011-03-04T21:16:00.000-08:00

The kids go to a Karate place that is just around the corner from us. They love it. This is there yellow belt advancement. Aunt Megan and Uncle Ben came and watch them. Then we went out to dinner to celebrate. Gabby was so cute she did not want to take off her gee and new belt she said that she wanted everyone to know that she was a yellow belt. to cute. I am so proud of them.

Kyle

2011-02-13T12:27:00.000-08:00

So, Kyle was called as the deacon quorum president today and set apart. I am so proud of him. It has been a big couple of months. The comment was made by a friend that he is the only deacon so there was not much of a choice. I thought and pondered that for a few minutes and realized there is a big choice. A great big one. Kyle has made a choice, the choice to live worthy to receive the priesthood and this calling. I am so proud of him. He takes is responsibility very seriously. He has passed the sacrament, sat with the bishop during sacrament meeting, collected fast offerings, attended BYC and done home bounds every week, he does this with joy and enthusiasm. He is awesome and I am so proud to call him my son.

I love this young man. He makes me smile.

Kyle is 12

2011-01-22T10:46:00.000-08:00

I can not believe he is 12!
He was given the priesthood on Sunday and will pass the sacrament tomorrow. I am so proud of him he is turning into a great young man.

Love

2010-12-30T20:57:00.000-08:00

Did you know I love this man?

It am still amazed that he is here with me.

I love that we got to spend another Christmas together...

and what a wonderful Christmas it was.

We were so blessed by our wonderful family

They do so much for us

And the kindness of strangers still takes my breath away

Some day I hope to return the favor.

But I guess for now it is my job to learn humility.

We are taught to serve others....

But we must also learn to let others serve us.

to be humble.

I know its time to post

2010-12-06T18:10:00.000-08:00

I know it is time to post when I get to the bottom of Amy's list. Things are good in Utah. The weather is very mild and I am really enjoying it. School is going great I think I will end up with straight A's this semester as long as I do good on my finals. I have been able to work with some midwives down here and that has been great! Love to keep my hands in it.
We have decided that it is time for Ray to try and work some. He has done some volunteering at DI the church thrift store. They have a program for disabled people to work there so he is applying for the program. It will be part time work and they work with people with his issues so I think it will be a very positive thing for him. So hopefully by the New Year he will be doing that.
Mom and Dad are here and that has been great. They are eager for there mission call to come, they are not so much for being in limbo land.
Well that is about all.

just some pics

2010-10-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

hi

2010-09-15T18:48:00.000-07:00

OK so the song on Amy's photo blog made me cry my eyes out. That is kind of weird because it is the song that was played at my wedding. Any way I think that I am just over whelmed and maybe a little stressed. So much to do that needs to be done well. Miss you guys wish we were all close.
PS I do not want to be a nurse. I want to be a midwife.

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

2010-07-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

So I loved this video and my Primary Pres is in it. The park that they are playing at is the one up the road from my house.

Camping

2010-06-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

We went camping this weekend or really Sunday night and Monday night. We had a great time. It was the kind of camping everyone says is not really camping because we only went about 10 miles from our house to Utah lake and stayed in a nice campground with electric plug ins for the trailer and flush toilets; never the less we had a great time. We did all the camping things the kids got to sleep in a tent, we had camp fires and smores, and even played kick the can. We even rented canoes. that was the highlight of the trip for me. I got to sit in the canoe and have other people namely Ray and Kimber paddle me around. I was to scared to sit up like a big girl and paddle my self. Thanks everyone for coming I hope we have lots more fun trips this summer.

disney again again

2010-05-21T22:46:00.000-07:00

Disney Again

2010-05-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

Yes we all wore orange that day

Disney!!

2010-05-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Who does not love Disneyland? So I could not decide which pictures to post so Megan suggested that I just start posting some.
We had a blast so over the next couple of days I will try and post more pictures like Amy says a picture is worth 1000 words.

building a cathedral

2010-04-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

I am Building a Cathedral

I just read a great blog post.

It started with a story of a man who came upon three bricklayers busily working in the hot afternoon sun. “What are you doing?” he asked the first. The first worker replied, “I’m laying bricks.” “What are you doing?" he asked the second. The second worker replied "I'm passing time until a better job comes along."
"What are you doing?" he asked the third. The third worker replied “I’m Building a cathedral."

May be it is because our dad always taught us in parable. But the story resonated with me. As I get caught up in my daily life. I have found myself not seeing the big picture. Do I know that I am building a cathedral? We have been given the great responsibility of building the lords kingdom; our home into a temple; our families into eternal masterpieces. How lucky are we to live on the earth today.

I think often of my fathers famous words. We are creating memories.
That’s what he has always says. It is not about the money we make or the cool house we live in, but the life we live and the moments of joy we recognize.

I hope my children will say that about me when they are big. That it was not about the clean house or the fancy clothes but the time we had together as a family.

Hello Sun!!

2010-03-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

So I had a dream the other week. It was just one of those dreams that I would have probably forgotten when I woke up. But there was a special visitor at the end. My Grandma Hanke was sitting at my kitchen table she looked me right in the eye and told me to tell my Grandpa that she was here and loved him.

I don't usually pay heed to my dreams but for some reason I thought it was a great time to go to Yuma and see my Grandpa Hanke. So we packed the kids in the car and drove for the 12 hours to Yuma. I am so glad we did the Sun was so worm and it was a much needed break from school and life as usual.

I will follow up with some more Pics latter.

Hello Snow

2010-03-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

We thought it was spring there are tulipis growing in our garden and then we woke up to this the kids were excited. I was not.

Lily is getting so Big I can not stand it !

The boys doing "school"

a love story

2010-02-14T15:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day

I would like to tell you a love story that I have been thinking about allot lately. It is about a young girl and an older man. This young girl was lost and she thought that she new what love was. But then she took a magical boat ride through beautiful glacier field bays. She stood on the back deck of the ship when the older man put his arms around her and they watched whales cresting off the port side. She snuggled in and felt his warmth and strength. How could she know that her life was going to change forever? The older man showed her what it was like to be loved for who she was and for all her hidden potential.

One Christmas eve night 2 years latter the older man took the beautiful young girl for a carriage ride down fairy lined streets of a magical city where they watched the amazing lights go by as the sat snuggled close to each other under the thick blankets for warmth. The older man offered the young girl a simple but elegant ring that his mother had worm and ask her to be his bride.

They were married and lived happily for a time. With the normal ups and down of life. There love grew as there family grew they had 4 little blessing added to there family. The older man and the young girl built a house and a life. They were happy.

One day a terrible monster came and attacked the older man and he lay like he was dead. The young girl and the 4 little blessings cried and prayed for 3 days. Then mighty knights came and blessed the older man and the monsters wounds were healed. The older man was still very week and a lot confused but the young girl and the 4 little blessings were so happy that they cried for 3 more days for joy.

The older man and the young girls love grew even stronger. The older man is not quite the same as he was before the terrible monster came. But the young girl and the 4 little blessings love him even more, and they are so grateful that they will get to live happily ever after for many more years.

I love you Ray and I am so Happy that you are not dead.

Back to School

2010-01-11T20:31:00.000-08:00

So you all know that I came down to Utah to go back to school with a goal of becoming a CNM (certified nurse midwife) This has been all great in theory. I have been able to get my CNA (certified nursing assistant) which was no big deal and I thought would help me by getting my feet wet to go back to school. Go back to school!!!

Getting my CDM (certified direct entry midwife) I had to do a lot of studying but studying on my own ,

at my own pace.

which I am very fond of.

I like my own pace it fits nicely into my family routine...

So what I guess I am saying is I am scared to death of going to real school. and using words like professor instead of preceptor or mentor.

But alas I have made my decision the lord has backed me up and I am off for my first day of collage classes tomorrow. Chemistry, Human Anatomy, and Algebra 1010.

Wish me luck!!

passing time

2009-11-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

The days keep passing.

The kids and Ray just went for a bike ride to the park. We do love that about Utah. We can walk and ride are bikes on flat ground. If we were back home we would have to go up and down my hill, and well that is just not ok.

We have made an effort to be active everyday go for a walk or bike ride we would like to go swimming but have not gotten around to that yet. This has been fun for me and the kids. Of course they are active everyday but well I am not so much.

I also started a CNA program this month. It is a prerec. to my nursing program so I have to do it. It has been fun to go to class with Elizabeth.

We had a fun impromptu dinner/ gamenight last night. Everyone just kind of turned up. I made Potato Bar for us to eat and the grownups played Apples to Apples while children watched Harry Potter down stairs. It so reminded me of when Tammy and Todd lived in Eagle River and we would go over on Sunday nights and have dinner and Games. Only this time I am the big sister. It was alot of fun. Thanks for coming over.

Happy Halloween

2009-11-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth and Miles were Horten hears a Hoo. (So Cute)

I Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween

HI

2009-10-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

What have we been up to..... We got Library cards and home school fun.

What have we been up to .... We went to the Zoo

What have we been up to had Gabbys 6th Birthday at Pirate Island....So Fun!

What have we been up to we went to Grandma's Funeral and got to see the Globe theater

I spent a summer working here when I was in the 8th grade!

A Home

2009-09-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

We found a home!!! We get to move into it on the first. It has 4 bedrooms and a play room!! There will be room for everyone! Even for mom and Dad to stay when they come to visit. It is not a great big house it is actually a duplex but it had everything we will need. To be comfortable. We are so excited!! So now I can serch for good deals on furniture! I love shopping it has come at a good time with PFDs around the corner! What are you going to spend the yours on. I hope you get to do somthing fun not just pay bills.

Hello

2009-09-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the story of Goldy Locks and the 3 bears. I feel like Ray and I are Goldy Locks going to all the little house apt. Houses and Duplexes in the happy valley from Spanish Fork to Pleasant Grove. Looking for the one that is just right. We have seen many. I know that the right one is out there some where.
Wish us luck.

We are here!!!

2009-09-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

We have just rolled into Springville And guess who was here Grandma!!

Ya we are here!! We are here!! Ray drove through the Salt lake Crazy roads! I closed my eyes :)

So when we get more settled I will write more.

We are no longer lost.

2009-09-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

We are in Spokane WA we got here on Tuesday night. We had no trouble crossing the with out the correct documents I know the lord was watching over us. I did drive the trailer across which I have never driven the trailer before so I pat my self on the back for driving all the way to Spokane and through the city.
We have had a great time with Great Uncle Al He is Rays Grate Uncle He just turned 89 and is as spry as any 70 year old. He took us the the YMCA to go swimming and the Kids got to climb a rock wall. It was a very cool YMCA.
We were going to be out of here at 9:30 this morning but Mac ran into a problem with his O2 bottles so we stayed so Ray could do the heavy lifting. We are hopeful to get into Utah some time tomorrow or maybe Really late tonight but probably not.
I am Looking forward to the driving part of our adventure to end and the living part to start. although you really don't stop living when you are driving. We are still doing school reading writing and math every day in the car. and we have got to talk about the changer landscape and climate and geography so that has been fun.
Uncle Al is a wonderful mentor he has lived a wonderful life serving in WWII and has an amazing amount of knowledge that the kids and us love to listen to. I hope we can spend more time with him before we go back to Alaska. He has away with the kids that is uncanny I don't know if I can put it into words but we love You Uncle AL Thanks for letting us stay with you.

Lost

2009-09-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

OK So we are not lost but Ray's Planner which is his brain sense his head injury. was LOST OR STOLEN or both. We did not discover that it was gone until we had traveled 171 miles from our last stop. Frantically we search the cars the trailer but to no avail. We then used the gas guys phone to call Dawson Creek to our last stops but no luck. Now what to do? He has no picture ID no past port. We moved on until we go to Prince George we stopped here. At 5:00pm the kids were stunned. We are stopping already? the cries of delight where heard from behind us. they are out playing on the campgrounds play equipment.

We filed a police report of the LOST/STOLEN "Brain" planner of Rays and called the bank to let them know. now we can only cross our fingers that we can get across the border and someone will be a good sole and turn in our very important "Brain". So please pray for us.
On a lighter note here are some pics of our adventure this is us in Toke. Grandpa Mac bought us a cool bike rake for our bikes but it was breaking our bumper so we had to put them on top of his trailer anyway.

This is the Kids in Toad River

And yet another potty break.. You know that Garth Brooks song about stopping every hundred miles to call his girlfriend. well we are stopping every 100 miles to Pee..

Grandma Oborn got the girls Polly pockets for the trip they are a hit and there clothes also look good on Kyles toes

Sleepy Gabby

Wish us luck on the rest of our jurney Only 1700 miles to go

The ALCAN

2009-09-05T22:56:00.000-07:00

OK I have some fun pics to post for you but the internet conection I am using is soooooo slow that it will not work so I will just say that we are on are way and are in Dawson Creek the end of the ALCAN it has been well....Fun? We have had three blown out tires 2 on our expidtion and 1 on Macs trailer. I have been well irritable. I think that is the nice way to say it. but I think we are all going to servive the jurney. We have seen buffolo herds and all the other fun animales that you would expect to see. I will wright more soon when we get a better conection.

We are home

2009-08-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

The Kids and Ray on Worthington Glacier
Gabby caught a fish!!

Fishing is Fun!

A boy and his Dad

We went for a Hike while Grandpa Mac and Ray went halibut fishing

Berry picking We had blue Berry pancakes for breakfast the next morning

Did someone say a boy and his stick

We camped right on the water it was so great.

It really makes me miss the glory days on the boat.
Every time Ray and I go to any port town we walk along the boat docks and think

of how great it would be if we could just sail away.

a wedding

2009-07-27T13:04:00.001-07:00

Joe and Mom

Nic Ririe Kyle

Grandma and Gabby (she was the flower girl)

Eve Lily Gabby and Katie

The cake Tressa made it was beautiful!

There was dancing! How cute are they?

The cake

The first dance

The wedding party

Joe and Tot

best man is Joe's best friend Lee

The ring boy is Tots little brother

the maid of honor is tots little sister

and then there is Gabby the flower girl.

It was a beautiful wedding I hope Tot and Joe all the best.

Congratulations

our trip to Homer

2009-07-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

SO...

2009-06-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

So
I am in Utah and it is hot!!!
I miss my family like crazy, I am looking at nursing schools down here. I don't know if I have Finlay lost my mind or if I am Finlay finding my path. the next few weeks will tell.
I am having so much fun with "the girls" and their cute little baby's.
I will post pics if I ever get batteries for my camera.

Priesthood blessing

2009-06-14T00:10:00.000-07:00

Our heavenly fathers priesthood is here on the earth today. I know that. I don't kind of know I really know. The kind of know that can never be denied.

on 6-7-08 my life and that of my families was changed forever. I was witness to a true miracle.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon. A good day my husband and my children had returned home from a baptism of a close friend. Ray my husband was asked to stand in the confirmation circle the next day all was well in the world.

Until it all fell apart. I found my husband lying in our driveway on his stomach I could not find a pulse he was not breathing. All of my medical training told me at a first glance that he was dead. I called 911 as I ran down the hill to him. I started CPR with my aunt we performed it for 8 min the worst 8 min of my life. The call went out to my family that Ray was dead that I was performing CPR.

The EMS arrived at the same time as my mother and father. The Ems worked on him for 15 min giving epinephrine and shocking his heart with a defibrillator 4 times.

As my father walked up my hill our eyes met and I told him Ray needs a blessing. He put his hands on his head and called his spirit back. This was not a showy act. but a simple blessing given in faith and with the power of the priesthood.

The Emt's got a heart rate back at this point and Ray was transferred to the hospital.

As the Doctors where going over his cat scans. our bishop and my father gave Ray a blessing. I was told that Ray was going to be brain dead that I should consider organ donation and make him as comfortable as possible.

Could this really be happening to me to my family. what about our 4 children how could they grow up with out a father?My family gathered around me I was given a blessing one that told me that the lord could not work with fear, that you could not have faith and fear in the same body.

As I looked at my eternal companion all hooked up to tubes and in a coma I felt the lords angels around me.

My 4 brothers-in laws and my father gave Ray a blessing the next night. One that told him he had his agency that the lord would give him a choice to finish his mission on earth or fulfill his mission in heaven. that our lord would counsel him but the choice was his.

My family left me alone with Ray as the monitors hummed we talked well I talked and I know that he listened. We had an Eternal marriage. No matter what choice Ray made for our family it was going to be the right one I had peace in my heart. I slept for the first time in 3 days that night. while Ray was still in coma.

when I woke up Ray was opening his eyes and responding it stimulation. The doctors were cautious they did not know how much brain activity would come back. More cat scans where done. NO Brain damage was seen.

How could this be? the Doctors could not say. But we know.

Today 1 year latter Ray is driving a car and taking caring his family.

I know that the priesthood is on the earth today as it was when the lord walked the earth. I know that only his will can be done and if it was not his will then Ray would not be with me today. but through the priesthood we are a eternal family and that is the lords plane for us.

a picture is worth a thousand words

2009-06-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

So if a picture is Worth a thousand words does it count as your words if you did not take the picture?

I have been looking forward to this day with batted breath. Really I have been holding my breath for the last 365 days.

I took a deep breath at 12:08PM today as the time came and past of Rays anniversary of his heart failure. To celebrate our family and what Ray and I have been calling "Rays not dead day" We had a "relative" small family Hot dog roast. last night and up at our house. It was a lot of fun the sun finally came out and graced us with its presence.

The sun stayed the night and continued to shine through our window when we woke this morning. Ray and I cuddled up and talked about how lucky we were to still be able to hold each other and how close we came to not having well...what we have. Happy.

We took a family vote and decided not to go to church and celebrate our happy day with the lords big church. the great out doors.

We drove up to hatcher pass with the intent to drive over the mountain. but the road was closed.
So the kids and Ray took a hike up the mountain while I waved and cheered them on from up about 1/4 way up.

I sat on a big rock I need to get into better shape. I contemplated this as I watched my husband who just 365 days ago was technically dead. run up the side of a mountain.

The lord works in the most wonderful ways.

My camera blinked the low batteries sign and turned off. So no personal pictures to share sorry.

My Deck

2009-05-29T23:02:00.000-07:00

These are pictures from my deck. Have I told you about my deck I know that you have seen my deck in pictures. what I don't know is if you know that my deck is a gateway to a magical place that only my children can see.

Yes, I can bask in the glory that is the sun and mountain view and read my books and it is quite a splendid some grownups might say it is magical.

But when I sit out on my deck and bath my very white legs in the sun hoping that they will not look so pale when I go down to Utah in a few weeks. I can get a glimpse of the real magic place that is my deck.

I can hear the giggles and voices of my children as they explore this kingdom that I am no longer privy to in my grown up state.

the land of Hogwarts is most definitely out there in the trees of our front yard. and sometimes its a land of dragons and dragon riders.

How wonderful a place that is my deck.

He got me flowers

2009-05-24T18:15:00.001-07:00

He got me flowers!!!
Do you know how he got me flowers?
That's right he went to the store
How did he get to the store?
He drove his truck !!!
That's right he drove by himself I was not in the car.
HE IS A FREE MAN!!!
and that makes me a free woman!!
This week is his last week in therapy and I do not have to drive him.
I can hardly believe it!
Our lives are never going to be the same as they were 1 year ago.
But this milestone is huge for us to be getting on with our life.
I love you Ray
thank you for being you.

Mothers Day

2009-05-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

I talked to our children this week. this is what they had to say about their moms

Tressa

you are

Beautiful kind Caring Sweet happy Nice

Loving smart giving Helpful and generous

Amy

you are

Kind Gently Loving Nice Happy Planner A teacher

Tammy

you are

happy Nice Tall wonderful patient loving supportive sweet

Amanda

you are

a gymnastics coach , a fixer of cars and a helper

Nice loving

My children said

I was

Beautiful nice cool weird loving caring helpful

It just goes to show that we are loved and we must be doing something right

Are children do not look at our out side accomplishments to judge us worthy but mostly on our attitudes at home. I hope that we all can see ourselves the way our children see us. Overlook our flaws and see us for how we really are.

Wonderful mothers daughters and friends.

some photos!!

2009-05-04T20:32:00.001-07:00

Just some fun pics from before church.

Ryan Smith had his baptism on Saturday. Congratulations!!

So as it usually happens after a family get together we ended up with an extra kid for the night So Katie came to church with us.

The little photo shoot was prompted by Kyle.

He came up to me with a great big smile to tell me he had tied his tie all himself!!

Very impressive. So I had to take a picture to commemorate the occasion.

He is getting so big in a year and half he will be passing the sacrament. Is that even possible.

2009-04-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

OK so I am tired of being sick. And it is beautiful out side. It is a whole 65 the kids are begging to get wet with the hose. I think it should be at least 68 and not breezy out side. am I wrong or what, it is Alaska after all. The boys want to do a hot dog fire tonight. I just don't think my lungs are up to it. they do not like having a cold and they really do not like smoke so I think that is out to. Mean MOM..
I did however go shopping with our mom and my girls today we drove into Anchorage and went to Kohls! We are so the lower 48 with all our new stores. First Target and now Kohls can't weight for what comes next...I know how hick of me to drive 45 miles to go to Kohls:) But it was a beautiful drive and we got to go to Costco for lunch.. Love those Hot dogs. OK so I am so a Hick.

Sick

2009-04-27T17:32:00.001-07:00

I am sick today. The family has been sick for the past couple of days. And now I am SICK. This would not be such a bad thing if I was just kind of sick but I really don't feel good. Maybe I have swine flue? Or not
Anyway I woke up this morning with the resolve to not let the kids play the wi , computer or watch TV today. We have become a family of slackers. I have even been letting the kids eat in front of the TV. I know...Don't tell anyone
So of course this is the day I am sick. So the kids are trying to fend for themselves with the I don't have anything to do's. It amazes me how they can easily find things to do when the TV is off there were only a couple of "I don't have anything to do" until they all happily started to play together. They have played outside and inside and a couple of Bord games. They even did some school things. It is amazing how much less fighting there is and how much more they play together when the TV, video and computers are off.
Oh yah Grandpa brought dad home and dad brought home Pizza Got to go

Success

2009-04-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

Success Is
Peace of mind
Which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing
you made the effort to do the best
of which you are capable
-John Wooden

2009-04-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

Have you read the nie nie blog? how is it that A total stranger can effect you so profoundly? I wounder if her family is going through there trials at the same time my family is So that she can blog and I can remember how blest I am.

I was blog hopping and read her post from a couple of days ago. And her thoughts were like a mirror of my own in the gratitude I have for my heavenly father. And the fact that my husband is with me, I am never alone. It is so comforting to know that there are other families that have had life changing things happen to them and are still going strong. the Lord Loves us!

We are quickly coming up on the one year anniversary of Rays "incident" He has made incredible progress and yet is still not "whole" I see in our near future Ray being done with what therapy they can give him, so the by weekly visits to the therapy will be over but the struggle to regain every thing will continue. I know the lord knows our family and has a plane I just wish he would share it with me.

Something else nie nie said was that she would not dwell on what was but what is to come. Oh how I wish I could learn that lesson.
that is my new goal.

I have to let go of what was and embrace that what can be.

wireless

2009-04-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I have not been a great blogger lately I have not had use of a lap top or wireless Internet so if I wanted to blog or even check email I had to go into my office. How archaic! But thanks to my very generous brother in law and my very handy father I am siting in my quite room enjoying my very cool view and BLOGGING!!
yeah me!!

An up date

2009-03-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

Can it really have been almost 2 months. I hope every one is doing well. I just got a new computer so I am finally back on line. and it seams like life is slowing down a little. we had a great big busy couple of months. Ray and I had birthdays Ray is now 45 that is almost 50
I can hardly believe that. We also celebrated our 12th anniversary witch we are so blessed to have. Mom and Dad stayed with us for about a month while mom recovered from her hip surgery. We had a great time. well I did any way. have to say we miss them even though they are only 3 miles away. it was a big help having them around I did not have to worry about how every one was because I had every one under my own roof. I also had the Smith kids for a time. That was a blast to I think that I am just a gluten for I really did enjoy the craziness.
I guess that is why I took on a community theater production of Peter Pan in the last month of its production. They needed a stage manager and I needed more craziness so it work out well. I have been transported back to my High School days of Drama Club. I have to say it as been a blast. If not tiring. I will post Pics soon of the kids and of the play. any way just a little up date in our life.

2009-02-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

We Love School!!
Lily and Kaden getting down with workbooks!

I Love CORE!!

We had fun this morning in our controlled chaos
I have to say that I am glad that we are loyal to our TJed schooling; or I would be pulling out my hair

Winter Again!

2009-01-31T11:46:00.001-08:00

It is winter again, after some really weird weather with all the snow melting and terning our streets into ice rinks it has finally gotten back to normal weather. We got about 8 inches of snow yesterday and it is beautiful out side.

I love it!!

Mundane or Mircale

2009-01-30T12:57:00.000-08:00

So I have been inspired by every one's postings. I really liked Amy's about the mundane. I think that we can get into rut with our life and think that is mundane and that there is nothing to share with others. But then when I start to think about all the things that are going on in my life and the lives of loved ones around me, my eyes are opened that the mundane is really the miracle. Mom and I where talking about that yesterday in the car as we where running around taking Ray to therapy the Smith kids back to there house, and Wallmart for some sweats for mom to where after her hip surgery. What a Miracle that day was.
Not just the miracle that Ray is alive and can go to therapy and that Abigale is alive so her older siblings need some tending or the blessing of mom finding funding for her hip surgery. But the even smaller things like I have a car that will fit all the kids in it and we have never had to worry about how we are going to feed every one.
Our heavenly father really has a plan for us. It is an awesome event when you have to sit and be still long enough to learn what that plan is. I have been so blessed to not have any other dept but our house and cars so with careful planning and we can almost make all our ends meet with Ray's SSA. I have started a practice and it is very small and I get very stressed and think that I need to be doing more or something and then I realise If I was dong more the family would not be getting Medicaid and Rays medical would not be covered and it really needs to be covered just his therapy's cost over $2000.00 every month. I also would be spending more time away from my family and they really don't need that and I would not be able to help mom when she has her surgery or have Tammy's kids three days a week. You see the lord has a plan, and his for me right now is to be still and take care of my family. He has provided a way for me to do that. I just need to remind myself that he is in the drivers seat. What a miracle our mundane life is.

Girls just want to have fun!

2009-01-19T18:40:00.001-08:00

So we had the Smith kids for the weekend while Todd was down with Tammy. They had a blast.
I just loved the pics that Sabrina took of the girls for a "photo shoot" to cute!!

They changed there outfits all the way down to the shoes.

And used my make up "someone should"

We also went swimming and took the kids a movies.

We loved having them over.

what did you do while I was gone?

2009-01-15T12:22:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was Kyle's Birthday! I can not believe that he is 10!

Can I be that old? I am so glad we were able to celebrate his birthday with the Earls and Grandma and Grandpa because I have been very busy for the past couple of days. I was called in to assist at couple of births and that is always fun but very tiring. It was so fun to help a mom have her first baby 10 years from the day I had my first baby. It was double fun because I was assisting the women who assisted with Kyles birth I think that's very cool.

When I got home last night at 10pm I asked Ray what he did while I was gone and we talked a little. Then he says " Before I forget there was water dripping from the celling and I climbed up in the attic to find out what was going on and I cut a hole in the ceiling."

"You did what!"

you see Ray is not to do projects while I am gone. He is doing really well but if he has a laps in judgment which he is prone to do these days some one is to be around to help.

I was stunned. I reminded him that we have that leak every year when the weather worms up to melt the snow of the roof and he should of waited for me to come home to check it out.

He then told me that the laps in judgment was not that he went into the attic space and took a piece of Sheetrock of the ceiling it was that we had not done it before his brain injury. It is hard to argue with that logic. But I still don't think it was a good idea for him to go in the attic with out another adult in the house.

Just bloging

2009-01-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

So not much going on in the McKimmey Family and I think that it is a blessing the kids are doing there chores, Ray is hanging out with Dad he does that a lot lately I think it is good for both of them and I am " working" on the computer I should be making up flyer's or preparing for a presentation that Rinn and I are giving in Palmer on the 21st but here I am checking every ones blogs and thinking how I miss having everyone close not that we have all lived close together but there has been some when we are closer than others. Tammy my thoughts are constantly with you, Lily saw one of the pictures of Abigale and said " that is what dad looked like". We love you guys so much.

Christmas pics

2008-12-27T12:59:00.001-08:00

Thanks Grandma for our PJs

Grandpa and Christopher

Grandma and Abigale

Standing Room Only

Thanks Tressa for having it at your house

Ryan, Allan and Kaden

Grandpa and his little girls
Lily Eve Kattie and Gabby

Tammy Tori and Gabe

We missed all of you who could not be there with us!

Christmas Sunday

2008-12-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

The pictures where taken after church at grandmas house

I love Christmas Sunday. Last night was our ward Christmas party and I had to leave early because I was not feeling good. That really upset my kids. So last night Ray was saying that we did not have to go to church to day. I was shocked My first thought was cool but then I thought at how Lily and Gabby where so excited to where there new Christmas dresses. I said to Ray but it is Christmas Sunday. He looked kind of confused for a minute and then admitted he forgot that we don't go to church on Christmas just because its Christmas ( a little brain injury and this catholic back ground I guess.) So we decided that we would have to go. I am so glad we did.

This Christmas season has kind of been not very christmassy (is that a word) any way we have had to humble our selves and be the receivers this year and it has been well humbling. I am indeed very grateful for every ones generosity.

Any way Christmas Sunday. I love it! I love my kids getting new dresses and church clothes. Doing every ones hair. And making everyone match that is my favorite part, It really reminds me of our Christmases as little girls. I wonder if my kids will match there kids for Christmas

We had a great program put on by our ward choir. but the words the bishop shared with us were ones that really touched me. they are from president Hinckley in which he wished every one a happy holiday and more importantly an Hour to meditate and pray about the birth of our Savior. I hope everyone gets to have an hour of meditation to count our blessing and ponder the wonder that is Christmas.

Grandma is on the Web

2008-12-19T18:15:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone. Just a little note to let you know that I got mom on the web. Her blog is grandmaoborn.blogspot.com.

Gabby

2008-12-16T16:21:00.001-08:00

Gabby came into my room this morning with a drawing she had done. You could not tell what the drawing was of. But she told me about it. It was a picture of our house and the satellite dish with dad standing on the roof. She told me that it was be for dad got his defibrillator and his chest broke. Every night when it is her turn to say family prayers she prays that dads defibrillator will not go off. So do I.

You know it is time to post when...

2008-12-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

Gabby and Lily making the eggs for Dinner

Kattie & Gabby Best friends

You know you need to post when you are at the bottom of Amy's blog watch list thing. Any way lots of things happening like MY SPACE is OPEN! you can find me there on Tuesdays and Thursdays offering free pregnancy testing! We also had Thanksgiving out at Tammys. That was fun.

We also set up out Christmas Tree

When we got all done getting the Christmas tree up we turned off all the lights and looked at our wonderful creation. Lily leaned into me and said "I think our tree is perfect." I would have to agree with her. It is not a prize winner but we were able to decorate it as a family, which in the years past I totally took for granted. but this year I think we are all just so aware of how it could of just been me and the kids. This year every thing is just a little bit sweeter.

my office

2008-12-14T14:52:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Halloween

2008-11-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

So I hope every one had a fun and safe Halloween, We had a fun one. Our day was kind of crazy it went something like this, get everyone up and ready to get out of the house by 9am. I know what you are thinking that 9am is not that early to be leaving the house but trust me it is for my family. It is dark out side and it is about 6 degrees. I send lily out to start the car about 10 min before we want to leave and then we get in the car only to find it still as cold as ever because she really did not get it started just got it so the radio turned on. Drive to Aunt Tammy's house which is about 25 min away to drop the kids off there so I can go with Ray to therapy Turn around drive back into town witch takes about 15 min get to Rays therapy spend 2 hours with Ray in therapy. Go get something to eat between the next therapy drop Ray off for his cardiac therapy and then drive to Fredy's to get last minute costume things for the kids drive back up to Tam mys and pick the kids up who really don't want to be picked up because they are having to much fun with there cousins. Tell them they have to hurry need to be back in Wasilla to pick up dad from his therapy's then we need to get ready for Halloween. The kids get in the car after several minutes of I can't find this and I can't find that's. Run back to wasilla to Pick up Ray drive 30 min. from wasilla to Palmer to grandmas house to pick up the rest of Gabby's Costume. By this time it is 3:35 I am going to be meeting with the landlord of my new clinic space to sign the papers at 4:00 So we run very fast up to my house witch is about 7 miles from grandmas every one gets out of the car runs gets there costumes on back in the car get to my meeting about 4:10 not so bad. sign papers ( yeah my very own space!!!!) Drive to the fair grounds for Halloween Hallow spend 1 hour there get in the car, drive to church do Trunk or treat for that takes about 23 minutes. Every one is freezing cold but we are not done yet. it is about 6:30 So we go to grandmas to show off our costumes and trick or treat around her neighborhood. It is already dark again out side and the temp. has drop about 9 or so every one is very cold. we leave grandmas about 7:10 and go to the Valley Hotel for Dinner. That was great fun. Then we get home about 8:30. My day ended there, I pretty much shut down and watched the show numbers on TV but the kids spent the next hour with there candy bags swapping and counting and stacking and doing all the fun things that we did when we were kids I let them sleep on the floor in the boys room so as long as they were quite it was OK.

Halloween

2008-11-02T15:32:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It is winter in Alaska

2008-10-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

The snow is falling and it is definitely winter!! I tell you this with happiness and sadness. I am happy because we are a here to enjoy this winter together it amazes me every day how close we came to not being together. And in sadness because I really do not like the long nights or short days how ever you like to say it any way you look at it it means less sunlight.

we are still trying to figure out what our life is spouse to look like but I think that we are doing a pretty good job at faking it. the funny thing is that life just keeps going it does not realize that I have had a bad year and need a break the kids still need love and you still have to pay the bills. to this end I am pleased to announce that I have started my midwifery practice in Palmer AK. I am calling it A natural Beginning and you may find my web sight at www.naturalbeginningsmidwifery.com I am very excited to start working again. And am very thankful to every one for there support.

Ray is doing great! He thinks that he is ready to drive again. I don't think the doctors are going to let him but I will ask any way. I don't know if he is ready to drive yet or not But I am definitely ready to have another driver in the house.

Well that is a short update

Fall Is Fun!!

2008-09-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Berry Picking

Kaden and Ryan are Best Buds

We Love Alaska in the Fall

Dad is doing great for just having surgery

Fun at the State Fair

Lily was so happy when she got her face painted.

What to do next

2008-09-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

So we are staying crazy busy for being unemployed. Ray attends therapy 5 days a week for at least 2 hours so it is like a part time job. Grandpa mac is still here and is busy preparing for his trip south in a couple of weeks. And I am well holding it all together or like to think I am. I did get approved for my Midwifery licensee so it will be official as soon as I can afford to pay the license fee. So than I have to take on the task of making a decision on what to do next

Ray and I went to see his therapy Doctor yesterday to get an idea of what the out look is for recovery. He said he was pleased at Rays recovery but these things take time and Ray will not be driving or working or staying home with the kids by himself any time soon. We will meet with him again in Feb 2009 to have another evaluation. I have been toying with the idea of going to work in Mexico as a midwife while Ray can't work. but I don't know how realistic that is with his injury. We will be talking with his therapist about this latter this week. I found this great blog today from this family that has done what Ray and I have talked about doing for years. They are living aboard a 64 ft sail boat with there 3 boys around my children's age. I thought wow if they can do it why can't we do it. I guess you have to think that there dad did not have a brain injury 3 months ago. But I know Ray will be whole again some day and it is nice to know people are living there dreams and that We can to.

We are home Again

2008-08-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

So we are home again.Ray had his surgery on the 13th and was discharged from the hospital on the 21st. Ray said if he ever sees the inside of a hospital it will be to soon. I would have to agree with that one hundred percent!

We have been so blessed this summer. Ray came through his heart valve surgery with flying colors with only a little hick up but we are home and he is doing great. The hardest part of surgery is the recovery they say. I don't know if that is true but it is frustrating for Ray he can not lift more than 5 lbs( a full galleon of milk weighs 8lb) for the next 6 weeks that includes pushing and pulling so he has to find different ways of doing things. He told me this morning that he felt useless. Wow that is hard to hear.

It is amazing to me how often the hand of the lord is in my daily life. I was reading in the ensign the evening we got home from the hospital and came across a great article that really hit me. Coming to know for ourselves by Elder Kenneth Johnson this is just a little excerpt

"The Companionship of the Holy Spirit
One of the greatest blessings of membership in the Church is the opportunity to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through virtuous living we can qualify for this divine source of guidance, which enables us to see “things as they really are, and … as they really will be” (Jacob 4:13).
We then see things clearly; we have a fresh view that is not limited to the span of our mortal sphere. To know that there is a plan and a purpose to our lives creates a vision of possibilities and opportunities of which we were not previously aware.
In his inspirational classic, As a Man Thinketh, James Allen observed, “Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain, or rise with your thoughts, your vision, your ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.”3
With our aspirations tempered by an eternal perspective, our minds can be illuminated by the light of the everlasting gospel, enabling us to chart a course to reach our divine potential. The choice is ours. We can fall back into the lifestyle of the natural man or yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit to become partakers of the divine nature (see Mosiah 3:19; 2 Peter 1:4)."

Ray has had some incredible blessing over the past few months. the most recent was right before his surgery and Ray was told that he should take this time to prepair for his mission in life and when the opportunity present it self he will be ready to recognize it.

So when Ray said he was feeling useless I was prompted to remind him of this blessing and to read this article together. I am so glad that the lord has a plan for Ray and our family and has given us the gift of the holy ghost that we can be guided. Any way I think that is cool.

So we decided that this was Rays time to get a scholor education and develope a personal relationship with our savoir. I am so excited about this next chapter in our lives and that we get to do it together ( well because Ray is not dead LOL, I love saying that.)

On a different note. I took my NARM exam on the 20th that is the national test for midwifery. I will have all my paper work in for the AK State board at the beginning of next week and the board will meet on Sept 12 And I hope that I will be licenced soon after that. Ya me.

Just an update

2008-08-06T22:26:00.000-07:00

We took this last weekend to have a little time away and see a little of Alaska with Grandpa Mac. We left Friday and came back Sunday. Mom and I drove in one car with the girls and Ray and Grandpa Mac drove in another with the boys. It was a beautiful drive and we only had one misshape. Grandpa Oborn changed the oil on the little car that morning and forgot to put the oil cap back on. We caught it before the engine blew up. but it was exciting for a while.

Josh had a wonderful baptism. It kind of weired me out a little because it was exactly 8 weeks to the hour that we were at Sandy's baptism and then Ray had his heart thing so I was kind of holding my breath until 12:07 passed and nothing happened. Amy had a great open house and had lots of friends there. Then we took the kids to Santa's house and then went to pioneer park and saw a little bit of Alaskan history; it rained on us but was fun anyway.

We have kind of gotten into a little routine and are getting used to our daily life, just in time for Ray to have his open heart surgery. It will be on the 12th so pls. feel free to pray for us on that day. We think that Ray will be in the hospital for about a week and we are so grateful to Tressa and John for letting the kids stay with them while we are at the hospital.

So along with every thing else I have been trying to study for my NARM test ( my midwifery test) that will be on the 20th so you can pray for me on that day to.LOL

I hope everyone is doing well love you all

HI

2008-07-23T15:54:00.001-07:00

I can not believe it has been 3 weeks and 2 days that we have been home.

Ray is doing really well, We go to therapies 3 days a weeks for 2 hours one hour for speech and one hour for occupational. They manly focus on memory and cognitive problem solving skills. You can hardly tell an out word difference. It is his short term memory that is still really bad. his concept of time and things, it is hard to explain if you are not living it 24 hours a day.

Lily expressed to me the other day while she was in tears her concerns and fears about our dad. I was a little over whelmed because the kids seem to be handily the changes in our life fairly well. I was trying to console her with the what you say to kids after a horrible thing have happened (every thing is going to be alright, Dad is not dead) and she looked at me with those very perceptive eyes and said" Some times it feels like he is. When I look at him sometimes it does not seem like he is my dad. and then that makes me feel guilty because I know that he is my dad and he is trying really hard."

How that just hit me like a ton of bricks for that is the same things I have been struggling with there is not anything out right not right with Ray; not any thing some one walking down the street would say "oh look that guy died 6 weeks ago." It is just the little nuances that we love about our husbands that are not back yet. It can feel very lonely some days and some days I just feel like a broken record, having to tell Ray about conversations we had the day before, those are some of the things that we are working on in therapy he is learning to write notes down about his day and conversations.

We had a TEE this morning to confirm that he needs heart valve surgery and he does. They might be able to repair it and not have to put in a new one. That is great news. He will still have the ICD (internal cardiac defibrillator) for the rest of his life but it looks like it should be a nice long life:)

Every night I go to bed and am thankful for The second chance Ray and I have been given. We are so blessed to be able to raise our children together and walk along the river or what ever because we literally have all the time in the world. I asked Ray if he had any of those feelings like the people on the moves have after coming back from the dead that they just want to go live life to the fullest and not waist any minute. He told me no that he just wants to raise our kids to be great individuals. I have to admit though I feel like we need to go on some great once in a life tome adventure. We have been given such a gift and we need to share that with people. Our family knows that our heavenly father lives and he has a great plan of happiness for us, how cool is that. And the reality is even though we have had this great and wonderful miracle in our lives I still had a hard time getting up and going to church this Sunday and we still have to deal with bills etc. I have realized through this whole thing, that does not mean I am a bad or week in spirit it just means that I am mortal the way that heavenly father created me and that he knows and loves me any way. Ray and I have been given an opportunity to better not only our lives but the lives of family and our friends. I hope that we we can and will do that in what ever way we can. For I know that all of you better My life with your love support and prayers.

We are going home

2008-06-29T23:21:00.000-07:00

We are going home!! I can't believe it has only been 3 weeks and 1 day scenes I was calling 911 and giving my husband CPR. Ray has made incredible strides. The doctors don't know what to think about it.
First he was not spouse to make it through the night, then he was not spouse to wake up and then he was going to be a vegetable and then he was going to probable have a different personality and not be able to function on his own. Well none of that is true. He is doing great. Rays doctor stoped me in the cafeteria to tell me that he works with about 5-6 patience a year that have had similar head injuries and that none of them have made such rapid recovery as Ray has. He said that Ray is probable 75%-80% back to normal and is expected to make a full recovery. He will not be able to work or drive a car for a while and we are spouse to hide the power tools. LOL He is going to have more out of the hospital rehab speech and physical therapy to work on his memory and endurance.
I have to say that I am a little scared tonight of going home tomorrow. It has been so easy to sit in the hospital and see how Ray is improving everyday and say every thing is going to be OK. But the reality of dealing with life post CPR is going to start hitting as soon as we walk out the doors.
My biggest fear is that Ray will think that he has let the family down because he can't work. How can I explain to him that his willingness to come back to our family and give up being with the lord for me and the kids. Is something that I will always treasure, more than any job or financial stability he could ever offer me.
How did I get so blessed to have Ray in my life?

THANK YOU!!

2008-06-19T01:06:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all the prayers and love that you have given us.
Thank you to all the family and friends that wept and rejoiced with us.
Thank you for the support and courage you gave me.
Thank you for the priesthood power that you are willing to live worthy to hold.
Thank you for your willingness to share and use that awesome power.
The lord has given us his priesthood that we may use it and perform the miracles that he sees fit. Not just the big miracles such as we have all been privileged to be part of with Ray, but the small ones of comfort and peace. The ones you give your children when they go to the first day of school, or when they have the flu. I am so thankful for the knowledge and testimony I have of priesthood blessings. That has grown with me from when I was a child through the example of the small blessing. That I might have the faith I needed to put my trust in a priesthood blessing; to know that no matter what the out come, our heavenly father was pleased with my husband and the eternal family that we have created.
I am thankful for the fathers blessing that my father gave me that counseled me not to worry, for worry comes from satin and with worry you can not have faith. When I turned my heart to trust and faith in the lord and my eternal companion my heart was full and I have had peace.
Ray is doing well. He has been moved to the Rehab center of the hospital and we will get a game plan a prognosis tomorrow. He has trouble with his speech and motor skills and memory he has difficulty remembering what we talked about 20 min ago and where we live or the recent trip to Disneyland. but he remembers the important things( that we love each other and our children) the rest will come or it wont we have a life time to find out.
Thank you again for your love and prayers

2008-06-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

OK that was so fun I love posting photos hope you like them. Kind of gets you up to date at what we have been doing for the last month or so. I have not had a lot of time to get on the computer and just look around. I can spend hours looking at all the families blogs it is so much fun to see what everyone is doing. All the cousins and every thing. We have had a fun week with Sabrina and Katie staying with us The girls are all sleeping in Grandpa Macs room all together; they think that is so cool.

I had a thought on Sunday this week that I have been meaning to share. It is one of those thoughts that come to me when I am least expecting them.

Sunday morning I woke up in a not so good mood as has been the normal for me lately when it comes to 9am church. The last few weeks I have not made it to church because of a birth. Ray was really excited not have to get the kids ready by himself and to get to go to church as a family. Any way I was in a really not so nice mood and I picked a fight with my husband. (I know hard to believe) I wanted to stay in bed longer. So I told him I did not need as much time to get the kids ready as he did because I am Supper Mom. (or something to that affect.) Lets just say it was not the best spirit in my home that morning but we were able to get to church on time. Then I realized it was Fast Sunday and well that kind of annoyed me to.
Just as sacrament meeting is about to start my phone rings (I have to keep it on at church in case I get called to a birth)It was my dad, he needs a ride to the church for a meeting. I am really excited that I get to miss some of the meeting, so I jump at the chance to go.
OK I know you are thinking that I am really an awful person right now not wanting to be a church with my family.This is why am telling you this story.
I get my dad but my mom needs to get the car they left at my house the night before. So I am thinking cool I might miss all of Sacrament meeting. I take my dad to the church and my mom up to my house. We decide to take a look at the flower boxes I planted because my husband told my mom that they were not doing so well (thanks Honey another excuse not to get back to the church) My mom is looking at my flower boxes and says" are you watering these?"
and I say "yes"
She says "well they need water that is whats wrong with them."
and I say " I have been giving them water regularly" a little annoyed at her for thinking I can't water flowers ( really we are talking a chore a 4 year old can do.)So I proceed to show her that I do know what I am doing and start watering the flowers.
My mom says" OK if that is all you are doing it is not good enough you need to be getting the routes all the way at the bottom of the box. If this is going to work; if you want them to service you really have to give them water until it is coming out of the bottom of the box." and she proceeds to what looks like drowned my flowers with lots of water.
You see were my house sits we have great southern light and lots of pretty steady wind. This really sucks the moister out of the soil.
So this is the thought that came to me.
My life and testimony is like my flower boxes if you look at them from a far off
they are quite pretty, but if you look close they are struggling not reaching there full potential.
As is with my life and testimony, I guess I thought I am doing enough. We go to church, We are well religious about family prayer in the evening, I even have about 40% OK maybe 30% visiting teaching record. I feed the missionary 2-3 times a month, my kids listen to the primary songs,and my husband and I are temple recommend holders. I mean we look the part. But then why was I so excited to get out of going to church. And what was up with my attitude that morning.
It accord to me that I am treating my testimony like I was treating my flower boxes I was just doing the bare minimal that is required of me. I am not doing any thing to really sock the routes of my testimony. It was quite a wake up call. There is so much more I could be doing.
We spend a lot of time as a family, but we do not have weekly family home evenings with a lesson. We say family prayers but not couple prayers, and we have stooped reading the scriptures on a regular bases. not to say that we never do these things but they are few and far between.
So I am having these thoughts as I get back to church in time for a few more testimonies and a woman in our ward stood up and told an interesting story.

She walked by a stack of about 2000 paper bags that were sitting an her porch for the u-pick farm her family is running for her parents while they are on there mission and she thinks I should move those. but she doesn't and she walks by them all day with the same thought and not a cloud in the sky. But then as it some times does in our area it rained that night. Not all of the bags were ruined but a lot were. What she said next is what touched me most.
It is not enough to know what you are spouse to do if you don't do it.
Wow was heavenly father talking to me that day or what. So needless to say I am making a new commitment to excellence because our heavenly father wants us to reach our potential.

The deck

2008-06-06T14:16:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

2008-06-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

2008-06-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Spring

2008-05-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally sprung in Palmer!! And with spring has come new beginnings. The best of witch was Lily's baptism this last weekend. I can't believe that she is getting so big. As I sat and listened to the opening song of her baptism I just started to cry, I was so touched by the spirit of how important this step is in our lives. It really struck me that my 8 year old Lily was so excited for her baptism and had such pure faith in what she was about to do. I looked over at her as the song finished and I saw Lily as her heavenly father sees her with all of her wonderful potential, and I think for the first time in my 31years I understood the eternal magnitude of such a simple act. I also recognized the work of the atonement in my life and how grateful I am for my parents and for my baptism when I was 8. even though the path afterwards was not always straight the foundation was laid and I was able to find my way back.I hope as a mother that I can continue to guide her and help fan her testimony. I know that no matter what choices she makes as she grows up the foundation that is being lade now will be there for her if and when she needs it.

It was so cool to then go the next day to little Thomas Love's blessing, and sit in one of the 3 and half pues that the Oborn family took up. There was all but 3 of the grandchildren there and of course not all the brothers and sisters could make it. But it was a true testament of what a foundation in the gospel will produce. It was amazing to see size of our family and I had to ponder at how much of a chapel we would fill up if we had all the Oborn clans together.

2008-04-08T13:08:00.001-07:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

mothers

2008-04-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

So, I am suppose to be doing school work or book keeping for Ray or cleaning my house or something I am totaly forgetting I am sure. But I find my self reading about every ones fun and fantastic lives and thinking, how blessed we all are for having such great families. I loved the conference talk this weekend about mothers and how important our role as moms are. there was also a great talk about faith and how we some times don't see the hand of the lord until we walk through that door of what ever the challenge might be with faith in our heavenly father. Watching Megan and Ben to day have there baby ( or at least hearing about it) , Elizabeth and Allen making a life changing desition to join the military ( newly pregnant) Tammy and Todd walking with such courage during this pregnancy, Dolly with a boy on a mission, Amy and Jake on an epic adventure. Mandy creating a new business; it is so great to have such awesome examples of mothers and women who walk with such faith in there heavenly father, in my life as you all are. It is really cool to see how even though we all have very different challenges, husbands and talents, that we are all raising some really great families of Zion.
I don't know if that makes any scense, But I am thinking of all of you today,being very greatful that I have the gosple in my life and that you are all my friends.

The first Blog

2008-04-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

It will be so fun to see and hear what every one is doing.

Life has been crazy around here over the last couple of years. I have been studding to be a midwife serving out of hospital births at home and in birth centers. So I have been really busy with book work and going to births.( Usually in the middle of the night) Ray and the kids have been so great supporting me in all the crazy hours I have had to keep.It has really be a dream come true. If every thing goes according to plain I will have my license at the end of Sept begging of OCT. Wish me luck.

Grandpa mac came to stay with us last summer we enjoyed our time with him. He also came up over Christmas and with the help of Grandpa O Ray and Mac bought a 5 plex that has been a pretty good experience and investment so far. Ray has also been busy with his own business. Thanks Dad for working so hard for us.

The kids have had a great time this winter we started homeschool, had grandpa mac up and got really good at snowboarding down our hill. We also got to go to Disneyland with a lot of the cousins that was a great fun.